Abstract: An in-line, distributed optical fiber filter comprises a core region with a raised refractive index (with respect to the surrounding cladding material) so as to allow for total internal reflection (TIR) of the desired transmission wavelength(s). One or more raised index features are formed within the cladding region and are configured so as to result in mode mixing between the cladding mode and core mode at determined wavelength(s) to be removed by filtering. The parameters associated with determining the proper core specifications and cladding specifications can be separately determined to provide for enhanced performance in terms of both filtering unwanted signals and propagation of desired communication signals.

Abstract: Computer-aided design (CAD) tools are used to perform the integrated design, verification and layout of electrical and optical components in a monolithic, silicon-based electro-optic chip. Separate top-level behavioral logic designs are prepared for the three different types of elements included within the final, silicon-based monolithic structure: (1) digital electronic integrated circuit elements; (2) analog/mixed signal electronic integrated circuit elements; and (3) opto-electronic elements (including passive and active optical elements). Once the behavioral logic design is completed, the results are combined and co-simulated. A physical layout design is developed and verified for each different type of element in the circuit. The separate physical layouts are then co-verified, to assess the properties of the overall physical design.

Abstract: An optical fiber coil of sub-micron diameter is shown to exhibit self-coupling between adjacent turns so as to form a three-dimensional optical resonator of relatively low loss and high Q. As long as the pitch of the coil and propagating wavelength remain on the same order (or less than) the fiber diameter, resonance may occur. Resonances can be induced by allowing adjacent turns of the coil to touch each other. Optical devices such as resonators and interferometers may then be formed from such “microcoils” that exhibit superior characteristics to conventional planar devices. A method of forming such a microfiber using indirect laser heating is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning polishing pads that utilize an apertured conditioning disk for introducing operation-specific slurries, without the need for additional tooling, platens, and materials handling. The method and apparatus utilize a vacuum capability to pull waste material out of the conditioning pad and through the apertured conditioning disk to evacuate the apparatus through an outlet port, the apparatus may also include self-contained flushing means and a piezo-electric device for vibrating the pad conditioning apparatus.

Abstract: A large mode area (LMA) fiber with improved resistance to bend-induced distortions utilizes highly oscillatory modes such that the effective index of the propagating modes remains less than the bent-fiber “equivalent” refractive index over a greater portion of the core. By providing a signal mode with a reduced effective index, the “forbidden” (evanescent) region of the core is reduced, and bend-induced distortion of the propagating mode is largely avoided.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for performing surface microscopy of an optical device uses an optical fiber taper including a microsphere endpoint as a near field probe. A transmission fiber is disposed adjacent to the microsphere so as to evanescently couple an optical test signal into the microsphere. A series of extremely narrow whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonances are created within the microsphere, with an associated electromagnetic field radiating outward therefrom. The microsphere probe may then be moved over the surface of an optical device being analyzed (or the device translated underneath the microsphere), where any abnormalities in the surface (such as defects, scratches and the like) will perturb the electromagnetic field pattern and be reflected in changes in the measured output power from the microsphere.

Abstract: A CMP conditioning apparatus enhanced end effector arm for improving the reliability of the apparatus and the quality of the conditioning and polishing operations includes a conditioner head with features that provide for simplified alignment/attachment of a conditioning disk to the arm, while also providing a “quick release” mechanism for maintenance operations. The enhanced arm also includes an improved actuator that provides for a static friction (“stiction”)-free movement of the arm and better control of the downforce applied by the conditioning disk to the polishing pad. A dual-drive pulley system is used within the enhanced end effector arm to minimize the tilting of the drive belts within the effector arm as the arm pivots to follow the contour of an “aging” polishing pad.

Abstract: A system and method for providing polarization-independent optical sampling utilizes a differential group delay (DGD) element to split a sampling pulse source (SPS) into orthogonal components by controlling the state of polarization of the SPS at the DGD element input. The orthogonally-polarized sampling pulse components then each interact with the input optical signal waveform in a polarization-dependent sampling gate, creating two samples for each original sampling pulse. The generated samples are converted into the electrical domain by a photodetector with an impulse response time longer than that associated with the DGD element, resulting in a single impulse response representing the combined energy of the two samples that is independent of the state of polarization of the input optical signal waveform.

Abstract: An arrangement for actively controlling, in two dimensions, the manipulation of light within an SOI-based optical structure utilizes doped regions formed within the SOI layer and a polysilicon layer of a silicon-insulator-silicon capacitive (SISCAP) structure. The regions are oppositely doped so as to form an active device, where the application of a voltage potential between the oppositely doped regions functions to modify the refractive index in the affected area and alter the properties of an optical signal propagating through the region. The doped regions may be advantageously formed to exhibit any desired “shaped” (such as, for example, lenses, prisms, Bragg gratings, etc.), so as to manipulate the propagating beam as a function of the known properties of these devices. One or more active devices of the present invention may be included within a SISCAP formed, SOI-based optical element (such as, for example, a Mach-Zehnder interferometer, ring resonator, optical switch, etc.

Abstract: A system and method for providing process control in a CMP system utilizes a vacuum-assisted arrangement for conditioning a wafer polishing pad so that the effluent (i.e., wafer debris, polishing slurry, chemical or other by-products) from the conditioning process is diverted from the waste stream and instead introduced into an analysis module for further processing. The analysis module functions to determine at least one parameter within the effluent and generate a process control signal based upon the analysis. The process control signal is then fed back to the planarization process to allow for the control of various parameters such as polishing slurry composition, temperature, flow rate, etc. The process control signal can also be used to control the conditioning process and/or determining the endpoint of the planarization process itself.

