Planar Optical Waveguide Patents (Class 385/129)
  • Patent number: 9034566
    Abstract: A resin composition for forming an optical waveguide brings together excellent bending resistance, a low refractive index, and low tackiness suitable for a roll-to-roll (R-to-R) process as a material for forming an optical waveguide, in particular, a material for forming a clad layer. The resin composition for forming an optical waveguide to be used in formation of an optical waveguide includes a polyvinyl acetal compound having a structural unit represented by the following general formula (1) as a main component: in the formula (1), R represents an alkyl group having 1 to 3 carbon atoms, and k, m, and n represent ratios of respective repeating units in a main chain and each represent an integer of 1 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Hirayama, Takami Hikita
  • Patent number: 9023256
    Abstract: A method of forming a single-mode polymer waveguide array connector that provides precise alignment of a plurality of cores of polymer waveguide arrays with respect to an absolute reference position, such as a guide pin hole in a ferrule, when the polymer waveguide array connector is connected to another polymer waveguide array connector or provides precise alignment of a plurality of cores of a polymer waveguide array and a fiber array with respect to the absolute reference position when the polymer waveguide array connector is connected to a single-mode fiber array connector. A plurality of cores of single-mode polymer waveguide arrays or single-mode fiber arrays is precisely aligned with each other. In addition, there is provided a combination of a plurality of molds, e.g., a first mold (A) and a second mold (B), used in a plurality of processes in a specific method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Numata, Masao Tokunari
  • Patent number: 9020312
    Abstract: Provided is a connecting channel that has manufacturing tolerance, can suppress light loses, improves reliability of the connecting channel, and connects an optical device and an optical waveguide. The connecting channel includes first silicon layer (3) that has rib-shaped part (3?) extending in a longitudinal direction of the connecting channel, and second silicon layer (6) that is stacked on first silicon layer (3) to partially overlap rib-shaped part 3?, and extends in the longitudinal direction. Second silicon layer (6) has tapered part (W) tapered toward one end in the longitudinal direction, and is located away from an upper portion of rib-shaped part (3?) at an end surface of one end in the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Ushida, Junichi Fujikata
  • Patent number: 9020307
    Abstract: In a waveguide device, unnecessary optical power is appropriately terminated. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the waveguide device has a termination structure filled with a light blocking material to terminate light from a waveguide end. In the termination structure, a cladding and a core are removed to form a groove on an optical waveguide. The groove is filled with a material (light blocking material) that attenuates the intensity of light. Thus, light input to the termination structure is attenuated by the light blocking material, suppressing crosstalk which possibly effects on other optical devices. Thus, such a termination structure can restrain crosstalk occurred in optical devices integrated in the same substrate and can also suppress crosstalk which possibly effects on any other optical device connected directly to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: NTT Electronics Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Ishikawa, Tomoyo Shibazaki, Mitsuru Nagano, Masahiro Yanagisawa, Hiroshi Terui, Mikitaka Itoh
  • Patent number: 9014526
    Abstract: Waveguide apparatuses and methods are provided. A waveguide method (700) can include stacking (710) a plurality of layers (110) to form a plurality of waveguides (120). Each of the plurality of layers can include at least one waveguide surface (140). The method can further include aligning (720) the plurality of layers using at least one alignment device (160). The method can also include trapping (730) the aligned, stacked plurality of layers between a first member (170) and second member (180).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Paul Kessler Rosenberg, Michael Renne Ty Tan, Sagi Varghese Mathai, Arlen L. Roesner
  • Patent number: 9014520
    Abstract: A photoelectric mixed substrate includes a wiring substrate including a first ground wire, a signal wire arranged above the first ground wire and electrically connected to the photoelectric component and the electronic component, and a waveguide unit stacked on the wiring substrate to cover the signal wire. The waveguide unit includes a first clad layer formed on the wiring substrate, a second ground wire formed above the first clad layer, a core formed on the first clad layer and optically coupled to the photoelectric component, and a second clad layer formed on the first clad layer to cover the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 9008983
