Distributed Feedback Patents (Class 372/96)
  • Patent number: 9518938
    Abstract: A device for measuring and characterizing solid-state devices or integrated circuits at RF frequencies up to 1.0 THz and beyond is provided that includes a transmitting photomixing probe structure and a receiving photomixing probe structure. The transmitting photomixing probe structure and the receiving photomixing probe structure are ac-coupled to the solid-state device or integrated circuit in a contact-free manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2016
    Assignee: WRIGHT STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventor: Elliott R. Brown
  • Patent number: 9465141
    Abstract: Waveguides and electromagnetic cavities fabricated in hyperuniform disordered materials with complete photonic bandgaps are provided. Devices comprising electromagnetic cavities fabricated in hyperuniform disordered materials with complete photonic bandgaps are provided. Devices comprising waveguides fabricated in hyperuniform disordered materials with complete photonic bandgaps are provided. The devices include electromagnetic splitters, filters, and sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: The Trustees Of Princeton University
    Inventors: Paul J Steinhardt, Marian Florescu, Salvatore Torquato
  • Patent number: 9454060
    Abstract: A mode locked semiconductor disk laser with an output beam having an ultra-short pulse length which provides the incident beam to a non linear microscope. The wavelength of the beam is at or near the action cross section maximum absorption wavelength for creating two photon excited fluorescence of a fluorescent biological marker in a sample. Semiconductor disk lasers combine excellent beam quality and output power, stability while maintaining simplicity and easiness of operation. In addition, these types of lasers are ideally suited for mass production as they are built in wafer-scale technology enabling a high level of integration. Importantly this non expensive, turn-key, compact laser system could be used as a platform to develop portable non-linear bio-imaging devices for clinical studies, facilitating its wide-spread adoption in “real-life” applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: The University of Dundee
    Inventors: Craig Hamilton, Graeme Malcolm, Ursula Keller, Thomas Sudmeyer, Kurt Weingarten, Pablo Loza-Alvarez, Yohan Barbarin, Edik Rafailov
  • Patent number: 9455551
    Abstract: Concatenated distributed feedback lasers having multiple laser sections laid out in series are disclosed. The concatenated distributed feedback lasers utilize quantum cascade core designs to produce optical gain in the mid-infrared region and may generate several wavelengths simultaneously or sequentially. Methods of making along with methods of using such devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: Thorlabs Quantum Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Catherine Genevieve Caneau, Feng Xie, Chung-En Zah
  • Patent number: 9372306
    Abstract: A method provides acceptable performance from a semiconductor transmitter photonic integrated circuit (TxPIC) that contains a plurality of modulated sources each comprising a laser source and an external modulator where each laser source provides a different emission wavelength and each modulated source forms a separate signal channel, comprising the steps of providing at least some of the signal channels with an extended identical active layer (EIAL) so that the modulated sources each have an identical active region wavelength and detuning the laser emission wavelength in each laser source within the EIAL from the laser active region wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Radhakrishnan L. Nagarajan, Fred A. Kish, Jr., Masaki Kato, Charles H. Joyner, David F. Welch, Randal A. Salvatore, Richard P. Schneider, Mehrdad Ziari, Damien Jean Henri Lambert, Sheila K. Hurtt, Andrew G. Dentai, Atul Mathur, Vincent G. Dominic
  • Patent number: 9337621
    Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser includes: a substrate; a first mirror layer; an active layer; a second mirror layer; a current constriction layer; a first area connected to the first mirror layer and including a plurality of oxide layers; and a second area connected to the second mirror layer and including a plurality of oxide layers. The first mirror layer, the active layer, the second mirror layer, the current constriction layer, the first area, and the second area configure a laminated body. The laminated body includes a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion between the first portion and the second portion. When a width of the oxide area is W1 and a width of an upper surface of the first portion is W2, W2/W1?3.3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kaneko, Tetsuo Nishida, Yuji Kurachi
  • Patent number: 9316786
    Abstract: A light-trapping sheet of the present disclosure includes: a light-transmitting sheet; and light-coupling structures arranged in an inner portion of the light-transmitting sheet. The light-coupling structure includes first, second and third light-transmitting layers. A refractive index of the first and second light-transmitting layers is smaller than that of the light-transmitting sheet; and a refractive index of the third light-transmitting layer is larger than those of the first and second light-transmitting layers. The third light-transmitting layer has a diffraction grating parallel to the surfaces of the light-transmitting sheet. The light-trapping sheet further includes a transparent cover sheet opposing at least one of the surfaces of the light-transmitting sheet with a gap interposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Nishiwaki, Shinichi Wakabayashi
  • Patent number: 9306674
    Abstract: The present disclosure generally pertains to optical communication apparatuses having field-tunable power characteristics. In one exemplary embodiment, an optical communication apparatus has an optical transmitter. The optical transmitter is coupled to logic that receives a user input indicative of a desired transmit mode for the transmitter, and the logic then dynamically tunes the transmitter's output power according to the selected transmit mode. In addition, the optical communication apparatus may have an optical receiver for receiving optical signals. The sensitivity of the receiver is controlled by a bias voltage that is applied to the receiver by the logic. The logic is configured to receive a user input indicative of a desired receive mode and then to tune the receiver's sensitivity via the bias voltage according to the selected receive mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: ADTRAN, Inc.
