Optical Modulator Patents (Class 359/237)
  • Publication number: 20140185978
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a modulation block comprising a plurality of modulators, wherein each of the plurality of modulators comprises an optical input port and an optical output port, and wherein all of the optical input ports and all of the optical output ports are positioned on one face of the modulation block. Another apparatus comprising a modulation block comprising one or more Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs), wherein each MZM is coupled to an optical input port, an optical output port, and at least one electrical trace, wherein all of the optical input ports and all of the optical output ports are positioned on a first side of the modulation block, and wherein all of the electrical traces are positioned on a second side of the modulation block, and a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) coupled to the modulation block via an optical interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Publication date: July 3, 2014
    Applicant: FUTUREWEI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Chunlei Liao, Morgan Chen, Xiao A. Shen, Yusheng Bai
  • Patent number: 8768110
    Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to an optical isolator in an integrated optical circuit including: a first optical modulator configured to provide a first periodic phase modulation on an input optical signal; a second optical modulator configured to provide a second periodic phase modulation on the modulated optical signal; and an optical waveguide having a length L connecting the first optical modulator to the second optical modulator; wherein the phase difference between the first and second periodic phase modulation is ?/2, and wherein the length L of the optical waveguide causes a phase delay of ?/2 on an optical signal traversing the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Christopher R. Doerr
  • Patent number: 8760751
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus related to an electromechanical display device. In one aspect, an analog interferometric modulator (AIMOD) includes a reflective display pixel having a movable reflective layer and a stationary absorber layer, the reflective layer and absorber layer defining a cavity therebetween. A color notch filter may be employed to produce an improved white state. In some implementations, the color notch filter is positioned on a side of the substrate opposite the absorber layer. In some other implementations, the color notch filter is positioned between the substrate and the movable reflective layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jian J. Ma, Tallis Y. Chang, John H. Hong, Ion Bita
  • Patent number: 8755866
    Abstract: A system and method for optical lymph node mapping. The system is useful for guiding sentinel lymph node biopsy surgeries. A contrast agent that includes a fluorescent dye is injected near the site of a malignancy. The contrast agent drains into the lymphatic system, collecting in a sentinel node or nodes. The system utilizes one or more low-power continuous-wave lasers or light-emitting diodes modulated with a digital code sequence to probe the tissue suspected of containing the sentinel node. When the light is incident near the sentinel node, it will excite fluorescence from the dye. A portion of the scattered fluorescent light is captured with one or more photo-detectors. A correlation of the photo-detector signal and the digital code sequence is calculated to produce an estimate of the distribution of flight times for photons traveling from a given source to a given detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventors: John F. Heanue, Joseph A. Heanue, Brian P. Wilfley, Augustus P. Lowell
  • Patent number: 8749867
    Abstract: An electrowetting display panel includes an array substrate, a cover substrate, an electrowetting layer, and a hydrophobic pattern. The array substrate includes a display area and a peripheral area surrounding the display area and the cover substrate faces the array substrate. The electrowetting layer is disposed between the array substrate and the cover substrate and includes a polar fluid as a first fluid and a non-polar fluid as a second fluid. The hydrophobic pattern is disposed in the peripheral area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Liquavista B.V.
