With Optical Coupler Patents (Class 385/15)
  • Patent number: 10101536
    Abstract: A multichannel optical coupler array comprises a coupler housing structure and longitudinal waveguides. At least one of the longitudinal waveguides is a vanishing core waveguide. Light traveling from a first end to a second end can escape from an inner vanishing core into a corresponding outer core proximally to an intermediate cross section, and can escape from the outer core into a combined waveguide formed by at least two neighboring outer cores proximally to the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Chiral Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Il'ich Kopp, Jongchul Park, Jonathan Singer, Daniel Neugroschl
  • Patent number: 10078233
    Abstract: An example device in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure includes a first semiconductor layer disposed on a substrate, a dielectric layer disposed between the first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer dissimilar from the first semiconductor layer. A capacitor is formed of at least a portion of the first semiconductor layer, the dielectric layer, and the second semiconductor layer, and is to be included in an optical waveguide resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Di Liang, Geza Kurczveil, Marco Fiorentino, Raymond G. Beausoleil
  • Patent number: 10073221
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are various embodiments of an optical cross-connect switch in which optical beamforming is used to generate desired (e.g., technically beneficial) beam profiles at the beam-steering element of the switch. An example beam profile that can be generated in this manner is a substantially rectangular beam profile generated from an input optical beam having a substantially Gaussian beam profile. The use of rectangular beam profiles may be beneficial because such beam profiles can be used to increase the optical fill factor of the beam-steering element of the switch, thereby enabling the switch to have a higher number of optical ports and/or a lower cost per optical port than comparable conventional optical cross-connect switches. In an example embodiment, the disclosed optical cross-connect switch can be used to implement a wavelength-selective optical router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: NOKIA OF AMERICA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nicolas K. Fontaine, David T. Neilson, Roland Ryf
  • Patent number: 10073220
    Abstract: Provided is an optical coupler configured to cause an NA of light, which exits a taper fiber, to be smaller as compared with a conventional optical coupler. A taper fiber has a high refractive index part which is provided inside a core of the taper fiber and which has a refractive index smaller than a refractive index ncore of the core. An exit end surface of each GI fiber is bonded to an entrance end surface of the taper fiber so that at least a part of the exit end surface of the each GI fiber overlaps with a section of the high refractive index part. A relative refractive index difference of the taper fiber is smaller than 0.076%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Fujita, Kentaro Ichii, Ken Katagiri, Kenichi Ohmori, Rintaro Kitahara, Tatsuya Kishi
  • Patent number: 10041875
    Abstract: The present disclosure concerns an apparatus (10) and method for reading out an optical chip (20). A light source (13) is arranged for emitting single mode source light (S1) from its emitter surface (A1) towards an optical input (21) of the optical chip (20). A light detector (14) is arranged for receiving measurement light (S2) impinging onto its receiver surface (A2) from an optical output (22) of the optical chip (20), and measuring said received measurement light (S2). The emitted source light (S1) is aligned to enter the optical input (21) of the optical chip (20) and the measurement light (S2) is aligned back onto the receiver surface (A2). The receiver surface (A2) is larger than the emitter surface (A1) for facilitating the overall alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: Nederlandse Organisatie voor toegepast-natuurwetenschappelijk onderzoek TNO
    Inventors: Bart Michiel De Boer, Peter Johan Harmsma, Dario Maria Rosario Lo Cascio
  • Patent number: 10036853
    Abstract: A multiplexer/demultiplexer for at least two wavelengths in O-band. The multiplexer/demultiplexer includes a silicon waveguide block having a first port, a second/third port respectively in bar/cross position at an opposing end plane relative to the first port. The silicon waveguide block is configured to provide a general interference excitation of a light wave of a first wavelength and a second wavelength respectively selected from two windows in O-band. The light wave is either inputted via the first port and split into a first output light of the first wavelength out of the second port and a second output light of the second wavelength out of the third port, or is combined of a first input light of the first wavelength from the second port and a second input light of the second wavelength from the third port and outputted via the first port with both wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: INPHI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jie Lin
  • Patent number: 10027416
    Abstract: Methods of decoding N superimposed coherent optical transmission modes transmitted along a multimode optical fiber are provided where the optical signal detector comprises coherent detection hardware and a digital signal processor. The optical signals are split into N optical detection channels of the coherent detection hardware, which is used to measure the phase and amplitude of the output optical signals as a vector field matrix [ê]1×n. The digital signal processor determines the output principal states [PSout]1×n of the output optical signals from the principal state eigenvectors of an output matrix corresponding to the N propagating optical signals at the receiving portion of the data transmission link and extracts the input optical signals [M]In from the output optical signals using the output principal states [PSout]1×n, the vector field matrix [ê]1×n of the output optical signals, and a time delay ? of each output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert R Alfano, Giovanni Milione, Daniel Aloysius Nolan