    Inventors: Leif J. Sandstrom, Phillip Stone Herron
  • Patent number: 9293622
    Abstract: Re-emitting semiconductor constructions (RSCs) for use with LEDs, and related devices, systems, and methods are disclosed. A method of fabrication includes providing a semiconductor substrate, forming on a first side of the substrate a semiconductor layer stack, attaching a carrier window to the stack, and removing the substrate after the attaching step. The stack includes an active region adapted to convert light at a first wavelength ?1 to visible light at a second wavelength ?2, the active region including at least a first potential well. The attaching step is carried out such that the stack is disposed between the substrate and the carrier window, which is transparent to the second wavelength ?2. The carrier window may also have a lateral dimension greater than that of the stack. The removal step is carried out so as to provide an RSC carrier device that includes the carrier window and the stack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Terry L. Smith, Catherine A. Leatherdale, Michael A. Haase, Thomas J. Miller, Xiaoguang Sun, Zhaohui Yang, Todd A. Ballen, Amy S. Barnes
  • Patent number: 9281661
    Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) is horizontally integrated with a VCSEL. The horizontally-integrated MZM overcomes wavelength dependence problems of horizontally-integrated EA modulators and yet has the same advantages as horizontally-integrated EA modulators in terms of overcoming the ER and modulation range problems associated with the vertically-integrated EA and EO modulators. By overcoming these problems with the existing integrated modulators, the operation speed of the VCSEL is increased and the modulation signal range is extended to allow a wider range of modulation signals and modulation schemes, including large-signal digital modulation schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung-Yi Su
  • Patent number: 9263852
    Abstract: In the semiconductor laser including a diffraction grating in which a first diffraction grating region with a first pitch, a second diffraction grating region with a second pitch and a third diffraction grating region with the first pitch, an anti-reflection film coated on an end facet to the light-emitting side, and a reflection film coated on an opposite end facet, the first diffraction grating region is greater than the third diffraction grating region, and the second diffraction grating region is formed, in such a manner that phases of the first and third diffraction grating regions are shifted in a range of equal to or more than 0.6 ? to equal to or less than 0.9 ?, phases are successive on a boundary between the first and second diffraction grating regions and the phases are successive on a boundary between the second and third diffraction grating regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: OCLARO JAPAN, INC.
