Patents Examined by G. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7609933
    Abstract: A system for protecting buried optic fibre nodes which permits surface inlay installation of cable without the need to expose free ends of the cable for threading through any apertures, includes a protective housing composed of spaced apart panels which define an interior space. The panels open to expose the interior for installation of a length of cable therein. An insert fits within the space, which includes a channel which is exposed when the panels open for insertion of a cable. The insert includes a void to receive a cable junction box. A removable protective outer casing may be provided, either in the form of a pair of outer walls with a removable cap or base, or a can-like container having a removable top and two or more opposed slots communicating with the upper rim of the container. The housing fits within the container, with the cable entering and exiting through the slots, which also permit a saw cut to pass through the slots to facilitate installation of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Teraspan Networks Inc.
    Inventor: Darren Dofher
  • Patent number: 7605892
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display (LCD) device for switching a display mode between wide and narrow viewing angle, and a method for fabricating the same, is presented. The LCD device has an LCD panel and a viewing angle control cell. The LCD panel has array and color filter substrates and a liquid crystal layer formed between the substrates. The viewing angle control cell contains a lower substrate that contacts the LCD panel and has a first electrode, an upper substrate having a second electrode, and a ferroelectric liquid crystal layer between the upper and lower substrates. The viewing angle control cell switches the LCD device between wide and narrow viewing angle modes when driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: LG. Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyung-Seok Jang, Hyun-Suk Jin
  • Patent number: 7599588
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a connector for an optical imaging probe that includes one or more optical fibers communicating light along the catheter. The device may use multiple sections for simpler manufacturing and ease of assembly during a medical procedure. Light energy to and from a distal minimally-invasive portion of the probe is coupled by the connector to external diagnostic or analytical instrumentation through an external instrumentation lead. Certain examples provide a self-aligning two-section optical catheter with beveled ends, which is formed by separating an optical cable assembly. Techniques for improving light coupling include using a lens between instrumentation lead and probe portions. Techniques for improving the mechanical alignment of a multi-optical fiber catheter include using a stop or a guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Vascular Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eberle, Kenneth N. Bates, William W. Morey
  • Patent number: 7599021
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes, from its back surface side towards its front surface side: a polarization selective reflection plate (12) which reflects x-directional linearly polarized light and transmits y-directional linearly polarized light; a first polarizing plate (4) which transmits the x-directional linearly polarized light; a liquid crystal display panel (13); and a second polarizing plate (8) which transmits the y-directional linearly polarized light. The polarization selective reflection plate (12) is arranged only on a back surface side of the liquid crystal display panel (13). The y-directional linearly polarized light incident on the back surface side is reflected from the polarization selective reflection plate (12), there by protecting privacy. The x-directional linearly polarized light transmitted reaches the front surface side, via the first polarizing plate (4), the liquid crystal display panel (13), and the second polarizing plate (8).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Tsuda, Shun Ueki, Kozo Nakamura, Tokio Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7599594
    Abstract: The present invention is a method of fabricating a waveguide using a sacrificial spacer layer. The first step in this process is to fabricate the underlying optical semiconductor structure. A trench is then etched in this structure and a sacrificial spacer layer is deposited in the trench. The waveguide is then created in the trench on the sacrificial spacer layer. User-defined portions of the sacrificial spacer layer are subsequently removed to create air gaps between the waveguide and the sidewalls of the trench in the optical semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by Director, National Security Agency
    Inventors: John L. Fitz, Daniel S. Hinkel, Scott C. Horst
  • Patent number: 7583873
    Abstract: In assembly of a number of optical devices (optical waveguide devices) to fabricate an optical module, the fabrication method of the optical module comprising: filling a plurality of openings for device mounting, the openings being formed on a platform, with a transparent liquid material; putting an optical waveguide device into at least one of the plurality of openings; and carrying out an active alignment process with the intention that a fine adjustment (waveguide alignment) of the position of each optical device can be realized with ease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Shigenori Oki