    Abstract: Provided are a waveguide capable of suppressing strain and defect caused in a semiconductor in an initial stage or during operation due to a manufacturing process or the like to realize improvement and stabilization of characteristics such as oscillation characteristics, and a method of manufacturing the waveguide. A waveguide includes a first conductor layer and a second conductor layer that are composed of a negative dielectric constant medium having a negative real part of dielectric constant with respect to an electromagnetic wave in a waveguide mode, and a core layer that is in contact with and placed between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer, and includes a semiconductor portion. At least the first conductor layer has a particular depressed and projected structure extending in an in-plane direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasushi Koyama
  • Patent number: 9002163
    Abstract: An optical converter and a method of manufacturing the optical converter are provided. The optical converter may include a signal receiving portion configured to receive an optical signal from an optical fiber which can be coupled to the optical converter, a signal output portion configured to output the optical signal received by the signal receiving portion, and a signal coupling portion being disposed between the signal receiving portion and the signal output portion and being configured to couple the optical signal received by the signal receiving portion into the signal output portion. The signal output portion may include a waveguide element having at least one tapered end section, and being partially or wholly surrounded by the signal coupling portion. The at least one tapered end section may be configured to couple the optical signal from the signal coupling portion into the waveguide element and the waveguide element may be configured to output the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Qing Fang, Tsung-Yang Liow, Mingbin Yu, Guo Qiang Patrick Lo
  • Publication number: 20150093068
    Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed comprising a planar optical waveguide structure which includes a substrate and two planar optical waveguides thereon. The apparatus further comprises a solid structure having a body and two branches connected to the body. Each of the two branches has a reflective surface area thereon. Each of the two planar optical waveguides is configured to optically couple light from an end thereof to the reflective surface area of a corresponding one of the branches. The planar optical waveguide structure further includes a third planar optical waveguide on the substrate. The third planar optical waveguide has a segment located between the solid structure and the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Cristian A. Bolle
  • Publication number: 20150092395
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a display device and a joint display. The display device includes a display panel and a cover lens. The display panel includes a main display region and an edge display region. The cover lens includes a transmission portion located on the main display region and compensation portion located on the edge display region. The compensation portion is configured to distribute the image of the edge display region to the outside of the edge display region away from the main display region. The compensation portion includes a light incident surface, a light emitting surface, and a light guiding channel. The light guiding channel extends from the light incident surface to the light emitting surface, and an area of the light emitting surface is greater than an area of the light incident surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: I-WEI WU
  • Patent number: 8989535
    Abstract: In embodiments of a multiple waveguide imaging structure, an imaging structure includes a first waveguide for see-through viewing of an environment at a first field of view, and includes a second waveguide for see-through viewing of the environment at a second field of view. The first and second waveguides each include a polarizing beam splitter to reflect light that enters at a first polarization orientation angle in the respective first and second waveguides, and the polarizing beam splitters pass through the light that enters at a second polarization orientation angle. The imaging structure also includes a polarization switch to rotate the polarization of the light through the first and second polarization orientation angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Steven John Robbins
  • Patent number: 8989540
    Abstract: The device includes a main waveguide on a base. The main waveguide is configured to guide a light signal through a light-transmitting medium. The device also includes multiple transition waveguides on the base. Each of the transition waveguide intersects a terminal end of the main waveguide such that each transition waveguide receives a different portion of the light signal from the main waveguide. The device also includes one or more light sensors positioned on the base. Each transition waveguide guides the received light portions to the one or more light sensors such that each of the light signal portions is received at the one or more light sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: Kotura, Inc.