  • Patent number: 10018560
    Abstract: A metrology system includes an illumination source configured to generate an illumination beam, one or more illumination optics configured to direct the illumination beam to a sample, one or more collection optics configured to collect illumination emanating from the sample, a detector, and a hyperspectral imaging sub-system. The hyperspectral imaging sub-system includes a dispersive element positioned at a pupil plane of the set of collection optics configured to spectrally disperse the collected illumination, a lens array including an array of focusing elements, and one or more imaging optics. The one or more imaging optics combine the spectrally-dispersed collected illumination to form an image of the pupil plane on the lens array. The focusing elements of the lens array distribute the collected illumination on the detector in an arrayed pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: KLA-Tencor Corporation
    Inventor: Andrew V. Hill
  • Patent number: 10007064
    Abstract: A waveguide resonator component, which can be used, for example, in integrated circuits, in which a substrate having two waveguides is present and a microtube is present as resonator, wherein the resonator has a respective recess in the region of each waveguide in order to form an intermediate space between the waveguide and the resonator. The aim is additionally achieved by a method in which a sacrificial layer is applied to a substrate having two waveguides and at least a second layer is applied to the sacrificial layer, and thereafter the sacrificial layer is at least partially removed and the resonator is produced in the form of a microtube by rolling up the second layer and possible additional layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUER FESTKOERPUR-UND WERKSTOFFFORSCHUNG DRESDEN E.V
    Inventors: Stefan Boettner, Oliver G. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 9971095
    Abstract: An optical communication terminal is configured to operate in two different complementary modes of full duplex communication. In one mode, the terminal transmits light having a first wavelength and receives light having a second wavelength along a common free space optical path. In the other mode, the terminal transmits light having the second wavelength and receives light having the first wavelength. The terminal includes a steering mirror that directs light to and from a dichroic element that creates different optical paths depending on wavelength, and also includes spatially separated emitters and detectors for the two wavelengths. A first complementary emitter/detector pair is used in one mode, and a second pair is used for the other mode. The system also includes at least two ferrules. Each ferrule operates with a single emitter/detector pair. The ferrules are designed to operate interchangeably with either emitter/detector pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: X Development LLC
    Inventors: Nam-Hyong Kim, Baris Ibrahim Erkmen, Edward Allen Keyes, Robert Todd Belt
  • Patent number: 9967048
    Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) transceiver module comprising an optical port and an optical modulator is disclosed herein. The optical port includes a data transmit and receive optical fiber connector and a laser source-in optical fiber connector. The laser source-in optical fiber connector is configured to couple to a laser source external to the WDM transceiver module, and provide polarization alignment for a polarization-maintaining fiber. The optical modulator is configured to receive a laser output from the external laser source via the polarization-maintaining fiber and modulate the laser output based on analog electrical signals generated by a digital signal processor. The WDM transceiver module may not including an onboard laser source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Massimiliano Salsi
  • Patent number: 9952391
    Abstract: An optical transmission module includes a light emitting device for transmitting a first optical signal, a light receiving device for receiving a second optical signal, an optical fiber for guiding a third optical signal in which the first optical signal and the second optical signal are coupled, and an optical waveguide substrate having an optical waveguide made of first resin, wherein a groove formed on the optical waveguide substrate is provided with a prism having the optical fiber and a reflective face through which the first optical signal transmit, a first side face of the prism contacts a first wall face of the groove, and a second side face thereof contacts a second wall face of the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Youhei Sakai, Yusuke Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 9946031
    Abstract: An optical switching arrangement includes a plurality of input and output waveguides. Each of the input waveguides has a first plurality of 1×2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong. Each of the output waveguides has a second plurality of 1×2 optical switches associated therewith and extending therealong. Each of the first and second plurality of optical switches is selectively switchable between a through-state and a cross-state. The input and output waveguides are arranged such that optical losses arising for any wavelength of light only depend on a length of segments of the input and output waveguides located between adjacent ones of the 1×2 optical switches. Each of the first plurality of optical switches associated with each of the input waveguides is optically coupled to one of the second plurality of optical switches in a different one of the output waveguides when both optical switches are in the cross-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Nistica, Inc.