    Inventors: Kouji Nakahara, Yuki Wakayama
  • Patent number: 9238738
    Abstract: A thermal barrier coating having a reduced high temperature thermal conductivity includes group II germanate constructs. This thermal barrier coating may be applied directly to a substrate, applied to a bond-coated substrate, and/or incorporated into a protective coating including one or more other thermal barrier coating layers. The thermal barrier coating provides improved thermal protection properties over current industry standards and materials considered for thermal protection applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Thermatin Industries, LLC
    Inventor: James Cassuto
  • Patent number: 9212898
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for three-dimensional measurement of an object. The device includes a laser source for generating an illumination beam, a focusing optics for focusing the illumination beam on at least one measuring point on a surface of the object to be measured, a detector for detecting an observation beam reflected by the surface of the object, a confocal observation optics which allows only the observation beam that is focused on the surface of the object to pass through to the detector. The laser source includes multiple coherent laser elements, the laser elements simultaneously emitting illumination beams that are focused on multiple measuring points on the surface of the object, so that the laser elements are arranged to reduce the speckle effect in the 3D-image data generated by the measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Sirona Dental Systems GMBH
    Inventors: Matus Banyay, Frank Thiel
  • Patent number: 9214344
    Abstract: One embodiment relates to a pillar-supported array of micro electron lenses. The micro-lens array includes a base layer on a substrate, the base layer including an array of base electrode pads and an insulating border surrounding the base electrode pads so as to electrically isolate the base electrode pads from each other. The micro-lens array further includes an array of lens holes aligned with the array of base electrode pads and one or more stacked electrode layers having openings aligned with the array of lens holes. The micro-lens array further includes one or more layers of insulating pillars, each layer of insulating pillars supporting a stacked electrode layer. Another embodiment relates to a method of fabricating a pillar-supported array of micro electron lenses. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventors: Alan D. Brodie, Yehiel Gotkis, Allen Carroll, Leonid Baranov
  • Patent number: 9209601
    Abstract: A monolithically integrated, tunable semiconductor laser with an optical waveguide, comprising a laser chip having epitaxial layers on a substrate and having first and second reflectors bounding an optical gain section and a passive section, wherein at least one of the reflectors is a distributed Bragg reflector section comprising a grating and configured to have a tunable reflection spectrum, wherein the laser is provided with a common earth electrode, wherein control electrodes are provided on the optical waveguide in at least the optical gain section and the at least one distributed Bragg reflector section, wherein the passive section is provided with an electrode or electrical tracking on the optical waveguide, the passive section is configured not to be drivable by an electrical control signal, and no grating is present within the passive section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: OCLARO TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Sam Davies, Neil David Whitbread, Andrew John Ward, Robert Griffin
  • Patent number: 9209602
    Abstract: A monolithically integrated, tunable semiconductor laser with an optical waveguide, comprising epitaxial layers on a substrate and having first and second reflectors bounding an optical gain section and a non-driven region, wherein at least one of the reflectors is a distributed Bragg reflector section configured to have a tunable reflection spectrum, wherein control electrodes are provided to at least the optical gain section, and the distributed Bragg reflector section, and wherein the non-driven region has a length of at least 100 ?m, is without an electrical contact directly contacting onto the epitaxially grown side of the non-driven region, and the non-driven region is without a reflective Bragg grating within the epitaxial layers of the non-driven region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: OCLARO TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Sam Davies, Neil David Whitbread, Andrew Ward
  • Patent number: 9203215
    Abstract: A wavelength-tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with the use of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology is provided as a swept source for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The wavelength-tunable VCSEL comprises a bottom mirror of the VCSEL, an active region, and a MEMS tunable upper mirror movable by electrostatic deflections. The bottom mirror comprising a GaAs based distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) stack, and the active region comprising multiple stacks of GaAs based quantum dot (QD) layers, are epitaxially grown on a GaAs substrate. The MEMS tunable upper mirror includes a membrane part supported by suspension beams, and an upper mirror comprising a dielectric DBR stack. The MEMS tunable quantum dots VCSEL can cover an operating wavelength range of more than 100 nm, preferably with a center wavelength between 250 and 1950 nm, and the sweeping rate can be from a few kHz to hundreds of kHz, and up to a few MHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: Inphenix, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Makino, Tongning Li, David Eu