    Inventors: Dazeng Feng, Wei Qian
  • Patent number: 8983261
    Abstract: Waveguide structure for propagating a surface plasmon polariton, including an inter-metal plasmonic waveguide (1). The waveguide structure has two metal strip like structures (2, 3) positioned parallel to each other and an isolating material structure (4) positioned between the two metal strip like structures (2, 3). The two metal strip like structures (2, 3) are positioned at a fixed distance (d) from each other. The inter-metal plasmonic waveguide (1) is provided in a single layer of a CMOS processed substrate (5). Several waveguide structures (1) may be combined with a crystal like structure (6) to build logic gates, such as a switch having a gate, source and drain terminal (1G, 1S, 1D). Using three dimensional designs spanning several layers in a CMOS processed substrate (5) very complex yet compact logic circuits may be designed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Technische Universiteit Delft
    Inventors: Edoardo Charbon, Mohammad Azim Karami
  • Patent number: 8983248
    Abstract: A computing system includes an optical transmission media to propagate a single-mode signal and a multimode signal, and support mode matching with the single-mode signal and multimode signal. A lowest-order mode of the optical transmission media is to couple the single-mode signal, and at least one higher-order mode of the optical transmission media is to couple the multimode signal. The optical transmission media is to enable extraction of the single-mode signal from the optical transmission media independently of the multimode signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Wayne Victor Sorin, Michael Renne Ty Tan
  • Patent number: 8977097
    Abstract: A planar waveguide with a glass core and a crystalline cladding. In a specific embodiment, the core is doped preferably with Neodymium, Ytterbium, or Erbium. In the best mode, the core is athermal glass with a refractive index uniformity 10?6 or better and the crystalline cladding has a refractive index lower than that of the core by 10?4 to 10?3 with a refractive index uniformity of 10?4. The cladding has high transparency at pump and lasing wavelengths. The coefficient of thermal expansion of the cladding is close to that of the core. In illustrative embodiments, the cladding is Sapphire and the core is aluminate glass. In an alternative embodiment, the cladding is crystal quartz and the coreā€”is phosphate glass. By utilizing different materials for the core and cladding, the properties of each are optimized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Davis M. Filgas
  • Patent number: 8965156
    Abstract: A beam combiner is disclosed that comprises a planar lightwave circuit that is based on undoped silicon nitride-based surface waveguides, wherein the planar lightwave circuit comprises a plurality of input ports, a mixing region, and an output port, and wherein the mixing region comprises a plurality of directional couplers that are arranged in a tree structure. Embodiments of the present invention are capable of combining a plurality of light signals characterized by disparate wavelengths on irregular spacings with low loss. Further, the present invention enables high-volume, low cost production of beam combiners capable of combining three or more light signals into a single composite output beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Octrolix BV
    Inventors: Edwin Jan Klein, Ronald Dekker, Hindrik F. Bulthuis
  • Patent number: 8958667
    Abstract: An optical bus (130) of an integrated circuit (100) comprises: a polymer waveguide (112), a micromirror (114, 116), and an optical coupler (120). The polymer waveguide (112) is disposed in a via (110) formed through at least one die layer (102, 104, 106) of the integrated circuit (100) comprising an active circuit (210). The micromirror (114) is disposed adjacent to the via (110) and optically coupled to the polymer waveguide (112). The optical coupler (120) is connected to the polymer waveguide (112) to couple the active circuit (210) to the optical bus (130). A stacked integrated circuit (100) is described comprising such an optical bus (130). A method (800) of fabricating a rear 45Ā° micromirror on a silicon substrate that can be used in the optical bus (130) is also described. Furthermore, alignment/lock mechanisms for use in a stacked integrated circuit comprising first and second silicon substrates are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventors: Chee Yee Kwok, Aron Michael, Yiwei Xu
  • Patent number: 8958531
    Abstract: To provide an X-ray waveguide which: shows a small propagation loss of an X-ray; has a waveguide mode with its phase controlled; does not deteriorate owing to oxidation; and can be easily produced, an X-ray waveguide, including: a core for guiding an X-ray in such a wavelength band that a real part of the refractive index of a material is 1 or less; and a cladding for confining the X-ray in the core, in which: the core has a one-dimensional periodic structure containing multiple materials having different real parts of the refractive index; the multiple materials include one of an organic material, a gas, and a vacuum, and an inorganic material; and the core and the cladding are formed so that the critical angle for total reflection at an interface between the core and the cladding is larger than a Bragg angle resulting from a periodicity of the one-dimensional periodic structure, is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kohei Okamoto, Atsushi Komoto, Wataru Kubo, Hirokatsu Miyata, Takashi Noma
