Patents Examined by G. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7526147
    Abstract: An intensity modulated broadband optical signal source is arranged to produce optical signals in a plurality of wavelength bands. A demultiplexer/multiplexer pair receives optical signals from the optical signal source and produces a separate optical signal for each wavelength band. An optical coupler is arranged to receive the separate optical signals. Optical fiber loops connected to the optical coupler guides both clockwise and counter clockwise waves for each of the separate optical signals. The optical signals propagate through a sensor in each loop and then combine in the optical coupler to form a plurality of interference signals in each wavelength band. A multiplexer is optically coupled to the optical coupler to receive the interference signals therefrom, and a detector array having a selected detector corresponding to the each of the plurality of wavelength bands is arranged to provide an electrical signal that indicates the interference signals for each wavelength band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman, Inc.
    Inventor: A. Douglas Meyer
  • Patent number: 7526148
    Abstract: An acoustic sensor includes at least one photonic crystal structure having at least one optical resonance with a resonance frequency and a resonance lineshape. The acoustic sensor further includes a housing substantially surrounding the at least one photonic crystal structure and mechanically coupled to the at least one photonic crystal structure. At least one of the resonance frequency and the resonance lineshape is responsive to acoustic waves incident upon the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Onur Kilic, Olav Solgaard, Michel J. F. Digonnet, Gordon S. Kino
  • Patent number: 7522804
    Abstract: In an optical transmission node, a plurality of shelves, respectively connected to a plurality of optical cables having limitations on bending radius, are stored in one rack of the node. In a shelf body thereof, the first and second opening portions are made in a front surface, and an extra-cable looping device loops an extra portion of the optical cable, further a moving mechanism is provided for moving the extra-cable looping device to avoid a space occupied by the units in a state removed from the second opening portion, this enables extra-cable handling within a limited spatial range and the insertion/removal of the units having various functions from the shelf in a state where the cable is active and further the improvement of a shelf mounting density per rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hideo Araki, Katsumi Kanasaki, Hirofumi Imabayashi, Kenji Toshimitsu, Yuichi Nakanishi
  • Patent number: 7522796
    Abstract: A camera (1) has a tubular housing (3) having an emission window (7). A unitized optical fiber bundle (9) is provided on the inner surface of the housing (3) by utilizing a bundle of light guiding optical fibers on the inner surface. The unitized optical fiber bundle (9) is placed on and bonded to the inner surface of the housing (3) with the fibers bonded together by a bonding agent. An end section of the unitized optical fiber bundle (9) reaches the emission window (7) of the housing (3) to be exposed. The camera (1) has sufficient waterproof capability and is easy to produce, and capable of avoiding a decrease in the amount of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tamotsu Uchida, Hideto Kato
  • Patent number: 7505661
    Abstract: An optical waveguide, a package board having the optical waveguide, and manufacturing methods thereof are disclosed. The method of manufacturing an optical waveguide includes: forming a first reflective bump and a second reflective bump, which have inclined surfaces formed on sides opposite to each other and which are disposed with a predetermined distance in-between, on one side of a first cladding; forming a core between the first reflective bump and the second reflective bump; and stacking a second cladding over the one side of the first cladding such that the second cladding covers the first reflective bump, the second reflective bump, and the core. With this method, inclined surfaces can be formed by stacking a metal layer on the lower cladding and then selectively etching the metal layer, which can reduce lead time and enable a high degree of freedom in design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Han-Seo Cho, Je-Gwang Yoo, Joon-Sung Kim, Sang-Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 7502531
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring one or more environmental parameters using interferometric sensor(s), a cross-correlator, a two-dimensional photosensitive array and optical focusing means are described. The method and apparatus allows for near simultaneous monitoring of the parameter(s) of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Lopushansky, Larry A. Jeffers, John W. Berthold
  • Patent number: 7499616
    Abstract: An active cable that communicates over much of its length using one or more optical fibers, but which includes at integrated electrical connector at least one of its ends. The cable may be an electrical to optical cable, and electrical to electrical cable, or one of many other potential configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Lewis B. Aronson, Greta Light, The-Linh Nguyen, Chris Kiyahi Togami, Darin J. Douma
  • Patent number: 7496266