    Inventor: Jefferson L. Wagener
  • Patent number: 9915787
    Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, an optical coupling device is provided. The optical coupling device includes a substrate, and a grating arrangement including a plurality of grating elements, the plurality of grating elements being defined on one surface of the substrate, wherein the plurality of grating elements are arranged to have a first period along a first direction, and a second period along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the first period being different from the second period. According to further embodiments of the present invention, a photonic integrated circuit and a method of forming an optical coupling device are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: Agency for Science, Technology and Research
    Inventors: Chao Li, Patrick Guo-Qiang Lo
  • Patent number: 9915784
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to a method for forming an optical waveguide structure. Initially, a base film stack is received with an optical waveguide feature covered by a lower dielectric layer. An etch stop feature is then formed on the lower dielectric layer, and an upper dielectric layer is formed over the etch stop feature. Subsequently, a trench is patterned in the upper dielectric layer and the etch stop feature at least in part by utilizing the etch stop feature as an etch stop. Lastly, a waveguide coupler feature is formed in the trench, at least a portion of the waveguide coupler feature having a refractive index higher than the lower dielectric layer and the upper dielectric layer. The waveguide coupler feature is positioned over at least a portion of the optical waveguide feature but is separated from the optical waveguide feature by a portion of the lower dielectric layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Russell A. Budd, Fuad E. Doany, Christopher V. Jahnes, Benjamin G. Lee, Laurent Schares
  • Patent number: 9917650
    Abstract: Photonic integration has primarily sought to exploit optical parallelism through wavelength division multiplexing whilst in many instances “brute-force” time division multiplexing offers benefits through reduced complexity and cost. However, photoreceivers are primarily the same now for operation at 10 Gb/s, 20 Gb/s, 40 Gb/s and above as 20 or 25 years ago and exploit the same optical detection—amplification—logic processing design. However, high speed low cost electronics ca be leveraged in conjunction with optical time sampling and logic to provide a new design paradigm. An incoming XGbs?1 optical data stream is sampled and processed by N photodetectors each operating at (X/N)Gbs?1 rather than the current direct XGbs?1 front-end of the prior art. Flexibility for the designer in establishing N within optical layer constraints, electronics capabilities etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignees: TRANSFERT PLUS, SOCIÉTÉ EN COMMANDITE, THE ROYAL INSTITUTION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING/ MCGILL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Odile Liboiron-Ladouceur, Md. Shafiqul Hai, Michael Menard
  • Patent number: 9896173
    Abstract: An apparatus for adjusting positions of an outboard propulsion unit of a marine vessel comprises a jack plate having a jack plate actuator capable of moving the propulsion unit between raised and lowered positions and a swivel bracket having a swivel bracket actuator capable of pivoting the propulsion unit between raised and lowered trim positions. There is a control system operatively connected to the jack plate actuator and the swivel bracket actuator. The control system includes a first manual control which incrementally moves the jack plate an incremental amount each time the first manual control is actuated and a second manual control which incrementally pivots the swivel bracket an incremental amount each time the second manual control is actuated. Movement of the propulsion unit within a tilt range may be detected and the jack plate may be moved to a preset position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: Marine Canada Acquisition Inc.