  • Patent number: 8948551
    Abstract: A core intersection in an optical waveguide formed of a plurality of cores and a clad that surrounds the cores is disclosed, the structure characterized in that the same material as that of the cores is added to two planes, upper and lower planes, of each of core intersection spaces where the plurality of cores intersect (instead of using a clad material). The structure of a core intersection in an optical waveguide formed of a plurality of cores and a clad is disclosed, the structure characterized in that four planes that divide (isolate) each of core intersection spaces where the plurality of cores intersect, that is, four discontinuity spaces between the core intersection space and the cores connected thereto, are filled with the same material as that of the clad (instead of using a core material so that the core intersection space is seamlessly connected to surrounding core intersection spaces).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jean Benoit HĆ©roux, Sayuri Kohara, Yoichi Taira
  • Patent number: 8948553
    Abstract: An optical coupler for processing radiation is described. The optical coupler comprises a first deep-shallow waveguide and a second deep-shallow waveguide for guiding radiation in a propagation direction. Each of the deep-shallow waveguides is a waveguide comprising a shallow etched portion and an unetched portion having a width substantially constant along the propagation direction. The width of the shallow etched portion is substantially larger than the width of the unetched portion. The shallow etched portion of the first deep-shallow waveguide and the shallow etched portion of the second deep-shallow waveguide are arranged sufficiently close for coupling radiation from the first deep-shallow waveguide to the second deep-shallow waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dirk Taillaert, Joost Brouckaert
  • Patent number: 8942521
    Abstract: Disclosed is a planar waveguide element including a first cylindrical lens disposed based on an z-axis and configured to collimate beams emitted from a plurality of emitters of a laser diode bar; a lens array configured to gather the beam emitted from each emitter via the first cylindrical lens; a plurality of first waveguides existing on an x-y plane by a number of the plurality of emitters and configured to gather at one place via a bending section; a taper configured to connect the lens array and each first waveguide, a width of the taper being narrower from the lens array to the plurality of first waveguide; and a combined waveguide configured to combine the plurality of first waveguides into one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jung-Ho Song, Hong-Seok Seo, Won Seok Han, Bong Je Park
  • Patent number: 8937024
    Abstract: A process for producing at least one photonic component (32, 33, 35, 39, 41), includes inserting the photonic component (32, 33, 35, 39, 41) into a surface layer (12) of a semiconductor wafer and/or within a semiconductor wafer, especially of a semiconductor chip (11, 31, 34, 38, 40) for the simpler and more cost-effective production with the most desired possible three-dimensional structures. At least one laser beam (22) is coupled into the material of the surface layer (12) and/or of the semiconductor wafer, in which the laser beam (22) is focused at a predetermined depth in the material. At least one property of the material and/or the material structure is changed in the area of focus (23, 36).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: BIAS Bremer Institut fĆ¼r angewandte Strahltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Bergmann, Mike BĆ¼lters, Vijay Vittal Parsi Sreenivas
  • Patent number: 8928875
    Abstract: An optical device is described for irradiating at least one object in a medium. The optical device may be a microfluidics device, and comprises at least one integrated planar waveguide that enables providing sheet irradiation of objects in the medium. A characterization system including such an optical device and a corresponding method of characterizing an object or a fluid are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Universiteit Gent
    Inventors: Kevin Braeckmans, Hendrik Deschout, Kristiaan Neyts, Joseph Demeester, Stefaan De Smedt
  • Publication number: 20150003796
    Abstract: The technology provides embodiments for a waveguide including gaps which turn the direction of light. Each of a plurality of planes located within a waveguide includes a group of gaps so that each of the gapped planes partially reflects out of the waveguide light within a first angle range and transmits down the waveguide light received within a second angle range. In some examples, the waveguide is formed by joining optically transparent sections, and each group of gaps is formed in a surface of each optically transparent section which becomes a joining surface when bonded with an abutting all flat surface of an adjacent section. The waveguide may be used in displays, and in particular in near-eye displays (NED)s.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventor: John Grant Bennett
  • Patent number: 8923669
