Patents by Inventor Lionel C. Kimerling

Lionel C. Kimerling 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).

  • Grating into a high index contrast strip or channel waveguide
    Patent number: 7346238
    Abstract: A high index difference coupler includes a high index difference waveguide having one or more modes. A plurality of gratings is formed on the high index difference waveguide. The effective index difference between low index regions and high index regions of the waveguide is greater than 0.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Lionel C. Kimerling, Desmond R. Lim
  • Planar multiwavelength optical power supply on a silicon platform
    Patent number: 7336684
    Abstract: A microphotonic light source includes an optical pump and a plurality of waveguides that distribute optical pump power of the optical pump. At least one Erbium-doped laser ring is coupled to at least one of the waveguides so as to match the resonance condition of the optical pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel K. Sparacin, Luca Dal Negro, Sajan Saini, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Silicon based on-chip photonic band gap cladding waveguide
    Patent number: 7321713
    Abstract: A waveguide structure includes a core structure that has low index materials. A photonic crystal cladding structure utilized in guiding optical modes in the core. The photonic crystal cladding structure includes alternating layers of Si and Si3N4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Shoji Akiyama, Xiaoman Duan, Lionel C. Kimerling, Yasha Yi
  • Photonic bandgap modulator, amplifier, demux, and TDM devices
    Patent number: 7310454
    Abstract: An optical device includes at least two photonic bandgap crystal (PBG) stacks that are each comprised of alternating layers of high and low index materials. A defect region is formed in a cavity region between the at least two photonic bandgap crystal stacks so as to provide the properties needed to reflect light received by the optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Shoji Akiyama, Lionel C. Kimerling, Kazumi Wada
  • Vertically-integrated waveguide photodetector apparatus and related coupling methods
    Patent number: 7305157
    Abstract: High-speed optoelectronic devices having a waveguide densely integrated with and efficiently coupled to a photodetector are fabricated utilizing methods generally compatible with CMOS processing techniques. In various implementations, the waveguide consists essentially of single-crystal silicon and the photodetector contains, or consists essentially of, epitaxially grown germanium or a silicon-germanium alloy having a germanium concentration exceeding about 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Donghwan Ahn, Jifeng Liu, Jurgen Michel, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Optical transmission system
    Publication number: 20070274642
    Abstract: A high-speed optical transmission system includes an optical fiber for transmitting light and an optical receiver for receiving light transmitted from the optical fiber. The optical fiber is a plastic optical fiber (POF), and the optical receiver has a lateral pin structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicants: FUJIFILM Corporation, MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Takayoshi Inujima, Mikihiko Kato, Satoshi Takahashi, Yukiya Miyachi, Lionel C. Kimerling, Jurgen Michel, Dong Pan, Wojciech P. Giziewicz
  • Integrated waveguide photodetector apparatus with matching propagation constants and related coupling methods
    Patent number: 7266263
    Abstract: High-speed optoelectronic devices having a waveguide densely integrated with and efficiently coupled to a photodetector are fabricated utilizing methods generally compatible with CMOS processing techniques. In various implementations, the waveguide consists essentially of single-crystal silicon and the photodetector contains, or consists essentially of, epitaxially grown germanium or a silicon-germanium alloy having a germanium concentration exceeding about 90%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2007
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Donghwan Ahn, Jifeng Liu, Jurgen Michel, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Light modulation using the Franz-Keldysh effect
    Patent number: 7239762
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes at least one waveguide medium that receives light. An absorption medium absorbs the light under predefined conditions and outputs optically modulated light. The absorption medium is comprised of a Ge-based structure. The Ge-based structure uses the Franz-Keldysh effect to create said optically modulated light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Lionel C. Kimerling, Kazumi Wada, Douglas D. Cannon, Kevin K. Lee
  • Thermally and electrically conducting high index contrast multi-layer mirrors and devices
    Patent number: 7238412
    Abstract: An optical device is provided. The optical device includes a plurality of high index layers. The optical device also includes a plurality of low index layers. The optical device is formed by creating alternating layers of the plurality of high layers and the plurality of low index layers, such that electricity and heat is allowed to be conducted through said optical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Desmond R. Lim, Kazumi Wada, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Air gaps for optical applications
    Patent number: 7227678
    Abstract: An optical structure includes a substrate having two side surfaces. A first layer of high refractive index material is formed on the substrate. A sacrificial layer is formed on the first layer. A second layer of high refractive index material is formed on the sacrificial layer. At a predefined temperature the sacrificial layer is evaporated, thus forming an air gap between the first layer and the second layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Leslie S. S. Loo, Michal Lipson, Karen K. Gleason, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Tunable chromatic dispersion compensation
    Patent number: 7190853
    Abstract: A system for dispersion compensation is provided including a plurality of optical cavities with each including a specific resonant frequency and resonant linewidth. At least one coupling element interconnects the optical cavities. The at least one coupling element defines the coupling strength between the cavities. The optical cavities are interconnected with the at least one coupled element that forms a multi-cavity structure. The multi-cavity structure generates appropriate dispersion properties for dispersion compensation purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John D. Joannopoulos, Shanhui Fan, Michal Lispon, Kevin M. Chen, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Polysilane thin films for directly patternable waveguides
