A CMOS-compatible actuator platform for implementing phase, amplitude, and frequency modulation in silicon nitride photonic integrated circuits via piezo-optomechanical coupling using tightly mechanically coupled aluminum nitride actuators is disclosed. The platform, which may be fabricated in a CMOS foundry, enables scalable active photonic integrated circuits for visible wavelengths, and the piezoelectric actuation functions without performance degradation down to cryogenic operating temperatures. A number of devices are possible, including ring modulator devices, phase shifter devices, Mach-Zehnder interferometer devices, directional coupler devices (including tunable directional coupler devices), and acousto-optic modulator and frequency shifter devices, each of which can employ the same AlN actuator platform. As all of these devices can be built on the same AlN actuator platform, numerous optical functions can be implemented on a single die.

Low-loss terahertz switches with nanometer resolution positioning and feedback are disclosed. In one embodiment, the switch uses a U-bend waveguide surrounded by an electromagnetic band gap and is implemented in a fully metal-machined fashion in combination with a piezo-electric motor and an optical linear encoder. In another embodiment, the switch comprises a MEMS device.

A compact micro electrical mechanical actuated ring-resonator includes a bus waveguide disposed on a platform; a ring resonator disposed on the platform, including at least a first optical coupler, wherein the ring resonator is optically coupled with the bus waveguide; and a selective waveguide disposed on a piezoelectric cantilever mounted in a trench defined in the platform, wherein the selective waveguide includes a second optical coupler and is controllable to selectively adjust a coupling ratio between the first optical coupler with the second optical coupler by physically changing a distance between the first optical coupler and the second optical coupler.

An apparatus arranged for deflecting an optical component for alignment purposes of the optical component with a further optical component, wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of adjacently placed elongate carriers, extending mutually parallel to each other in a longitudinal direction, wherein two adjacently placed elongate carriers have a spacing between them for receiving a first optical component such that the received optical component rests against two adjacently placed elongate carriers, wherein the two elongate carriers have slopes such that the spacing between the two adjacently placed elongate carriers is smaller at a bottom side compared to the spacing at a top side of the carriers, wherein the carriers comprise piezoelectric material configured to deflect the carriers in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction by actuating the piezoelectric material.

An electronic device includes a housing and a display. The housing defines an interior cavity and includes an optically-transmissive housing component. The display is disposed in the interior cavity and is viewable through the optically-transmissive housing component. An optoelectronic component is disposed in the interior cavity. An optical fiber extends between a first end positioned adjacent the optoelectronic component and a second end positioned adjacent the optically-transmissive housing component. The optical fiber defines a non-linear optical path between the first end and the second end. At least a portion of the optical fiber is laterally offset from a lateral edge of the display.

An electronic device includes a housing and a display. The housing defines an interior cavity and includes an optically-transmissive housing component. The display is disposed in the interior cavity and is viewable through the optically-transmissive housing component. An optoelectronic component is disposed in the interior cavity. An optical fiber extends between a first end positioned adjacent the optoelectronic component and a second end positioned adjacent the optically-transmissive housing component. The optical fiber defines a non-linear optical path between the first end and the second end. At least a portion of the optical fiber is laterally offset from a lateral edge of the display.

A compact micro electrical mechanical actuated ring-resonator includes a bus waveguide disposed on a platform; a ring resonator disposed on the platform, including at least a first optical coupler, wherein the ring resonator is optically coupled with the bus waveguide; and a selective waveguide disposed on a piezoelectric cantilever mounted in a trench defined in the platform, wherein the selective waveguide includes a second optical coupler and is controllable to selectively adjust a coupling ratio between the first optical coupler with the second optical coupler by physically changing a distance between the first optical coupler and the second optical coupler.

A compact micro electrical mechanical actuated ring-resonator includes a bus waveguide disposed on a platform; a ring resonator disposed on the platform, including at least a first optical coupler, wherein the ring resonator is optically coupled with the bus waveguide; and a selective waveguide disposed on a piezoelectric cantilever mounted in a trench defined in the platform, wherein the selective waveguide includes a second optical coupler and is controllable to selectively adjust a coupling ratio between the first optical coupler with the second optical coupler by physically changing a distance between the first optical coupler and the second optical coupler.

A light intensity modulator includes an input optical fiber; an output optical fiber; an optical arrangement having a lens, where the optical arrangement is configured to receive light from the input optical fiber, pass the light through the lens, and direct the light to the output optical fiber; and a piezoelectric device coupled to the lens, where the piezoelectric device is configured for moving the lens to alter overlap of the output optical fiber and the light directed to the output optical fiber to modulate intensity of light in the output optical fiber.

MEMS-actuated optical switches can be implemented on photonic chips. These switches are compact, essentially planar, simple to implement and include only one moving MEMS component per switch. The switches exhibit low optical loss, require low power to operate, and are simple to control and easy to integrate with other optical devices. Each switch has two optical waveguides that are optically coupled in an ON switch state and not coupled in an OFF switch state. An end or a medial section of one of the two waveguides may translate between the ON and OFF states to affect the coupling. Alternatively, a coupling frustrator may translate between the ON and OFF states to affect the coupling.