The present disclosure provides a MEMS -based variable optical attenuator (VOA) array, sequentially including an optical fiber array, a micro-lens array, and a MEMS-based micro-reflector array to form a VOA array having several optical attenuation units. The MEMS-based micro-reflectors can change the propagation direction of a beam, causing a misalignment coupling loss to the beam and thereby achieving optical attenuation, with a broad range of dynamic attenuation, low polarization dependent loss and wavelength dependent loss, good repeatability, short response time (at the millisecond level), etc. Arrayed device elements are used as assembly units of the present disclosure, and the assembly of arrayed elements facilitates tuning in batches. Accordingly, automation levels are improved, and the production costs are reduced.

An optical device may include a monolithic beam steering engine. The device may include a twin M×N wavelength selective switch (WSS) including a first M×N WSS and a second M×N WSS. The first M×N WSS may include a first panel section of the monolithic beam steering engine to perform first beam steering of first beams, wherein the first beam steering is add/drop port beam steering; and a second panel section of the monolithic beam steering engine to perform second beam steering of second beams, wherein the second beam steering is common port beam steering. The first M×N WSS may include a first optical element aligned to the monolithic beam steering engine to direct one of the first beams or the second beams relative to the other of the first beams or the second beams, such that the first beams are directed in a different direction from the second beams.

The present disclosure provides a MEMS-based variable optical attenuator (VOA) array, sequentially including an optical fiber array, a micro-lens array, and a MEMS-based micro-reflector array to form a VOA array having several optical attenuation units. The MEMS-based micro-reflectors can change the propagation direction of a beam, causing a misalignment coupling loss to the beam and thereby achieving optical attenuation, with a broad range of dynamic attenuation, low polarization dependent loss and wavelength dependent loss, good repeatability, short response time (at the millisecond level), etc. Arrayed device elements are used as assembly units of the present disclosure, and the assembly of arrayed elements facilitates tuning in batches. Accordingly, automation levels are improved, and the production costs are reduced.

A passive self-alignment fiber-to-fiber optical device is provided. The device includes a silicon base, a fiber alignment region, and an actuation region. When the device is configured as a fiber optical attenuator, displacement of a plunger in the actuation region alters the alignment of two optical fibers in the fiber alignment region, thereby varying the optical intensity between the two fibers. A series of beams in the actuation region successively reduces an initial displacement of a first beam to a smaller displacement of the plunger. When the device is configured as an optical switch, displacement of the plunger in the actuation region displaces the first optical fiber from a first position in alignment with the second optical fiber into a second position in alignment with a third optical fiber.

Optical protection devices are provided for protecting client equipment in an optical communication system. According to one implementation, a protection device includes a passive optical coupler configured to combine optical signals from a plurality of input paths, where the passive optical coupler is further configured to provide the output signals along an optical output path. The exemplary protection device further includes one or more interrupters configured to allow at most one input from a plurality of optical inputs via the plurality of input paths to be provided to the passive optical coupler at one time.

A variable wavelength filter includes: an input optical fiber; a diffraction grating that disperses input light from the input optical fiber; a variable mirror that has a reflective surface, wherein an angle of the reflective surface is adjustable, the variable mirror reflects the input light dispersed by the diffraction grating, the input light reflected by the variable mirror passes through a normal optical path, the input light that passes through the normal optical path has a wavelength band defined based on the angle of the reflective surface, and the defined wavelength band has a center wavelength corresponding to the angle of the reflective surface; an output optical fiber that outputs a portion of the input light that has passed through the normal optical path; and an optical detector disposed on a propagation path of the input light from the input optical fiber to the output optical fiber.

Aspects of the present disclosure describe systems, methods and structures including high-density submarine/undersea reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADM) having remote wavelength selective switch (WSS) redundancy.

An optical cross-connect disclosed herein includes an input-end unit, an optical beam-splitting and switching unit, and an output-end unit. The input-end unit is configured to transmit a set of first light beams to the optical beam-splitting and switching unit. The optical beam-splitting and switching unit is configured to split each light beam in the set of first light beams into second light beams, to obtain a set of second light beams. The optical beam-splitting and switching unit is further configured to: perform optical path deflection on each light beam in the set of second light beams based on a preset optical-path offset parameter set, and transmit, to the output-end unit, the deflected second light beams. The output-end unit is configured to output the set of second light beams.

According to one example, the present application discloses an optical circuit comprising a grating to receive input light of mixed polarizations and output light of a same polarization to a first waveguide and a second waveguide. The first waveguide and second waveguide are optically coupled to a plurality of resonators that are coupled to a plurality of gratings that are to output light of mixed polarizations.

A variable wavelength filter includes: an input optical fiber; a diffraction grating that disperses input light from the input optical fiber; a variable mirror that has a reflective surface, wherein an angle of the reflective surface is adjustable, the variable mirror reflects the input light dispersed by the diffraction grating, the input light reflected by the variable mirror passes through a normal optical path, the input light that passes through the normal optical path has a wavelength band defined based on the angle of the reflective surface, and the defined wavelength band has a center wavelength corresponding to the angle of the reflective surface; an output optical fiber that outputs a portion of the input light that has passed through the normal optical path; and an optical detector disposed on a propagation path of the input light from the input optical fiber to the output optical fiber.