    Inventors: Davor Baros, Richard D. Pierce, Eric B. Fetchko
  • Patent number: 9884202
    Abstract: A device (10) for light based skin treatment is provided. The device (10) comprises a light source (18) for providing an incident light beam (21) for treating a skin (30), optical elements for focusing the incident light beam (21) in a focal point (22) inside the skin (30), and a skin interface element (11) for, during use of the device (10), providing optical coupling of the incident light beam (21) from the device (10) into the skin (30). The skin interface element (11) comprises a transparent exit window (12) for allowing the incident light beam (21) to leave the device (10), on top of the exit window (12), a transparent mixture (13) of a polar substance and an apolar substance, and on top of the transparent mixture (13), a transparent foil (14), the transparent foil (14) being more hydrophobic than the exit window (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Babu Varghese, Rieko Verhagen
  • Patent number: 9866309
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a host node device having a terminal interface that receives downstream channel signals from a communication network and send upstream channel signals to the communication network. An access point repeater launches the downstream channel signals as guided electromagnetic waves on a guided wave communication system and to extract a first subset of the upstream channel signals from the guided wave communication system. A radio wirelessly transmits the downstream channel signals to at least one client node device and to wirelessly receive a second subset of the upstream channel signals from the at least one client node device. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, LP
    Inventors: Robert Bennett, Paul Shala Henry, Irwin Gerszberg, Farhad Barzegar, Donald J Barnickel, Thomas M. Willis, III
  • Patent number: 9860616
    Abstract: A network appliance may include a signal splitter that splits an incoming signal into multiple portions. The signal splitter can direct one portion of the incoming signal to a switching fabric and another portion of the incoming signal to an optical switch. By monitoring the power intensity of the portion of the incoming signal received by the switching fabric, the network appliance can seamlessly switch between a bypass traffic path and a pass-through traffic path without losing network traffic caused by gaps in network connectivity. Such a configuration also enables the network appliance to maintain an accurate record of the logical connectivity state even when the network appliance is in the bypass state (i.e., when network traffic bypasses the switching fabric of the network appliance).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Gigamon Inc.
    Inventor: Sitti Amarittapark
  • Patent number: 9857536
    Abstract: The inventive optical component assembly advantageously enables a multi-waveguide optical component (such as the inventive optical fiber coupler array, a multi-core optical fiber, etc.), to be coupled to at least one waveguide of an optical device at a predefined coupling angle. The optical component assembly of the present invention comprises a multi-waveguide optical component with an output end, a prism having an input surface, an output surface, and an internal reflective surface with a predefined reflection angle, and a GRIN lens, positioned between the component output end and the prism input surface, along a longitudinal axis of the multi-waveguide optical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Chiral Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Il'ich Kopp, Jonathan Singer, Daniel Neugroschl, Jongchul Park, Mitchell S. Wlodawski
  • Patent number: 9853345
    Abstract: A multichannel splitter formed from 1 to 2 splitters. An input terminal of a first 1 to 2 splitter defines an input of the multichannel splitter. The 1 to 2 splitters are electrically series-connected. First respective outputs of the 1 to 2 splitters define output terminals of the multichannel splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics SA
    Inventors: Baudouin Martineau, Olivier Richard, Frédéric Gianesello
  • Patent number: 9851508
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a WSS may include a steering element, an optical subsystem, and a cylindrical lens. The optical subsystem may include a collimating lens and a dispersive element. The optical subsystem may be located between a fiber array and the steering element. The collimating lens may be located between the fiber array and the dispersive element. The cylindrical lens may be located between the optical subsystem and the steering element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventor: Brendan Hamel-Bissell
  • Patent number: 9851503
    Abstract: A compact, low-loss and wavelength insensitive Y-junction for submicron silicon waveguides. The design was performed using FDTD and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The device was fabricated in a 248 nm CMOS line. Measured average insertion loss is 0.28±0.02 dB across an 8-inch wafer. The device footprint is less than 1.2 ?m×2 ?m, orders of magnitude smaller than MMI and directional couplers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Elenion Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Yang Liu, Yangjin Ma, Ruizhi Shi, Michael J. Hochberg, Yi Zhang, Shuyu Yang, Thomas Wetteland Baehr-Jones
  • Patent number: 9820632
