Patents Examined by Rodney Bovernick
  • Patent number: 7457487
    Abstract: SiGe quantum wells where the well material has a lowest conduction band energy minimum at k=0 (the ? point of the first Brillouin zone) are provided. Quantum well structures that satisfy this condition have “Kane-like” bands at and near k=0 which can provide physical effects useful for various device applications, especially optical modulators. In the Si1-xGex material system, this condition on the band structure is satisfied for x greater than about 0.7. The quantum well barrier composition may or may not have Kane-like bands. Embodiments of the invention having a surface parallel configuration are especially suitable for use in fiber coupled devices. Such surface parallel devices have light propagating in the plane of the quantum wells, in a device geometry that is preferably not single-mode waveguided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: David A. B. Miller, Yu-Hsuan Kuo, James S. Harris, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7428361
    Abstract: A chromatic dispersion compensating and dispersion slope compensating optical fiber comprises a central core having an index difference ?n1 with an outer optical cladding, a first buried inner cladding having an index difference ?n2 with the outer cladding, a ring having an index difference ?n3 with the outer cladding and a second buried inner cladding having an index difference ?n4 with the outer cladding. The index difference between the first buried inner cladding and the outer cladding ?n2 is less than or equal to ?13.5.10?3 and the index difference between the second buried inner cladding and the outer cladding ?n4 is less than or equal to ?3.10?3. The fiber has, for a wavelength of 1550 nm, a chromatic dispersion less than or equal to ?50 ps/nm/km and a ratio of the chromatic dispersion over the chromatic dispersion slope DOS less than or equal to 70 nm. The second deeply buried inner cladding allows obtaining a low DOS value whilst maintaining acceptable optical characteristics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Draka Comteq B.V.
    Inventors: Marianne Bigot-Astruc, Pierre Sillard, Louis-Anne De Montmorillon, Denis Molin
  • Patent number: 7422378
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a telecommunications cable including a distribution cable and a tether that braches from the distribution cable at a mid-span breakout location. A flexible closure covers the mid-span breakout location. Within the closure, fibers are broken out from the distribution cable and spliced to fibers of the tether. The lengths of broken out fibers within the flexible closure are provided with sufficient excess fiber length to allow the closure to be readily bent/flexed in any direction without damaging the fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Lu, Keith Millea, Jeff Gniadek
  • Patent number: 7421174
    Abstract: A silicate optical fiber comprises a graded index silicate core co-doped with aluminum oxide, phosphorus oxide, germanium oxide and fluorine in unique compositions that we have discovered allow multimode, multi-wavelength operation without significant intermodal dispersion. Illustratively, the core comprises a multiplicity of compositions whose refractive indices are graded from a maximum at or near the center of the core to a minimum at the interface with the cladding. Each core composition resides within a sub-volume of a 5 dimensional phase space in which an optimum core profile shape is essentially constant over the wavelength range of operation of the fiber. For operation in the wavelength range of about 0.78 ?m to 1.55 ?m, each composition preferably comprises no more than approximately 6 mole % Al2O3, 9 mole % P2O5, 6 mole % GeO2, 6 mole % F, and 90-100 mole % SiO2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Furakawa Electric North America; Inc.
    Inventors: James William Fleming, Jr., George Edward Oulundsen, III
  • Patent number: 7421157
    Abstract: An optical device includes an optical fiber mount with an optical fiber disposed thereon, and an optical demultiplexer having a slit defined in the optical fiber across an optical axis thereof, and an optical demultiplexing member inserted in the slit for demultiplexing a portion of an optical signal beam transmitted through the optical fiber, wherein the optical demultiplexer guides a demultiplexed optical signal beam from the optical demultiplexing member out of the optical fiber, an optical path changer for changing an optical path of the demultiplexed optical signal beam guided out of the optical fiber, a waveguide serving as a medium from which the demultiplexed optical signal beam is emitted to the optical path changer, and a filter disposed on a surface of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Ide, Yasunori Iwasaki, Masashi Fukuyama
  • Patent number: 7409138
    Abstract: There are provided fiber optic local convergence points (“LCPs”) adapted for use with multiple dwelling units (“MDUs”) that facilitate relatively easy installation and/or optical connectivity to a relatively large number of subscribers. The LCP includes a housing comprising an access cover for separating the subscriber portion from the provider portions. A splitter module of the LCP may be joined to the interior side of the access cover or may be joined to the housing opposite the access cover. The LCP may also include a splice tray assembly and/or an input receptacle to facilitate convenient installation of the provider cable. The LCP further comprises a plurality of receptacles for selective optical connection of a plurality of subscriber drop fibers/cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Brent Michael Frazier, Danny McGranahan, Raymond Glenn Jay
  • Patent number: 7409134
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser device incorporates a beam control layer for reducing far field and beam divergence. Within the beam control layer, a physical property of the semiconductor material varies as a function of depth through, the beam control layer, by provision of a first sub-layer in which the property varies gradually from a first level to a second level, and a second sub-layer in which the property varies from said second level to a third level. In the preferred arrangement, the conduction band edge of the semiconductor has a V-shaped profile through the beam control layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Intense Limited
