Systems and methods are described for providing high throughput connectivity between multiple network nodes, such as satellites in Earth orbit or ground stations, using a multi-access free space optical communications transceiver. The transceiver includes a focal plane assembly with an array of moveable optical fibers or fiber bundles, multi-core fibers, or a combination thereof. Each optical fiber bundle may include a centrally-located data fiber with guide fibers disposed around the data fiber. A controller may align a tip of the data fiber with a focal spot associated with incoming optical signals based on measured power levels of optical signals received in the guide fibers. The data fiber may be a multi-mode fiber (MMF) and circuitry in the transceiver may couple signals from the MMF into separate single-mode fibers (SMF) and then coherently combine signals from the SMFs.

A wavelength selective switch (WSS) apparatus. The WSS apparatus includes: a plurality of input/output port groups; a plurality of switching lens parts; a plurality of wedge prism parts; a beam expansion part; a wavelength dispersion part; a path combining part configured to combine the groups of the plurality of light beams transmitted from the switching lens parts on the dispersion axis; an imaging optic part; and a switching unit including a plurality of surface areas corresponding to the plurality of input/output port groups, the switching unit being configured to angular displace an angle of a selected wavelength on the switching axis such that the wavelength selected from multiple wavelength channels of an input port selected independently for each of the plurality of input/output port groups is transmitted to an output port of the plurality of input/output port groups selected independently.

A reconfigurable free-space optical inter-rack network includes a plurality of server racks, each including at least one switch mounted on a top thereof, where each top-mounted switch includes a plurality of free-space-optic link connector, each with a free-space optical connection to a free-space-optic link connector on another top-mounted switch, a single ceiling mirror above the plurality of server racks that substantially covers the plurality of server racks, wherein the single ceiling mirror redirects optical connections between pairs of free-space-optic link connectors to provide a clear lines-of-sight between each pair of connected free-space-optic link connectors, and a controller that preconfigures a free-space optical network connecting the plurality of server racks by establishing connections between pairs of free-space-optic link connectors, and that reconfigures connections between pairs of free-space-optic link connectors in response to network traffic demands and events.

A device system for constituting a 3D image sensor based on optical phased array is provided. The device system includes an optical modulator that is integrated on the same photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chip as a laser diode array with different output wavelengths and a multiplexer for transmitting an optical wave having a wavelength selected from the laser diode array to an optical waveguide and modulates the optical wave into a specific optical signal, an optical phased array that radiates the optical signal received via an optical switch to the free space using a tunable transmit and receive (TRx) antenna array, and a photodetector that converts an Rx optical signal received by a Tx optical signal transmitted via the optical phased array into an electrical signal.

[Problem] To improve the add/drop rates while suppressing the apparatus scale of the ROADM.

[Solution] ROADM includes a wavelength cross-connect portion connected to a plurality of degrees, and a transponder accommodation function portion configured to relay an optical signal of the wavelength cross-connect portion to a transponder, in which the transponder accommodation function portion is configured such that a plurality of elements E that are a plurality of wavelength selective switches including one input port receiving an optical signal from a direction of the wavelength cross-connect portion and a plurality of output ports transmitting an optical signal in a direction toward the transponder is cascade-connected in a plurality of stages, and a plurality of elements E positioned at the same stage of the plurality of stages of cascade connection, to which an optical signal is propagated from the same degree of the plurality of degrees of the wavelength cross-connect portion, are multiple-connected as one module.

A cross-connect switch architecture is described. A cross-connect switch device includes a cross-point switch array, a plurality of photo detectors and a plurality of amplifiers. The cross-point switch array includes a plurality of switches. Each switch is coupled between a respective photo detector and a respective amplifier and is configured to couple the respective photo detector to the respective amplifier when the switch is selected.

Systems and methods are described for providing high throughput connectivity between multiple network nodes, such as satellites in Earth orbit or ground stations, using a multi-access free space optical communications transceiver. The transceiver includes a focal plane assembly with an array of moveable optical fibers or fiber bundles, multi-core fibers, or a combination thereof. Each optical fiber bundle may include a centrally-located data fiber with guide fibers disposed around the data fiber. A controller may align a tip of the data fiber with a focal spot associated with incoming optical signals based on measured power levels of optical signals received in the guide fibers. The data fiber may be a multi-mode fiber (MMF) and circuitry in the transceiver may couple signals from the MMF into separate single-mode fibers (SMF) and then coherently combine signals from the SMFs.

A method and apparatus for operating an optical switching fabric or other optical device are provided. The device has multiple input and output ports to be selectably connected together via optical paths. For a requested configuration, an optical device configuration is determined based on a loss metric, which is based on one or both of: a number of crossings of the optical paths; and a length of the optical paths. The crossings can be waveguide crossings within the switching fabric. The configuration can be obtained by selecting particular intermediate stages of the switching fabric for carrying particular optical paths. The number of waveguide crossings, or the variation in the number of waveguide crossings, can be limited or minimized in the selected configuration. In one embodiment, an initial solution is determined, and the intermediate stages of the switch are re-ordered to obtain an improved solution in terms of the loss metric.

A method and apparatus for operating an optical switching fabric or other optical device are provided. The device has multiple input and output ports to be selectably connected together via optical paths. For a requested configuration, an optical device configuration is determined based on a loss metric, which is based on one or both of: a number of crossings of the optical paths; and a length of the optical paths. The crossings can be waveguide crossings within the switching fabric. The configuration can be obtained by selecting particular intermediate stages of the switching fabric for carrying particular optical paths. The number of waveguide crossings, or the variation in the number of waveguide crossings, can be limited or minimized in the selected configuration. In one embodiment, an initial solution is determined, and the intermediate stages of the switch are re-ordered to obtain an improved solution in terms of the loss metric.

Embodiments of the invention include an optical routing device that includes an organic substrate. According to an embodiment, an array of cavities are formed into the organic substrate and an array of piezoelectrically actuated mirrors may be anchored to the organic substrate with each piezoelectrically actuated mirror extending over a cavity. In order to properly rout incoming optical signals, the optical routing device may also include a routing die mounted on the organic substrate. The routing die may be electrically coupled to each of the piezoelectrically actuated mirrors and is able to generated a voltage across the first and second electrodes of each piezoelectrically actuated mirror. Additionally, a photodetector may be electrically coupled to the routing die. According to an embodiment, an array of fiber optic cables may be optically coupled with one of the piezoelectrically actuated mirrors and optically coupled with the photodetector.