    Abstract: An elongated optical guidewire assembly, such as for optically imaging a patient from within another catheter, can have a lead portion and a probe portion. A connector between the lead and probe portions can include a bore including first and second bore ends. The first bore end can include a substantially circular cross-sectional profile. The second bore end can include a substantially non-circular cross-sectional profile. The bore can be configured to receive the optical guidewire assembly at the first bore end and configured to deform the optical guidewire assembly at the second bore end such that probe and lead ends of the optical guidewire assembly are deformed into a substantially non-circular profile and located between the first and second bore ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Vascular Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Michael J. Eberle
  • Patent number: 9817191
    Abstract: A multichannel optical coupler array comprises a coupler housing structure and longitudinal waveguides. At least one of the longitudinal waveguides is a vanishing core waveguide. The coupler housing structure at a proximity to a first end has one of the following cross sectional configurations: a ring surrounding the longitudinal waveguides, or a structure with holes, at least one hole containing at least one of the longitudinal waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Chiral Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Victor Il'ich Kopp, Daniel Neugroschl, Jonathan Singer
  • Patent number: 9819435
    Abstract: A high resolution, wide spectral range, optical apparatus that includes an optical resonator cavity and a wavelength demultiplexer, arrangeable in multiple configurations. A method for increasing the resolution of a wavelength demultiplexer involves inputting light into an optical resonant cavity; inputting a plurality of different resonant output wavelengths to a wavelength demultiplexer; and routing each different resonant wavelength to a different output waveguide of the demultiplexer to generate a demultiplexer output spectrum. The method further involves performing either a time serialization or a space serialization procedure to increase the channel density and fully cover the spectrum of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: CORNELL UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Michal Lipson, Bernado Kyotoku, Long Chen
  • Patent number: 9798078
    Abstract: The present invention provides a filter composed of two layers of materials with different expansion coefficients. The difference between a length added to a whole section length of an outer low-expansion coefficient metal sleeve by a temperature change and a length added to a length of a whole section of high-expansion coefficient cylindrical coil spring arranged therein by the temperature change causes a stress-releasing or stress-increasing effect on the whole section of pre-tensioned high-expansion coefficient cylindrical coil spring arranged therein, so that a structure capable of compensating the wavelength shift of the fiber Bragg's grating filter caused by temperature by increasing or decreasing the refractive index is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: JINN HER ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yung-Yu Tsai, Chun-Chu Yang
  • Patent number: 9772461
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit that reduces a loss in an electrical signal and a method for manufacturing the semiconductor integrated circuit are provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit comprises a first region on which an optical circuit is to be formed and a second region on which an electrical signal wiring is to be formed. The first region comprises an Si substrate (502), a BOX layer (504) formed on the Si substrate (502), a first SOI layer (506) formed as an optical circuit on the BOX layer (504), and a first SiO2 layer (508) formed on the first SOI layer (506). The second region comprises the Si substrate (502), the BOX layer (504), a second SiO2 layer (508) formed on the BOX layer (504), and an electrical signal wiring (510) formed on the second SiO2 layer (508).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: PHOTONICS ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Suzuki, Kenichiro Yashiki, Kazuhiko Kurata
  • Patent number: 9766421
    Abstract: A method for compensating for a wavelength shift in a wavelength selective switch (WSS), and a device therefor. The device comprises a fixed seat (301) as well as a rotation beam (304) and a compensation block (302) that have different thermal expansion amounts, the rotation beam (304) and the compensation block (302) being fixedly adhered to the fixed seat (301). In the method, a combined structure of the rotation beam (304) and the compensation block (302) with different thermal expansion amounts is adopted; the combined structure rotates by means of different expansion amounts generated by the rotation beam (304) and the compensation block (302) at the same external temperature, and further drives an optical element of the WSS to rotate, hence compensating for a wavelength shift of the WSS. The method is safe and reliable; the device has a simple structure, and is convenient to encapsulate, is applicable to various WSS optical paths, and does not affect advantages of the optical path structure of the WSS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Accelink Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liu Yang, Meng Wang, Zhilin Yuan, Rui Yang, Lidan Song, Liping Sun, Jinping Guo, Dingkang Chen, Yuhong Ma, Lihong Tang
  • Patent number: 9766473