    Abstract: An optical wave guide includes an optical waveguide layer in which a core layer is surrounded by a cladding layer, a light path converting portion provided to a light entering side and a light emitting side of the optical waveguide layer respectively, a light entering portion demarcated in an outer surface of the cladding layer, in which a light is entered to the light path converting portion of the light entering side; and a light emitting portion demarcated in an outer surface of the cladding layer, in which a light from the light path converting portion of the light emitting side is emitted, wherein an outer surface of the cladding layer except the light entering portion and the light emitting portion is formed as a roughened surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Yonekura, Kenji Yanagisawa, Kazunao Yamamoto, Mieko Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8913865
    Abstract: The technology provides embodiments for a waveguide including gaps which turn the direction of light. Each of a plurality of planes located within a waveguide includes a group of gaps so that each of the gapped planes partially reflects out of the waveguide light within a first angle range and transmits down the waveguide light received within a second angle range. In some examples, the waveguide is formed by joining optically transparent sections, and each group of gaps is formed in a surface of each optically transparent section which becomes a joining surface when bonded with an abutting all flat surface of an adjacent section. The waveguide may be used in displays, and in particular in near-eye displays (NED)s.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: John Grant Bennett
  • Publication number: 20140360578
    Abstract: A solar energy system for collecting light includes at least one stretchable lightguide film configured to optically couple light into a lightguide condition in the at least one stretchable lightguide film. Also disclosed is a method for collecting light with a lightguide film that includes stretching or contracting the lightguide film having one or more coupling features to optically couple light into the lightguide film.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2012
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventors: Anthony J. Nichol, Zane A. Coleman
  • Patent number: 8909009
    Abstract: Lightguides, devices incorporating lightguides, processes for making lightguides, and tools used to make lightguides are described. A lightguide includes light extractors arranged in a plurality of regions on a surface of the lightguide. The orientation of light extractors in each region is arranged to enhance uniformity and brightness across a surface of the lightguide and to provide enhanced defect hiding. The efficiency of the light extractors is controlled by the angle of a given light extractor face with respect to a light source illuminating the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Lee, David A. Ender, Guoping Mao, Jun-Ying Zhang, Jaime B. Willoughby
  • Patent number: 8909006
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device is provided which can efficiently guide undesired light to the outside of a substrate or the outside of the overall optical waveguides even when optical waveguides are integrated. In the optical waveguide device, an optical waveguide is formed on a substrate, the optical waveguide includes a main waveguide in which signal light propagates and an undesired-light waveguide for removing undesired light from the main waveguide, and the undesired-light waveguide is separated by the main waveguide interposed therebetween at an intersection in which the undesired-light waveguide and the main waveguide intersect each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Norikazu Miyazaki, Kei Katou
  • Publication number: 20140355630
    Abstract: A Raman scattered light enhancement device including a waveguide provided in a photonic crystal (20) made of a semiconductor substrate in which holes (20a) are formed. The waveguide has resonant modes with respect to incident light at a plurality of frequencies. A difference in frequency between one resonant mode and another resonant mode is equal to a Raman shift frequency of the semiconductor substrate. A waveguide forming direction with respect to a crystal plane orientation of the semiconductor substrate is set so as to maximize a Raman transition probability which is represented by electromagnetic field distribution of the two resonant modes and a Raman tensor of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Publication date: December 4, 2014
    Applicant: JAPAN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AGENCY
    Inventors: Yasushi Takahashi, Yoshitaka Inui, Takashi Asano, Susumu Noda, Masahiro Chihara
  • Patent number: 8903203
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device includes a wiring substrate, an optical waveguide bonded on the wiring substrate and having a light path conversion inclined surface on both ends, and a light path conversion mirror formed to contact the light path conversion inclined surface of the optical waveguide and formed of a light reflective resin layer or a metal paste layer. In case the light reflective resin layer is used as the light path conversion mirror, the light reflective resin layer may be formed partially only on the side of the light path conversion inclined surface, or may be formed on the whole of the wiring substrate to coat the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co.