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a film waveguide includes supplying a precursor consisting of monomer or oligomer of an elastomer having a flexural modulus after curing smaller than or equal to 1,000 MPa to a substrate; pressing a stamper on the precursor of the elastomer, applying pressure to the precursor of the elastomer by the stamper and thinning a film thickness of the precursor of the elastomer; forming a lower clad layer by curing the precursor of the elastomer; forming a core on the lower clad layer; and forming an upper clad layer on the lower clad layer and the core. A film waveguide has at least one of a lower clad layer or an upper clad layer formed by an elastomer having a flexural modulus smaller than or equal to 1,000 MPa. A sum of film thicknesses of the clad layers is less than or equal to 300 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Akira Enami, Yoshihisa Ishida, Tamio Fujisaki, Hayami Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 7488116
    Abstract: It is often desirable to efficiently couple laser foci that are dimensionally large to dimensionally small optical fibers. A fiber fused in a lower refractive index fiber is disclosed. The fiber/ferrule construct is characterized by having no taper of the fiber in the ferrule and a negative lens shape at a fiber/ferrule face. This construct enable the coupling of imparting rays that fall outside of the fiber core into the transmission path of the fiber. Where the laser systems are integrated in a manner that precludes altering the focusing optic, such as in surgical laser systems, or where the laser's beam focal properties are such that reducing the focal spot diameter is impractical for fiber coupling, modification of the optical fiber input geometry offers a means of customizing the laser-to-fiber interface for applications involving different fiber diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Inventor: Griffin Steve
  • Patent number: 7484897
    Abstract: There is provided an optical module for coupling with a fiber optic cable through an optical connector, including a module body connectable with a plug of the optical connector by a dedicated guide pin, with a side surface of the module body being opposed to a mating surface of the connector plug at which an end face of the fiber optic cable is exposed, and an optical element mounted to the module body and having an optical axis brought into alignment with an optical axis of the fiber optic cable upon fitting of the guide pin into the module body and the connector plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaki Ono, Toshikatsu Takada, Toshifumi Kojima, Takeshi Ohno, Susumu Wakamatsu, Toshikazu Horio, Ayako Kawamura
  • Patent number: 7477827
    Abstract: A variable optical attenuator is disclosed, which attenuates a beam of light while preserving its polarization substantially independent of wavelength. The beam of light is attenuated by a filter patterned with a grating of blocking stripes with serrated edges, which partially block and partially transmit the beam of light, respectively. The serrated edges provide for low polarization dependent loss. Along a length of the filter, a mark to space ratio of blocking stripe and aperture widths increases. By a linear translation of the filter along its length attenuation can be varied to a desired value. A stepper motor with lead screw can provide a suitable linear translation to give the filter a latching property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Miaoqing Wang, Yatao Yang, Ting Xue, Yunhui Sun
  • Patent number: 7466888
    Abstract: A buffer tube having therein a ribbon stack formed of optical fiber ribbons, and at least one filler ribbon provided on at least a top or bottom surface of the ribbon stack. The filler ribbon is provided to increase coupling between the ribbon stack and the buffer tube and to reduce fiber attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Draka Comteq BV
    Inventors: Justin Quinn, Patrick King Strong
  • Patent number: 7466890
    Abstract: A cabinet tamper detection device is disclosed. The tamper detection device includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion includes a housing and a first magnet movable relative to the housing between a first position and a second position. The second portion includes a second magnet. The first and the second magnets are configured such that the second magnet applies a magnetic force on the first magnet to keep the first magnet at the first position when the first and the second magnets are at a predetermined relative position. When at least one of the first and the second magnets is moved from the predetermined relative position, the first magnet moves from the first position to the second position to trigger a tamper warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Wayne M. Kachmar
  • Patent number: 7466895
    Abstract: A method of displaying, selecting and magnifying multiple micro-images, and a display device and portable terminal using the method. A display device for displaying, selecting and magnifying multiple micro-images, includes: a concave reflector having a radius of curvature and a focal distance; multiple display panels, arranged within the focal distance, displaying the multiple micro-images toward the concave reflector; and a corner-image interrupter, interposed between the multiple display panels and the concave reflector, interrupting a distorted portion of a magnified image generated when one of the micro-images displayed on a display panel is reflected by corners of the concave reflector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang-goog Lee
  • Patent number: 7463803