    Abstract: In an optical components automatic alignment robot, a motorized target moves closer or further from a digital camera being tested or assembled. A light sensor is used to automatically calibrate an ultraviolet (UV) or other light source used for curing adhesive. An automatic surface finder is used to accurately and repeatably find a surface on which adhesive is to be dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Automation Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Dan Tamasanis, Jonathan P. Berg, John Alden
  • Patent number: 9733439
    Abstract: This optical receptacle comprises the following: an optical-receptacle body that is formed via injection molding; a first optical surface; a second optical surface on a first side; a first concavity that has an angled surface whereby light that has entered via the first optical surface is reflected towards the second optical surface; a gate section on a third side; a first through-hole and a second through-hole that extend in the direction of the axis of light traveling between the second optical surface and a light-transporting body; and a second concavity located between the first concavity and the third side. The part of the second concavity closest to a second side is closer to the abovementioned first side than the part of the gate section closest to the first side is. The first through-hole also opens to a first-side surface and a second-side surface of the second concavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Kazutaka Shibuya
  • Patent number: 9733273
    Abstract: The time required to test an electronic device mounted in semiconductor manufacturing equipment can be reduced. A first test panel mounted, on a first connector surface thereof, with plural first test-object connectors respectively including plural first terminals electrically coupled to an electronic device and a second test panel mounted, on a second connector surface thereof, with plural second test-object connectors respectively including plural spring probes are provided. The first connector surface of the first test panel and the second connector surface of the second test panel are positioned to face each other, the spring probes included in the second test-object connectors are electrically coupled to the first terminals included in the first test-object connectors, and a functional test concerning an electrical characteristic of the electronic device is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS SEMICONDUCTOR PACKAGE & TEST SOLUTIONS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9716366
    Abstract: An optical image amplifier device capable of amplifying low-intensity backscattered illumination includes an optical port having an input, an output, and a controller having an ON state and an OFF state, the controller connecting the input and the output to form an optical loop in the ON state and disconnecting the input and the output in the OFF state, and an optical relay housing the optical loop and connected to the optical port having a gain medium configured for amplifying a signal beam propagating inside the optical loop in the ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Advanced Systems & Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Markov, Anatoliy Khizhnyak
  • Patent number: 9709737
    Abstract: Photonic devices may include a first ring resonator and a second ring resonator located within the first ring resonator, the second ring resonator separated from and optically coupled to the first ring resonator. A waveguide structure is optically coupled to the first ring resonator and may be parallel bus waveguides optically coupled on opposite ends of the first ring resonator or a u-shaped waveguide wrapped substantially around the first ring resonator. A third ring resonator may located within the second ring resonator and may be separated from and optically coupled to the first ring resonator and the second ring resonator. A sensing medium may be disposed within the interior of the third ring resonator and optically coupled to the third ring resonator. The sensing medium is configured to undergo a change in refractive index responsive to one or more analytes bound to the sensing medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Joanna N. Ptasinski, Stephen D. Russell
  • Patent number: 9709744
    Abstract: An annular optical shifter and a method for controlling shift, where the annular optical shifter includes: a first bent straight-through waveguide, connecting an input end and an output end of an optical signal, and configured to transmit, to the output end, the optical signal input from the input end; multiple optical delay waveguide loops, arranged transversely and parallel on two arms of the first bent straight-through waveguide, where the multiple optical delay waveguide loops are configured to temporarily store optical signals; multiple pairs of optical switches, where each pair of optical switches are configured to control on and off of an optical path that is on the two arms of the first bent straight-through waveguide and two sides of an optical delay waveguide loop corresponding to each pair of optical switches; and a controller, configured to implement shift-up or shift-down of the optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Liang Song, Yingchun Yang, Yaoda Liu
  • Patent number: 9704757
