Patents Examined by Ellen E. Kim
  • Patent number: 11486973
    Abstract: An optoelectronic sensor is provided having a light receiver, a reception optics arranged upstream of the light receiver, and a control and evaluation unit, wherein the reception optics has a beam deflection device having a plurality of switchable blaze gratings of different grating constants arranged behind one another, and wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to switch a blaze grating on and off in accordance with a desired deflection angle of the beam deflection device have the same grating constants, but a mutually different blaze angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SICK AG
    Inventors: Hartmut Gimpel, Thomas Russ
  • Patent number: 11480736
    Abstract: A fiber-to-chip coupler includes a substrate, a waveguide on a top surface of the substrate, an optical fiber axially aligned to the waveguide, and a cap. The waveguide has a uniform region with uniform width and a tapered-waveguide region having a width that adiabatically increases from a minimum width to the uniform width. The optical fiber has a tapered fiber tip having a minimum core diameter, a cylindrical section having a maximum core diameter, and a tapered-fiber section therebetween. The optical fiber is located at least in part above the tapered-waveguide region, and has a core diameter that adiabatically decreases within a taper length of the tapered-fiber section. The cap extends from the tapered fiber tip toward the cylindrical section, is formed of a second material having a cap refractive index that exceeds a refractive index of the optical fiber, and includes a cap-region disposed on the tapered-waveguide region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Sec. of Commerce
    Inventors: Saeed Khan, Jeffrey Shainline
  • Patent number: 11480741
    Abstract: Connector assemblies are described herein. For example, a connector assembly including: a housing configured to accept a first ferrule and a second ferrule. The connector assembly may also have a push/pull clip that is configured to depress a protrusion that rotates down a connector device to remove the connector assembly from an adapter. The push/pull clip is integrated with a cable boot assembly that allows a user to apply a distal force to remove or insert the connector assembly into the adapter housing. The push/pull clip is configured for use to release a MPO and LC connector type from an adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Senko Advanced Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Man Ming Ho, Kazuyoshi Takano
  • Patent number: 11480732
    Abstract: An optical connection structure includes a PLC that is an optical waveguide chip including an optical waveguide and at least one groove formed on a substrate, and at least one optical fiber that is fitted into the at least one groove of the PLC. The PLC includes the optical waveguide, at least one grating coupler that is optically connected to the optical waveguide, and the at least one groove formed at a position in a vicinity of the at least one grating coupler in a cladding layer in which the optical waveguide is formed. An optical fiber of the at least one optical fiber is fitted into a groove of the at least one groove such that an end surface of the optical fiber is located in a vicinity of a grating coupler of the at least one grating coupler, the optical fiber being optically connected to the grating coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Kota Shikama, Yuko Kawajiri, Atsushi Aratake
  • Patent number: 11480750
    Abstract: A communication system may include a first chassis having first and second side walls and adapted to slidably receive therein a plurality of cassettes. A first cable hanger assembly may have a first side edge hingedly coupled to the first side wall of the first chassis, the first cable hanger assembly including a plurality of first hangers adapted to support cables thereon. An axis of rotation of the first cable hanger assembly may be substantially orthogonal to a direction in which the plurality of cassettes are slideable. The cable hanger assembly may be rotatable from a first position to a second position so that during rotation from the first position to the second position, the plurality of first hangers move toward front faces of the plurality of cassettes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takeuchi, Haiguang Lu, Alla Shtabnaya, Frank Rumore, Patrick Anderson
  • Patent number: 11480724
    Abstract: An apparatus with a grating structure and a method for forming the same are disclosed. The grating structure includes forming a recess in a grating layer. A plurality of channels is formed in the grating layer to define slanted grating structures therein. The recess and the slanted grating structures are formed using a selective etch process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Morgan Evans, Rutger Meyer Timmerman Thijssen
  • Patent number: 11473943
    Abstract: An optical fiber sensor includes an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes a cladding having a cladding refractive index, and a plurality of fiber cores embedded in the cladding and extending along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. The plurality of fiber cores include a first subset of at least one first fiber core and a second subset of at least one second fiber core. The at least one first fiber core has a first core refractive index different from the cladding refractive index and a first core radius in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. The at least one second fiber core has a second core refractive index different from the cladding refractive index and a second core radius transverse to the longitudinal axis. The second core refractive index and the second core radius differ from the first core refractive index and the first core radius such that a temperature sensitivity of the at least one second fiber core differs from the temperature sensitivity of the first fiber core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignees: FUJIKURA LTD., KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Jan Lambertus Horikx, Gert Wim 'T Hooft, Anna Hendrika Van Dusschoten, Shingo Matsushita, Ichii Kentaro
