Jahja I. Trisnadi

Overview and applications of Grating-Light-Valve-based optical write engines for high-speed digital imaging

The Grating Light Valve (GLV) is a diffractive MOEMS spatial light modulator capable of very high-speed modulation of light combined with fine gray-scale attenuation. GLV-based products are field-proven in a variety of applications. In this paper, we describe the GLV device, its structure, theory of operation, and optical performance. The versatility and speed of the GLV device are described. We explain how the GLV device is integrated into an optical write engine to create a complete digital imaging system. In addition to the MOEMS die and drive electronics, the light engine also comprises illumination optics, Fourier filter, and imaging optics. We present current applications of the GLV device for high-resolution displays, and computer-to-plate printing, as well as future plans for digital imaging applications opened up by the unique properties of this diffractive MOEMS technology.

Using the Grating Light Valve device as a multichannel variable optical attenuator (VOA) for the 1.55-μm spectral region

The Grating Light ValveTM (GLVtm) spatial light modulator is a unique and proven CMOS process-compatible optical MEMS device. The modulator employs a dynamically adjustable diffraction grating to manipulate an optical signal. Today, the GLVTM technology is successfully used in high-resolution display and imaging systems, where its high efficiency, large dynamic range, precise analog attenuation, fast switching speed, high reliability, high yield, and the ability to integrate thousands of channels into a single device are fundamental advantages. These same properties make the GLVTM device desirable for optical telecommunication applications. The optical properties, functionality, device design, and CMOS processing of the GLVTM will be presented. Challenges and solutions that arise from adapting the current GLVTM technology to optical telecommunications wavelengths will be discussed. Measured results will be presented that describe GLVTM performance parameters, including insertion loss, dynamic range, polarization dependent loss, and spectral attenuation accuracy.

High-performance dynamic gain equalizer for advanced DWDM optical networks

This paper describes a high performance dynamic gain equalizer (DGE) based on a diffractive MEMS structure, called the Grating Light ValveTM (GLVTM) device. The precise attenuation of the GLV-based DGE provides very low spectral ripple after equalization. Additionally, the GLV-based DGE has fine spectral resolution and high dynamic range. This paper will discuss applications of a DGE in optical networks, and experimental results showing performance characteristics of the GLV-based DGE are presented.