    Inventor: Bocang Qiu
  • Patent number: 7409129
    Abstract: An optical fiber array module is provided. The optical fiber array module includes a light emitting device to emit light having a pre-set convergence angle through a side surface (having a window or opening) thereof; an optical fiber array including a plurality of optical fibers (each optical fiber being an optical transmission medium); and a concentrator having a first side surface, a second side surface facing the side surface of the light emitting device, and a through-hole extended from the first side surface to the second side surface, wherein the through-hole has a width gradually narrower in a direction from the first side surface to the second side surface, wherein an end portion of the optical fiber array is inserted into the through-hole, thereby enabling concentration of the end portion of the optical fiber array d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sun-Tae Jung, Hyun-Cheol Kim, Je-Oh Kim, Hyun-Cheual Choi, Hyun-Joo Moon
  • Patent number: 7403681
    Abstract: In a wavelength selective optical device, a lens for transmitting multiplexed optical signals having a plurality of wavelengths is provided to face an end of a first optical fiber such that light output from the end of the first optical fiber is converted into parallel light, and an optical filter is provided at a location to which the parallel light output from the lens is input. A second optical fiber is provided at a location in which the light reflected from the optical filter is input to the lens again to be focused by the lens. The lens is configured by bonding the ends of two gradient index rod lenses having different refractive index distribution constants and the substantially same outer diameter to each other to align their optical axes to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Hashizume, Kenichiro Takeuchi, Haiguang Lu
  • Patent number: 7400810
    Abstract: A positioning of a plurality of optical fibers 11 is performed by a pair of position regulating members 12a and 12b. Then, the paired position regulating members 12a and 12b are moved along two guide members 13, 13 in such a manner as to have a predetermined distance therebetween. A ribbon support member 15 is placed between the paired position regulating members 12a and 12b in such a way as to support the optical fibers 11. The plurality of optical fibers 11 are held and fixed by the holding members 17a and 17b. Further, the plurality of optical fibers 11 put on the ribbon support member 15 are sandwiched by the ribbon support member 15 and the pressing tool 19 opposed thereto. In a terminal portion structure 110a of a ribbon fiber 10, terminal portions of optical fibers 102 are arranged horizontally in parallel, an adhesive tape is stuck onto at least one of upper and lower surfaces of at least the terminal portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kousuke Tanaka, Hiroyasu Sugiyama, Shinsuke Niiyama, Kazuhiro Sato, Tsuyoshi Ikada
  • Patent number: 7397995
    Abstract: A multiple-core planar optical waveguide comprises: a substantially planar waveguide substrate; a lower waveguide core; an upper waveguide core; lower cladding between the substrate and the lower waveguide core; middle cladding between the waveguide cores; and upper cladding above the upper waveguide core. Overlapping portions of the waveguide cores are positioned one above the other and substantially parallel. The lower, middle, and upper claddings have refractive indices less than refractive indices of the lower and upper waveguide cores. The widths of the waveguide cores are substantially larger their thicknesses along their overlapping portions. The overlapping portions of the waveguide cores jointly support a propagating optical mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: HOYA Corporation USA
    Inventors: Henry A. Blauvelt, David W. Vernooy, Joel S. Paslaski
  • Patent number: 7387446
    Abstract: An optical plug-in connection for the connection of polarization-maintaining optical fibers includes a sleeve having a bore therein and a receptacle having a bore therein for supporting the sleeve with the bore of the sleeve aligned with the bore of the receptacle. First and second ferrules are provided having bores supporting ends of optical fibers. A first end of the first ferrule is received in one end of the bore of the sleeve via one end of the bore of the receptacle. A first end of the second ferrule is received in the other end of the bore of the sleeve via the other end of the bore of the receptacle. A locking mechanism is provided for locking the first and second ferrules to the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Huber + Suhner AG
    Inventors: Daniel Greub, Besnik Zajmi
  • Patent number: 7387451
    Abstract: An apparatus and process for operating connectorless, free-space data porting optical structural composites with integrated optical or electrical busses are disclosed. Optical transceivers and fiber optic/coaxial cable are embedded into a foam-core composite sandwich structure which is infiltrated with vinyl ester resin. The embedded busses are composed of a signal source producing an optical free space signal, which is shone onto an optical/electrical bus containing a transceiver for converting this signal into another electrical or optical signal which then is imprinted upon a coaxial or fiber optic cable buried in the composite structure. The signal traverses the composite structure, then a transceiver converts the electrical/optical signal into a free space optical signal which shines out of the composite structure to an outside free space optical receiver. The optical free space signal is oriented to be received and transmitted at an angle of about 90 degrees relative to the composite material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: University of Delaware
    Inventors: Keith Goossen, Shridrar Yarlagadda, Eric Wetzel, Daniel O'Brien
  • Patent number: 7382943