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for fabricating a semiconductor circuit comprising providing a semiconductor substrate; fabricating a first semiconductor device comprising a first semiconductor material on the substrate and forming an insulating layer comprising a cavity structure on the first semiconductor device. The cavity structure comprises at least one growth channel and the growth channel connects a crystalline seed surface of the first semiconductor device with an opening. Further steps include growing via the opening from the seed surface a semiconductor filling structure comprising a second semiconductor material different from the first semiconductor material in the growth channel; forming a semiconductor starting structure for a second semiconductor device from the filling structure; and fabricating a second semiconductor device comprising the starting structure. The invention is notably also directed to corresponding semiconductor circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Daniele Caimi, Lukas Czornomaz, Veeresh Deshpande, Vladimir Djara, Jean Fompeyrine
  • Patent number: 9689929
    Abstract: A segment of a two wire combined power and data network for automation has a trunk, a spur mounted thereon and a fault protection device. The fault protection device includes a controller adapted to monitor the spur current, and isolation means to fully or partially isolate the spur from the trunk upon receiving of an activation signal from controller. The controller comprises a failure status determination algorithm comprising an intermittent fault count over time step and a fault duration step. The intermittent fault count step is satisfied if a pre-determined number of separate faults are detected over a first time period. The fault duration step is satisfied if a fault is detected which persists for longer than a second time period. The controller issues the activation signal upon determination of a failure status on the spur which satisfies the intermittent fault count and/or the fault duration step of the algorithm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Pepperl + Fuchs GmbH
    Inventor: Steffen Graber
  • Patent number: 9693123
    Abstract: An optical switch suitable for use in an add/drop of an optical network node having F>1 optical fiber per direction, the F fibers together carrying optical signals comprising up to N independent wavelength channels, is disclosed. The switch includes an Optical Cross-Connect (OXC) having F input ports and N output ports. F optical splitters are connected to the OXC, the input and output ports of the optical splitters defining ports of the OXC. The OXC is controllable to switch optical signals arriving at any of the F switch input ports to the input port of any of the F optical splitters such that each switch input port is switched to an optical splitter having at least as many splitter output ports as the number of independent wavelength channels received at the switch input port. A method for splitting optical signals is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: BRITISH TELECOMMUNICATIONS PUBLIC LIMITED COMPANY
    Inventor: Andrew Lord
  • Patent number: 9689852
    Abstract: A sensing system for selective analyte detection in presence of interferences is presented. The sensing system includes an inductor-capacitor-resistor (LCR) resonant sensor includes a substrate, a plurality of first sensing elements mutually spaced apart and disposed on the substrate, a plurality of second sensing elements, each second sensing element disposed overlapping a corresponding first sensing element of the plurality of second sensing elements, and a protecting film applied onto the plurality of first sensing elements and the plurality of second sensing elements, wherein the protecting film is disposed to be in a physical contact with the analyte and is configured to enable an operational contact of the plurality of first sensing elements and the plurality of second sensing elements with the analyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Radislav Alexandrovich Potyrailo, Yongjae Lee
  • Patent number: 9690032
    Abstract: A lightguide includes a film including a body having a light emitting region and a light mixing region adjacent the light emitting region. A first bend with a first diameter in a first plane is formed in the film within the light mixing region, wherein a first portion of the light mixing region is positioned behind the light emitting region. A second bend is formed in the film within the light mixing region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Flex Lighting II LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. Nichol, Zane A. Coleman
  • Patent number: 9677935
    Abstract: A system for wide-range spectral measurement includes one or more broadband sources, an adjustable Fabry-Perot etalon, and a detector. The one or more broadband sources is to illuminate a sample, wherein the one or more broadband sources have a short broadband source coherence length. The adjustable Fabry-Perot etalon is to optically process the reflected light to extract spectral information with fine spectral resolution. The detector is to detect reflected light from the sample, wherein the reflected light is comprised of multiple narrow-band subsets of the illumination light having long coherence lengths and is optically processed using a plurality of settings for the adjustable Fabry-Perot etalon, and wherein the plurality of settings includes a separation of the Fabry-Perot etalon plates that is greater than the broadband source coherence length but that is less than the long coherence lengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: TruTag Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Learmonth, Hod Finkelstein
  • Patent number: 9632225
    Abstract: A zoned waveplate has a series of transversely stacked birefringent zones alternating with non-birefringent zones. The birefringent and non-birefringent zones are integrally formed upon an AR-coated face of a single substrate by patterning the AR coated face of the substrate with zero-order sub-wavelength form-birefringent gratings configured to have a target retardance. The layer structure of the AR coating is designed to provide the target birefringence in the patterned zones and the reflection suppression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: John Michael Miller, Joel Milgram, Karen Denise Hendrix, Michael O'Leary, Hery Djie, Lu Tian, Paul Colbourne