    Inventors: Takanori Yamamoto, Kenji Yanagisawa, Kazunao Yamamoto, Hideki Yonekura
  • Patent number: 8897614
    Abstract: An electro-optical element includes a core layer made of an electro-optical material, a clad structure disposed on each of opposite sides of the core layer and configured to form an optical waveguide together with the core layer, and a pair of electrode layers, one of which being disposed on one side of the clad structure and another being disposed on another side of the clad structure. The clad structure includes a first clad layer and a second layer. The second clad layer has a dielectric permittivity larger than that of the first clad layer, and the second clad layer has a thickness thicker than that of the first clad layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuichi Suzuki, Atsushi Sakai, Koichiro Nakamura, Jun Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 8897612
    Abstract: Light-coupling systems and methods that employ light-diffusing optical fiber are disclosed. The systems include a light source and a light-diffusing optical fiber optically coupled thereto. The light-diffusing optical fiber has a core, a cladding and a length. At least a portion of the core comprises randomly arranged voids configured to provide substantially spatially continuous light emission from the core and out of the cladding along at least a portion of the length. A portion of the light-diffusing optical is embedded in an index-matching layer disposed adjacent a lower surface of a transparent sheet. Light emitted by the light-diffusing optical fiber is trapped within the transparent sheet and index-matching layer by total internal reflection and is scattered out of the upper surface of the transparent sheet by at least one scattering feature thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephan Lvovich Logunov
  • Patent number: 8894265
    Abstract: The light guide plate includes a light guide plate body and a first medium, wherein the refractive index of the light guide plate body is greater than the refractive index of the first medium. The light guide plate body includes a plurality of gaps parallel with each other, wherein the first medium is disposed in those gaps. The light guide plate body further includes a light entrance end, wherein the gaps extend in directions both away and toward the light entrance end. Furthermore, an active region is defined on the light guide plate body and the gaps are located in the active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: AU Optronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wei-Tien Chang, Kuang-Tao Sung
  • Patent number: 8891916
    Abstract: A surface-plasmon-polaritons (SPPs) tunable optical resonant ring filter that includes an SPPs waveguide, an SPPs tunable directional coupler, and an SPPs tunable resonant ring. The tunabilities of the resonant frequency, the resonant depth, and the filtering bandwidth are achieved by tuning the loss and transmission phase of the resonant ring and the coupling ratio of the directional coupler. Since the metal core layer of the SPPs waveguide is capable of multiplexing electro-optical signals, the SPPs tunable optical resonant ring filter can be used not only in an integrated optics system, but also in an integrated electro-optics hybrid system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Southeast University
    Inventors: Tong Zhang, Xiaoyang Zhang, Pengqin Wu, Jianguo Chen
  • Publication number: 20140318601
    Abstract: A light guide body includes a light-entering surface which outside light enters, one or more outside light-absorbing optical functional materials that absorb part of the outside light which enters the light-entering surface, a light-guiding optical functional material that is excited by energy of light absorbed by the one or more outside light-absorbing optical functional materials and that emits light different from the light, and a light-emitting surface whose area is smaller than the light-entering surface and from which the light emitted from the light-guiding optical functional material is emitted. A mixing ratio of the light-guiding optical functional material is smaller than a mixing ratio of at least an optical functional material having a largest mixing ratio among the one or more outside light-absorbing optical functional materials.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 30, 2014
    Inventors: Hideki Uchida, Tokiyoshi Umeda, Hideomi Yui
  • Patent number: 8873349
    Abstract: A waveguide including a top cladding layer, the top cladding layer including a material having an index of refraction, n1; an assistant layer, the assistant layer positioned adjacent the top cladding layer, the assistant layer including a material having an index of refraction, n2; a core layer, the core layer positioned adjacent the assistant layer, the core layer including a material having an index of refraction, n3; and a bottom cladding layer, the bottom cladding layer positioned adjacent the core layer, the bottom cladding layer including a material having an index of refraction, n4, wherein n1 is less than both n2 and n3, n3 is greater than n1 and n4, and n4 is less than n3 and n2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Chubing Peng
