Christopher Michael Lin

US Patent:

6556766, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Jun 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/893195

Inventors:

Eric Chiu Tat Cheung - Torrance CA
Christopher Lin - Richmond CA
Yongsheng Liu - San Jose CA
Xuefeng Yue - Mt. View CA

Assignee:

Avanex Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G02B 600

US Classification:

385140, 385 31, 385 18, 385 37

Abstract:

A dynamic gain equalizer (DGE) includes: a mirror; an electrode; and a lever with a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, where the lever is capable of rotating about a fulcrum, where the lever rotates the first end toward the electrode when the electrode is charged such that the second end blocks a portion of a channel from reaching the mirror, where an unblocked portion of the channel is reflected by the mirror. By manipulating the charge on the electrode, the rotation of the lever is controlled, determining how much of the light is blocked by the lever. Each lever in an array can attenuate a channel or a group of channels of a composite optical signal by a different amount. The DGE provides a significant range of blockage and can be closely spaced. It provides ease in integrating channel monitoring into the DGE.

US Patent:

6668115, Dec 23, 2003

Filed:

Dec 22, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/746708

Inventors:

Christopher Lin - Berkeley CA
Simon Cao - Fremont CA

Assignee:

Avanex Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G02B 634

US Classification:

385 37, 385 31, 385 33

Abstract:

The present invention provides an improved gain slope equalizer which provides variable optical attenuation. The gain slope equalizer includes a transmission diffraction grating with a first side and a second side; a first lens optically coupled to the second side of the transmission diffraction grating; and at least one reflective surface optically coupled to the first lens at a side opposite to the transmission diffraction grating. The gain slope equalizer in accordance with the present invention can also be used with a Virtually Imaged Phased Array (VIPA) to provide a chromatic dispersion slope and chromatic dispersion compensation as well as variable optical attenuation. The present invention provides the heretofore unavailable capability of simultaneous tunable gain slope equalization and chromatic dispersion compensation utilizing a single apparatus.

US Patent:

6714705, Mar 30, 2004

Filed:

May 7, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/140610

Inventors:

Christopher Lin - Richmond CA
Simon X. F. Cao - Fremont CA
Giovanni Barbarossa - Santa Clara CA
Charlene Yang - Palo Alto CA

Assignee:

Avanex Corporation - Fremont CA

International Classification:

G02B 634

US Classification:

385 37, 385 33, 398 81, 398 87, 359566

Abstract:

A tunable chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope compensator that utilizes a Virtually Imaged Phased Array (VIPA), a rotating transmissive diffraction grating, and a mirror with different curvatures for different cross-sections is disclosed. The compensator in accordance with the present invention provides simultaneous tunable compensation of chromatic dispersion and dispersion slope utilizing a single apparatus. The amount of compensation is accomplished by rotating the transmissive diffracting grating and/or translating the mirror. A system which utilizes the compensator is thus cost effective to manufacture.

US Patent:

7692793, Apr 6, 2010

Filed:

Nov 29, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/998213

Inventors:

Christopher Lin - El Cerrito CA, US

Assignee:

Oclaro North America Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G01N 21/00
G01J 3/50

US Classification:

356402, 356416, 356425

Abstract:

The specification describes an optical wavelength monitor/analyzer that uses a cost effective wavelength reference source. The wavelength reference source is a nominally fixed wavelength laser with inherent tunability over a very limited wavelength range, i. e. a few nanometers. Tuning is effected by changing the temperature of the laser. The limited range is useful for making multiple wavelength measurements in the context of analyzing wavelength drift in tunable optical filters.

US Patent:

7949257, May 24, 2011

Filed:

Nov 12, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/938754

Inventors:

Christopher Lin - El Cerrito CA, US
Mark Summa - Painted Post NY, US
Martin Williams - Corning NY, US
Douglas Butler - Painted Post NY, US
Peter Wigley - Corning NY, US

Assignee:

Oclaro (North America), Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04B 10/08
H04B 10/12
H04B 10/00
H04J 14/02

US Classification:

398 81, 398 33, 398147, 398159

Abstract:

One embodiment sets forth a technique for measuring chromatic dispersion using reference signals within the operational range of amplifiers used to refresh data signals. One red/blue laser pair in the transmission node is used for measuring dispersion and chromatic dispersion compensation is added at each line node in the system. Since reference and data signals propagate through each amplifier, the reference signals used to measure chromatic dispersion receive the same dispersion compensation (and will have the same residual dispersion) as the data signals. Therefore, any residual dispersion in the data signals will manifest itself in downstream dispersion measurements and, thus, can be corrected. The tunable dispersion compensator in each line node may be set to compensate for the measured dispersion, thereby compensating for both the chromatic dispersion of the link connecting the current node to the prior node and any uncorrected residual dispersion from prior nodes.

US Patent:

8027583, Sep 27, 2011

Filed:

Nov 21, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/313584

Inventors:

Christopher Lin - El Cerrito CA, US

Assignee:

Oclaro (North America), Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04B 10/08

US Classification:

398 9, 398 13, 398 33, 398 85

Abstract:

The specification describes optical performance monitors which are simplified by coupling single tunable optical filters to multiple channels being monitored. Optical measurements for more than one channel may be made simultaneously. The optical system architecture is preferably an optical performance monitor for a WDM system. In a system designed according to the invention n channels may be monitored using n photodetectors, n optical splitters, but only n/2 tunable optical filters. Additional system simplification may be obtained using optical switching elements coupled to the optical splitters.

US Patent:

8064036, Nov 22, 2011

Filed:

Apr 30, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/433769

Inventors:

Xuefeng Yue - San Jose CA, US
Christopher Lin - El Cerrito CA, US
Ruipeng Sun - Pleasanton CA, US
Ruibo Wang - Oak Park CA, US

Assignee:

Oclaro (North America), Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B 6/35
G02F 1/13

US Classification:

349196, 349193, 385 16, 385 18, 385 22, 385140

Abstract:

An optical device has the structure to perform switching and attenuation of an optical beam with reduced polarization dependent loss (PDL). The optical device includes a birefringent displacer and two liquid crystal (LC) structures. The first LC structure is used to condition s-polarized components of the optical beam and the second LC structure is used to condition p-polarized components of the optical beam. Each LC structure has a separate control electrode so that the s-polarized components of the optical beam and the p-polarized components of the optical beam can be conditioned differently and in such a manner that reduces PDL. The optical device may be configured for processing multiple input light beams, such as the multiple wavelength channels de-multiplexed from a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical signal.

US Patent:

8094982, Jan 10, 2012

Filed:

Jan 15, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/014728

Inventors:

Xuehua Wu - Union City CA, US
Haijun Yuan - Pleasanton CA, US
Younsheng Liu - San Jose CA, US
Christopher Lin - El Cerrito CA, US
Giovanni Barbarossa - Saratoga CA, US

Assignee:

Oclaro (North America), Inc. - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B 6/32
G02B 6/42

US Classification:

385 33, 385 31

Abstract:

A fiber lens assembly is configured to optically couple an optical fiber to a signal processing device having free-space optical elements. The fiber lens assembly includes a diverging lens having a focal length that may be around 2 to 6 times the diameter of the optical fiber core. Sensitivity of the fiber lens assembly to angular misalignment and positional displacement is reduced by coupling the optical fiber to the signal processing device using a diverging lens rather than a collimating lens, and by configuring the diverging lens with a suitable focal length.