  • Patent number: 9166368
    Abstract: A semiconductor laser that includes a single mode semiconductor laser coupled to a flared power amplifier is provided, the device including an internal or an external optical element that reinforces the curved wave front of the flared section of the device through phase-matching. By reinforcing the curved wave front via phase-matching, the device is less susceptible to thermal and gain-index coupled perturbations, even at high output powers, resulting in higher beam quality. Exemplary phase-matching optical elements include a grating integrated into the flared amplifier section; an intra-cavity, externally positioned binary optical element; and an intra-cavity, externally positioned cylindrically curved optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: nLight Photonics Corporation
    Inventor: Manoj Kanskar
  • Patent number: 9148228
    Abstract: An optical signal transmitting device includes direct modulators configured to be driven using electric signals of channels to generate directly-modulated optical signals of channels, a beat light source configured to generate beat light at a specific frequency spacing, subcarrier converters configured to modulate, using the beat light from the beat light source, the directly-modulated optical signals of the channels from the direct modulators to generate optical subcarrier modulation signals of channels, probe light sources configured to generate probe light of channels having frequencies that are different from frequencies of the directly-modulated optical signals of the channels, multiplexers configured to multiplex, for individual channels, the optical subcarrier modulation signals of the channels with the probe light of the channels, and nonlinear optical media configured to perform, for individual channels, optical cross modulation for the optical subcarrier modulation signals and the probe light, which
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Kato, Shigeki Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9134478
    Abstract: Described are embodiments of hybrid optical apparatuses including anti-resonant optical waveguides, and methods for making such apparatuses and systems. In one embodiment, a hybrid optical apparatus may include a first semiconductor region including an active region of one or more layers of semiconductor materials and a second semiconductor region coupled with the first semiconductor region. The second semiconductor region may include an optical waveguide configured to transmit light inputted by a light input component. The optical waveguide may be defined by a first trench disposed on a first side of the waveguide, and a second trench disposed on a second side of the waveguide opposite the first side. A width of each trench may vary along a length of the apparatus to control optical power density of the light transmitted along the optical waveguide. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Hyundai Park, Richard Jones
  • Patent number: 9129718
    Abstract: A X-ray waveguide includes a core for guiding X-rays having a wavelength band in which the real part of refractive index of material is smaller than 1 and a cladding for confining the X-rays in the core. The core has a one-dimensional periodic structure in which a plurality of layers respectively formed of inorganic materials having different real parts of refractive index are periodically laminated. The core and the cladding are configured so that a critical angle for total reflection for the X-rays at an interface between the core and the cladding is larger than a Bragg angle due to a periodicity of the one-dimensional periodic structure. A critical angle for total reflection for the X-rays at an interface between layers in the one-dimensional periodic structure is smaller than the Bragg angle due to the periodicity of the one-dimensional periodic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Okamoto, Atsushi Komoto, Wataru Kubo, Hirokatsu Miyata, Takashi Noma
  • Patent number: 9124062
    Abstract: Optically pumped laser structures incorporate reflectors that have high reflectivity and are bandwidth limited to a relatively narrow band around the central laser radiation wavelength. In some cases, the reflectors may be ¾-wavelength distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Thomas Wunderer, John E. Northrup, Mark R. Teepe, Noble M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9112093
    Abstract: A light emitting device is disclosed. The light emitting device includes a first-conductive-type semiconductor layer, a second-conductive-type semiconductor layer, and an active layer interposed between the first-conductive-type semiconductor layer and the second-conductive-type semiconductor layer. The second-conductive-type semiconductor layer includes an electron blocking region closely disposed to the active layer and having a pattern with a plurality of elements spaced apart from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyun chul Lim, Jae Hoon Choi
  • Patent number: 9112330
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical element for VECSELs or VECSEL arrays. The optical element is formed of a substrate (200) which is transparent at least in a wavelength region of optical radiation. A first interface of the substrate (200) comprises one or several curved regions forming part of an optical lens or of an array of optical lenses (220) integrated in the substrate (200). The substrate (200) further comprises one or several optical mirrors (210) formed on a second interface of the substrate (200) opposing the first interface or embedded in the substrate (200). The optical mirrors (210) are arranged and designed to back reflect a fraction of optical radiation incident on the first or second interface. The optical mirrors (210) are flat mirrors or curved mirrors having a radius of curvature different from the radius of curvature of the curved region (220).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Stephan Gronenborn, Holger Moench
