Attenuator Patents (Class 385/140)
  • Patent number: 9644818
    Abstract: The invention discloses an optical device and an optical module, the optical device includes a collimation lens arranged on an outer surface for converting incident light from a light source to parallel light, further includes a transmission light total reflection surface for totally reflecting a part of the parallel light at a first angle so that the part of the parallel light is finally coupled to an external optical fiber, a detection light total reflection surface for totally reflecting a part of the parallel light at a second angle so that the part of the parallel light is finally coupled to an external optical detector, and at least one attenuation light reflection surface for totally reflecting parallel light to be attenuated at a third angle before the parallel light leaves the optical device. The invention achieves the light intensity attenuation while realizing the direction-changing transmission of light signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignees: HISENSE BROADBAND MULTIMEDIA TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD., HISENSE USA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yungliang Huang, Yicheng Liu, Wenkai Tu
  • Patent number: 9455789
    Abstract: An optical reception apparatus may include a variable optical attenuator, a detector, and a controller. The variable optical attenuator may adjust a loss of an output optical power of a received light. The detector may detect that the output optical power is equal to or lower than a first level. The first level may be used to determine whether the output optical power is in a light interruption state. The controller may increase, in response to the detection made by the detector, the loss of the variable optical attenuator to a loss according to a second level. The second level may be used to determine whether the light interruption state is recovered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU OPTICAL COMPONENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Hidekazu Takeda
  • Patent number: 9442254
    Abstract: A high density, low power, high performance information system, method and apparatus are described in which perpendicularly oriented processor and memory die stacks (130, 140, 150, 160, 170) include integrated deflectable MEMS optical beam waveguides (e.g., 190) at each die edge (e.g., 151) to provide optical communications (184) in and between die stacks by using a beam control method and circuit to maintain and adjust alignment over time by calibrating and updating X and Y counter values stored in deflection registers (541-542) to control DAC circuitry (546, 548) which generates and supplies deflection voltages to charging capacitors (551, 552) connected to deflection electrodes (195-197) positioned on and around each MEMS optical beam waveguide (193-194) to provide two-dimensional alignment and controlled feedback to adjust beam alignment and establish optical communication links between die stacks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventor: Perry H. Pelley
  • Patent number: 9383514
    Abstract: To provide a tapered optical fiber having a good outer diameter accuracy and a high reproducibility, a manufacturing method of the tapered optical fiber, and a manufacturing system of the tapered optical fiber. The above-mentioned problem is solved by manufacturing system 1 of a tapered optical fiber comprising: shifter 11, 12 which reciprocates optical fiber 10 mounted at positions having a prescribed distance therebetween in the longer direction X of optical fiber 10 (the direction of the optical axis); and heating device 13 which heats the reciprocating optical fiber 10 at fixed position O, wherein shifter 13 includes a broadening unit which can increase the mounting distance (L1+L2) of the optical fiber while reciprocating the optical fiber. Shifter 11, 12 has at least two mounting unit which fix the optical fiber 10, and serves as a broadening unit controlling the two mounting unit independently or interlockingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Ishihara Sangyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hidetoku Iida, Rumiko Osada, Hideaki Shiratori
  • Patent number: 9383517
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed toward techniques and configurations for alternate connection of two devices via multiple branches of a waveguide. In one embodiment, the apparatus may include a first device (e.g., a peripheral device), a second device (e.g., a computing device) mountable on the first device in a first or second position, and a waveguide substantially disposed in the first device to communicatively couple the first device with the second device. The waveguide may comprise a movable connector and first and second branches corresponding to the first and second positions. The movable connector may alternately communicatively couple the first device with the second device via the first or second branch and disconnect the second or first branch respectively in response to corresponding placement of the second device in the first or second position. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Dan H. Gerbus
  • Patent number: 9358888