Abstract: A method and structure for reducing optical signal loss in a silicon waveguide formed within a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) structure uses CMOS processing techniques to round the edges/corners of the silicon material along the extent of the waveguiding region. One exemplary set of processes utilizes an additional, sacrificial silicon layer that is subsequently etched to form silicon sidewall fillets along the optical waveguide, the fillets thus “rounding” the edges of the waveguide. Alternatively, the sacrificial silicon layer can be oxidized to consume a portion of the underlying silicon waveguide layer, also rounding the edges. Instead of using a sacrificial silicon layer, an oxidation-resistant layer may be patterned over a blanket silicon layer, the pattern defined to protect the optical waveguiding region.

Abstract: A teaching aid for instructing proper finger position on a “fret-less” stringed instrument (for example, violin, viola, cello, bass) comprises a template that is positioned along the fingerboard at the proper finger position location (i.e., “first position”) for the first four half-steps associated with each string. A set of raised, “Braille-like” features is formed as a grid pattern on the surface of the template, with each row of features associated with each tone half step. Each “row” contains a set of three raised features—a separate feature located between an adjacent pair of strings. Once the template is properly positioned, the raised features are pressed out of the template and transferred to adhere to the fingerboard. By locating the raised features between the strings, the teaching aid does not interfere with sound quality or the ability to induce vibrato to the playing, while still providing a tactile clue for the proper note location for intonation purposes.

Abstract: A planar optical isolator is formed within the silicon surface layer of an SOI structure. A forward-directed signal is applied to an input waveguiding section of the isolator and thereafter propagates through a non-reciprocal waveguide coupling region into an output waveguide section. A rearward-directed signal enters via the output waveguide section and is thereafter coupled into the non-reciprocal waveguide structure, where the geometry of the structure functions to couple only a small amount of the reflected signal into the input waveguide section. In one embodiment, the non-reciprocal structure comprises an N-way directional coupler (with one output waveguide, one input waveguide and N?1 isolating waveguides).

Abstract: A wafer-level testing arrangement for opto-electronic devices formed in a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer structure utilizes a single opto-electronic testing element to perform both optical and electrical testing. Beam steering optics may be formed on the testing element and used to facilitate the coupling between optical probe signals and optical coupling elements (e.g., prism couplers, gratings) formed on the top surface of the SOI structure. The optical test signals are thereafter directed into optical waveguides formed in the top layer of the SOI structure. The opto-electronic testing element also comprises a plurality of electrical test pins that are positioned to contact a plurality of bondpad test sites on the opto-electronic device and perform electrical testing operations. The optical test signal results may be converted into electrical representations within the SOI structure and thus returned to the testing element as electrical signals.

Abstract: An electro-optic modulator arrangement for achieving switching speeds greater than 1 Gb/s utilizes pre-emphasis pulses to accelerate the change in refractive index of the optical waveguide used to form the electro-optic modulator. In one embodiment, a feedback loop may be added to use a portion of the modulated optical output signal to adjust the magnitude and duration of the pre-emphasis pulses, as well as the various reference levels used for modulated. For free carrier-based electro-optic modulators, including silicon-based electro-optic modulators, the pre-emphasis pulses are used to accelerate the movement of free carriers at the transitions between input signal data values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for conditioning polishing pads that utilize an apertured conditioning disk for introducing operation-specific slurries, without the need for additional tooling, platens, and materials handling. The a method and apparatus utilize a vacuum capability to pull waste material out of the conditioning pad and through the apertured conditioning disk to evacuate the apparatus through an outlet port, the apparatus may also include self-contained flushing means and a piezo-electric device for vibrating the pad conditioning apparatus.

Abstract: A trapezoidal shaped single-crystal silicon prism is formed and permanently attached to an SOI wafer, or any structure including a silicon optical waveguide. In order to provide efficient optical coupling, the dopant species and concentration within the silicon waveguide is chosen such that the refractive index of the silicon waveguide is slightly less than that of the prism coupler (refractive index of silicon?3.5). An intermediate evanescent coupling layer, disposed between the waveguide and the prism coupler, comprises a refractive index less than both the prism and the waveguide. In one embodiment, the evanescent coupling layer comprises a constant thickness. In an alternative embodiment, the evanescent coupling layer may be tapered to improve coupling efficiency between the prism and the waveguide. Methods of making the coupling arrangement are also disclosed.

Abstract: A coupling arrangement for allowing multiple wavelengths to be coupled into and out of a relatively thin silicon optical waveguide layer utilizes a diffractive optical element, in the form of a volume phase grating, in combination with a prism coupling structure. The diffractive optical element is formed to comprise a predetermined modulation index sufficient to diffract the various wavelengths through angles associated with improving the coupling efficiency of each wavelength into the silicon waveguide. The diffractive optical element may be formed as a separate element, or formed as an integral part of the coupling facet of the prism coupler.

Abstract: A play cube comprises a set of at least four pictorial representations of different emotional states (e.g., “happy”, “sad”, “angry”, “proud”), with each state depicted on a different face of the cube. One other face of the cube may included a mirrored surface. The cube is used to assist children in learning and identifying emotional states using various processes: visual (seeing lenticular holographic photos), spatial (drawing facial elements of emotional sates), auditory (recording and hearing their own voices depicting emotional states). One embodiment of the inventive play cube includes an embedded game/song element, where the child can respond to different requests within the game/song by touching the associated (matching) face on the cube.