  • Patent number: 9106049
    Abstract: A system and method for providing laser diodes with broad spectrum is described. GaN-based laser diodes with broad or multi-peaked spectral output operating are obtained in various configurations by having a single laser diode device generating multiple-peak spectral outputs, operate in superluminescene mode, or by use of an RF source and/or a feedback signal. In some other embodiments, multi-peak outputs are achieved by having multiple laser devices output different lasers at different wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Soraa Laser Diode, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Raring, Mathew C. Schmidt, Yu-Chia Chang
  • Patent number: 9099600
    Abstract: Disclosed are a nitride semiconductor light-emitting element having a superior current spreading effect as a result of using a current spreading part containing current spreading impurities, and a method for manufacturing same. The nitride semiconductor light-emitting element according to the present invention comprises: an n-type nitride layer; a current spreading part, which is formed from nitride comprising current spreading impurities, and which is disposed on the n-type nitride layer; an activation layer disposed on the current spreading part; and a p-type nitride layer disposed on the activation layer, wherein the current spreading impurities comprise carbon (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: ILJIN LED CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Won-Jin Choi, Jung-Won Park
  • Patent number: 9093821
    Abstract: Semiconductor lasers comprise a substrate; an active layer configured to generate transverse magnetic (TM) polarized light under an electrical bias; an upper cladding layer; a lower cladding layer; and a distributed feedback (DFB) grating defined by the interface of a layer of metal and a layer of semiconductor under the layer of metal, the interface periodically corrugated in the longitudinal direction of the laser with a periodicity of ?DFB=m?/(2neff), wherein m>1. The DFB grating is configured such that loss of one or more antisymmetric longitudinal modes of the laser structure via absorption to the DFB grating is sufficiently maximized so as to produce lasing of a symmetric longitudinal mode of the laser with laser emission characterized by a single-lobe beam along each direction defined by the grating diffraction orders corresponding to emission away from the plane of the grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Luke J. Mawst, Dan Botez, Thomas L. Earles, Jeremy D. Kirch, Christopher A. Sigler
  • Patent number: 9071038
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a semiconductor laser having a narrow linewidth and low power consumption for optical communication applications. According to various embodiments of the invention, a semiconductor laser is provided which includes a grating layer comprising a plurality of segmented gratings, each including a non-grating portion and a grating portion. The segmented gratings are configured to enhance a fundamental mode of the semiconductor laser while sufficiently suppressing modes other than the fundamental mode, providing a narrow linewidth for example. The segmented gratings are also configured to provide an effective length longer than an actual length of the semiconductor laser, leading to smaller device areas and corresponding lower power consumption. A photonic integrated circuit is also provided which includes a plurality of semiconductor lasers, consistent with the present invention, as well as additional optical elements, all provided on a single substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Peter W. Evans, Scott Corzine
  • Patent number: 9065000
    Abstract: A method of fabrication of barrier diode based infrared detectors, utilizing the growth of unstrained, not relaxed III-V compound semiconductor material layers having a lattice constant over 6 Angstrom, is provided. The growth is performed by the means of Molecular Beam Epitaxy (MBE) or Metal-Organic Vapor Phase Epitaxy (MOVPE). The method comprises the use of bulk crystalline substrates and the growth of a transitional layer of GaInAsSb with graded composition, followed by an optional thick layer of GaInAsSb of constant composition, lattice matched to the said III-V compound semiconductor material layers, the said optional layer of GaInAsSb of constant composition serving as a virtual substrate. The method provides high crystalline quality layers suitable for semiconductor device fabrication that can effectively interact with electromagnetic radiation of the mid-infrared spectral range with a wavelength between about 2 micrometers to about 16 micrometers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Inventors: Gregory Belenky, Leon Shterengas, Arthur David Westerfeld
  • Patent number: 9036669