    Abstract: A display apparatus in a motor vehicle has at least one display element, which can be used to display at least one value and which has at least one light-emitting element for adjusting a display brightness for the display element. A sensing device has, a sensing element for sensing an ambient brightness for surroundings of the display element. The display brightness can be adjusted by the light-emitting element on the basis of the sensed ambient brightness. The sensing device is designed to prompt at least one function of the motor vehicle that is different than the adjustment of the display brightness when a change in the ambient brightness is sensed. A method operates such a display apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: AUDI AG
    Inventors: Stephan Schwantner, Christian Wall
  • Patent number: 9266468
    Abstract: The present invention provides a linear lighting device which includes an elongated light guide, a light source disposed at an end in a longitudinal direction of the light guide, and a case accommodating the light guide and the light source. In the linear lighting device, the light guide has a plurality of grooves arranged in the longitudinal direction of the light guide, and has a stepped cutout at the other end on an opposite side from the end, and a protruding portion protruding into the cutout is formed on an inner surface of the case which faces the cutout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: TOYODA GOSEI CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsu Mizushiro, Yukihiko Umeda, Shinichi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9207399
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe systems, apparatuses and methods for providing athermicity and a tunable spectral response for optical filters. Finite impulse response (FIR) filters are commonly implemented in photonic integrated circuits (PICs) to make devices such as wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) devices, asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometers (AMZIs) and array waveguide gratings (AWGs). Athermicity of an FIR filter describes maintaining a consistent frequency transmission spectrum as the ambient temperature changes. A tunable spectral response for an FIR filter describes changing the spectrum of an FIR filter based on its application, as well as potentially correcting for fabrication deviations from the design. In addition, embodiments of the invention reduce energy dissipation requirements and control complexity compared to prior art solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2015
    Assignee: Aurrion, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Edgar Roth, Daniel Knight Sparacin, Gregory Alan Fish
  • Patent number: 9146351
    Abstract: A loopback housing has an upper body portion and a lower body portion that are removably connected to one another. One of the body portions has a fiber opening to protect the optical fibers that are looped around for the fiber optic connector. The loopback housing also functions to remove and insert the fiber optic connector into an adapter, particularly in a high density application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: US Conec, Ltd
    Inventors: Mike Elbert Hughes, Jillcha Fekadu Wakjira, Darrell Randolph Childers, John H. Fox, Yefim Gorelik
  • Patent number: 9103991
    Abstract: An optical switch having multiple input and output ports directs any number of WDM signals, each arriving at a respective input port, to any one of the output ports. The optical switch includes an array of LC pixels, each positioned to receive a WDM signal transmitted through one of the ports, and an array of reflective elements, each associated with one of the LC pixels. The LC pixels are controlled to cause a WDM signal incident thereon to attain an attenuation state while an output of the WDM signal is being switched by an associated reflective element, such that when an output for a WDM signal is switched from a first port to a second port, the switching can be performed in a hitless manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventor: Gil Cohen
  • Patent number: 9090470
    Abstract: A method of producing a positive electrode active substance comprising steps of: dissolving a lithium source, an M source, a phosphorus source and an X source in amounts needed to form a lithium-containing composite oxide having an olivine structure and represented by the following general formula (1): LixMyP1?zXzO4??(1) wherein, in the formula, M is at least one kind of element selected from the group of Fe, Ni, Mn, Zr, Sn, Ti, Nb, V, Al and Y; X is at least one kind selected from the group of Si and Al; 0<x?2; 0.8?y?1.2; and 0?z?1, in a solvent being capable to dissolve these sources, thereby forming a solution; gelating the obtained solution by adding a cyclic ether compound and sintering the resulting gel to obtain the positive electrode active substance made of the lithium-containing composite oxide having an olivine structure that is covered with carbon deriving from the cyclic ether compound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Toshitsugu Sueki, Motoaki Nishijima
  • Patent number: 9092693
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, an image processing apparatus includes following units. The extraction unit extracts, from image data including a plurality of pixels, wavelength signal values of the plurality of pixels. The light attenuation amount calculation unit calculates a light attenuation amount based on a ratio of a wavelength signal value of a target pixel to a representative signal value obtained from wavelength signal values of a local region around the target pixel. The pigment amount calculation unit calculates a pigment amount of a predetermined pigment component at the target pixel by resolving the light attenuation amount using an absorbance base of the predetermined pigment component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yusuke Moriuchi, Toshimitsu Kaneko, Kanako Saito