    Abstract: A four arm linearized Mach Zehnder modulator comprising first and second primary electro-optic waveguides; first and second secondary electro-optic waveguides, each secondary electro-optic waveguide being arranged adjacent to a primary electro-optic waveguide; an RF electrode having a stub extending therefrom, the stub having a first foot portion extending partially along the first primary electro-optic waveguide and a second foot portion extending at least partially along the first secondary electro-optic waveguide; an RF ground electrode having a stub extending therefrom, the stub having a first foot portion extending partially along the second primary electro-optic waveguide and a second foot portion extending at least partially along the second secondary electro-optic waveguide; an optical source for providing an optical signal to the waveguides; the RF electrodes being arranged such that when a voltage is applied between the RF electrode and RF ground electrode the magnitudes of the phase shifts experie
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Filtronic, PLC
    Inventor: John Heaton
  • Patent number: 7379632
    Abstract: An optical measurement device for measuring strain related to deformation of a deformable surface of a component. The optical measurement device includes a fiber tension structure including opposing longitudinal end sections attached to the deformable surface. An optical fiber is tensioned by the fiber tension structure and includes a section defining a Bragg grating. The fiber tension structure includes a displaceable portion for forming a structural break between the longitudinal end sections where the fiber tension structure separates to form a gap between the first and second longitudinal end sections. The longitudinal end sections are movable independently of each other after formation of the structural break in the fiber tensioning structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Power Generation, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Twerdochlib
  • Patent number: 7377702
    Abstract: The device includes a housing, a printed circuit board, a first optical subassembly, a second optical subassembly, and a lever. The device is pluggable to a host structure. The housing has a flange. The printed circuit board is mounted to the housing. The first and second optical subassemblies are mounted to the printed circuit board. The lever is rotatably mounted to the housing. The lever includes a rotatably mounted portion, a hook, and an actuation surface for actuation by a user. In a plugged into and locked position of the device with the host structure, the flange of the housing is in electrical communication with a faceplate of the host structure, and the hook engages a slot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Stratos International, Inc.
    Inventors: John Jablonski, Anthony S. Kowalkowski, Bruce Peterson
  • Patent number: 7373061
    Abstract: A laser energy transmission optical fiber having an optical fiber main body which has a hollow-core region with a diameter greater than a wavelength of transmitted light, an inner clad region which has a solid portion with plurality of holes formed therein, and an outer clad region formed surrounding the inner clad region. The outer clad region has a refractive index lower than the solid portion of the inner clad region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akihito Hongo
  • Patent number: 7369720
    Abstract: An optical device 1 has a photodetecting element 6, an optical waveguide layer 4 containing core portions 4a to 4c extending in directions crossing a layer thickness direction and a clad portion 4h covering the core portions 4a to 4c, and an optical waveguide substrate 2 having the end face 4g of the core portion 4c optically coupled to the photodetecting element 6 on the side surface 2a thereof. The optical waveguide substrate 2 has substrates 3 and 5 disposed so that the principal surfaces 3a and 5a face each other. The optical waveguide layer 4 is provided between the substrate 3 and the substrate 5. The photodetecting element 6 is mounted on the mount area 2c on the side surface 2a of the optical waveguide substrate 2. The mount area 2c is set to contain the end face 4g of the core portion 4c, a part of the side surface 3b of the substrate 73 and a part of the side surface 5b of the substrate 5.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Takafumi Yokino, Katsumi Shibayama
  • Patent number: 7366392
    Abstract: A lighting device comprises a light guide plate having a light incident surface and a light exit surface, at least one point light source for emitting light that is incident on the light incident surface of the light guide plate and is guided by the light guide plate to the light exit surface of the light guide plate, and micro-structures disposed on a surface of the light guide plate that is opposite to the light exit surface thereof for scattering light from the point light source that is incident on the light incident surface. A longitudinal direction of each of the micro-structures is substantially aligned with a direction in which the light from the point light source is incident on each of the micro-structures. Each of the micro-structures has an inclined surface for reflecting the incident light toward the light exit surface of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Katsunori Honma, Norihiro Dejima, Makoto Kurihara, Takayasu Sado
  • Patent number: 7366381
    Abstract: An optical waveguide chip including a core portion as an optical waveguide, a clad portion composed of a lower clad layer and an upper clad layer, and an optical fiber guide portion which is formed integrally with the clad portion for positioning a single-mode optical fiber which is to be connected with the core portion. Each portion of the optical waveguide chip is formed by creating a layer of a radiation-sensitive polysiloxane composition by photolithography. At least two kinds of radiation-sensitive polysiloxane compositions are used so that the core portion has a higher refractive index than the clad portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: JSR Corporation
    Inventors: Kentarou Tamaki, Hideaki Takase, Yuuichi Eriyama, Shinji Ohba, Hideyuki Fujiwara