  • Patent number: 7583882
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to surface plasmon-polariton waveguides, which can guide ultra-long range surface plasmon-polariton waves. The attenuation of an ultra-long range surface plasmon-polariton waves is much lower than the attenuation of the conventional long range surface plasmon-polariton waves guided with the same kind of metal film or metal strip at the same plasmon-polariton frequency. An exemplary ultra-long range surface plasmon-polariton waveguide disclosed in this disclosure comprises a metal layer, such as a metal film or finite width metal strip, intermediate dielectric layers adjacent to the metal layer, and outer cladding dielectric material. The intermediate dielectric layers redistribute the electromagnetic energy distribution of the surface plasmon-polariton waves so that less of the energy propagates in the metal layer. Therefore, the attenuation of the surface plasmon-polariton wave is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Inventor: Junpeng Guo
  • Patent number: 7574086
    Abstract: Disclosed is installation of an optical fiber composite electric power cable. An installation method of an optical fiber composite electric power cable includes installing an electric power cable including a conductor and an air-blown installation tube therein at an installation region; connecting tubes of adjacent electric power cables to each other, in an electric power cable connection box; and installing an optical fiber unit into the connected tubes by air pressure. Also, a cable structure used for installing the optical fiber composite electric power cable includes a conductor for electric power transmission; an insulator surrounding the conductor; an air-blown installation tube provided outside of the insulator; and a corrosion-protective layer provided to an outermost layer of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: LS Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Duk-Jin Oh, Jong-Cheol Kim
  • Patent number: 7567324
    Abstract: A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having an array substrate and a color filter substrate, a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of data lines arranged vertically and horizontally on the array substrate and defining a plurality of pixel regions, a first thin film transistor formed on the array substrate and having a first gate electrode, a first source electrode, a first drain electrode and a first active layer, and a first compensation pattern formed on at least one side of one of the first source electrode and first drain electrode of the first thin film transistor in a first pixel region at a first position of the plurality of pixel regions such that the first compensation pattern is partially overlapped by the first gate electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kew Seung Lee, Sang Yun Lee
  • Patent number: 7558451
    Abstract: An optical fiber line arranging guide groove capable of sensing optical signals is provided for detecting the status of optical signals in the optical fiber line. Through an optical detection circuit and a display element, the connection status of optical signals for the optical fiber line in the optical fiber line arranging guide groove is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Inventec Multimedia & Telecom (Tianjin) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kevin Lu
  • Patent number: 7554622
    Abstract: In a liquid crystal display device in which in order to prevent image sticking in a half tone type MVA using a floating sub-pixel, a second TFT is provided between a sub-pixel directly connected to a TFT and the floating sub-pixel, its alignment is improved and a display quality is improved. A control capacitance electrode of an adjacent pixel is extended to provide an alignment control electrode in a corner portion of a pixel in which a propagation distance of liquid crystal alignment is long, and the propagation distance of the liquid crystal alignment is shortened, and at the same time, a slit part is formed of electrodes different from each other in voltage polarity to stabilize the alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yohei Nakanishi, Hidefumi Yoshida, Yasutoshi Tasaka
  • Patent number: 7551819
    Abstract: An optical coupler includes a first optical port, a second optical port, a third optical port, and a fourth optical port. The optical coupler further includes a photonic-bandgap fiber having a cladding, a first core, and a second core. The cladding includes a material with a first refractive index and regions within the cladding. The regions have a second refractive index lower than the first refractive index. The first core is substantially surrounded by the cladding. The first core is optically coupled to the first optical port and to the second optical port. The second core is substantially surrounded by the cladding. The second core is optically coupled to the third optical port and to the fourth optical port. At least a portion of the first core is generally parallel to and spaced from at least a portion of the second core such that the first core is optically coupled to the second core. The first core, the second core, or both the first core and the second core is hollow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Vinayak Dangui, Michel J. F. Digonnet, Gordon S. Kino
  • Patent number: 7551810