  • Patent number: 9064080
    Abstract: An integrated circuitry structure includes at least first and second regions. An optical layer includes optical waveguides. A heat-conductive material transfers heat from at least the second region through the optical layer to a heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harry Barowski, Thomas Brunschwiler, Roger F. Dangel, Hubert Harrer, Andreas Huber, Norbert M. Meier, Bruno Michel, Tim Niggemeier, Stephan Paredes, Jochen Supper, Jonas R. Weiss
  • Patent number: 9058461
    Abstract: A method in a computer-aided design system for generating a functional design model of an integrated circuitry structure including generating a functional representation of at least first and second regions of the integrated circuitry structure, generating a functional representation of an optical layer comprising optical waveguides, and generating a functional representation of a heat-conductive material for transferring heat from at least the second region through the optical layer to a heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Harry Barowski, Thomas Brunschwiler, Roger F. Dangel, Hubert Harrer, Andreas Huber, Norbert M. Meier, Bruno Michel, Tim Niggemeier, Stephan Paredes, Jochen Supper, Jonas R. Weiss
  • Patent number: 8995796
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system (1) for generating a (high-frequency) beat signal. The system has a first light source (3) with a multimode spectrum, a second light source (4) and a coupler and filter arrangement (5) with a first port (6) for coupling in light from the first light source (3), and a second port (7) for coupling in light from the second light source (4). Furthermore, a detector (11) is provided to which light of both light sources (3, 4) can be supplied. The coupler and filter arrangement (5) has a spectral filter (20, 28) for filtering out one or several modes from the spectrum of the first light source (3), and a first fiber-optical coupler (17, 23, 26) for coupling the light of the second light source (4) and the not yet filtered or the already filtered light of the first light source (3). The coupler and filter arrangement (5) is configured to be merely fiber-optical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Menlo Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Ronald Holzwarth, Marc Fischer, Michael Mei
  • Patent number: 8995813
    Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises: a waveguide substrate, optical cladding formed on the substrate; a waveguide core formed within the cladding, an optically absorptive layer formed within the cladding, and a linearly polarized light source. The waveguide core includes an attenuating segment thereof, and the absorptive layer is formed near the attenuating segment of the core. The core and cladding are arranged to form an optical waveguide that supports a propagating optical mode. The absorptive layer is positioned near the attenuating segment of the core so as to spatially overlap a portion of the optical mode. The extent of the overlap results in a designed level of optical loss per unit distance of propagation of a linearly polarized optical signal along the attenuating segment of the optical core in the optical mode without substantial alteration of the polarization state of the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: HOYA Corporation USA
    Inventors: Rolf A. Wyss, Toshiaki Sonehara
  • Patent number: 8942567
    Abstract: An optical receiving device includes multiple input ports to which light is input; multiple amplifiers that are arrayed and provided corresponding to the input ports, respectively, each of the amplifiers amplifying and outputting light input from a corresponding input port among of the input ports; a photo diode that converts light into an electrical signal; and a lens that inputs to the photo diode light output from the amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Goji Nakagawa, Susumu Kinoshita
  • Patent number: 8938148
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a variable optical attenuator includes a core configured to propagate optical data signals and a cladding surrounding at least part of the core and comprising a first cladding portion and a second cladding portion. An attenuating spacer between the first cladding portion and the second cladding portion is formed from a smart material. The smart material is configured to apply a force to at least one of the first cladding portion and the second cladding portion in response to an external stimulus. The smart material may be a piezoelectric material and the external stimulus may be an electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brice D. Achkir
  • Publication number: 20140328567
    Abstract: A waveguide feedthrough for broadband electromagnetic wave attenuation is provided in an electromagnetic wave shielding structure, in which data processing and communication devices are installed, so that a plurality of optical cables or the like which are connected to data processing and communication devices are led into the electromagnetic wave shielding structure through the waveguide feedthrough. Thereby, broadband electromagnetic waves generated from external other devices can be prevented from entering the electromagnetic wave shielding structure. For this, the waveguide feedthrough includes a waveguide feedthrough body which is made of conductive material and has a through hole therein, and an electromagnetic wave absorber which is provided on an inner side surface of the through hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2014