  • Patent number: 11467007
    Abstract: An improved optical fiber distributed acoustic sensor system uses an optical fiber having reflector portions distributed along its length in at least a first portion. The reflector portions are positioned along the fiber separated by a distance that is equivalent to twice the distance an optical pulse travels along the fiber in a single sampling period of the data acquisition opto-electronics within the sensor system. No oversampling of the reflections of the optical pulses from the reflector portions is undertaken. The sampling points for data acquisition in the sensor system are aligned with the reflections that arrive at the sensor system from along the sensing fiber. Adaptive delay componentry adaptively aligns the reflected optical signals (or their electrical analogues) with the sampling points. Control over the sampling points can re-synchronise the sampling points with the returning reflections. Reflection equalisation componentry may reduce the dynamic range of the returning reflections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignees: Silixa Ltd., Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Sergey Shatalin, Julian Dajczgewand, Mahmoud Farhadiroushan, Tom Parker
  • Patent number: 11467467
    Abstract: Reflection between a Mach-Zehnder modulator and a termination resistor is suppressed. An optical modulator includes a differential drive open collector driver IC, a differential drive semiconductor Mach-Zehnder modulator, and a differential terminator. The Mach-Zehnder modulator includes waveguides and a differential high-frequency line. The differential terminator includes a differential high-frequency line and termination resistors. The differential high-frequency line includes a capacity provided at least one of between signal lines and between a signal line and a ground line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Josuke Ozaki, Shigeru Kanazawa, Hiromasa Tanobe
  • Patent number: 11467351
    Abstract: An expanded beam connector has a MOST ferrule; a fiber to be retained within the MOST ferrule; and, a collimating lens abutting the fiber for expanding the optical beam of the fiber wherein the lens and fiber are in alignment to a common optic axis. In one embodiment, the collimating lens can have a conical cutout configured to aid in aligning the fiber to the common optic axis. In another embodiment, the collimating lens can have a semi-cylindrical tab protruding from the rear with a V-groove configured to interact with a flexible feature on the interior of the ferrule to align the fiber to the common optic axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventors: Richard J. Pimpinella, Frank J. Graczyk, Surendra Chitti Babu
  • Patent number: 11467363
    Abstract: A breakout device for mid-span fiber separation. First and second portions that each have a hollow interior space that defines a first part of a primary interior pathway and that defines a first part of a secondary interior pathway that branches away from the primary pathway. The first and second portions together bound the primary and secondary pathways. The first and second portions together define: a first entrance orifice, a second exit orifice and a third exit orifice. The first and second portions are configured to permit in-situ placement of the device upon elongated fibers. All the fibers extend through the first entrance orifice at the entrance to the primary pathway, a first group of the fibers extend through the second exit orifice at an exit from the primary pathway, and a second group of the fibers extend through the third exit orifice at an exit from the secondary pathway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Preformed Line Products Co.
    Inventors: Cameron Clines, Dan Levac, Matt Becker
  • Patent number: 11460654
    Abstract: A cable assembly is provided, adapted to be installed into a duct by means of a combination of blowing and mechanical feeding. The cable assembly comprises: at least one flexible signal transmitting member for transmitting optical signals, a first layer surrounding said at least one signal transmitting member such that at least one signal transmitting member is in touching contact with said first layer, and a second layer arranged outwardly of said first layer, said second layer being a non-thermoplastic layer comprising a non-thermoplastic, crosslinked polyethylene material. A method of producing the cable assembly is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Hexatronic Cables & Interconnect Systems AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Skärgård, Jonas Ekstedt, Anders Lindroth, Roger Färlin
  • Patent number: 11460648
    Abstract: Systems and methods described herein relate to the manufacture of optical elements and optical systems. An example method includes providing a first substrate that has a plurality of light-emitter devices disposed on a first surface. The method includes providing a second substrate that has a mounting surface defining a reference plane. The method includes forming a structure and an optical spacer on the mounting surface of the second substrate. The method additionally includes coupling the first and second substrates together such that the first surface of the first substrate faces the mounting surface of the second substrate at an angle with respect to the reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2022
    Assignee: Waymo LLC
    Inventors: Pierre-Yves Droz, David Schleuning
  • Patent number: 11454832