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an optical medium, a power splitter coupled to the optical medium, a first delay line coupled to the power splitter such that the power splitter is positioned between the first delay line and the optical medium, a first comb reflector coupled to the first delay line such that the first delay line is positioned between the first comb reflector and the power splitter, and a second comb reflector coupled to the power splitter but not the first comb reflector and not the first delay line. A method comprising receiving an optical signal, splitting the optical signal into a first split optical signal and a second split optical signal, delaying the first split optical signal, tuning the delayed first split optical signal, tuning the second split optical signal, and delaying the tuned second split optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Hongmin Chen, Hongbing Lei, Xiao A. Shen
  • Patent number: 9031113
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical resonator, laser apparatus and a method of generating a laser beam inside an optical resonator. The optical resonator (100) includes an optical cavity (102) and an optical element (104.1, 104.2) at either end thereof, operable to sustain a light beam (108) therein, characterized in that each optical element (104.1, 104.2) is a phase-only optical element operable to alter a mode of the beam (108) as it propagates along the length of the optical resonator (100), such that in use the beam (108) at one end of the optical resonator (100) has a Gaussian profile while the beam (108) at the other end of the optical resonator (100) has a non-Gaussian profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: CSIR
    Inventors: Ihar Anatolievich Litvin, Andrew Forbes
  • Patent number: 9001852
    Abstract: The wavelength tunable laser includes a thermo-electric cooler (TEC), a distributed feedback portion, and a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA). The distributed feedback portion is disposed on the thermo-electric cooler and has a plurality of distributed feedback (DFB) lasers connected in series. Each DFB laser is configured to output an optical signal within a different temperature dependent tunable range of wavelengths. Therefore, the distributed feedback portion outputs an optical signal from one of the DFB lasers. The SOA is optically connected to the distributed feedback portion. The SOA amplifies and modulates the optical signal outputted from the distributed feedback portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ryohei Urata, Pedram Zare Dashti, Cedric Fung Lam, Xiangjun Zhao, Hong Liu
  • Patent number: 8995495
    Abstract: A tunable DBR laser including: an amplifier section, a part-reflecting optical output, a connection section connected to the amplifier section, and at least two wavelength-selective reflectors optically coupled to the amplifier section via the connection section. The connection section includes at least one MMI coupler and several waveguides, so that different optical paths lead from the amplifier section to the wavelength-selective reflectors and each of the different optical paths leads through the at least one MMI coupler and through one of the waveguides. The wavelength-selective reflectors differ from one another by having different reflection spectra and each of the wavelength-selective reflectors is connected to one of several outputs of the at least one MMI coupler. By activating a phase shifter, arranged in a course of at least one of the waveguides, the DBR laser can be switched between different resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Foerderung der Angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Martin Schell, Patrick Runge
  • Patent number: 8995480
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a tunable laser module including a light gain area unit for outputting an optical signal; an optical distributor for separating the optical signal output from the light gain area unit; two comb reflection units for reflecting a part of optical signals separated by the optical distributor and allow a part of the optical signals to penetrate; two phase units for changing phases of the optical signals penetrating the two comb reflection units; an optical coupler for combining the optical signals of which the phases are changed by the two phase units; and an optical amplifier for amplifying the optical signal combined by the optical coupler, wherein the light gain area unit oscillates a laser by totally reflecting the optical signals reflected by the two comb reflection units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Ki-Hong Yoon, O-Kyun Kwon, Su Hwan Oh, Kisoo Kim, Byung-seok Choi, Hyun Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8995483
    Abstract: The present technology relates to a fast and efficient heating element based on a thick heterostructure which is monolithically integrated in close proximity to one or more components of a photonic or an electronic circuit. Inventive embodiments also relate to methods of use illustrative heating elements to control or tune the characteristics of the electronic or photonic component(s). Inventive embodiments may be particularly useful in the fast spectral tuning of the emission wavelength of single mode QCLs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: EOS Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Laurent Diehl, Christian Pfluegl, Mark F. Witinski
  • Publication number: 20150043607
    Abstract: A distributed feedback (DFB) laser includes a substrate of a compound semiconductor material, and quantum-well (QW) active layer(s) overlying the substrate. A p-doped cladding layer including the compound semiconductor material is on one side of the active layer and an n-doped cladding layer is on the other side. A grating is in one of the cladding layers configured to select an operating wavelength for the DFB laser. A waveguide structure in the n-doped cladding layer includes a waveguide layer of a first composition compositionally different from the compound semiconductor material having an optical thickness of 0.7 to 1.5 of the guided wavelength. The waveguide structure can further include a hetero-waveguide stack including a plurality of alternating compositional layers beyond the waveguide layer each having a thickness between one quarter and one half the guided wavelength alternating the compound semiconductor material with a second composition defining a composition wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: ALEXANDER ROSIEWICZ, MARCEL FRANZ CHRISTIAN SCHEMANN
