A highly scalable and modular automated optical cross connect switch devices which exhibit low loss and scalability to high port counts. A device for the programmable interconnection of large numbers of optical fibers (100s-1000s) is provided, whereby a two-dimensional array of fiber optic connections is mapped in an ordered and rule-based fashion into a one-dimensional array with tensioned fiber optic circuit elements tracing substantially straight lines there between. Fiber optic elements are terminated in a stacked arrangement of flexible fiber optic circuit elements with a capacity to retain excess fiber lengths while maintaining an adequate bend radius. The combination of these elements partitions the switch volume into multiple independent, non-interfering zones, which retain their independence for arbitrary and unlimited numbers of reconfigurations. The separation into spaced-apart zones provides clearance for one or more robotic actuators to enter the free volume substantially adjacent to the two-dimensional array of connectors and mechanically reconfigure connectors without interrupting other circuits.

A remote indicator system comprising a housing and a display unit located remotely from the housing. The housing comprises a first light source and a first end of an end-emitting fibre optic cable. The display unit comprises a second end of the fibre optic cable. The housing includes manual switching means configurable to allow light from the first light source to pass into the first end of the optical fibre cable and further configurable to prevent light from the first light source from passing into the first end of the optical fibre cable.

Techniques for creating an SiGe/Si electro-optomechanical quantum transducer, comprising an SiGe/Si optical ring resonator and capacitor, that can be associated with a qubit are presented. The optical resonator, comprising an SiGe optical waveguide and a strained silicon membrane, can be formed and disposed over a substrate. The strained silicon membrane can have a photoelastic coupling with the SiGe optical waveguide. A capacitor, comprising a superconducting material, can be formed in proximity to the optical resonator. The top plate of the capacitor can be associated with the strained silicon membrane. A recessed region can be formed in the back side of the substrate along a desired silicon plane, extending to form a hole in the top side of the substrate. A superconducting material can be applied along substrate surfaces defining the recessed region and hole. The superconducting material covering the hole can be the bottom plate of the capacitor.

A splice module includes a main splicing channel and a rework channel. The main splicing channel has an encapsulated section at which one or more initial splices can be stored. The main splicing channel also includes a non-encapsulated section through which trunk cable fibers of the initial splices extend. If re-splicing is needed, the trunk cable fibers can be accessed at the non-encapsulated section, cut, and re-spliced to a new connectorized pigtail or other optical fibers.

An optical system for adjusting a proportion of light of a particular spectral band that is emitted from the optical system. A dichroic mirror is configured to reflect light of a first spectral band from a light source towards a distal end of an optical fiber while allowing light of a second spectral band to pass through the dichroic mirror. The second mirror is positioned behind the dichroic mirror and is configured to reflect light of the second spectral band. A mirror actuator is coupled to the second mirror and is configured to adjust a proportion of the light of the second spectral band that is emitted by the optical system by adjusting a position of the second mirror relative to the dichroic mirror.

SMA actuators and related methods are described. One embodiment of an actuator includes a base; a plurality of buckle arms; and at least a first shape memory alloy wire coupled with a pair of buckle arms of the plurality of buckle arms. Another embodiment of an actuator includes a base and at least one bimorph actuator including a shape memory alloy material. The bimorph actuator attached to the base.

An apparatus includes a plurality of connector track elements, each extending substantially perpendicularly from a coupling plane, wherein a particular connector track element of the plurality of connector track elements includes a distribution of at least two magnets adjacent unattached end thereof, a polarity of the magnets on the particular connector track element being selected to provide magnetic repulsion as to at least one adjacent connector track element.

A thermal control system for pluggable optics in an optical telecom platform. The thermal control system comprises a thermal interface and one or more actuators. The thermal interface is configured to dissipate heat from a pluggable optical module in the optical telecom platform. The one or more actuators configured to change a position of the pluggable optical module relative to the thermal interface such that a thermal resistance between the pluggable optical module and the thermal interface is different based on a position of the pluggable optical module relative to the thermal interface.

An automated fiber optic patch-panel/cross-connect system comprised of a stacked arrangement of multiple replaceable modules, including a first multiplicity of fiber modules, each with a second multiplicity of reconfigurable internal fiber connectors; a common robot module shared among fiber modules, wherein any connector within a fiber module in the system can be moved to any other connector of any other fiber module in the system; a power management module that distributes electrical power to the fiber modules and the robot module; and a server module that generates commands that are placed on communication bus to activate robot and fiber modules. The modules are physically separated and spatially arranged to be serviced replaced without interrupting fiber connections previously established in the system.

A highly scalable and modular automated optical cross connect switch devices which exhibit low loss and scalability to high port counts. A device for the programmable interconnection of large numbers of optical fibers (100s-1000s) is provided, whereby a two-dimensional array of fiber optic connections is mapped in an ordered and rule-based fashion into a one-dimensional array with tensioned fiber optic circuit elements tracing substantially straight lines there between. Fiber optic elements are terminated in a stacked arrangement of flexible fiber optic circuit elements with a capacity to retain excess fiber lengths while maintaining an adequate bend radius. The combination of these elements partitions the switch volume into multiple independent, non-interfering zones, which retain their independence for arbitrary and unlimited numbers of reconfigurations. The separation into spaced-apart zones provides clearance for one or more robotic actuators to enter the free volume substantially adjacent to the two-dimensional array of connectors and mechanically reconfigure connectors without interrupting other circuits.