A system for processing and measuring radio frequency (RF) signals is described. The system uses a plurality of RF-to-optical antennas (ROAs). The ROAs can be configured to measure different characteristics of an RF signal such as different frequency bands or different polarizations. The ROAs are probed with an optical source, and the ROAs measured are determined by the wavelength or wavelengths of said optical source. A wavelength division multiplexer (WDM) separates the incoming optical wavelength or wavelengths so that a different wavelength can probe each ROA. It is possible to reflect the ROA-modulated optical signal after propagating through the ROA so as to produce a larger modulation on the optical signal. Here, the WDM also serves to combine the optical wavelengths so that a single fiber serves as the optical interface to the ROAs. The device can be configured to operate over a wide range of RF spectra.

A method of operating a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes generating a beam of co-propagating, cross-polarized light using a first polarizing beam splitter; and determining a material characteristic or orientation of a target using the co-propagating, cross-polarized light.

A method of operating a light detection and ranging (LIDAR) system is provided that includes generating a beam of co-propagating, cross-polarized light using a first polarizing beam splitter; and determining a material characteristic or orientation of a target using the co-propagating, cross-polarized light.

Optical wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) devices include an optical chip having a number of waveguides therein, with a common optical fiber and single wavelength channel optical fibers optically coupled to the waveguides. Wavelength sensitive filters are disposed between the chip and the fibers, or across waveguides within the chip to reflect light at certain wavelengths and to transmit light at other wavelengths. In sonic embodiments, all of the fibers are located at the same end of the chip, in others the common fiber is located at one side of the chip and the single channel fibers located at another side, while in others the common fiber is located at a first side of the chip and the single channel fibers are located either at the first side of the chip or at a second side of the chip.

A silicon photonic integrated chip and a wavelength division multiplexer that includes at least two polarization control structures and at least one polarization-independent Mach-Zehnder interferometer on a silicon substrate are provided. The polarization control structure includes two input ports and one output port. The Mach-Zehnder interferometer includes two input ports and one optical signal output port for outputting a multiplexed optical signal. The output ports of the polarization control structures are connected to the input ports of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The polarization control structures have large bandwidths for increasing an optical bandwidth of the wavelength division multiplexer and reducing an optical loss. A quantity of phase shift arms that require tuning feedback is reduced to lower overall power consumption of the wavelength division multiplexer. Reliability and yields of the wavelength division multiplexer are enhanced due to a large manufacturing tolerance and good stability of the polarization control structures.

A silicon photonic integrated chip and a wavelength division multiplexer that includes at least two polarization control structures and at least one polarization-independent Mach-Zehnder interferometer on a silicon substrate are provided. The polarization control structure includes two input ports and one output port. The Mach-Zehnder interferometer includes two input ports and one optical signal output port for outputting a multiplexed optical signal. The output ports of the polarization control structures are connected to the input ports of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The polarization control structures have large bandwidths for increasing an optical bandwidth of the wavelength division multiplexer and reducing an optical loss. A quantity of phase shift arms that require tuning feedback is reduced to lower overall power consumption of the wavelength division multiplexer. Reliability and yields of the wavelength division multiplexer are enhanced due to a large manufacturing tolerance and good stability of the polarization control structures.

An optical device is disclosed, including a phase delay, a first adiabatic coupler adapted to receive an input signal and adapted to be optically coupled to an input of the phase delay, and a second adiabatic coupler adapted to be optically coupled to an output of the phase delay. The second adiabatic coupler includes a first waveguide including a first portion optically coupled to the first output and including a first width, and a second waveguide including a second portion optically coupled to the second output and including a second width that is approximately equal to the first width.

An adjustable micro-optoelectronic system supporting bidirectional transmission, an online upgrade, and online configuration. The system includes: a substrate; and edge connectors, a clock-and-data recovery (CDR) chip for transmitting, a CDR chip for receiving, a microprocessor, and an internal optical system, which are provided on the substrate. The edge connectors serve as an interface of a high-speed electrical signal, and are configured to exchange information between the micro-optoelectronic system and an external environment. The internal optical system is configured to transmit and receive an optical signal. A link for the high-speed electrical signal is connected among the edge connectors, the CDR chip for transmitting, the internal optical system, and the CDR chip for receiving. A communication connection is provided between the microprocessor and each of the edge connectors, the CDR chip for transmitting, the CDR chip for receiving, and the internal optical system.

Disclosed herein are switch devices in terminal ends of a network and methods of using same. One embodiment relates to a terminal end of a network including a terminal end transceiver configured to communicate with one or more end user devices, and a switch device configured to automatically route communication at the terminal end transceiver between a primary communication path with a central office and an auxiliary communication path with the central office. Another embodiment relates to a method of switching between primary and auxiliary communication paths at a terminal end. Automatic switching is particularly applicable in a looped communication architecture with redundant communication paths for preventing interruption and increasing reliability for an improved user experience. Another embodiment relates to indexing with splices to reduce connections in a communication path and increase signal quality.

Process margin relaxation is provided in relation to a compensated-for process via a first optical device, fabricated to satisfy an operational specification when a compensated-for process is within a first tolerance range; a second optical device, fabricated to satisfy the operational specification when the compensated-for process is within second tolerance range, different than the first tolerance range; a first optical switch connected to an input and configured to output an optical signal received from the input to one of the first optical device and the second optical device; and a second optical switch configured to combine outputs from the first optical device and the second optical device.