    Patent number: 7190871
    Abstract: A waveguide structure includes a substrate. A layer of high index material includes polysilane, which is patterned using a UV light source to form a waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2007
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: John Lock, Lionel C. Kimerling, Karen K. Gleason
  • Optical grating coupler
    Patent number: 7146074
    Abstract: An optical grating is disposed on a waveguide to redirect light from the interior of the waveguide through the opposite side of the waveguide from the grating. In one embodiment the waveguide, the grating, and an optical sensor are combined in a single monolithic structure. In another embodiment, an absorbing layer is directly connected to the waveguide in the region of the grating. In still another embodiment, efficiency of the grating is improved by having a high index contrast between the refractive index of the grating and the refractive index of the cladding disposed over the grating, and by having an appropriately sized discontinuity in the grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jun-Fei Zheng, Kazumi Wada, Jurgen Michel, Donghwan Ahn, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Multiple oxidation smoothing method for reducing silicon waveguide roughness
    Patent number: 7123805
    Abstract: The light-guiding structure includes a waveguide structure that comprises a substrate and a low refractive index underclad material. The waveguide structure is oxidized to form an oxidized layer on a surface of the waveguide structure. The oxidized layer is isotropically etched after the reaction-limited oxidation regime is approaching the diffusion-limited regime and repeatedly oxidized and etched so that the waveguide structure is continuously oxidized in the reaction-limited regime, reducing the overall time of oxidation and volume of oxidized material so that the waveguide structure has its sidewall roughness reduced efficiently enabling high transmission rates of guided light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Daniel K. Sparacin, Kazumi Wada, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Vertically and laterally confined 3D optical coupler
    Patent number: 7120335
    Abstract: An on-chip silicon-based optical coupler used to guide light from an optical fiber to a waveguide. The incoming wave is confined vertically by stacks of graded index materials. In the lateral direction, a linear taper formed by etched holes or trenches confines the wave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Anuradha M. Agarwal, Lionel C. Kimerling, Hermann A. Haus, Kazumi Wada, Steven G. Johnson, Christina Manolatou, Jurgen Michel, Victor Trinh Nguyen
  • Methods of altering the resonance of waveguide micro-resonators
    Patent number: 7092590
    Abstract: Methods of tuning, switching or modulating, or, in general, changing the resonance of waveguide micro-resonators. Changes in the resonance can be brought about, permanently or temporarily, by changing the size of the micro-resonator with precision, by changing the local physical structure of the device or by changing the effective and group indices of refraction of the mode in the micro-resonator. Further changing the asymmetry of the index profile around a waveguide can alter the birefringence of the waveguide and allows one to control the polarization in the waveguide. This change in index profile may be used to change the polarization dependence or birefringence of the resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Desmond R. Lim, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Methods of altering the resonance of waveguide micro-resonators
    Patent number: 7068862
    Abstract: Methods of tuning, switching or modulating, or, in general, changing the resonance of waveguide micro-resonators. Changes in the resonance can be brought about, permanently or temporarily, by changing the size of the micro-resonator with precision, by changing the local physical structure of the device or by changing the effective and group indices of refraction of the mode in the micro-resonator. Further changing the asymmetry of the index profile around a waveguide can alter the birefringence of the waveguide and allows one to control the polarization in the waveguide. This change in index profile may be used to change the polarization dependence or birefringence of the resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Desmond R. Lim, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Optical grating coupler
    Patent number: 7065271
    Abstract: An optical grating is disposed on a waveguide to redirect light from the interior of the waveguide through the opposite side of the waveguide from the grating. In one embodiment the waveguide, the grating, and an optical sensor are combined in a single monolithic structure. In another embodiment, an absorbing layer is directly connected to the waveguide in the region of the grating. In still another embodiment, efficiency of the grating is improved by having a high index contrast between the refractive index of the grating and the refractive index of the cladding disposed over the grating, and by having an appropriately sized discontinuity in the grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Jun-Fei Zheng, Kazumi Wada, Jurgen Michel, Donghwan Ahn, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Array waveguide grating
    Patent number: 7043120
    Abstract: An array waveguide grating structure includes an input MMI that receives an input optical signal and splits the optical signal into a plurality of signals, each having a defined wavelength. A plurality of input arrayed waveguide structures receive the plurality of signals such that each of the waveguide structures receives one of the plurality of signals. The input MMI, the plurality of arrayed waveguide structures, and the output waveguide are configured using HIC optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kazumi Wada, Hermann A. Haus, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Monolithic integration of micro-optics circuits and RF circuits
    Patent number: 7031561
    Abstract: A chip for integrating functions performed by micro-optics and RF circuits including at least one optical function module that receives an optical signal and performs at least one of a plurality of optical functions. A RF function module that receives a RF signal and perform at least one of a plurality of RF functions. The at least one optical function module and the RF function module provides a monolithic integration of optics and RF circuits on the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Desmond R. Lim, Lionel C. Kimerling