Abstract:
An array of LEDs (30) is provided having a lens array (34) for collecting divergent light from each LED (30). Each lens (34) in the array is associated with a respective LED (30) and has a compound shape including a curved surface (40) that may be spherical or may have an offset aspherical shape. The curved surfaces (40) are centered about each side of its associated LED (30). The lens (34) may alternatively include faceted surfaces (46) that approximate the curved lens surface.
Abstract:
A thermal management system is provided for semiconductor devices such as an LED array, wherein coolant directly cools the LED array. Preferably, the coolant may be selected, among other bases, based on its index of refraction relative to the index associated with the semiconductor device.
Abstract:
A fiber-pigtailed assembly for an optical detector with low back reflection and minimal polarization-dependent responsivity has a detector surface mounted adjacent a beveled end of a fiber pigtail such that the detector surface is tilted and rotated with respect to the beveled end of the fiber pigtail. Also an external optical fiber may be coupled to the fiber pigtail with low back reflection and minimal polarization-dependent responsivity by having an input ferrule at the end of the external optical fiber, the end being beveled; by having an intermediate ferrule at a coupling end of the fiber pigtail, the coupling end being beveled while the other end of the ferrule is beveled by the same amount but approximately orthogonal to the coupling end; and by having an output ferrule on the fiber pigtail adjacent to the intermediate ferrule, the end of the output ferrule adjacent to the intermediate ferrule being beveled. The ferrules are maintained in position so that the beveled ends of the intermediate ferrule are parallel to the corresponding beveled ends of the input and output ferrules and there is a gap between the input and intermediate ferrules. The beveled ends of the ferrules at both the coupler and detector ends of the fiber pigtail introduce fixed amounts of polarization-dependent responsivity while reducing back reflection, while the tilt of the detector surface at the detector end and the opposite approximately orthogonal bevel of the intermediate ferrule at the coupler end compensate and essentially eliminate such polarization-dependent responsivity.
Abstract:
A fiber-pigtailed assembly for an optical detector with low back reflection and minimal polarization-dependent responsivity has a detector surface mounted adjacent a beveled end of a fiber pigtail such that the detector surface is tilted and rotated with respect to the beveled end of the fiber pigtail. Also an external optical fiber may be coupled to the fiber pigtail with low back reflection and minimal polarization-dependent responsivity by having an input ferrule at the end of the external optical fiber, the end being beveled; by having an intermediate ferrule at a coupling end of the fiber pigtail, the coupling end being beveled while the other end of the ferrule is beveled by the same amount but approximately orthogonal to the coupling end; and by having an output ferrule on the fiber pigtail adjacent to the intermediate ferrule, the end of the output ferrule adjacent to the intermediate ferrule being beveled. The ferrules are maintained in position so that the beveled ends of the intermediate ferrule are parallel to the corresponding beveled ends of the input and output ferrules and there is a gap between the input and intermediate ferrules. The beveled ends of the ferrules at both the coupler and detector ends of the fiber pigtail introduce fixed amounts of polarization-dependent responsivity while reducing back reflection, while the tilt of the detector surface at the detector end and the opposite approximately orthogonal bevel of the intermediate ferrule at the coupler end compensate and essentially eliminate such polarization-dependent responsivity.
Abstract:
A method of automatic testing of systems, such as DWDM systems with an OSA, has manufacturer's specifications loaded into the test equipment for a plurality of systems. A user selects one of the systems from a menu, and the test equipment from the manufacturer's specification for the selected system automatically acquires data and makes measurements on the data. The results of the data are summarized in a report which indicates an overall system status, indicating where and why the system failed if any of the measurements indicates the system is out of the manufacturer's specifications. The measurements are kept so that they may be used to determine drift when the system is tested the next time.
Abstract:
A multimode optical time domain reflectometer has first and second wavelength optical transmitters for launching optical pulses into a fiber under test and optical receivers responsive to the respective wavelengths for converting the optical return signals from the test filer into electrical signals for acquiring waveform data representative of the optical return signals at the respective wavelengths. A processor receives the waveform data and determines a difference in fiber slopes between the optical return signal at the respective wavelengths and adds the fiber slope difference to the waveform data of the second optical return signal for producing composite waveform data having a uniform fiber slope for the waveform data acquired at the first and second wavelengths. A multimode optical time domain reflectometer of this design provides improved two point resolution for 1310 nm testing of multimode optical fiber.
Abstract:
The angular coordinates representative of intersecting points on closed curves of a first optical fiber axially offset from a plurality of optical fibers in a mechanical optical switch are determined by imaging respective end faces of opposing first and second mounting members containing the respective fibers for determining the locations of the optical fibers in the mounting members and at least one reference point within one of the mounting members. The relative angular coordinates of the intersecting points between each of the closed curves of the plurality of optical fibers and the closed curve of the first optical fiber are aligned as a function of aligning the first optical fiber with the reference point. One of the plurality of optical fibers is optimally aligned with the first optical fiber at one of the intersecting points on the closed curves using the adjusted relative angular coordinates as the starting angular coordinates. The relative angular coordinates of intersecting points of the remaining plurality of optical fibers and the first optical fiber and the offset of the mounting members are readjusted relative to the optimally aligned optical fibers. The remaining optical fibers are optimally aligned with the first optical fiber at their respective intersecting points using the readjusted relative angular coordinates as the starting angular coordinates. The angular coordinates of the intersecting points of each of the optimally aligned plurality of optical fibers and the first optical fiber are stored.
Abstract:
An alignment apparatus for determining angular coordinates for offset and intersecting optical fibers in a mechanical optical switch has an analytical apparatus for imaging the end faces of the ferrules containing the opposing optical fibers of the switch for determining the respective axes of rotation of the mounting members, the locations of the optical fibers in the respective mounting members and coordinates of the optical fibers relative to the axis of rotation of the respective mounting members, the location of at least one reference point within one of the mounting members, and the relative angular coordinates of intersecting points between each of the closed curves of the plurality of optical fibers within the second mounting member and the closed curve of the first optical fiber as a function of the offset of the first and second mounting members and the reference point. The relative angular coordinates are passed to a measurement alignment apparatus for determining the angular coordinates of the intersecting points between each of the plurality of optical fibers and the first optical fiber as a function of optimally aligning the first optical fiber with each of the plurality of optical fibers.
Abstract:
An optical switching apparatus includes a housing having a base and sidewalls with an optical device disposed within the housing for directing optical energy between a first optical waveguides disposed within a first optical passageway formed in the sidewalls and second and third optical waveguides disposed within a second optical passageway formed in the sidewalls. Focusing means, such as collimating lenses, are mounted on the sidewall for focusing the optical energy into the optical waveguides. The optical waveguides are positioned at the focal plane of the respective lenses with the first and second optical waveguides being disposed on the optical axes of their respective collimating lenses. The optical device may be an acousto-optic switch for selectively directing optical energy into the optical passageways. The optical switching apparatus may be used in an optical time domain reflectometer for selectively blocking high amplitude Fresnel reflections from passing through the optical device.