  • Publication number: 20150023382
    Abstract: A tunable DBR laser including: an amplifier section, a part-reflecting optical output, a connection section connected to the amplifier section, and at least two wavelength-selective reflectors optically coupled to the amplifier section via the connection section. The connection section includes at least one MMI coupler and several waveguides, so that different optical paths lead from the amplifier section to the wavelength-selective reflectors and each of the different optical paths leads through the at least one MMI coupler and through one of the waveguides. The wavelength-selective reflectors differ from one another by having different reflection spectra and each of the wavelength-selective reflectors is connected to one of several outputs of the at least one MMI coupler. By activating a phase shifter, arranged in a course of at least one of the waveguides, the DBR laser can be switched between different resonators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: Martin Schell, Patrick Runge
  • Patent number: 8937980
    Abstract: Distributed feedback-laser diodes are provided. The distributed feedback-laser diode may include a substrate, a lower cladding layer having a grating on the substrate, an active layer disposed on the lower cladding layer, a first upper cladding layer disposed on the active layer, a phase-shift region extending in a first direction on the first upper cladding layer, and a ridge waveguide layer extending in a second direction crossing the first direction on the phase-shift region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Oh Kee Kwon, Su Hwan Oh, Young Ahn Leem, O-Kyun Kwon, Young-Tak Han, Yongsoon Baek, Yun C. Chung
  • Patent number: 8921138
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a distributed feedback laser array includes: forming a bottom separate confinement layer on a substrate; forming a quantum-well layer on the bottom separate confinement layer; forming a selective-area epitaxial dielectric mask pattern on the quantum-well layer; forming a top separate confinement layer on the quantum-well layer through selective-area epitaxial growth using the selective-area epitaxial dielectric mask pattern, the top separate confinement layer having different thicknesses for different laser units; removing the selective-area epitaxial dielectric mask pattern; forming an optical grating on the top separate confinement layer; and growing a contact layer on the optical grating. The present disclosure achieves different emission wavelengths for different laser units without significantly affect emission performance of the quantum-well material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Institute of Semiconductors, Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Inventors: Song Liang, Can Zhang, Hongliang Zhu, Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 8913638
    Abstract: A directly driven laser includes multiple contacts, with at least one of the contacts for injecting current into the laser such that the laser reaches at least a lasing threshold and at least one of the contacts for providing a data signal to the laser. In some embodiments a differential data signal is effectively provided to a front and a rear section of the laser, while lasing threshold current is provided to a central portion of the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Kaiam Corp.
    Inventors: Gideon Yoffe, Bardia Pezeshki, Thomas P. Schrans
  • Patent number: 8891578
    Abstract: An active layer (18) is formed over a semiconductor substrate having a pair of facets (15A, 15B) mutually facing opposite directions. An upper cladding layer (19) is formed on the active layer, having a refractive index lower than that of the active layer. A diffraction grating (25) is disposed in the upper cladding layer on both sides of a distributed feedback region in a waveguide region (22), the waveguide region extending from one facet to the other of the semiconductor substrate. End regions (22B) are defined at both ends of the waveguide region and the distributed feedback region (22A) is disposed between the end regions. Low refractive index regions (26) are disposed in the upper cladding layer on both sides of each of the end regions of the waveguide region, the low refractive index regions having a refractive index lower than that of the upper cladding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignees: Fujitsu Limited, University of Tokyo
    Inventors: Nobuaki Hatori, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Yasuhiko Arakawa
  • Patent number: 8861564
    Abstract: A photonic crystal surface emitting laser array reduces the occurrence of reflected feedback light while also reducing input of leaking light. The photonic crystal surface emitting laser array includes a plurality of first photonic crystal regions that cause laser oscillation, a second photonic crystal region that causes light diffraction to occur in an out-of-plane direction, and a light absorber that is provided above the second photonic crystal region and that absorbs light having a wavelength ?. A radiation coefficient of each first photonic crystal region is smaller than a radiation coefficient of the second photonic crystal region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nagatomo, Takeshi Kawashima
