Patents by Inventor James C. Brown, Jr.

James C. Brown, Jr. 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).

  • Multi-branch digital optical switch
    Patent number: 5357589
    Abstract: A multi-branch digital optical switch having three branch waveguides through which light may exit. The multi-branch digital optical switch includes a main waveguide, two side branch waveguides, and one center branch waveguide. The two side branch waveguides diverge symmetrically from the center branch waveguide at angles which are sufficiently small to allow modal evolution through the switch to be substantially adiabatic. Electric fields are used to raise the index of refraction of one side branch waveguide above the index of the center branch waveguide and to lower the index of refraction of the other side branch below the index of the center branch waveguide. The switch has an extinction ratio of 700:1 (28 dB) between its two side branches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: James C. Brown, Jr., Sarat K. Mohapatra, William C. Tait