  • Patent number: 8873906
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical conversion element capable of highly efficient optical coupling between a silicon waveguide and a general single-mode optical fiber only by butt-coupling without requiring anti-reflective coating. One embodiment is an optical conversion element that includes a waveguide structure and converts a mode field of guided light and is characterized in that at least a dual core is included, an innermost core of the dual core is a silicon inverse tapered thin wire core, a first outer core is a forward tapered ridge core having a ridge structure formed of an oxide film with only width of the ridge core changing. The first outer core is positioned on a narrow width side of the innermost core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tokushima, Shigeru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8873919
    Abstract: A polymer waveguide including a polymer matrix and particles, wherein the particles are embedded in the polymer matrix and have lower optical bulk losses than the polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roger F. Dangel, Thilo H. Stoeferle, Jonas R. Weiss
  • Patent number: 8873918
    Abstract: Preparation of Free-Flowing Organosilica Nanoparticles by Forming a solution of an organosilica nanoparticle precursor in a mixed solvent system comprising a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the first solvent is different from the second solvent, wherein the second solvent has a boiling point which is greater than a boiling point of the first solvent, and wherein the nanoparticle precursor has a greater solubility in the first solvent than in the second solvent; removing at least 50% of the first solvent to form nanoparticles having a mean particle size less than about 25 nanometers dispersed in the solution; adding a coupling agent to the solution to facilitate reacting of the coupling agent with the nanoparticles; and recovering the nanoparticles from the solution, wherein the recovered nanoparticles have the mean particle size of less than about 25 nanometers
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Venumadhav Korampally, Shubhra Gangopadhyay, Sangho Bok, Keshab Gangopadhyay
  • Patent number: 8867872
    Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises: source, primary, and secondary waveguides formed in waveguide layers on a substrate; a light source; and an optical waveguide tap. The light source launches a source optical signal along the source waveguide. The tap divides the source optical signal into a primary optical signal in the primary waveguide and a secondary optical signal in the secondary waveguide. The secondary optical signal emerges from the secondary waveguide to exit the waveguide layers at the substrate edge or to propagate within the waveguide layers as a stray optical signal without confinement by any waveguide. The stray optical signal propagates thusly unconfined into the open mouth of an optical trap that comprises one or more lateral surfaces formed in the waveguide layers and an opaque coating on the lateral surfaces, and comprises a spiral region of the optical waveguide layers with an open mouth and closed end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: HOYA Corporation USA
    Inventors: Peter C. Sercel, Toshiaki Sonehara, Rolf A. Wyss
  • Patent number: 8867882
    Abstract: A photo-electric integrated circuit device comprises an on-die optical input/output device. The on-die optical input/output device comprises a substrate having a trench, a lower cladding layer disposed in the trench and having an upper surface lower than an upper surface of the substrate, and a core disposed on the lower cladding layer at a distance from sidewalls of the trench and having an upper surface at substantially the same level as the upper surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pil-Kyu Kang, Dae Lok Bae, Gil Heyun Choi, Jong Myeong Lee
  • Publication number: 20140307197
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a display apparatus (100) includes a first step of arranging a display panel (110) inside a housing (130), and stacking, on a surface (110B) of the display panel (110), a cover member (142) such that part (140A) of the cover member (142) is fitted into a window (131W) and that the remaining part of the cover member (142) at least partially covers the part (140A) of the cover member (142) fitted into the window (131W) and an outer surface of a flange (130F); a second step of arranging, on an outer peripheral edge part of the cover member (142), a light guide member (150) with an adhesive (151) being interposed between the cover member (142) and the light guide member (150); and a third step of curing the adhesive (151) to bond the light guide member (150) to the cover member (142).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2012