    Inventors: Chanuk Jon, Gilhwan Yeo, Jinbo Shim, Jaejin Lyu, Wonil Choi, Wangsu Hong
  • Patent number: 8743297
    Abstract: A liquid crystal light adjusting device includes: a first liquid crystal layer on which light from one surface is incident; and a reflective film which reflects light transmitted through the first liquid crystal layer, wherein the first liquid crystal layer has adjacent alignment regions, and orientation directions of liquid crystal molecules in the adjacent alignment regions are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Keita Kaifu
  • Patent number: 8721091
    Abstract: An optical system having a plane anisotropic retroreflector portion which specularly reflects radiation components in a first plane of incidence, but retroreflects radiation components in a second plane of incidence, a first imaging portion which produces on the retroreflector portion a line-shaped intermediate image of an object point in an object plane in a specified position relative to the system, the image extending along a line in the second plane of incidence, and a second imaging portion by means of which the line-shaped intermediate image is imaged into an image point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Giesecke & Devrient GmbH
    Inventor: Bernd Wunderer
  • Patent number: 8724082
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser driver includes a light detection circuit to detect a quantity of light as a detected light emission intensity and output the detected light emission intensity to the control circuit, and a control circuit to control a light emission intensity for the semiconductor laser based on the detected light emission intensity and on a predetermined light emission intensity setting value. The light detection circuit includes a photoelectric conversion element to convert the quantity of light emitted from the semiconductor laser into an electrical current and output the converted electrical current, a current magnification setting circuit to amplify the electrical current output from the photoelectric conversion element to a predetermined amplified current at one of multiple different predetermined magnifications, a detection resistor to convert the amplified current output from the current magnification setting circuit into a voltage and output the voltage as the detected light emission intensity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroaki Kyogoku
  • Patent number: 8711168
    Abstract: The color gamut of display devices like digital projectors and digital displays is expanded by incorporating additional passband filters into the optical path of the devices to produce presentations of color components in two different color gamuts. The composite visual effect of the two presentations is a presentation in an expanded color gamut. Special considerations in the modulation of color components of the image can reduce variations in color and brightness, which can otherwise manifest themselves as flicker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventor: Martin Richards
  • Patent number: 8712252
    Abstract: To efficiently apply jitter to an optical signal using a simple configuration, provided is an optical signal output apparatus that outputs an optical pulse pattern signal including jitter, the optical signal generating apparatus comprising a light source section that outputs an optical signal having an optical frequency corresponding to a frequency control signal; an optical modulation section that modulates the optical signal output by the light source section, according to a designated pulse pattern; and an optical jitter generating section that delays an optical signal passed by the optical modulation section according to the optical frequency, to apply jitter to the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Advantest Corporation
    Inventors: Shin Masuda, Kazunori Shiota
  • Patent number: 8711468
    Abstract: A display device includes: a substrate provided on a side of the display surface; a counter substrate disposed to face the substrate; a display layer provided between the substrate and the counter substrate and filled with a dispersion liquid formed of a dispersion medium in which white particles and black particles charged with polarities opposite to each other are dispersed; and a particle constrained layer provided in the display layer, and suppresses the white particles and the black particles from moving in an in-plane direction of the display layer, while allowing the particles to move in the thickness direction of the display layer. In the display device, a particle constrained layer is provided to be separated from the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Satoshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 8711478
    Abstract: A stereoscopic display includes: a display panel in which sub-pixels of a plurality of colors are arranged in a predetermined arrangement pattern; and a parallax barrier having a barrier pattern including transmission sections allowing light to pass therethrough and a shielding section shielding light. The arrangement pattern and the barrier pattern are configured in such a manner that stereoscopic vision is achieved when the display panel and the parallax barrier are both in a first arrangement state and in a second arrangement state, the first arrangement state and the second arrangement state having such a positional relationship that vertical direction and horizontal direction are interchanged with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Kaoru Yanamoto
  • Patent number: 8711484
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a pellicle beam splitter includes etching an aperture in a support substrate; bonding a beam splitter substrate to an upper surface of the support substrate so that the beam splitter substrate covers the aperture; and depositing at least one optical coating on the beam splitter substrate. A pellicle beam splitter includes a support substrate, an aperture created in the support substrate using a semiconductor fabrication processes and a beam-splitting coating covering the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Jong-Souk Yeo, Sagi V. Mathai, Michael Renne Ty Tan
  • Publication number: 20140104664
    Abstract: Provided are an optically addressable spatial light modulator (OASLM) divided into a plurality of segments, and an apparatus and method for displaying a holographic three-dimensional (3D) image using the OASLM. The holographic 3D image display apparatus includes a first light source which emits a write beam, an electric addressable spatial light modulator (EASLM) which modulates the write beam emitted from the first light source according to hologram information regarding a 3D image, a second light source which emits a read beam, an OASLM which receives the write beam modulated by the EASLM and modulates the read beam emitted from the second light source according to hologram information included in the modulated write beam, a scanning optical unit which projects the write beam modulated by the EASLM onto the OASLM, and a Fourier lens which focuses the read beam modulated by the OASLM onto a predetermined space to form the 3D image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicants: CAMBRIDGE ENTERPRISE LIMITED, SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hong-seok LEE, Neil COLLINGS, Daping CHU, Hoon SONG, William Alden CROSSLAND, Jhen Si CHEN
  • Patent number: 8696143