  • Patent number: 8837537
    Abstract: A high-efficiency laser diode is provided. Since a ?/4 phase-shifted distributed feedback (DFB) laser diode has a great coupling coefficient, mode stability is poor due to spatial hole burning when multiplication of the coupling coefficient by length of a resonator is equal to or greater than 2. In the inventive concept, a region capable of controlling spatial hole burning is inserted into a semiconductor laser diode structure. Thus, an ultrahigh-speed pulse laser diode having a repetition rate in the band ranging from 100 GHz to 300 GHz is obtained. In addition, a single-mode laser diode with improved energy use efficiency is implemented by changing the configuration of a laser diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Young Ahn Leem
  • Patent number: 8831051
    Abstract: Techniques, devices and systems for optical communications based on wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) that use tunable multi-wavelength laser transmitter modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Hong Liu, Cedric F. Lam
  • Patent number: 8803027
    Abstract: A thin beam laser crystallization apparatus for selectively melting a film deposited on a substrate is disclosed having a laser source producing a pulsed laser output beam, the source having an oscillator comprising a convex reflector and a piano output coupler; and an optical arrangement focusing the beam in a first axis and spatially expanding the beam in a second axis to produce a line beam for interaction with the film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Cymer, LLC
    Inventor: Thomas Hofmann
  • Patent number: 8774243
    Abstract: Provided are a dual mode semiconductor laser and a terahertz wave apparatus using the same. The dual mode semiconductor laser includes a distributed feedback laser structure section including a first diffraction grating on a substrate and a distributed Bragg reflector laser structure section including a second diffraction grating on the substrate. A first wavelength oscillated by the distributed feedback laser structure section and a second wavelength oscillated by the distributed Bragg reflector laser structure section are different from each other, and the distributed feedback laser structure section and the distributed Bragg reflector laser structure section share the same gain medium with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Namje Kim, Kyung Hyun Park, Young Ahn Leem, Chul-Wook Lee, Sang-Pil Han, Dong-Hun Lee, Min Yong Jeon
  • Patent number: 8731360
    Abstract: The invention relates to a photonic crystal magneto-optical circulator, which comprises first dielectric material columns in an air background, wherein the first dielectric material columns are arranged in the form of two-dimensional square lattice.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen University
    Inventors: Zhengbiao Ouyang, Qiong Wang
  • Publication number: 20140126603
    Abstract: A distributed resonator laser system using retro-reflecting elements, in which spatially separated retroreflecting elements define respectively a power transmitting and a power receiving unit. The retroreflectors have no point of inversion, so that an incident beam is reflected back along a path essentially coincident with that of the incident beam. This enables the distributed laser to operate with the beams in a co-linear mode, instead of the ring mode described in the prior art. This feature allows the simple inclusion of elements having optical power within the distributed cavity, enabling such functions as focusing/defocusing, increasing the field of view of the system, and changing the Rayleigh length of the beam. The optical system can advantageously be constructed as a pupil imaging system, with the advantage that optical components, such as the gain medium or a photo-voltaic converter, can be positioned at such a pupil without physical limitations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: WI-CHARGE LTD.
    Inventors: Refael Della-Pergola, Ortal Alpert, Omer Nahmias, Victor Vaisleib
  • Patent number: 8711367
    Abstract: A position-measuring device, for ascertaining the position of two objects which are disposed in a manner allowing movement relative to each other in at least one measuring direction, includes a light source, as well as a splitting device by which a light beam, provided by the light source, is split into two or more partial beams of rays. The partial beams of rays traverse at least two partial-beam paths. Interfering partial beams of rays from the partial-beam paths strike a plurality of opto-electronic detector elements, so that displacement-dependent position signals are ascertainable via the detector elements. The light source takes the form of a semiconductor laser having a fiber-grating feedback device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Dr. Johannes Heidenhain GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Meissner
  • Patent number: 8705582
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a DFB laser includes a substrate; an active region positioned above the substrate; a grating layer positioned above the active region, the grating layer including a portion that serves as a primary etch stop layer; a secondary etch stop layer positioned above the grating layer; and a spacer layer interposed between the grating layer and the secondary etch stop layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Ashish K. Verma, Tsurugi Sudo, Sumesh Mani K. Thiyagarajan, David Bruce Young