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Uijung KIM, Kwang-Uk CHU, Minseok YOON
  • Patent number: 8849086
    Abstract: An optical fiber attenuator includes a connector unit, an insert component and an attenuation unit. The connector unit includes a shell member and having a first shell part, and a second shell part that extends from and forms a unitary body with the first shell part, that reduces in cross-section with respect to the first shell part, and that cooperates with the first shell part to define a through hole. A resilient portion is connected to and extends inclinedly and outwardly away from the second shell part and towards the first shell part. The insert component includes an insert body disposed in the through hole, and a trench formed in the insert body. The attenuation unit has one end inserted into the trench and another end inserted into the second shell part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Gloriole Electroptic Technology Corp.
    Inventor: Chia-Hua Wu
  • Patent number: 8811789
    Abstract: An optical transmission fiber including a core having a first index of refraction, a cladding material located around the core and having a second index of refraction less than the first index of refraction, a first coating material located around a first portion of the cladding material and having a third index of refraction greater than the second index of refraction, and a second coating material located around a second portion of the cladding material and having a fourth index of refraction less than the second index of refraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Leslie A. Reith, Eva M. Vogel
  • Patent number: 8805154
    Abstract: An organizing device is for organizing multiple optical fiber lines to run parallel to each other on a plane. The organizing device includes a guiding unit and a positioning unit. The positioning unit includes a main body slidably disposed on the guiding unit, a first positioning part extending from the main body, and a second positioning part that extends from the main body in a same direction as the first positioning part and that is spaced apart from the first positioning part. The main body, the first positioning part and the second positioning part cooperate to define a positioning slot. The distance between the first and second positioning parts corresponds to a diameter of the optical fiber lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignees: Gloriole Electroptic Technology Corp., Shen Zhen Wonderwin Technology Co., Ltd., Tasin Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jim Lin, Danxu Wu, Ming-Hua Chang
  • Patent number: 8768108
    Abstract: A solid state light source comprising a light pump outputting light energy; a waveguide optically coupled to the light pump source for receiving the light energy; and a down-converter for converting the light energy from the waveguide to a lesser light energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of Michigan
    Inventors: Pei-Cheng Ku, Max Shtein
  • Patent number: 8754658
    Abstract: A method for controlling an amplitude of an incoming light is provided. The method includes attenuating a portion of the incoming light within a first band having a tunable peak attenuation wavelength using a tunable filter; passing a portion of the incoming light from the tunable filter within a second band using a fixed filter; and controlling the amplitude of the incoming light by tuning the peak attenuation wavelength of the tunable filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy N. Miller, Kathleen A. Morse, Kevin William Russell Crispin
  • Publication number: 20140086547
    Abstract: A dynamic optical circulator device applicable to UPC-type and PC-type optical connectors is provided, including a first UPC/PC-type optical connector, a second UPC/PC-type optical connector, a third UPC/PC-type optical connector, a passive optical circulator, a reflected light detector and a transform element. The first, second and third UPC/PC-type optical connectors provide connections to optical fibers for receiving and transmitting optical signals. The first UPC/PC-type optical connector, the second UPC/PC-type optical connector and the third UPC/PC-type optical connector are connected to the three ports of the passive optical circulator, respectively, with the reflected light detector placed between the second UPC/PC-type optical connector and the second port of the passive optical circulator, while the transform element can be placed between any port of passive optical circulator and corresponding UPC-type and PC-type optical port.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Yeongher Chen, HsiangHsi Chiang, HsienSheng Lin
  • Patent number: 8666218
    Abstract: A MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) chip includes a frame having a planar surface, a micro-electric actuator with a movable optical shutter arranged with respect to the planar surface of the frame, where the VOA is actuated by thermal expansion. The micro-electric actuator comprises semiconductor conductors (“wires”) that can be moved, upon applying an electrical current, by thermal expansion. In one embodiment, the MEMS VOA chip is configured in a multiple wire arrangement that restricts the shutter movement in a plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Agiltron, Inc.
