Patents by Inventor Atsuo Kondo

Atsuo Kondo has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20060138957
    Abstract: A plasma generating electrode includes two types of plate-shaped unit electrodes of different polarities, the two types of unit electrodes of different polarities being hierarchically and alternately stacked at specific intervals, a discharge space for generating plasma being formed between the opposing unit electrodes, each of the unit electrodes of one polarity among the two types of unit electrodes of different polarities including a plate-shaped conductor exhibiting conductivity and a ceramic dielectric disposed to cover the conductor, the ceramic dielectric of the unit electrode of one polarity including a support protrusion for forming the discharge space for generating plasma between the opposing unit electrodes and at least a part of a space in which the unit electrode of the other polarity is disposed opposite to the unit electrode of one polarity and for supporting the unit electrode of one polarity, the support protrusion being integrally formed with the ceramic dielectric on at least one surface o
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Applicants: NGK Insulators, Ltd., Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasumasa Fujioka, Atsuo Kondo, Masaaki Masuda, Kenji Dosaka, Masanobu Miki
  • Patent number: 7068863
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device has an optical waveguide substrate and a supporting body for supporting the substrate. The substrate has a main body made of an electro-optic material and having a main face and an opposing face, optical waveguides, and electrodes for applying an electrical signal on the optical waveguides. At least a part of the opposing face of the supporting body opposing the substrate is covered with a conductive layer. It is thus possible to reduce the resonance due to substrate radiation leakage of the microwave signal into the whole of the optical waveguide substrate and supporting body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo, Kenji Aoki, Osamu Mitomi
  • Publication number: 20060120654
    Abstract: An optical modulator 1C has a substrate 2 of an electro-optic material and having first and second main faces, an optical waveguide formed on the substrate 2 and having first branched part 5 and a second branched part 3, and ground electrodes 4A, 4C and a signal electrode 4B provided on the side of the first main face of the substrate. The first branched part 5 and second branched part 3 are provided between the edges of the ground electrodes 4A, 4C and the edge of the signal electrode 4B, respectively. Microwave electric fields are applied onto interacting parts of the first branched part 5 and second branched part 3, respectively, to modulate light propagating in the first branched part 5 and second branched part 3, respectively. The integral values of field intensities over interaction lengths with electrodes in the first and second branched parts are different from each other so that a predetermined chirp amount is obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Aoki, Osamu Mitomi, Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 7035485
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device 1 has an optical waveguide substrate 19, a supporting body 2 for supporting the substrate 19 and a joining layer 3 for joining the substrate 19 and the supporting body 2. The substrate 19 has a flat plate-shaped main body 4 made of an electro-optic material with a thickness of 30 ?m or smaller and having first and second main faces 4a and 4b opposing each other, an optical waveguide provided on the side of the first main face 4a of the main body 4, and electrodes 7A to 7C provided on the side of the first main face 4a of the main body 4. The joining layer 3 joins the supporting body 2 at a joining face 4d and the second main face 4d of the main body 4. The joining face 2a of the supporting body 2 is substantially flat. Alternatively, the joining layer 3 has a thickness of 200 ?m or lower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo, Kenji Aoki, Osamu Mitomi
  • Patent number: 7002731
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve the modulation efficiency of an optical modulator in a high frequency band while satisfying the velocity matching condition. An optical modulator is provided having an optical waveguide for propagating light, an electrode for applying a voltage on the waveguide for modulating the light, a signal source electrically connected to the electrode and a terminating resistance electrically connected to the electrode. The signal source has a characteristic impedance Zi and the terminating resistance has an impedance Zl satisfying the formula (Zi<Zl). Alternatively, the signal source has a characteristic impedance Zi and the electrode has a characteristic impedance Zc satisfying the formula (Zi<Zc).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2006
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Mitomi, Kenji Aoki, Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 6958852
    Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide is disposed in a substrate made of a material having an electro-optic effect. Coplanar-waveguide modulating electrodes are disposed on a principal surface of the substrate. A dielectric layer is disposed on a reverse surface of the substrate. A supporting substrate having a recess is disposed in contact with the dielectric layer such that the recess is located at a position corresponding to a modulating region. The relationship: ?r>?s is satisfied where ?r represents the dielectric constant of the supporting substrate and ?s represents the dielectric constant of the dielectric constant of solid, liquid, or gaseous substance in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Aoki, Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo, Osamu Mitomi
  • Patent number: 6950580