    Abstract: A fiber optic sensor for sensing the presence of an analyte has a plurality of optical fibers each of which has at least one analyte sensing segment and one or more low loss lead portion, where the optical fibers are disposed on the periphery of a fiber carrier. The analyte sensing segments may be disposed in an offset relationship to provide continuous detection over a desired distance or they may be spaced apart to provide detection at selected locations. More than one set of optical fibers with sensing segments may be combined to provide detection of multiple analytes. Multiple fiber carriers allow each segment or the grouped sets of segments to be coupled together over a distance either in offset relationship or in spaced apart relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Optech Ventures, LLC
    Inventors: Alexander Berger, Robert A. Lieberman
  • Patent number: 7548675
    Abstract: Digital optical cables for communication between digital consumer electronic devices. The digital optical cable can include an optical fiber, a first interface configured to couple a digital source device to a first end of the optical fiber, the first interface can comprise an optical transmitter for receiving an electronic video signal from the digital source device, converting the electronic video signal to an optical signal, and for transmitting the optical signal onto the first end of the optical fiber. A second interface can be configured to couple a digital sink device to a second end of the optical fiber, the second interface comprising an optical receiver for receiving the optical signal transmitted by the optical transmitter from the second end of the optical fiber, converting the optical signal to an electronic video signal, and transmitting the electronic signal to the digital sink device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Jimmy A. Tatum, James K. Guenter
  • Patent number: 7546020
    Abstract: An optical fiber holder automatically corrects the tendency of a buffered optical fiber to bend, can position an optical fiber so as to make contact with the V groove, and can readily perform an operation for positioning the optical fiber. The optical fiber holder includes a base stage having a groove configured and arranged to accommodate a buffered optical fiber or an optical fiber ribbon; and a lid that is disposed above the groove. The lid is openable and closeable and has a restraining member. The restraining member includes a contacting part configured and arranged to bend the buffered optical fiber or optical fiber ribbon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshihiko Honma
  • Patent number: 7542647
    Abstract: An optical transmission unit of an optical reception and transmission module holds a first end portion of the optical waveguide film on the first holding member so that light emitted from the light emitting device is coupled to an incident end surface of the optical waveguide. An optical reception unit holds a second end portion of the optical waveguide film on the second holding member so that light emitted from an emitting end surface of the optical waveguide is received by the light receiving device. At least the optical waveguide film is covered with flame-retardant resin having flame retardancy of HB or higher according to a UL-94 test and a minimum bending radius of the optical waveguide film covered with the flame-retardant resin and having a flame-retardant resin layer formed on its surface is from 1 mm to 3 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemi Ohtsu, Toshihiko Suzuki, Keishi Shimizu, Kazutoshi Yatsuda, Masahiro Igusa, Akira Fujii, Eiichi Akutsu
  • Patent number: 7539371
    Abstract: A micromirror for use in an optical apparatus may comprise a reflective portion, configured to be rotatable about a switching axis and an attenuation axis that is different from the switching axis. The reflective portion may include an edge that is substantially parallel to the attenuation axis. The edge may include one or more edge features that protrude above a plane of the micromirror surface and/or are submerged below the plane of the micromirror surface, and/or have an edge shape that deviates from a straight line. Alternatively, an array of micromirrors may have mirrors characterized by sawtooth features disposed along edges that are substantially parallel to the attenuation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Massimo Martinelli, Long Yang, Mark H. Garrett, Robert Ostrom, Joseph E. Davis
  • Patent number: 7529439
    Abstract: An optical printed circuit board which can transfer optical signal and electric signals simultaneously, and a method of fabricating the optical printed circuit board. An optical printed circuit board which includes an upper cladding layer, a core layer positioned in the upper cladding layer that has a first reflecting surface and a second reflecting surface at both ends to guide optical signals, a lower cladding layer of which one side is in contact with the upper cladding layer and which has a circuit pattern and light connecting bumps on the other side corresponding to the first reflecting surface and the second reflecting surface, may provide the advantage of high optical connection efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-Sung Kim, Je-Gwang Yoo, Han-Seo Cho, Sang-Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 7529454
    Abstract: A photonic crystal may be configured to support a surface state for logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Nathan P. Myhrvold
  • Patent number: 7529456
    Abstract: A photonic crystal may be configured to support a surface state for logic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Inventors: Roderick A. Hyde, Nathan P. Myhrvold