    Inventors: Yi He, Luzhong Yin, Guixiong Zhong, Jun Yan, Jing Zhao
  • Patent number: 8660399
    Abstract: An integrated, more automated system for determining the linearity of measurements of fiber optic power meters reduces the time and expense needed for linearity calibration. The system uses the triplet superposition method of linearity calibration and aids in performing the necessary series of measurements. A linearity measurement system for an optical power meter comprises an apparatus to output an optical signal to the optical power meter, the apparatus configured to output the optical signal at a controllable plurality of optical powers, a controller for controlling an optical power output from the apparatus to the optical power meter, a display device for displaying a state of the apparatus based on information from the controller, and an input device for commanding the controller to control the optical power output from the apparatus to the optical power meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Lance S Doddridge
  • Patent number: 8634691
    Abstract: Variable optical attenuator (VOA) formed by disposing upon a substrate a waveguide, a p-type region and an n-type region about the waveguide, and an epi-silicon region disposed upon the waveguide, the VOA responsive to a bias current to controllably inject carriers into the waveguide to attenuate thereby optical signal propagating through the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Mark P. Earnshaw, Mahmoud S. Rasras
  • Patent number: 8625943
    Abstract: Excess optical power in a waveguide device is appropriately terminated. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the waveguide device comprises a termination structure filled with a light blocking material for terminating light from the end section of a waveguide. This termination structure can be formed by forming a groove on an optical waveguide by removing the clad and core, and filling the inside of that groove with a material attenuating the intensity of the light (light blocking material). In this manner, light that enters into the termination structure is attenuated by the light blocking material, and influence on other optical devices as a crosstalk component can be suppressed. With such termination structure, not only the influence on optical devices integrated on the same substrate, but also the influence on other optical devices directly connected to that substrate can be suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignees: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation, NTT Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Shunichi Soma, Takashi Goh, Yasuaki Hashizume, Masahiro Yanagisawa, Takanori Ishikawa, Mitsuru Nagano, Atsushi Murasawa, Masayuki Okuno
  • Patent number: 8620125
    Abstract: Light diffusing optical fibers and methods for producing light diffusing optical fibers are disclosed. In one embodiment, a light diffusing optical fiber includes a core portion formed from silica glass and comprising a plurality of helical void randomly distributed in the core portion of the optical fiber and wrapped around the long axis of the optical fiber. A pitch of the helical voids may vary along the axial length of the light diffusing optical fiber in order to achieve the desired illumination along the length of the optical fiber. A cladding may surround the core portion. Light guided by the core portion is scattered by the helical voids radially outward, through the cladding, such that the light diffusing optical fiber emits light with a predetermined intensity over an axial length of the light diffusing optical fiber, the light diffusing optical fiber having a scattering induced attenuation loss greater than about 0.2 dB/m at a wavelength of 550 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Leslie James Button, Andrey Kobyakov, Sergey Anatolyevuch Kuchinsky, Stephan Lvovich Logunov, Aramais Zakharian
  • Patent number: 8620131
    Abstract: A variable optical attenuator includes a collimating unit that collimates an incident light beam, a polarization splitting member that separates the collimated light beam into a first polarized light beam having a first polarization and a second polarized light beam having a second polarization, a birefringence control unit through which the first and second polarized light beams pass, the birefringence control unit including a liquid crystal cell having a birefringence is controlled by a voltage or current, wherein the birefringence of the liquid crystal cell is substantially zero when no voltage or current is applied thereto, and a reflection member that reflects the first and second polarized light beams output from the birefringence control unit. The variable optical attenuator has high stability, high precision, and low volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: INLC Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Woo Suh