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device 1A has a substrate 22 and a supporting body 10 for supporting the substrate. The substrate 22 has a main body 2 made of an electrooptic material and one and the other main faces, optical waveguides 3a, 3b and electrodes 4B, 4C provided on the side of the one main face 2a of the main body 2 The supporting body 10 is joined with the substrate 2 on the side of the other main face, and the electrode has a feedthrough portion. The device 1A further has a low dielectric portion 7 provided under the feed through portion and between the other main face 2b of the main body 2 and the supporting body 10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Mitomi, Kenji Aoki, Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 6904186
    Abstract: An optical modulator modulates light propagating in a three-dimensional optical waveguide 5 by applying a voltage on the waveguide. The modulator has a three dimensional optical waveguide 5 having at least a pair of branched portions 5b, 5c and a recombining portion 5f of the branched portions 5c, 5d and radiating light of off-mode, and a slab optical waveguide 4 guiding the light of off-mode. The modulator also has modulating electrodes 7A, 7B, 7C for applying a signal voltage and a direct current bias on the waveguide 5 to modulate light propagating in the waveguide 5. The modulator further has a photo detector 13 for detecting light radiated from the slab optical waveguide 4, and a controlling unit 15 for varying the direct current bias based on an output from the photo detector 13 so as to control the operational point of the modulator. According to the modulator, the operational point may be controlled with improved efficiency and stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2005
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Kondo, Osamu Mitomi, Jungo Kondo, Kenji Aoki
  • Publication number: 20050047703
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to improve the modulation efficiency of an optical modulator in a high frequency band while satisfying the velocity matching condition. An optical modulator is provided having an optical waveguide for propagating light, an electrode for applying a voltage on the waveguide for modulating the light, a signal source electrically connected to the electrode and a terminating resistance electrically connected to the electrode. The signal source has a characteristic impedance Zi and the terminating resistance has an impedance Zl satisfying the formula (Zi<Zl). Alternatively, the signal source has a characteristic impedance Zi and the electrode has a characteristic impedance Zc satisfying the formula (Zi<Zc).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2003
    Publication date: March 3, 2005
    Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Mitomi, Kenji Aoki, Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20050039322
    Abstract: Major surface of a substrate having an optical waveguide and a modulation electrode is pasted to a base substrate through a thermosetting resin, and then the rear surface of the substrate is machined thus making thin the entirety. Subsequently, the rear surface of the substrate thus rendered thin is subjected to machining or laser machining to form a thin part, which is further subjected to machining or laser machining to form a first thin part at a part, including the optical waveguide, of the thin part and a second thin part thinner than the first thin part contiguously thereto. Thereafter, the rear surface of the substrate is pasted to the major surface of a supporting substrate through a thermosetting resin and the base substrate is stripped thus obtaining an optical modulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Publication date: February 24, 2005
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungo Kondo, Yukio Mizuno, Minoru Imaeda, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20040264832
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device 1 has an optical waveguide substrate 19, a supporting body 2 for supporting the substrate 19 and a joining layer 3 for joining the substrate 19 and the supporting body 2. The substrate 19 has a flat plate-shaped main body 4 made of an electro-optic material with a thickness of 30 &mgr;m or smaller and having first and second main faces 4a and 4b opposing each other, an optical waveguide provided on the side of the first main face 4a of the main body 4, and electrodes 7A to 7C provided on the side of the first main face 4a of the main body 4. The joining layer 3 joins the supporting body 2 at a joining face 4d and the second main face 4d of the main body 4. The joining face 2a of the supporting body 2 is substantially flat. Alternatively, the joining layer 3 has a thickness of 200 &mgr;m or lower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Publication date: December 30, 2004
    Inventors: Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo, Kenji Aoki, Osamu Mitomi
  • Patent number: 6819851
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device has an optical waveguide substrate and a supporting substrate. The optical waveguide substrate has a main body made of an electro-optic material and having a first main face and a second main face, an optical waveguide formed in or on the main body and an electrode formed on the side of the first main face of the main body. The supporting substrate is joined with the second main face of the main body. A low dielectric portion with a dielectric constant lower than that of the electro-optic material is formed in the supporting substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Aoki, Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo, Osamu Mitomi
  • Publication number: 20040145797
    Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide is disposed in a substrate made of a material having an electro-optic effect. Coplanar-waveguide modulating electrodes are disposed on a principal surface of the substrate. A dielectric layer is disposed on a reverse surface of the substrate. A supporting substrate having a recess is disposed in contact with the dielectric layer such that the recess is located at a position corresponding to a modulating region. The relationship: &egr;r>&egr;s is satisfied where &egr;r represents the dielectric constant of the supporting substrate and &egr;s represents the dielectric constant of the dielectric constant of solid, liquid, or gaseous substance in the recess.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Aoki, Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo, Osamu Mitomi
  • Publication number: 20040136655
    Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide an electrode system for optical modulation of an optical modulator to reduce a thickness “E” of an electrode required for velocity matching and for reducing a propagation loss in the electrode. A substrate 2 is made of an electrooptic material and has one and the other main faces 2a, 2b opposing each other. An electrode system 20A is provided on the substrate 2 for applying a voltage for modulating light propagating in optical waveguides 6A and 6B. The electrode system 20A includes ground electrodes 3A, 3B and a signal electrode 4. A ratio “W/G” of a width “W” of the signal electrode 4 to a gap “G” between the ground and signal electrodes is 0.8 or higher. Preferably, the substrate 2 has a thickness “T” of 20 &mgr;m or larger, in a region where the optical waveguides 6A and 6B are provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicant: NKG INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Kenji Aoki, Osamu Mitomi, Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20040120625
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device 1A has a substrate 22 and a supporting body 10 for supporting the substrate. The substrate 22 has a main body 2 made of an electrooptic material and one and the other main faces, optical waveguides 3a, 3b and electrodes 4B, 4C provided on the side of the one main face 2a of the main body 2 The supporting body 10 is joined with the substrate 2 on the side of the other main face, and the electrode has a feedthrough portion. The device 1A further has a low dielectric portion 7 provided under the feed through portion and between the other main face 2b of the main body 2 and the supporting body 10.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Publication date: June 24, 2004
    Applicant: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Mitomi, Kenji Aoki, Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo
  • Patent number: 6701502
    Abstract: After the name of a signal line is entered, cells are arranged and, a channel to be wired therein is generated. After the completion of global wiring and minute wiring, a compaction process is performed. Here, the transistor density TD of an integrated circuit device to which the compaction process has been executed is compared with a standard value TDst. The compaction process is repeated unless TD>TDst, and terminated when TD >TDst. The time to terminate the compaction process can be judged from objective standards regardless of the level of a designer's skill, so as to keep the layout design of an integrated circuit device above a certain level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Kondo, Takao Kuroda
  • Patent number: 6674565
    Abstract: A travelling wave-type optical modulator has a supporting substrate and a ferroelectric single crystalline layer on the supporting substrate. The ferroelectric single crystalline layer has thicker parts and thinner parts within the modulating region of the travelling wave-type optical modulator when viewed in the cross section of the modulating region. An optical waveguide is formed in the thicker part of the ferroelectric single crystalline layer, and electrodes for modulation are provided on the thinner part of the ferroelectric single crystalline layer between the adjacent thicker parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Kondo, Jungo Kondo, Kenji Aoki, Osamu Mitomi
  • Publication number: 20030138180
    Abstract: An optical modulator modulates light propagating in a three-dimensional optical waveguide 5 by applying a voltage on the waveguide. The modulator has a three dimensional optical waveguide 5 having at least a pair of branched portions 5b, 5c and a recombining portion 5f of the branched portions 5c, 5d and radiating light of off-mode, and a slab optical waveguide 4 guiding the light of off-mode. The modulator also has modulating electrodes 7A, 7B, 7C for applying a signal voltage and a direct current bias on the waveguide 5 to modulate light propagating in the waveguide 5. The modulator further has a photo detector 13 for detecting light radiated from the slab optical waveguide 4, and a controlling unit 15 for varying the direct current bias based on an output from the photo detector 13 so as to control the operational point of the modulator. According to the modulator, the operational point may be controlled with improved efficiency and stability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Atsuo Kondo, Osamu Mitomi, Jungo Kondo, Kenji Aoki
  • Patent number: 6584265
    Abstract: An optical waveguide element includes a substrate made of a lithium tantalate single crystal or a lithium niobate-lithium tantalate solid solution single crystal and a bulky optical waveguide made of a lithium niobate single crystal is directly joined to the substrate. The c-axis of the single crystal substrate is tilted at an angle with respect to the surface of the substrate to which the bulky optical waveguide is joined. The tilted angle is preferably within a range of 17-37 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Kondo, Jungo Kondo, Yoshinari Kozuka, Soichiro Matsuzawa
  • Patent number: 6571026
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsuo Kondo, Jungo Kondo, Kenji Aoki