The light communication solution presented herein uses waveguides with multiple entrances to efficiently collect light used for light communications and propagate that collected light to a sensor. To that end each waveguide entrance, or at least all but the initial waveguide entrance, is configured to not only collect and input the light into the TIR waveguide, but also to maintain TIR of light already propagating within the TIR waveguide. In so doing, the solution presented herein increases the amount of light available for light communications. Further, because each waveguide may channel light from multiple collection points to a single sensor, the solution presented herein reduces the number of sensors needed for the light communications. The solution presented herein facilitates the implementation of light communications for a wide variety of devices (e.g., cellular telephones, tablets, smartphones, smart watches, smart glasses, etc.) and/or in a wide variety of scenarios.

A fiber connector, comprising a housing comprising a region extending in a lengthwise direction an optical fiber disposed in the region, a first portion of the optical fiber comprising an inner core, a cladding layer surrounding the core, and a first outer polymer layer surrounding the cladding layer and a second portion of the optical fiber comprising the inner core, the cladding layer surrounding the core and a second outer polymer layer that is different from the first polymer layer.

A quantum communication system that includes a multiphoton entanglement generator, a plurality of photon detector units, and a plurality of optical fiber links. The plurality of photon detector units include a first photon detector unit and a second photon detector unit. The multiphoton entanglement generator is structurally configured to output more than two entangled photons. The plurality of optical fiber links comprise a first optical fiber link optically coupled to the multiphoton entanglement generator and disposed between the multiphoton entanglement generator and the first photon detector unit. The plurality of optical fiber links comprise a second optical fiber link optically coupled to the multiphoton entanglement generator and disposed between the multiphoton entanglement generator and the second photon detector unit. Further, at least one of the plurality of optical fiber links has a core, a cladding, and a scattering region having a plurality of scattering structures.

A system for monitoring a signal on an optical fiber includes a fiber optic connector having a housing couplable to a receptacle. An optical fiber that transmits a first optical signal has first fiber core at least partially surrounded by a cladding and has a first end terminating proximate the housing. The first optical signal is transmitted along the first fiber core. An optical tap has a first tap waveguide arranged and is configured to receive at least part of the first optical signal as a first tap signal. The first tap waveguide comprises an output port for the first tap signal for directing the tap signal to a detector unit. In other embodiments, a detector unit detects light from the optical signal that is propagating along the fiber cladding.

The invention relates to a device for optical applications, which has an optical waveguide (10), to which a light source (11) can be connected. The optical waveguide (10) is designed in such a way that light emitted by the connectable light source (11) propagates along a light propagation axis (12). A wavelength-sensitive grating structure (13) in the optical waveguide (10) has detectors (20), which are arranged in such a way that the detectors absorb partial amounts of the light of the light source (11) that is scattered by the wavelength-sensitive grating structure (13). The grating structure (13) in the optical waveguide (10) is constructed of periodically arranged ellipsoid structural elements (14). The ellipsoid structural elements (14) have a different index of refraction than the material of the optical waveguide (10) surrounding the ellipsoid structural elements. The ellipsoid structural elements (14) have a longitudinal axis and a short axis, which are substantially perpendicular to the light propagation axis (12). Depending on the wavelength, partial amounts of the light scattered by the grating structure (13) are coupled out of the optical waveguide (10). The light hits the detectors (20). An absorbing or partially reflecting filter (30) is arranged between at least one of the detectors (20) and the optical waveguide (10). The detectors (20) have measuring elements for the intensity of the partial amount of the light that hits the detector (20) in question. An evaluation element is provided, which determines a wavelength from the intensity ratio of the plurality of detectors (20). The detectors (20) are arranged in such a way that the detectors either are arranged opposite each other on different sides of the long axes of the

An optical device includes a modulator and a tap coupler. The modulator includes an optical waveguide that is formed of a thin-film lithium niobate (LN) substrate and through which light passes, and an electrode that applies voltage to the optical waveguide, and modulates a phase of light that passes through the optical waveguide in accordance with an electric field in the optical waveguide, where the electric field corresponds to the voltage. The tap coupler includes at least a part formed of the thin-film LN substrate, and splits a part of the light that passes through an inside of the optical waveguide. The tap coupler includes a delayed interferometer that splits a part of the light that passes through the optical waveguide, at a split ratio corresponding to a phase difference of light that passes through an inside of the tap coupler from the optical waveguide.

Apparatus for monitoring the output of an optical system. The apparatus comprises first and second fibre optic sections, a reflective coating, and a detector. The first fibre optic section has a first cladding and a first core, and is configured to receive light from the optical system at one end and has at the other end a first angled, polished face. The second fibre optic section has a second cladding and a second core, and has at one end a second angled, polished face. The first and second fibre optic sections are arranged such that the first and second angled, polished faces are substantially parallel and adjacent and the first and second cores are substantially aligned. The reflective coating is applied to the first or second angled, polished face, and is configured to reflect a portion of light transmitted through the first core. The detector is arranged to receive the reflected light.

A fiber connector, comprising a housing comprising a region extending in a lengthwise direction an optical fiber disposed in the region, a first portion of the optical fiber comprising an inner core, a cladding layer surrounding the core, and a first outer polymer layer surrounding the cladding layer and a second portion of the optical fiber comprising the inner core, the cladding layer surrounding the core and a second outer polymer layer that is different from the first polymer layer.

In various aspects, an optical connector with a built-in photodetector for detecting light in the optical connector; an adapter for detachably receiving an optical connector, comprising an electrode configured to electrically contact an electrode of the optical connector; a connection apparatus comprising an arrangement of adapters for detachably receiving a plurality of optical connectors, each adapter comprising an electrode configured to electrically contact an electrode of the respective optical connector; a system with an interface configured to make an optical connection with an optical connector and a processing unit configured to receive from the connector an indication and to generate a feedback signal indicative of said indication; and/or an optical connector responsive to light to generate an electrical signal is provided.

The present invention provides methods and systems for measuring optical power that require neither alterations to the optical fiber nor physical contact with the optical fiber, the system including an optical fiber configured to propagate an optical signal, wherein the optical fiber includes a core and at least a first cladding layer, wherein a portion of the optical signal scatters out of the optical fiber along a length of the optical fiber to form scattered fiber light; a detector system configured to receive the scattered fiber light along the length of the optical fiber and to output a detection signal based on the received scattered fiber light; and a processor configured to receive the detection signal and to determine a power value of the optical signal based on the received detection signal.