  • Patent number: 9628173
    Abstract: A device includes a threshold setting unit that sets a threshold for an input optical power monitor to detect the input optical power to the optical transmission line of an active system; a threshold deciding unit that decides whether the input optical power to the optical transmission line of the active system detected by the input optical power monitor is not greater than the threshold set by the threshold setting unit or not; and an attenuation controller that carries out, when the threshold deciding unit decides that the input optical power is not greater than the threshold, system switching by controlling first variable optical attenuators so as to gradually reduce attenuation of the signal light rays input from the optical transmission line of one backup system, and to gradually increase attenuation of the signal light rays input from the optical transmission line of the active system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Tokura, Shun Chikamori
  • Patent number: 9618711
    Abstract: An apparatus for forming a transceiver interface includes an fiber optic ferrule and an optical transceiver component. The fiber optic ferrule engages a mating plane of a lens array in the optical transceiver component. The engagement of the two components may be removable rather than fixed. The fiber optic ferrule also engages a mechanical interface to account for three degrees of freedom, while the engagement of the mating surfaces account for another three degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: US Conec, Ltd
    Inventors: Daniel D. Kurtz, Darrell R. Childers, Michael E. Hughes
  • Patent number: 9612401
    Abstract: A system for providing optical connections that may include an optical grating structure and an optical waveguide coupled to the optical grating structure. The optical grating structure may be configured to receive an optical wave, through an interposer, from an optical source. The optical grating structure may be configured to transform the optical wave into a predetermined electromagnetic propagation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Y. Frankel, John P. Mateosky, Vladimir Pelekhaty
  • Patent number: 9557789
    Abstract: A power control device includes a connector, a detecting module, a control module, a first output module, a second output module, a first switch module, and a second switch module. The detecting module measures a current and outputs different signals according to a comparison result between the current and a preset value. The first output module and the second output module are selectively used to supply power for the connector according to a value of the current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: ShenZhen Treasure City Technology Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Yun Bai, Song-Lin Tong
  • Patent number: 9557489
    Abstract: An optoelectronic component for receiving light. A housing including an axially extending cavity is arranged to receive an incoming beam. At least one adjustable arrangement includes at least one lens and a first adjustment module configured to adjust a focal point of the lens relative to an end surface of an optical fiber connectable to the housing. A first body is arranged to influence a position of the lens. A second body contacting the first body is journalled in the housing. The first adjustment module is arranged to act on the first body to rotate the first body spherically around a distant point and to alter the position of the lens, in order to locate a focal point of the lens on an end surface of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: OPTOSKAND AB
    Inventors: Jasper Martelius, Simon Aleryd
  • Patent number: 9530713
    Abstract: A cooler-integrated semiconductor module, includes an insulating substrate; a circuit layer disposed on a front surface of the insulating substrate; a semiconductor element electrically connected to the circuit layer; a metal layer provided on a back surface of the insulating substrate; a sealing resin covering the insulating substrate, the circuit layer, the semiconductor element, and a portion of the metal layer; a cooler disposed on a lower surface side of the metal layer; a plating layer disposed on at least a surface of the sealing resin facing the cooler; and a joining member connecting the plating layer and the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Takafumi Yamada
  • Patent number: 9523817
    Abstract: Actuator systems (10) are provided for inducing one or more static deflections, such as bends, in optical waveguides (12), to alter spectral characteristics of an optical signal transmitted through the waveguide. The actuator systems (10) can include actuators (28) that deflect the waveguide (12), and a controller (40) that controls the actuators (28) so that the deflections in the waveguide (12) are tailored to produce desired spectral characteristics in the optical signal. The actuator systems (10) can be used in conjunction with, for example, a fused fiber optic coupler (12) to form a wavelength selective switch. The actuator systems (10) can be used in conjunction with other types of waveguides to form other types of optical signal processors (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: Harris Corporation
    Inventors: Timothy E. Dimmick, Paul B. Koeneman