    Abstract: A projection system having a first tilting mirror matrix, a second tilting mirror matrix, and an imaging lens, which projects the first tilting mirror matrix onto the second tilting mirror matrix, wherein each tilting mirror matrix has multiple tilting mirrors, the tilting axes of which are positioned in a modulator surface plane. The imaging lens includes a first lens and an imaging mirror, and the imaging mirror forms an aperture stop of the imaging lens, wherein the aperture diaphragm includes an angle of other than 90° with the normal of the modulator surface of the first tilting mirror matrix without taking into account any optical path folds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Carl Zeiss AG
    Inventors: Enrico Geissler, Christoph Nieten, Guenter Rudolph, Marco Pretorius
  • Patent number: 8693083
    Abstract: A method is provided for making a micromirror unit which includes a frame, a mirror forming base, and bridges connecting the frame to the mirror forming base. The method includes the following steps. First, a first mask pattern is formed on a substrate for masking portions of the substrate which are processed into the frame and the mirror forming base. Then, a second mask pattern is formed on the substrate for masking portions of the substrate which are processed into the bridges. Then, the substrate is subjected to a first etching process with the first and the second mask patterns present as masking means. Then, the second mask pattern is removed selectively. Then, the substrate is subjected to a second etching process with the first mask pattern present as masking means. Finally, the first mask pattern is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Osamu Tsuboi, Satoshi Ueda, Yoshihiro Mizuno, Ippei Sawaki, Fumio Yamagishi
  • Patent number: 8686984
    Abstract: A system related to the improvement of the design of display device screens during the off or stand-by state is provided. The system comprises a display device and a device connected to the display device, wherein the device comprises a material having a switchable optical configuration. The display device may e.g. by a TV screen, or any other display such as computer monitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Kkoninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Helga Hummel, Matthias Wendt, Hans-Peter Loebl, Claudia Michaela Goldmann
  • Patent number: 8684538
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for projecting at least one light beam is provided. The method may include providing at least one light beam; and setting a time base of a processor configured to control the at least one light beam as a function of a deflection of the at least one light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: OSRAM Gesellschaft mit beschraenkter Haftung
    Inventors: Jan Oliver Drumm, Christian Gammer, Jens Richter
  • Patent number: 8681413
    Abstract: An optical system may include an objective, a source of illumination, an illumination system having illumination optics configured to direct the illumination onto the objective, and at least two dynamic optical array devices located at a pupil conjugate plane and a field conjugate plane, respectively in the illumination optics. The dynamic optical array devices are configured to control one or more properties of illumination coupled from the illumination system to the objective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Amnon Manassen, Joel Seligson, Noam Sapiens
  • Patent number: 8654435
    Abstract: The present invention provides a transmissive Spatial Light Modulator with fast response speed and higher brightness using micro-windows having switching transistors on said window so that the fill factor of light transferring area can be maximized. Conventional systems have transistors out of windows which substantially reduce the area to pass incoming light, because transistors are usually opaque and block light transmission. Transmissive Spatial Light Modulator requires simpler and smaller optics than reflective Spatial Light Modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Inventor: Fusao Ishii
  • Patent number: 8648955
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus and method for acquiring light field data using a variable modulator. The apparatus varies a modulator located between an optical system and a sensor adaptively according to objects to be captured or a peripheral environment. Accordingly, 4-dimensional (4D) light field data optimized according to objects to be captured or according to changes in focal distance may be acquired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joo-young Kang, Hyun-wook Ok, Seong-deok Lee, Byung-kwan Park, Jae-guyn Lim
  • Patent number: 8643936
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for providing white light color output from an electromechanical systems (EMS) device with reduced likelihood of stiction. In one aspect, interferometric modulators are configured to provide a white color output while having a non-zero modulator gap dimension. Such a feature can reduce problems associated with zero modulator gap dimensions such as stiction. Various methodologies can be used to yield such a non-zero modulator gap and a white color output. In some implementations, for example, an optical element that introduced wavelength dependent phase shift is used. In some implementations this wavelength dependent phase shifting optical element includes a stack of color filters, a hologram, a diffraction grating, or layers of material having specific thicknesses and wavelength dependent indices of refraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: QUALCOMM MEMS Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Hong, Marc Maurice Mignard
  • Patent number: 8643929
    Abstract: An apparatus includes an optical splitter, an optical intensity combiner, first and second Mach-Zehnder interferometers, and first and second drive electrodes. The first Mach-Zehnder interferometer connects a first optical output of the optical intensity splitter to a first optical input of the optical intensity combiner. The second Mach-Zehnder interferometer connects a second optical output of the optical intensity splitter to a second optical input of the optical intensity combiner. The first drive electrode is located between and connected to a pair of semiconductor junctions along first internal optical arms of the Mach-Zehnder interferometers. The second drive electrode is located between and connected to a pair of semiconductor junctions along second internal optical arms of the Mach-Zehnder interferometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Douglas M. Gill, Mahmoud Rasras
  • Patent number: 8643928
    Abstract: Two or more spectral emitters are used to provide spectrally separated light illumination onto modulating pixels of a visual display. The spectral emitters may be lasers or LEDs, typically having coherent properties. Generally, a display system includes a spectral emitter array, a light collimating element, a lens array, and a light modulating panel. The spectral emitter array includes a first spectral emitter operable to emit light of a first wavelength and a second spectral emitter operable to emit light of a second wavelength. The light collimating element is operable to direct light from the spectral emitter toward the lens array, and the lens array is operable to direct light toward the light modulating panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: RealD Inc.
