Patents Examined by Michael P. Mooney
  • Patent number: 11971577
    Abstract: A device comprises first, second and third elements fabricated on a common substrate. The first element comprises an active waveguide structure comprising: a first portion supporting a first optical mode. The second element comprises a passive waveguide structure supporting a second optical mode. The third element, at least partly butt-coupled to the second portion, comprises an intermediate waveguide structure supporting intermediate optical modes. At least part of the second element is non-linear, supporting frequency conversion. A tapered waveguide structure in at least one of the second and third elements facilitates efficient adiabatic transformation between the first optical mode and one intermediate optical mode. No adiabatic transformation occurs between any intermediate optical mode and the first optical mode. Mutual alignments of the elements are defined using lithographic alignment marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: Nexus Photonics, Inc
    Inventors: Minh Tran, Tin Komljenovic
  • Patent number: 11966077
    Abstract: A light emission apparatus includes a laser diode configured to emit a light; a laser driver electrically coupled to the laser diode, the laser driver being configured to drive the laser diode to generate the light; and an optical module arranged to receive the light emitted by the laser diode, the optical module comprising at least one optical element and being configured to adjust the light and emits a transmitting light; wherein the transmitting light emits from the optical module with an illumination angle and the optical module adjusts the light to vary the illumination angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Artilux, Inc.
    Inventors: Yun-Chung Na, Chien-Lung Chen, Chieh-Ting Lin, Yu-Yi Hsu, Hui-Wen Chen, Bo-Jiun Chen, Shih-Tai Chuang
  • Patent number: 11960122
    Abstract: A device for optical signal processing includes a first layer, a second layer and a waveguiding layer. A lens is disposed within the first layer and adjacent to a surface of the first layer. The second layer is underneath the first layer and adjacent to another surface of the first layer. The waveguiding layer is located underneath the second layer and configured to waveguide a light beam transmitted in the waveguiding layer. A grating coupler is disposed over the waveguiding layer. The lens is configured to receive, from one of the grating coupler or a light-guiding element, the light beam, and focus the light beam towards another one of the light-guiding element or the grating coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Wei Kuo, Hsing-Kuo Hsia, Chewn-Pu Jou
  • Patent number: 11953730
    Abstract: A semiconductor structure including a semiconductor substrate, a first patterned dielectric layer, a grating coupler and a waveguide is provided. The semiconductor substrate includes an optical reflective layer. The first patterned dielectric layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate and covers a portion of the optical reflective layer. The grating coupler and the waveguide are disposed on the first patterned dielectric layer, wherein the grating coupler and the waveguide are located over the optical reflective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Feng-Wei Kuo, Wen-Shiang Liao
  • Patent number: 11953726
    Abstract: An optical device includes a first waveguide extending in a first direction and a second waveguide connected to the first waveguide. The second waveguide includes a first mirror, a second mirror, and an optical waveguide layer. At least either the first waveguide or the second waveguide has one or more gratings in a part of a connection region in which the first mirror, the second mirror, and the first waveguide overlap one another when seen from an angle parallel with a direction perpendicular to a first reflecting surface of the first mirror. The one or more gratings is at a distance that is longer than at least either a thickness of the first mirror or a thickness of the second mirror in the first direction from an end of the first mirror or the second mirror that is in the connection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuki Nakamura, Yasuhisa Inada
  • Patent number: 11953800
    Abstract: An optical resonant modulator based on coupling modulation, comprising a resonant structure with an embedded Mach-Zehnder interferometer that is differentially driven to induced amplitude modulation at the output port. The principle of coupling modulation enables high data/baud rates to be achieved in a photonic integrated circuit, e.g. silicon, footprint that is considerably smaller than that of a conventional traveling-wave Mach-Zehnder modulator, in particular by utilizing space saving features, such as ring resonator phase shifters and bend waveguide arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks Oy
    Inventors: Ajay Mistry, Meisam Bahadori, Alexander Rylyakov, Rafid Sukkar, Matthew Streshinsky
  • Patent number: 11940655
    Abstract: This optical connector includes a ferrule, a plug frame, and an elastic member. The ferrule holds a glass fiber of an optical fiber. The plug frame receives the ferrule. The elastic member holds, with a first length, the ferrule in a first position in the plug frame, or holds, with a second length shorter than the first length, the ferrule in a second position in the plug frame. When the ferrule is in the first position, the ferrule and the plug frame are in contact with each other via the tapered surface, and the pivotal movement of the ferrule to the plug frame is restricted. When the ferrule is in the second position, the ferrule is not in contact with the plug frame and is pivotable to the plug frame, and the ferrule is in a floating state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Tetsu Morishima
  • Patent number: 11940663
