We experimentally demonstrate the ultrafast and high-repetition capabilities of a polarization-discriminating symmetric Mach-Zehnder (PD-SMZ) all-optical switch. This switch, as well as an original symmetric Mach-Zehnder (SMZ) all-optical switch, is based on a highly efficient but slowly relaxing band-filling effect that is resonantly excited in a passive InGaAsP bulk waveguide. By using a mechanism that cancels out the effect of the slow relaxation, ultrafast switching is attained. We achieve a switching time of 200 fs and demultiplexing of 1.5 Tbps, showing the applicability of the SMZ or PD-SMZ all-optical switches to optical demultiplexing of well over 1 Tbps for the first time. High-repetition capability, which is another important issue apart from the switching speed, is also verified by using control pulses at a repetition rate of 10.5 GHz. We also discuss the use of nonlinearity in a semiconductor optical amplifier to further reduce the control-pulse energy.

We have been working on a project called ParaBIT (for parallel inter-board optical interconnection technology) to achieve large-capacity switching systems. The ParaBIT module being developed as the first step in this project is a front-end module with 40 channels providing throughput of 28 Gb/s, cost-effectiveness and compactness. To realize the module, this project has developed five novel technologies: (1) 850-nm 10-ch Vertical-cavity Surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays as very cost-effective light sources, (2) new high-density multiport bare fiber connectors that do not need a ferrule and spring, (3) passive optical alignment using polymeric optical waveguide film with a 45-degree mirror for coupling to the optical array chips and the waveguide, (4) transferred multichip bonding to mount optical array chips on a substrate with a positioning error of only a few micrometers, and (5) simple electronic circuits with a fixed-decision-level receiver and an APC-less transmitter, and low power consumption. Experimental results show that the design targets of throughput of 700 Mb/s per channel and a compact and cost-effectiveness structure were met. Thus, ParaBIT is a promising technology for large-capacity switching systems.

To enhance the extinction ratio (ER) of NRZ-to-inverted-RZ converter based on cross-gain compression of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), a modified terahertz optical asymmetric demultiplexer (TOAD) is cascaded. ER is improved from 1.6-6.7 dB to 5.4-14.5 dB, depending on the intensity of input optical NRZ signal. The proposed NRZ-to-inverted-RZ converter enhances and regulates ER to a high value (14.5 dB) for very wide optical NRZ signal intensity range.

Optoelectronic hybrid integration is a promising technology for realizing the optical components needed in optical transmission, switching, and interconnection systems that use wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and time division multiplexing (TDM). We have already developed versatile optical hybrid integrated modules using a silica-based planar lightwave circuit (PLC) platform. However, these modules consist solely of the optoelectronic semiconductor devices such as laser diodes (LDs) and photo diodes (PDs) and monolithic optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs). To carry out high-speed and versatile electric signal processing functions in future network systems, it is necessary to install semiconductor electrical integrated circuits (ICs) on a PLC platform. In this paper, we describe novel technologies for high-speed PLC platforms which make it possible to assemble both ICs and optoelectronic devices. Using these technologies, we fabricated a two-channel hybrid integrated optical transmitter module which is hybrid integrated with an LD array chip and an LD driver IC. On this PLC platform, we use microstrip lines (MSLs) to drive the LD driver IC. We also considered the effect of heat interference on the LD array chip caused by the LD driver IC when designing the layout of the chip assembly region. The LD array chip and the LD driver IC were flip-chip bonded with solder bumps of a different material to avoid any deterioration in the coupling efficiency of the LD array chip. The optical transmitter module we fabricated operated successfully at 9 Gbit/s non-return-zero (NRZ) signal. This approach using a PLC platform for the hybrid integration of an LD array chip and an LD driver IC will carry forward the development of high-speed optoelectronic modules with both optical and electrical signal processing functions.