    Inventor: Michael G. Robinson
  • Patent number: 8642982
    Abstract: A fast switching arbitrary frequency light source for broadband spectroscopic applications. The light source may operate near 1.6 um based on sideband tuning using an electro-optic modulator driven by an arbitrary waveform generator. A Fabry-Perot filter cavity selects a single sideband of the light source. The finesse (FSR/??FWHM) of the filter cavity may be chosen to enable rapid frequency switching at rates up to 5 MHz over a frequency range of 40 GHz (1.3 cm?1). The bandwidth, speed and spectral purity are high enough for spectroscopic applications where rapid and discrete frequency scans are needed. Significant signal-to-noise advantages may be realized using the rapid and broadband scanning features of this system in many areas of spectroscopy, e.g., process monitoring and control, reaction dynamics, and remote sensing (e.g., greenhouse gas monitoring, biological/chemical agent screening).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Commerce, NIST
    Inventors: David F. Plusquellic, Kevin O. Douglass, Stephen E. Maxwell, Joseph T. Hodges, David A. Long, Gar-Wing Truong
  • Patent number: 8638489
    Abstract: Techniques and configurations are provided to generate multiple coherent optical subcarriers. A laser source generates as output a light beam at a carrier frequency. A multicarrier generator is provided that is coupled to the laser source and comprises one or more dual carrier generators each configured to modulate the light beam at the same modulation frequency or different modulation frequencies so as to output a plurality of light beams each at a different subcarrier frequency that is offset from the carrier frequency. The multicarrier generator generates the plurality of light beams on individual outputs, e.g., fibers, without the need for an optical demultiplexing filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Duthel, James Whiteaway
  • Patent number: 8630828
    Abstract: Methods are disclosed for computer modeling of amplitude modulated light in dispersive optical systems. Ray tracings are extended to include calculations of the modulated phase for the rays. Examples are given for electronic distance measurement instrument applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventor: David H. Parker
  • Patent number: 8625187
    Abstract: A DND chip is disclosed. In one aspect, the chip includes a 2D DND array of DND elements logically arranged in rows and columns, and a DND driver architecture for actuating the DND elements. The DND driver has a set of first drive lines along the rows and a set of second drive lines along the columns, a set of first line drivers for each biasing one line from the set of first drive lines and a set of second line drivers for each biasing a line from the set of second drive lines. A plurality of second line drivers are spatially grouped together to serve a block of DND elements, and that plurality of second line drivers are spatially covered substantially completely by at least some DND elements of the block of DND elements. A holographic visualization system including the DND chip is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventors: Geert Van Der Plas, Stefan Cosemans
  • Patent number: 8625936
    Abstract: A system, e.g. an optical modulator, includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of optical resonators. The optical waveguide is located along a surface of a planar substrate. The plurality of optical resonators is also located along the surface and coupled to the optical waveguide. Each of said optical resonators is configured to resonantly couple to the optical waveguide at a different optical frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Po Dong
  • Patent number: 8610989
    Abstract: A microcavity-controlled two-dimensional carbon lattice structure device selectively modifies to reflect or to transmit, or emits, or absorbs, electromagnetic radiation depending on the wavelength of the electromagnetic radiation. The microcavity-controlled two-dimensional carbon lattice structure device employs a graphene layer or at least one carbon nanotube located within an optical center of a microcavity defined by a pair of partial mirrors that partially reflect electromagnetic radiation. The spacing between the mirror determines the efficiency of elastic and inelastic scattering of electromagnetic radiation inside the microcavity, and hence, determines a resonance wavelength of electronic radiation that is coupled to the microcavity. The resonance wavelength is tunable by selecting the dimensional and material parameters of the microcavity. The process for manufacturing this device is compatible with standard complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) manufacturing processes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation, Karlsruher Institut Fuer Technologie (KIT), Cambridge Enterprise Limited
    Inventors: Phaedon Avouris, Mathias B. Steiner, Michael Engel, Ralph Krupke, Andrea C. Ferrari, Antonio Lombardo
  • Patent number: 8599357