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Applicant: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Moriwaki
  • Patent number: 8859268
    Abstract: The present invention addresses the simultaneous detection and quantitative measurement of multiple biomolecules, e.g., pathogen biomarkers through either a sandwich assay approach or a lipid insertion approach. The invention can further employ a multichannel, structure with multi-sensor elements per channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventors: Harshini Mukundan, Hongzhi Xie, Basil I. Swanson, Jennifer Martinez, Wynne K. Grace
  • Patent number: 8861902
    Abstract: A planar waveguide circuit comprises a first optical splitter to receive an input optical signal, a second optical splitter to receive a reference optical signal, a first optical signal combiner, and a second optical signal combiner. First and second optical waveguides are provided to couple first and second outputs of the first optical splitter to respective inputs of the first and second optical signal combiners. Third and fourth optical waveguides are provided to couple first and second outputs of the second optical splitter to respective inputs of the first and second optical signal combiners. A phase-shifter is provided located to affect the phase of an optical signal propagating in one of the third and fourth optical waveguides. The first and second optical splitters and the first and second optical signal combiners are arranged such that the first, second, third and fourth optical waveguides do not intersect one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Francesca Bontempi, Luca Poti, Antonella Bogoni
  • Patent number: 8853812
    Abstract: The present invention provides a photodetector which solves the problem of low sensitivity of a photodetector, an optical communication device equipped with the same, and a method for making the photodetector, and a method for making the optical communication device. The photodetector includes a substrate, a lower cladding layer arranged on the substrate, an optical waveguide arranged on the lower cladding layer, an intermediate layer arranged on the optical waveguide, a optical absorption layer arranged on the intermediate layer, a pair of electrodes arranged on the optical absorption layer, and wherein the optical absorption layer includes a IV-group or III-V-group single-crystal semiconductor, and the optical absorption layer absorbs an optical signal propagating through the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Okamoto, Junichi Fujikata
  • Patent number: 8855150
    Abstract: A tiled Bragg grating (BG) includes a plurality of BGs that are paralleled and optically contacted to one another. Each BG includes an optically transparent substrate within a predetermined wavelength or wavelength range having a length dimension and a transverse dimension. The BGs have a grating period along their length dimension. The BGs have optical contact regions along edges in their transverse dimension where the BGs are optically contacted to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Edward Miesak
  • Patent number: 8855453
    Abstract: A leaky travelling wave array of optical elements provide a solar wavelength rectenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: AMI Research & Development, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Apostolos, Judy Feng, William Mouyos
  • Publication number: 20140294347
    Abstract: A package for an arcuate planar lightwave circuit (PLC) chip includes a heater plate coupled to a base by a thick and soft support layer. The arcuate PLC is attached to the heater plate by soft adhesive. A hard adhesive is applied to a multi-waveguide end of the arcuate PLC, to additionally strengthen the attachment of the arcuate PLC to the heater plate. The structure allows the mechanical stress due to fiber pull/shock/vibration to be dissipated in the support layer without introducing large wavelength shifts in the arcuate PLC. The support layer also serves as a heat insulator, facilitating uniform heating of the arcuate PLC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: Qingjiu LIN, Wei Wang, Zhihua Mai, Zhongjian Wang
  • Patent number: 8849075
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes an integrated opto-mechanical and electro-mechanical system. The opto-mechanical and electro-mechanical system can be made of photonic crystals configured to move based on electrical voltages and/or back action effects from electromagnetic waves, thus changing the resonance of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Oskar Painter, Martin Winger, Qiang Lin, Amir Safavi-Naeini, Thiago Alegre, Timothy Dobson Blasius, Alexander Grey Krause