In this paper, the computational issue in the problem of learning Bayesian belief networks (BBNs) based on the minimum description length (MDL) principle is addressed. Based on an asymptotic formula of description length, we apply the branch and bound technique to finding true network structures. The resulting algorithm searches considerably saves the computation yet successfully searches the network structure with the minimum value of the formula. Thus far, there has been no search algorithm that finds the optimal solution for examples of practical size and a set of network structures in the sense of the maximum posterior probability, and heuristic searches such as K2 and K3 trap in local optima due to the greedy nature even when the sample size is large. The proposed algorithm, since it minimizes the description length, eventually selects the true network structure as the sample size goes to infinity.

Wavelength Division Multiplex (WDM) photonic networks are expected as key for global communication infrastructure. The accurate measurement methods for AWG-MUX/DMUX are desirable for WDM network design. We measured a transfer function matrix of an AWG-MUX to find that polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and polarization dependent loss (PDL) shows the bandpass characteristics, which may limit the maximum size and the bit rate of the system. These bandpass characteristics of PMD and PDL are reproduced by a simple AWG-MUX model: The phase constant difference of 0.5% between orthogonal modes in arrayed waveguides is sufficient to obtain the measured passband characteristics of PMD and PDL. We find phase distribution difference between two orthogonal modes in the arrayed waveguide grating gives arise to complex PMD.

Optoelectronic hybrid integration is a promising technology for realizing the optical components needed in optical transmission, switching, and interconnection systems that use wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) and time division multiplexing (TDM). We have already developed versatile optical hybrid integrated modules using a silica-based planar lightwave circuit (PLC) platform. However, these modules consist solely of the optoelectronic semiconductor devices such as laser diodes (LDs) and photo diodes (PDs) and monolithic optoelectronic integrated circuits (OEICs). To carry out high-speed and versatile electric signal processing functions in future network systems, it is necessary to install semiconductor electrical integrated circuits (ICs) on a PLC platform. In this paper, we describe novel technologies for high-speed PLC platforms which make it possible to assemble both ICs and optoelectronic devices. Using these technologies, we fabricated a two-channel hybrid integrated optical transmitter module which is hybrid integrated with an LD array chip and an LD driver IC. On this PLC platform, we use microstrip lines (MSLs) to drive the LD driver IC. We also considered the effect of heat interference on the LD array chip caused by the LD driver IC when designing the layout of the chip assembly region. The LD array chip and the LD driver IC were flip-chip bonded with solder bumps of a different material to avoid any deterioration in the coupling efficiency of the LD array chip. The optical transmitter module we fabricated operated successfully at 9 Gbit/s non-return-zero (NRZ) signal. This approach using a PLC platform for the hybrid integration of an LD array chip and an LD driver IC will carry forward the development of high-speed optoelectronic modules with both optical and electrical signal processing functions.

To enhance the extinction ratio (ER) of NRZ-to-inverted-RZ converter based on cross-gain compression of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), a modified terahertz optical asymmetric demultiplexer (TOAD) is cascaded. ER is improved from 1.6-6.7 dB to 5.4-14.5 dB, depending on the intensity of input optical NRZ signal. The proposed NRZ-to-inverted-RZ converter enhances and regulates ER to a high value (14.5 dB) for very wide optical NRZ signal intensity range.

A pipelined architecture is proposed for the normalized least mean square (NLMS) adaptive digital filter (ADF). Pipelined implementation of the NLMS has not yet been proposed. The proposed architecture is the first attempt to implement the NLMS ADF in the pipelined fashion. The architecture is based on an equivalent expression of the NLMS derived in this study. It is shown that the proposed architecture achieves a constant and a short critical path without producing output latency. In addition, it retains the advantage of the NLMS, i. e. , that the step size that assures the convergence is determined automatically. Computer simulation results that confirm that the proposed architecture achieves convergence characteristics identical to those of the NLMS.

Recent work in the area of ultrafast optical time-division multiplexed (OTDM) networking at MIT Lincoln Laboratory is presented. A scalable helical local area network or HLAN architecture, presented elsewhere as an architecture well-suited to ultrafast OTDM LANs and MANs, is considered in the context of wide area networking. Two issues arise in scaling HLAN to the wide area. The first is protocol extension, and the second is supporting the required bandwidth on the long-haul links. In this paper we discuss these challenges and describe progress made in both architecture and technologies required for scaling HLAN to the wide area.