    Abstract: A photolithography system has at least one spatial light modulator, a scanning mechanism configured to move an exposure area relative to a target object in a scanning direction, a plurality of memories (1st to Nth memories), a data processor, and exposure controller. The exposure area is defined as a projection area of the spatial light modulator. The plurality of memories corresponds to a plurality of partial exposure areas that is defined by dividing the exposure area. The data processor successively writes exposure data into each memory in accordance with the timing of an exposure, and the exposure controller controls the plurality of light modulating elements on the basis of the relative position of the exposure area. The data processor writes newly generated exposure data into the first memory, and shifts exposure data stored in the 1st to (N?1)st memories to the 2nd to Nth memories, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Orc Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Okuyama, Yoshinori Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8600241
    Abstract: A system for delivering more than one optical power form and at least one control signal over an optical conduit includes control circuitry for controlling characteristics of the optical power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8592743
    Abstract: A transmission line and method for implementing includes a plurality of segments forming an electrical path and a continuous optical path passing through the segments. Discrete inductors are formed between and connect adjacent segments. The inductors are formed in a plurality of metal layers of an integrated circuit to balance capacitance of an optical modulator which includes the transmission line to achieve a characteristic impedance for the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Green, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Clint S. Schow, Yurii A. Vlasov
  • Publication number: 20130308080
    Abstract: The invention provides an optical film for an LCD device and an LCD device. The optical film includes a display area in a middle part and a non-display area in an edge part; the non-display area is provided with a light shading layer. The inventor finds that the non-display area of the optical film just covers a surface of the middle frame; thus, the light shading layer is directly arranged in the non-display area of the optical film, to prevent the middle frame from leaking light in a joining position. In addition, the invention uses the existing material to achieve the light shading capability of the middle frame, thereby having the advantages of simplicity, practicality, and low cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Yicheng Kuo, Shihhsiang Chen, Gege Zhou
  • Patent number: 8588556
    Abstract: An apparatus, comprising a substrate with a planar surface an optical power splitter on the surface, and an optical power combiner on the surface. The apparatus also comprises pairs of optical waveguides located on the planar surface, each waveguide of the pairs connecting a corresponding output of the optical power splitter to a corresponding input of the optical power combiner. The apparatus also comprises a plurality of optical resonators located on the surface, each of the resonators of the plurality being evanescently coupled to a corresponding one of the waveguides. For each particular one of the pairs, resonant frequencies of the optical resonators coupled to the waveguides of the particular one of the pairs are about the same. Resonant frequencies of each pair of the optical resonators coupled to two of the waveguides in different ones of the pairs are different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Po Dong
  • Patent number: 8576206
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a phase modulating apparatus capable of highly accurately and easily correcting the phase modulation characteristic of a reflective electric address spatial light modulator even when a condition of input light is changed. In the LCOS phase modulating apparatus, an input unit inputs the condition of the input light, and a processing unit sets an input value for each pixel. A correction value deriving unit determines a correction condition according to the condition of the input light. A control input value converting unit converts the input value set for each pixel into a corrected input value based on the correction condition. An LUT processing unit converts the corrected input value into a voltage value, and drives each pixel by using a drive voltage equivalent to the converted voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Naoya Matsumoto, Norihiro Fukuchi, Takashi Inoue, Yasunori Igasaki
  • Patent number: 8570634
    Abstract: A method, computer-usable medium and a system for varying an incoming light field are disclosed. Embodiments provide mechanisms for performing image processing on an incoming light field using a spatial light modulator which is adjusted based upon characteristics of the incoming light field. The spatial light modulator may be positioned between the viewed scene and the eye, and therefore, may be semi-transparent. The image processing may consist of tone mapping, color enhancement, beautification, edge enhancement, spectral separation of colors, spectral separation of metamers, object emphasis, other image processing, or some combination thereof. Additionally, embodiments compensate for parallax errors by adjusting the spatial light modulator based upon the position of an observer with respect to the spatial light modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: NVIDIA Corporation
    Inventors: David Patrick Luebke, Wolfgang Heidrich