    Abstract: An optical device includes a core formed on a substrate, a first source electrode and a second source electrode formed in contact with both side surfaces of the core interposed between the first source electrode and the second source electrode, and a drain electrode formed in contact with an upper surface of the core. The core, the first source electrode, and the second source electrode together form a plasmonic waveguide. The first source electrode and the second source electrode are Schottky coupled to the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetaka Nishi, Shinji Matsuo
  • Patent number: 11940653
    Abstract: A diffraction optical waveguide is disclosed, which comprises a grating structure formed on a waveguide substrate. The grating structure comprises a plurality of optical unit structures arranged in an array along a plane; the optical unit structure has a first end and a second end in a first direction parallel to the plane, a distance between the two ends along the first direction is a length L of the optical unit structure; it has a maximum width W perpendicular to the first direction in a predetermined section along the first direction, where 0.3L?W?0.7L, and a central position of the predetermined section is at a predetermined distance d from the first end in the first direction, where d<0.5L; and a width gradually decreases from the predetermined section to both ends, so that a centroid of a cross-section of the optical unit structure is closer to the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: JIAXING UPHOTON OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhentao Fan, Xingming Zhao, Kehan Tian
  • Patent number: 11934010
    Abstract: There is provided an optical connection structure in which an optical fiber and an optical semiconductor waveguide are easily connected with low loss. The present invention relates to an optical connection structure configured to connect an optical waveguide device and an optical fiber including cores having different refractive indexes, wherein an optical connection component using a planar lightwave circuit is bonded and fixed on an end surface of an input/output waveguide of the optical waveguide device, a value of a refractive index of a core of the planar lightwave circuit is between a value of the refractive index of the core of the optical waveguide device and a value of the refractive index of the core of the optical fiber, and the optical waveguide device and the optical fiber are optically connected via the planar lightwave circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Muranaka, Kota Shikama, Hidetaka Nishi, Ai Yanagihara
  • Patent number: 11921363
    Abstract: An interferometer comprises a plurality of waveguide branches comprising a plurality of bus waveguides and a plurality of photonic resonators. A first waveguide branch of the plurality of waveguide branches comprises a first photonic resonator coupled to a first bus waveguide. The first photonic resonator is disposed to couple and circle a first portion of an optical beam at the first photonic resonator to generate a first phase shift of the first portion of the optical beam, where the first phase shift is the same as a second phase shift of a second photonic resonator coupled to a second bus waveguide. The interferometer forms at least a portion of an in-phase and quadrature (IQ) modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Aeva, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Roxworthy, Pradeep Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 11914168
    Abstract: A method for assembling a two-dimensional fiber array launcher assembly. The method includes providing an alignment structure having a two-dimensional alignment plate with holes at one end and a two-dimensional beam shaper with micro-lenses at an opposite end. An endcap having a fiber attached thereto is systematically positioned in each hole, and is aligned with one of the micro-lenses with a high precision tolerance. The aligned endcap is then secured in the hole using a curable glue. This process is continued until all of the holes have aligned endcaps. If one of the endcaps is mis-aligned or becomes damaged, the glue can be heated and the endcap realigned or replaced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Dustin Guenther, Gregory D. Goodno, James Ho
  • Patent number: 11906824
    Abstract: Embodiments provide for an optical modulator, comprising: a lower guide, comprising: a lower hub, made of monocrystalline silicon; and a lower ridge, made of monocrystalline silicon that extends in a first direction from the lower hub; an upper guide, including: an upper hub; and an upper ridge, made of monocrystalline silicon that extends in a second direction, opposite of the first direction, from the upper hub and is aligned with the lower ridge; and a gate oxide layer separating the lower ridge from the upper ridge and defining a waveguide region with the lower guide and the upper guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Xunyuan Zhang, Vipulkumar K. Patel, Prakash B. Gothoskar, Ming Gai Stanley Lo
  • Patent number: 11899256
    Abstract: A pluggable optical connector is configured to be insertable into and removable from an optical communication apparatus, and to be capable of communicating a modulation signal and a data signal with the optical communication apparatus. A wavelength-tunable light source is configured to output an output light and a local oscillation light. An optical transmission unit is configured to output an optical signal generated by modulating the output light in response to the modulation signal. An optical reception unit is configured to demodulate an optical signal received by using the local oscillation light to the data signal. Pluggable optical receptors are configured in such a manner that an optical fiber is insertable into and removable from the pluggable optical receptors, and configured to be capable of outputting the optical signal to the optical fiber and transferring the optical signal received thorough the optical fiber to the optical reception unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Isao Tomita