  • Publication number: 20130259439
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a first lens; a second lens that is arranged behind a focal point of the first lens and is optically connected to the first lens; an optical attenuator that is arranged on an optical path between the first lens and the second lens and changes passage amount of an inputting light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC DEVICE INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Takashi Asaba, Ryo Kuwahara, Taketo Kawano
  • Patent number: 8538229
    Abstract: Various designs of pluggable variable optical attenuator (VOA) are disclosed. A pluggable VOA has an optical fiber adaptor connected to an internal VOA via different fiber optical interface configurations. At least a pair of ports is provided to accept optical fibers or external optical fiber ferrules for optical pluggability. The VOA is controlled electronically or manually. To facilitate a control of the VOA via a hosting system, an electronic device and/or interface is provided. External commands take the control of the VOA and set an attenuation level within a specification when the pluggable variable optical attenuator device is connected to a hosting system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optic Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Xinzhong Wang, Daoyi Wang, Yao Li
  • Publication number: 20130216197
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a variable optical attenuator includes a core configured to propagate optical data signals and a cladding surrounding at least part of the core and comprising a first cladding portion and a second cladding portion. An attenuating spacer between the first cladding portion and the second cladding portion is formed from a smart material. The smart material is configured to apply a force to at least one of the first cladding portion and the second cladding portion in response to an external stimulus. The smart material may be a piezoelectric material and the external stimulus may be an electrical current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2012
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Brice D. Achkir
  • Patent number: 8498512
    Abstract: An ophthalmic illumination system includes a collimated light beam focused onto an optical fiber for transmission of the light beam to an ophthalmic light probe. A light attenuator includes a pair of arrays positioned serially in a path for the collimated beam. The arrays are movable in parallel in the path about a rotational axis orthogonal to the path and between the arrays. Each array includes a plurality of regularly spaced-apart parallel plates, the parallel plates of one array being non-parallel to the plates of the other array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Bausch & Lomb Incorporated
    Inventor: David John Stocks
  • Patent number: 8494336
    Abstract: A variable optical attenuator device is described that comprises a first optical input, a first optical output, a first optical path between the first optical input and the first optical output, and means for moving a shutter across said first optical path. A hollow core waveguide is provided to substantially guide light along the first optical path of the device. The device may also be used to provide an analogue beam splitting or switch function in telecommunication systems and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventors: Richard M Jenkins, Mark E McNie, David J Combes, James McQuillan
  • Patent number: 8469603
    Abstract: A method for mating optical fibers, a fiber optic connector, and a fiber optic subassembly are provided in which mating fibers have angled end faces joined by index matching fluid, but in which the angled end faces of the fibers are positioned relative to one another in rotationally misaligned relationship. Applicants discovered unexpectedly that optical fibers can be spliced, to provide satisfactory optical connections, without the need for matched cleaves, and without the need for precise rotational alignment of the cleaves, provided that angled end faces are provided on both the launch and receive fibers and that index matching gel is provided between the angled end faces. Thus, the fibers are mated in positions other than in the precise rotationally aligned position previously believed essential to adequate optical performance. Angled end faces may be positioned less than 165 degrees out of phase.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Michael L. Gurreri
  • Patent number: 8463088