  • Patent number: 8570642
    Abstract: Disclosed is a light control film comprising: two of transparent conductive resin substrates each having a transparent conductive layer and a transparent resin substrate; and a light control layer interposed between the two transparent conductive resin substrates to be in contact with the transparent conductive layer sides, the light control layer containing: a resin matrix; and a light control suspension dispersed in the resin matrix, wherein the transparent conductive layer contains: an organic binder resin; and a conductive polymer. The present invention can provide a light control film having satisfactory adhesiveness between the light control layer and the transparent conductive layer and having excellent radio wave transparency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoyuki Nomura, Yoshii Morishita, Tooru Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8570644
    Abstract: The present invention realizes an enhancement of a fabrication yield and a reduction of a size regarding an optical modulator or an optical device including polarization beam combining means. An optical modulator of the present invention (1) includes: first and second optical modulators (LN optical modulators (101) to (104)) that are formed on a substrate; a polarization beam rotating unit (107) that rotates at least one polarization beam of modulated light beams modulated by the first and second optical modulators; and a polarization beam combining element (110) that is disposed outside the substrate and that combines the polarization beams of the modulated light of which the polarization beams are rotated by the polarization beam rotating unit (107).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hitoshi Oguri
  • Patent number: 8570636
    Abstract: A display element is described. The display element includes: a network; a continuous phase; and a discontinuous mobile phase, which is capable of responding to an externally applied electric field such that under influence of the externally applied electric field, without effecting bulk movement of the continuous phase, the mobile phase displaces from one location to another location through or within the network. A process of manufacturing a display cell is also described. The process includes: obtaining a pair of electrodes; placing a network between the electrodes; assembling the electrodes and the network to form a sub-assembly; and injecting into the subassembly a discontinuous phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Zikon Inc.
    Inventors: Mateusz Bryning, Zbigniew Bryning, Remy Cromer
  • Patent number: 8564873
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display apparatus having at least one electronically controllable display element that comprises: at least one nonpolar and at least two electrically conductive or polar liquids; a fluidically sealed volume having a visible sub-volume and at least two holding volumes connected fluidically to the visible sub-volume; and at least one voltage source that is applied to a first electrode arrangement; the visible sub-volume being of planar embodiment so that when the first electrode arrangement is in the zero-voltage state, the electrically conductive or polar liquids are drawn into the respective holding volume; and the display element furthermore comprising mechanical and/or electrical means for selectably retaining in their holding volumes those electrically conductive or polar liquids which are not intended to be moved into the visible sub-volume by an impingement of voltage on the first electrode arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Display Technology AG
    Inventors: Oliver Mueller-Marc, Dieter Jerosch, Andriy Bitman, Frank Bartels
  • Patent number: 8553314
    Abstract: The invention relates to a display device having at least one electrically controllable display element comprising a first and at least one further liquid, a plurality of fluidically closed volumes and at least one voltage source which is connected to an electrode array, wherein said volumes include flat visible subvolumes which stacked upon another along their shortest dimension, having associated second subvolumes which pass through those flat visible subvolumes which are underlying that flat visible subvolume which is associated with the respective second subvolume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Advanced Display Technology AG
    Inventors: Oliver Mueller-Marc, Dieter Jerosch, Andriy Bitman, Frank Bartels
  • Patent number: 8547627
    Abstract: An electronic device may have a MEMS device formed of a first conductive material. A trench may be formed in the MEMS device. A layer of non-conductive material may be formed in the trench. A second conductive material may be formed upon the non-conductive material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation MEMS
    Inventors: Ankur Jain, Roman C. Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 8532445