    Abstract: A ring resonator optical modulator comprises: an optical region in which optical radiation can propagate in a circular path having an inner radius and an outer radius coincident with an outer perimeter of the ring resonator optical modulator; a MOS capacitor structure having an upper gate device layer and a lower body device layer, and an insulating material being disposed between the upper gate device layer and the lower body device layer; and a cladding region. The optical radiation is confined within the optical region. The insulating material has a first region disposed in the optical region having a first thickness and a second region having a second thickness greater than the first thickness, the second region being disposed radially inwardly from the inner radius of the optical region, such that the optical radiation is radially confined toward the outer side of the inner radius of the optical region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: Trustees of Boston University
    Inventors: Hayk Gevorgyan, Milos Popovic
  • Patent number: 11442222
    Abstract: Improvements to gratings for use in waveguides and methods of producing them are described herein. Deep surface relief gratings (SRGs) may offer many advantages over conventional SRGs and Bragg gratings, an important one being a higher S-diffraction efficiency. In one embodiment, deep SRGs can be implemented as polymer surface relief gratings or evacuated Bragg gratings (EBGs). EBGs can be formed by first recording a holographic polymer dispersed liquid crystal (HPDLC) grating. Removing the liquid crystal from the cured grating provides a polymer surface relief grating. Polymer surface relief gratings have many applications including for use in waveguide-based displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: DigiLens Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan David Waldern, Alastair John Grant, Milan Momcilo Popovich, Shibu Abraham, Baeddan George Hill, Tsung-Jui Ho
  • Patent number: 11442237
    Abstract: A bracket may include a structural portion including at least one relatively rigid first material, and a sealing portion including at least one relatively elastic second material. The bracket may also include a first receiver including a first retainer portion configured to be coupled to an end of a first frame member, and a first sealing interface configured to provide a substantially fluid-resistant seal between a portion of the end of the first frame member and the first receiver. The corner bracket may also include a second receiver substantially parallel to the first receiver and including a second retainer portion configured to be coupled to an end of a second frame member, and a second sealing interface configured to provide a substantially fluid-resistant seal between a portion of the end of the second frame member and the second receiver. The bracket may be incorporated into a cabinet frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation
    Inventors: William Julius McPhil Giraud, Brian Duane Kingsbury, Robert Tomasz Klak
  • Patent number: 11442230
    Abstract: An optical structure may be provided by forming a silicon grating structure over a dielectric material layer, depositing at least one dielectric material layer over the silicon grating structure, and depositing at least one dielectric etch stop layer over the at least one dielectric material layer. The at least one dielectric etch stop layer includes at least one dielectric material selected from silicon nitride and silicon oxynitride. A passivation dielectric layer may be formed over the at least one dielectric etch stop layer, and a patterned etch mask layer may be formed over the passivation dielectric layer. An opening may be formed through an unmasked portion of the passivation dielectric layer by performing an anisotropic etch process that etches the dielectric material selective to a silicon nitride or silicon oxynitride using the patterned etch mask layer as a masking structure. The at least one etch mask layer minimizes overetching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited
    Inventors: Yueh Ying Lee, Chien-Ying Wu, Sui-Ying Hsu, Chen-Hao Huang, Chien-Chang Lee, Chia-Ping Lai
  • Patent number: 11442296
    Abstract: An optical attenuating structure is provided. The optical attenuating structure includes a substrate, a waveguide, doping regions, an optical attenuating member, and a dielectric layer. The waveguide is extended over the substrate. The doping regions are disposed over the substrate, and include a first doping region, a second doping region opposite to the first doping region and separated from the first doping region by the waveguide, a first electrode extended over the substrate and in the first doping region, and a second electrode extended over the substrate and in the second doping region. The first optical attenuating member is coupled with the waveguide and disposed between the waveguide and the first electrode. The dielectric layer is disposed over the substrate and covers the waveguide, the doping regions and the first optical attenuating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY LTD.
    Inventors: Huan-Neng Chen, Feng-Wei Kuo, Min-Hsiang Hsu, Lan-Chou Cho, Chewn-Pu Jou, Wen-Shiang Liao
  • Patent number: 11428864
    Abstract: An optical waveguide includes a core, a first cladding, a second cladding, and a heater. The first cladding configured to cover the core. The second cladding disposed over the first cladding. The heater disposed over the second cladding to heat the core. The first cladding and the second cladding are silicon oxide films. A first fixed charge density of the first cladding is lower than a second fixed charge density of the second cladding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Tokuharu Kimura
  • Patent number: 11428871
    Abstract: An optical device for coupling light propagating between a waveguide and an optical transmission component is provided. The optical device including a taper portion and a grating portion. The grating portion is connected to the taper portion. The grating portion includes grating patterns. Ends of the grating patterns are separated from an outer edge of the optical device by a distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chan-Hong Chern