    Abstract: The multi-channel optical device includes multiple laser cavities that each reflects a different light channel back and forth between reflective components. One of the reflective components is common to all of the laser cavities in that the common reflective component receives the channels from each of the laser cavities and reflects the received channels. The laser cavities also share a multiplexer that receives the channels reflected by the common reflective device and demultiplexes the channels into demultiplexed channels. A portion of the reflective components are partial return devices that each receives one of the demultiplexed channels. Each of the partial return devices transmits a portion of the demultiplexed channel received by that partial return device. The transmitted portion of the demultiplexed channel exits the laser cavity. Additionally, each of the partial return devices reflects a portion of the demultiplexed channel receive by that partial return device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Kotura, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehdi Asghari, Dazeng Feng
  • Patent number: 8457465
    Abstract: An optical attenuation system that includes first and second attenuators providing different attenuations of corresponding received optical signals. The first attenuator receives an optical signal emitted by a transmitter of a first transceiver and delivers the received optical signal to a receiver of a second transceiver. The second attenuator receives an optical signal emitted by a transmitter of the second transceiver and delivers the received optical signal to a receiver of the first transceiver. A method may include determining first and second optical attenuations for the first and second attenuators, respectively, and for at least one attenuator, arranging a first fiber optic cable having a first core size in series with a second fiber optic cable having a second core size to provide the determined corresponding optical attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Ryohei Urata, Hong Liu, Zuowei Shen
  • Patent number: 8452152
    Abstract: A fiber-to-fiber connector system that includes a first connector for housing a portion of a first fiber, where the first fiber is terminated by a first end-face. The fiber-to-fiber connection system also includes a second connector for housing a portion of a second fiber, where the second fiber is terminated by a second end-face, where the first connector and the second connector permit the first fiber and the second fiber to be interconnected to form an air gap interface between the first end-face and the second end-face; the air gap interface defines a spacing between the first end-face and the second end-face; and the air gap interface enables, based on the defined spacing, an optical signal to be transmitted between the first fiber and the second fiber with a fixed quantity of attenuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Marino
  • Patent number: 8428414
    Abstract: A single-mode optical fiber includes a central core, an intermediate cladding, a depressed trench, and an external optical cladding. The central core has a radius r1 and a positive refractive index difference ?n1 with the optical cladding. The intermediate cladding has a radius r2 and a refractive index difference ?n2 with the optical cladding, wherein ?n2 is less than ?n1. The depressed trench has a radius r3 and a negative index difference ?n3 with the optical cladding. At a wavelength of 1310 nanometers, the optical fiber has a mode field diameter (MFD) between 8.6 microns and 9.5 microns and, at a wavelength of 1550 nanometers, the optical fiber has bending losses less than about 0.25×10?3 dB/turn for a radius of curvature of 15 millimeters. At a wavelength of 1260 nanometers, attenuation of the LP11 mode to 19.3 dB is achieved over less than 90 meters of fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Draka Comteq, B.V.
    Inventors: Louis-Anne de Montmorillon, Simon Richard, Denis Molin, David Boivin, Marianne Bigot-Astruc, Pierre Sillard
  • Publication number: 20130077930
    Abstract: An optical fiber attenuator includes a connector unit, an insert component and an attenuation unit. The connector unit includes a shell member and having a first shell part, and a second shell part that extends from and forms a unitary body with the first shell part, that reduces in cross-section with respect to the first shell part, and that cooperates with the first shell part to define a through hole. A resilient portion is connected to and extends inclinedly and outwardly away from the second shell part and towards the first shell part. The insert component includes an insert body disposed in the through hole, and a trench formed in the insert body. The attenuation unit has one end inserted into the trench and another end inserted into the second shell part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Gloriole Electroptic Technology Corp.