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes a first transparent substrate having first and second surfaces, a second transparent substrate having substantially parallel third and fourth surfaces, a reflective portion on the second transparent substrate, a plurality of filters between the first substrate and the reflective portion, the plurality of filters filtering light beams incident thereon, the plurality of filters and the reflective portion forming a bounce cavity within the second transparent substrate, a collimating lens for collimating light beams to be input to the bounce cavity, a tilt mechanism for introducing tilt to light beams input to the bounce cavity; an input port receiving light beams and an output port transmitting light beams. The tilt mechanism may be between the first and second substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: DigitalOptics Corporation East
    Inventors: James E. Morris, Hongtao Han, Adam Fedor, Robert TeKolste, Jay Mathews, Michael R. Feldman
  • Patent number: 8530821
    Abstract: A transmission line and method for implementing includes a plurality of segments forming an electrical path and a continuous optical path passing through the segments. Discrete inductors are formed between and connect adjacent segments. The inductors are formed in a plurality of metal layers of an integrated circuit to balance capacitance of an optical modulator which includes the transmission line to achieve a characteristic impedance for the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Green, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Clint S. Schow, Yurii A. Vlasov
  • Patent number: 8526090
    Abstract: An optical modulator device includes a body portion operative to propagate an optical mode along a longitudinal axis of the body portion, the body portion comprising a first layer disposed on a second layer, wherein the first layer includes a first p-type doped region adjacent to a first n-type doped region along the longitudinal axis of the body portion, and the second layer includes a second n-type doped region disposed on the first p-type doped region and a second p-type doped region adjacent to the second n-type doped region along the longitudinal axis of the body portion, the second p-type doped region disposed on the first n-type doped region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: William M. Green, Jessie C. Rosenberg, Yurii A. Vlasov
  • Patent number: 8526099
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing microcapsules is provided. The microcapsules each include an electrophoretic dispersion liquid containing at least one type of electrophoretic particles in a dispersion medium, and a capsule body made of an organic polymer and containing the electrophoretic dispersion liquid. The method includes forming droplets of the electrophoretic dispersion liquid by dispersing the electrophoretic dispersion liquid in an polar dispersion medium, and forming the capsule bodies by mixing a polymerization initiator and a polymerizable surfactant having a hydrophilic group, a hydrophobic group and a polymerizable group with the polar dispersion medium so as to coat the droplets with the polymerizable surfactant and induce a polymerization reaction to form the organic polymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Yamamoto, Takeo Kawase, Toshiyuki Miyabashi
  • Patent number: 8527226
    Abstract: An apparatus for modulating an incident beam includes a body that is non-transmissive and rotatable about an axis perpendicular to a surface of the body. The body has a first set of features including transmissive features with respect to the incident beam along a first radial path at a first radial distance from the axis and a second set of features including data storage features along a second radial path at a second radial distance from the axis. The apparatus also includes a reference sensor disposed over a first position along the second radial path. In the apparatus. the radial distances are different and the numbers of transmissive features and data storage features are relatively prime. When the body is rotating, the first set of features modulate the incident beam and the reference sensor generates a reference signal based on the data storage features traversing the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Vanderbilt University
    Inventor: Jesse Shaver
  • Publication number: 20130222889
    Abstract: A device for manipulating colloidal particles in a bistable medium, the device includes a microcontroller, which stores a color and/or design scheme for a bistable medium, and a mechanism for changing the bistable medium from a first state to a second state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Applicant: IDEA ZOO, INC.
    Inventors: Pieter Stroeve, Ben Shand Farber, M. Saif Islam, Edmond Edward Routhier
  • Patent number: 8520291
    Abstract: An illumination optical system which illuminates an irradiated plane with illumination light provided from a light source includes a spatial light modulator which is arranged in an optical path of the illumination optical system and cooperates with part of the illumination optical system to form a desired light intensity distribution at a pupil position of the illumination optical system or a position optically conjugated with the pupil position. A detection unit detects the light intensity distribution of the illumination light at a position in an optical path extending from the light source to the spatial light modulator. The detection unit includes a light receiving surface which receives some of the illumination light. A control unit controls the spatial light modulator based on the light intensity distribution detected by the detection unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Hirohisa Tanaka