  • Patent number: 11899253
    Abstract: Example polarization splitter and rotator devices are described. In one example, an optical apparatus includes a splitter configured to split a light signal into a first signal having a first polarization and a second signal having a second polarization, a polarization rotator configured to rotate the second polarization of the second signal into a third polarization, and a polarization mode converter configured to convert the third polarization of the second signal into the first polarization. In certain aspects of the embodiments, the splitter can be a curved multi-mode inference (MMI) polarization splitter, and the polarization rotator comprises input and output ports, with the output port being wider than the input port. The polarization mode converter can be an asymmetrical waveguide taper mode converter. The devices described herein can overcome the deficiencies of conventional devices and provide low insertion loss, flat and/or wide wavelength response, high fabrication tolerance, and compact size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: MACOM Technology Solutions Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Yunchu Li, Austin G. Griffith, Rich R. Grzybowski
  • Patent number: 11892681
    Abstract: A coupling system includes an optical fiber configured to carry an optical signal. The coupling system further includes a chip in optical communication with the optical fiber. The chip includes a substrate. The chip further includes a grating on a first side of the substrate, wherein the grating is configured to receive the optical signal. The chip further includes an interconnect structure over the grating on the first side of the substrate, wherein the interconnect structure defines a cavity aligned with the grating. The chip further includes a first polysilicon layer on a second side of the substrate, wherein the second side of the substrate is opposite to the first side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chen-Hao Huang, Hau-Yan Lu, Sui-Ying Hsu, Yuehying Lee, Chien-Ying Wu, Chien-Chang Lee, Chia-Ping Lai
  • Patent number: 11892678
    Abstract: A photonic device includes a silicon layer, wherein the silicon layer extends from a waveguide region of the photonic device to a device region of the photonic device, and the silicon layer includes a waveguide portion in the waveguide region. The photonic device further includes a cladding layer over the waveguide portion, wherein the device region is free of the cladding layer. The photonic device further includes a low refractive index layer in direct contact with the cladding layer, wherein the low refractive index layer comprises silicon oxide, silicon carbide, silicon oxynitride, silicon carbon oxynitride, aluminum oxide or hafnium oxide. The photonic device further includes an interconnect structure over the low refractive index layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Chien-Ying Wu, Yuehying Lee, Sui-Ying Hsu, Chen-Hao Huang, Chien-Chang Lee, Chia-Ping Lai
  • Patent number: 11886022
    Abstract: There is provided a beam expander including a first optical element, a second optical element, a composite waveguide including a plurality of waveguide elements, and a dichroic coating provided between the plurality of waveguide elements. The first optical element inputs a collimated incident beam from the outside into the composite waveguide, and the second optical element outputs, from the composite waveguide, collimated incident beam, input to the composite waveguide, wherein the collimated incident beam input into the composite waveguide is divided into multiple wavefronts by the dichroic coating, and the multiple wavefronts are mixed by total internal reflection in the composite waveguide. When the beam expander is used, coherency and collimation of an output beam may be maintained and speckles may be reduced or eliminated while improving the efficiency of an optical system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aleksander V. Morozov, Sergey E. Dubynin, German B. Dubinin, Chilsung Choi, Hongseok Lee, Hoon Song
  • Patent number: 11880070
    Abstract: Plural grating couplers having grating conditions different from each other and plural optical waveguides respectively connected with the plural grating couplers are included. The plural grating couplers have the same arraying directions of gratings. Further, each of the plural grating couplers has a different grating interval as a grating condition. Further, plural reflection units respectively provided to the plural optical waveguides are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Miura, Yoshiho Maeda, Hiroshi Fukuda
  • Patent number: 11874488
    Abstract: A diffractive optical waveguide and a display apparatus are disclosed. A coupling-out grating includes a first grating having a first, second, and third grating vectors, directions of the second and third grating vectors, being respectively towards both sides of a direction of first grating vector, form acute angles with it, a cross-section profile of an optical unit structure of the first grating has a first, second, third, and fourth vertices, a straight line passing through the first and second vertices and a straight line passing through the third and fourth vertices are perpendicular to the direction, a straight line passing through the first and fourth vertices and a straight line passing through the second and third vertices respectively form angles ?1 and ?2 having a same sign with the direction, wherein 15°?|?1|?45° and 15°?|?2?45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: JIAXING UPHOTON OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhentao Fan, Xingming Zhao, Kehan Tian