    Abstract: A substantially flat fiber optic drop cable assembly comprises: a fiber optic connector comprising a fiber optic ferrule and a housing; a crimp body coupled to the housing of the fiber optic connector; a fiber optic cable comprising a pair of strength members disposed partially within the fiber optic cable; a first sheath disposed between the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic cable, the first sheath coupled to the crimp body; a second sheath disposed between the fiber optic connector and the fiber optic cable, the second sheath coupled to the fiber optic cable; and a demarcation element joining the first sheath and the second sheath, wherein the demarcation element comprises a substantially tubular element; wherein the pair of strength members are configured to engage the crimp body about the first sheath, the second sheath, and the demarcation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Joseph T Cody, Radawan Hall, Christopher Paul Lewallen, James P. Luther
  • Patent number: 7460757
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for coupling fiber optic cables. Said device comprises at least one module, which is equipped with at least one retaining unit for retaining at least two cassettes. The invention is characterized in that: a cassette is configured with at least one coupling element; at least one strand bundle can be fixed to the module, whereby said strand bundle can be split into at least two strands comprising at least one fiber optic cable; an excess length of strand can be retained by a cassette, the fiber optic cable or cables being connected to the coupling element and the cassette together with its retained strand being detachably connected to the retaining unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: ADC GmbH
    Inventors: Elke Hoehne, Klaus Klein, Steffen Laurisch
  • Patent number: 7457495
    Abstract: A method of filtering optical signals (300) utilizing an optical fiber (100A-100D). The method of filtering optical signals (300) includes the steps (304) selecting an optical fiber (100A-100D) coupled to a source of optical signals, (306) disposing a core (102) in the bore (103) of the optical fiber (100A-100D) formed of a core material (105), (308) selecting a core material (105) to provide a waveguide within the optical fiber (100A-100D), (310) disposing an optical grating (114-1) in a first optical cladding layer (104) disposed about the core (102), (312) propagating an optical signal within the optical fiber (100A-100D) guided substantially within the core (102), (314) modifying a propagation path of selected wavelengths comprising said optical signal with the optical grating (114-1), and (316) determining selected wavelengths for which the propagation path is modified by selectively varying an energetic stimulus to the core (102) thereby tuning the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy E. Dimmick, Kevin H. Smith, Douglas J. Markos
  • Patent number: 7450806
    Abstract: Microstructured optical fiber and method of making. Glass soot is deposited and then consolidated under conditions which are effective to trap a portion of the consolidation gases in the glass to thereby produce a non-periodic array of voids which may then be used to form a void containing cladding region in an optical fiber. Preferred void producing consolidation gases include nitrogen, argon, CO2, oxygen, chlorine, CF4, CO, SO2 and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Dana Craig Bookbinder, Richard Michael Fiacco, Ming-Jun Li, Michael Thomas Murtagh, Pushkar Tandon
  • Patent number: 7447399
    Abstract: In an optical switch comprising a wavelength spatially dispersive optical element for spatially dispersing a wavelength-multiplexed beam according to wavelengths, a plurality of output ports and a plurality of mirrors onto which beams dispersed by the element are irradiated, and each of which is able to direct a reflected beam to any one of the plural output ports, when an incident position of a reflected beam irradiated onto any one of the output ports is changed, the angle of the reflecting surface of a corresponding mirror among the plural mirrors is changed in a direction other than a direction in which the mirrors are arranged, whereby a protuberance in the vicinity of the out-band (side lobe) of the transmission band characteristic of the optical switch can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hirofumi Aota, Tamotsu Akashi
  • Patent number: 7447386
    Abstract: A cascaded modulator system (20) and method for a QKD system (10) is disclosed. The modulator system includes to modulators (M1 and M2) optically coupled in series. A parallel shift register (50) generates two-bit (i.e., binary) voltages (L1, L2). These voltage levels are adjusted by respective voltage adjusters (30-1 and 30-2) to generate weighted voltages (V1, V2) that drive the respective modulators. An electronic delay element (40) that matches the optical delay between modulators provides for modulator timing (gating). The net modulation (MNET) imparted to an optical signal (60) is the sum of the modulations imparted by the modulators. The modulator system provides four possible net modulations based only on binary voltage signals. This makes for faster and more efficient modulation in QKD systems and related optical systems when compared to using quad-level voltage signals to drive a single modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Magiq Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: J. Howell Mitchell, Jr., Harry Vig, Michael J. LaGasse