A 116 arrayed waveguide grating multiplexer operating around 1550 nm has been realized using newly synthesized fluorinated poly(arylene ethers). The channel spacing is 0.8 nm (100 GHz). The insertion loss of the multiplexer is 17-20 dB and the cross talk is less than -15 dB. The propagation loss of a rib waveguide is less than 0.5 dB/cm at 1550 nm.

The hybrid electrical/optical multi-chip integration technique for optical modules for optical network system has been developed. Employing the technique, a 44 broadcast-and-select type optical matrix switch module has been realized. The module consists of four sets of silica waveguide 1 : 4 splitters/4 : 1 combiners, four 4-channel arrays of polarization insensitive semiconductor optical amplifiers with spot-size converters as optical gates, printed wiring chips for electrical wiring and single mode fibers for optical signal interface on planar waveguide platform fabricated by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition. All the gates and the wiring chips were mounted precisely onto the platform at once in flip-chip manner by self-align technique using AuSn solder bumps. Coupling loss between the waveguide and the SOA gate was estimated to be 4.5 dB. Averaged fiber-to-fiber signal gain, on-off ratio and polarization dependent loss for each of the signal paths was 7 dB 2 dB, more than 40 dB and 0.5 dB, respectively. High speed 10 Gb/s photonic cell switching as short as 2 nsec has been successfully achieved.

The hybrid electrical/optical multi-chip integration technique for optical modules for optical network system has been developed. Employing the technique, a 44 broadcast-and-select type optical matrix switch module has been realized. The module consists of four sets of silica waveguide 1 : 4 splitters/4 : 1 combiners, four 4-channel arrays of polarization insensitive semiconductor optical amplifiers with spot-size converters as optical gates, printed wiring chips for electrical wiring and single mode fibers for optical signal interface on planar waveguide platform fabricated by atmospheric pressure chemical vapor deposition. All the gates and the wiring chips were mounted precisely onto the platform at once in flip-chip manner by self-align technique using AuSn solder bumps. Coupling loss between the waveguide and the SOA gate was estimated to be 4.5 dB. Averaged fiber-to-fiber signal gain, on-off ratio and polarization dependent loss for each of the signal paths was 7 dB 2 dB, more than 40 dB and 0.5 dB, respectively. High speed 10 Gb/s photonic cell switching as short as 2 nsec has been successfully achieved.

The tera-bit order capacity of ultrahigh-speed and wide-band networks will become necessary to provide highly advanced multimedia services. In conventional networks, electronic circuits limit the speed capability of the networks. Consequently, all-optical networks are essential to realize ultrahigh-speed and wide-band communications. In this paper, we propose the configuration of an all-optical code division multiplexing (CDM) switching network based on self-routing principles and the structure of a nonlinear all-optical switching device as one of the key components for the network. We show that the required performances of the optical devices used in the CDM switching fabric are lower than those used in the TDM and illustrate the basic transmission characteristics of the switching device utilizing FD-BPM. To evaluate the multiplexing performance, we demonstrate the maximum number of channels under an error-free condition and the BER characteristics when the Gold sequence is applied as one of the CDM code sets, and show that the network of the sub-tera-bit order capacity is realizable by adopting TDM, WDM and CDM technologies. We also illustrate the packet assembly method suitable for self-routing transmissions and one of network architectures where the proposed switching fabric can be exploited.

We experimentally demonstrate the ultrafast and high-repetition capabilities of a polarization-discriminating symmetric Mach-Zehnder (PD-SMZ) all-optical switch. This switch, as well as an original symmetric Mach-Zehnder (SMZ) all-optical switch, is based on a highly efficient but slowly relaxing band-filling effect that is resonantly excited in a passive InGaAsP bulk waveguide. By using a mechanism that cancels out the effect of the slow relaxation, ultrafast switching is attained. We achieve a switching time of 200 fs and demultiplexing of 1.5 Tbps, showing the applicability of the SMZ or PD-SMZ all-optical switches to optical demultiplexing of well over 1 Tbps for the first time. High-repetition capability, which is another important issue apart from the switching speed, is also verified by using control pulses at a repetition rate of 10.5 GHz. We also discuss the use of nonlinearity in a semiconductor optical amplifier to further reduce the control-pulse energy.