    Inventor: CHIA-HUA WU
  • Patent number: 8393408
    Abstract: An optical control is disclosed which is particularly suitable for application as a switching device, regulating device or sensor device for a power tool. At least two optical waveguides are provided one of which being configured as a transmitting waveguide is coupled to a light source, a second one of which being configured as a receiving waveguide cooperating therewith is coupled to an evaluation circuitry. Both waveguides cooperate with a control element that is movable at least between two positions in which light signals of different magnitude are transmitted from the transmitting waveguide into the receiving waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: C. & E. Fein GmbH
    Inventors: Boris Rudolf, Sigmund Braun, Christof Kress
  • Patent number: 8391653
    Abstract: An adapter device for applying a fiber-optic monitoring system to a component to be monitored includes a shell adapted to surround the component to be monitored, the shell having a rounded exposed surface onto which a first optical fiber of the fiber-optic monitoring system can be wrapped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Prysmian Cables & Systems Limited
    Inventors: Martin Vincent Davies, Stephen John Millard, Kris Jonathan Roberts
  • Patent number: 8379221
    Abstract: The present patent application provides an interference cavity for precisely controlling an optical path including a cavity formed by two equal distance arms, wherein a positive adjusting plate and a negative adjusting plate are disposed in the interference cavity for compensating the change of a cavity length with temperature and thereby ensuring that the interference cavity length is a constant. The present patent application utilizes the matching relationship between the change of the refractive index of the positive adjustment plate with the temperature and the change of the refractive index of the negative adjusting plates with the temperature to make the optical path difference OPL invariant with changes in the environment temperature and thereby to ensure the precision of the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: O-Net Communications (Shenzhen) Limited
    Inventors: Zeqin Wang, Hong Xie
  • Patent number: 8369658
    Abstract: A method involving: providing an optical waveguide made of a semiconductor material and having a region that is doped by a deep level impurity which creates deep level states in a bandgap in the semiconductor material, the deep level states characterized by an occupancy; passing an optical signal through the optical waveguide and between the region doped by the deep level impurity; and modulating the occupancy of the deep level states to thereby modulate the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Inventors: Andrew P. Knights, Gregory L. Wojcik, Andreas Goebel, Dylan F. Logan, Paul E. Jessop
  • Patent number: 8358882
    Abstract: A modalmetric fibre sensor comprises a multimode sensor fibre (26), a light source (14) for launching light into the multimode fibre (26) to produce a multimode speckle pattern of light at an end of the fibre (26), a single mode fibre (22) to receive light from the multimode speckle pattern and a detector (18) connected to the single mode fibre (22) to detect the received light from the multimode speckle pattern. A connector (33) connects the ends of the multimode fibre (26) and single mode fibre (22) with the end faces (31,32) of the two fibres disposed at an acute single to one another. The light from source (14) may be transmitted to the multimode fibre (26) through the single mode fibre (22) and the end of multimode fibre (26) remote from single mode fibre (22) may be mirrored to reflect light back along the multimode fibre to the single mode fibre which transmits the received light to the detector (18).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Future Fibre Technologies Pty Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuvaraja Visagathilagar, Bernhard Koziol, Jim Katsifolis
  • Publication number: 20130016944
    Abstract: Variable optical attenuator (VOA) formed by disposing upon a substrate a waveguide, a p-type region and an n-type region about the waveguide, and an epi-silicon region disposed upon the waveguide, the VOA responsive to a bias current to controllably inject carriers into the waveguide to attenuate thereby optical signal propagating through the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Mark P. Earnshaw, Mahmoud S. Rasras
  • Patent number: 8349217
    Abstract: The present invention has features in that a lithium transition metal silicate obtained by sintering a mixture containing a transition metal compound containing at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni; a lithium compound; and a silicon-based polymer compound, is used as a positive electrode material for a secondary battery. The lithium transition metal silicate of the present invention has a high lithium occlusion and release efficiency per unit amount of a transition metal. A secondary battery in which the cost is low, stability and safety are high, and superior charge and discharge characteristics are exhibited can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignees: Tokyo Institute of Technology, Dow Corning Toray Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Atsuo Yamada, Shogo Hayase, Yoshiki Fujita, Shinichi Nishimura, Mamoru Tachikawa, Takakazu Hino
  • Patent number: 8335422
    Abstract: A cable exit trough with pivoting cover. The cover having a cover plate and a pivot plate hingedly mounted thereto for easy access to the trough. The exit trough may define an insert aperture for receiving modular cable management inserts. The modular insert providing an additional cable management device such as a curved guidewall. The cable management device may alternatively be fixed to the cable exit trough. Removable snap-mounted flanges may also be included in the exit trough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne Johnson, Brian L. Johnson, Thomas W. Kampf, Alex Watts, Michael J. Wentworth