Predicate Circumscription is a fundamental formalization of common sense reasoning. In this paper, we study a new approximation formula of it. In our previous works, we investigated Lifschitz's pointwise circumscription and its generalization, which functions as a finite approximation to predicate circumscription in the first-order framework. In this paper, at first, we study the ability of the generalized pointwise circumscription more closely, and give a simple example which shows that it cannot be complete even when a minimized predicate has only finite extension on the minimal models. Next, we introduce a new approximation formula, called finite constructive circumscription, in order to overcome that limitation. Finally, we compare expressive power of the two approximation methods with of predicate circumscription schema, and propose a open problem that should be solved to clarify that the completeness of predicate circumscription schema with respect to minimal model semantics.

In this paper, we introduce a processor called Media Core Processor (MCP), which targets a system solution for consumer multimedia products. MCP is a heterogeneous multi-processor system designed to guarantee full frame MPEG decoding, and to reduce power consumption. In our processor architecture, each processing unit is optimized to support various characteristics of media processing. All processing units work in parallel in a macro-pipeline manner, thereby achieving high utilization of the processing units. A performance evaluation shows that audio/video full-frame decoding can be realized on 54 MHz operating frequency without any support from external hardware or a CPU. In addition, the high programmability of the MCP provides flexibility and reduces the time-to-market.

We have been working on a project called ParaBIT (for parallel inter-board optical interconnection technology) to achieve large-capacity switching systems. The ParaBIT module being developed as the first step in this project is a front-end module with 40 channels providing throughput of 28 Gb/s, cost-effectiveness and compactness. To realize the module, this project has developed five novel technologies: (1) 850-nm 10-ch Vertical-cavity Surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) arrays as very cost-effective light sources, (2) new high-density multiport bare fiber connectors that do not need a ferrule and spring, (3) passive optical alignment using polymeric optical waveguide film with a 45-degree mirror for coupling to the optical array chips and the waveguide, (4) transferred multichip bonding to mount optical array chips on a substrate with a positioning error of only a few micrometers, and (5) simple electronic circuits with a fixed-decision-level receiver and an APC-less transmitter, and low power consumption. Experimental results show that the design targets of throughput of 700 Mb/s per channel and a compact and cost-effectiveness structure were met. Thus, ParaBIT is a promising technology for large-capacity switching systems.

Wavelength division multiplex (WDM) photonic networks are expected as the key for the global communication infrastructure. Recent increase of communication demands require large-scale highly-dense WDM systems, which results in severe requirements for optical cross-connect systems, such as cross-talk specification. In this paper, we propose a new optical path cross-connect system (OPXC) using matrix-WDM scheme, which makes it possible to reduce cross-talk requirements of WDM filters and to construct OPXC in modular structures. The matrix-WDM scheme is a concept of two-layered optical paths, which provides wavelength group managements in the fiber dispersion equalization and EDFA gain equalization.

Speech signals transmitted over telephone network often suffer from interference due to ambient noise and channel distortion. In this paper, a novel frame-dependent fuzzy channel compensation (FD-FCC) method employing two-stage bias subtraction is proposed to minimize the channel effect. First, through maximum likelihood (ML) estimation over the set of all word models, we choose the word model which is best matched with the input utterance. Then, based upon this word model, a set of mixture biases can be derived by averaging the cepstral differences between the input utterance and the chosen model. In the second stage, instead of using a single bias, a frame-dependent bias is calculated for each input frame to equalize the channel variations in the input utterance. This frame-dependent bias is achieved by the convex combination of those mixture biases which are weighted by a fuzzy membership function. Experimental results show that the channel effect can be effectively canceled even though the additive background noise is involved in a telephone speech recognition system.