Rod Type Patents (Class 385/34)
  • Patent number: 11726271
    Abstract: Improved optical interconnects obtained by replacing one or more single core fibers with one or more multicore fibers. In some instances, at least one of the optical fibers is shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Stone
  • Patent number: 11668884
    Abstract: An optical coupling device can couple incident light from a fiber into waveguides, but can reduce the coupling of return light from the waveguides into the fiber. A Faraday rotator layer can rotate by forty-five degrees, with a first handedness, respective planes of polarization of incident beams, and can rotate by forty-five degrees, with a second handedness opposite the first handedness, respective planes of polarization of return beams. A redirection layer can include at least one grating coupler that can redirect an incident beam of one polarization so that the redirected path extends within the redirection layer toward a first waveguide, and can redirect an incident beam of an opposite polarization so that the redirected path extends within the redirection layer toward a second waveguide. An optional birefringent layer can spatially separate incident beam having different polarizations, so that two single-polarization grating couplers can be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: OpenLight Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Edgar Roth, Jared Bauters, Gregory Alan Fish
  • Patent number: 11360269
    Abstract: An optical fiber device may include an optical waveguide to guide a laser output from a first end of the optical waveguide to a second end of the optical waveguide. The optical fiber device may include a fiber telescope optically coupled to the second end of the optical waveguide to modify the laser output. The fiber telescope may include a first graded-index optical element, a first facet of the first graded-index optical element being fused to the second end of the optical waveguide; and a second graded-index optical element, a first facet of the second graded-index optical element being fused to a second facet of the first graded-index optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: Richard D. Faulhaber, Martin H. Muendel
  • Patent number: 11327250
    Abstract: Improved optical interconnects obtained by replacing one or more single core fibers with one or more multicore fibers. In some instances, at least one of the optical fibers is shaped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Stone
  • Patent number: 11314020
    Abstract: A cutting device that cuts, with a predetermined length, an elongated GRIN lens fused with an optical fiber with tips thereof abutting each other, the cutting device including: a fiber holder placing unit on which a fiber holder for holding the optical fiber is placed; a lens holder placing unit on which a lens holder for holding the GRIN lens is placed; and a cutting unit arranged between the fiber holder placing unit and the lens holder placing unit, wherein the fiber holder placing unit includes a positioning unit for positioning the fiber holder placed thereon, and the lens holder placing unit includes a positioning unit for positioning the lens holder placed thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: TOYO SEIKAN GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki Misu
  • Patent number: 11256116
    Abstract: A light isolator member of an embodiment of the present invention is configured to be joined to another light isolator member to serve as a part of a light isolator, the light isolator member including: a lens surface disposed in a first surface; a transmission surface disposed at a position corresponding to the lens surface in a second surface on a side opposite to the first surface; and a fitting part disposed in the second surface, the fitting part being configured for fitting to the other light isolator member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: ENPLAS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Saito, Ayano Kon
  • Patent number: 11031748
    Abstract: To provide an illumination device, a control device, and a control method enabled to perform control to cause output of each of a plurality of light sources to be constant with a more simplified temperature control circuit. There is provided an illumination device including: a plurality of light sources; a plurality of cooling units respectively provided for the light sources and respectively cooling the light sources; and a drive control unit that performs switching of control with respect to each of the light sources on the basis of a comparison between a target temperature of each of the light sources and a measured temperature of each of the light sources or an environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hirotaka Muramatsu, Akio Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11002907
    Abstract: A photonic device includes a semiconductor wafer having a waveguide formed therein. An end of the waveguide includes a step. The photonic device further includes a semiconductor chip bonded to the semiconductor wafer and having an active region, and a waveguide coupler disposed in a gap between a sidewall of the semiconductor chip and the end of the waveguide. The waveguide coupler includes an optical bridge that has a first end and a second end opposing the first end. The first end of the optical bridge is interfaced with a facet of the active region of the semiconductor chip. The second end of the optical bridge is interfaced with the end of waveguide, and has a portion thereof disposed over the step at the end of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Skorpios Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Damien Lambert
  • Patent number: 10698161
    Abstract: An optical fiber with lens in which one end face of a first GRIN lens is connected to an end face of an optical fiber and one end face of a second GRIN lens is connected to another end face of the first GRIN lens, wherein the optical fiber and the first and second GRIN lenses are coaxially connected, a numerical aperture of the first GRIN lens is smaller than a numerical aperture of the second GRIN lens, and a position in a radial direction of a minimum distribution refractive index nt of the second GRIN lens is set on an inner side of an outer edge of the second GRIN lens and set at a same position as or on an outer side of an outermost periphery of light that is spread by the first GRIN lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: TOYO SEIKAN GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Fukuda, Yosuke Takahashi
  • Patent number: 10605996
    Abstract: An expanded beam (EB) optical connector. In some embodiments, the EB optical connector includes: a rigid, hollow, straight contact tube having a centerline axis; and a collimator assembly having an optical axis and comprising an optical fiber and a collimating lens, wherein the centerline axis of the contact tube is at least substantially aligned with the optical axis such that collimated light produced by the lens from light exiting the fiber travels though the contact tube and the loss of light caused by misalignment of the axes is not more than 2 dB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: WINCHESTER INTERCONNECT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jerome C. Farnan
  • Patent number: 10404901
    Abstract: Dual-lens assemblies and cameras including dual lens-assemblies that include a first lens barrel securing a first lens having a first optical axis and a second lens barrel securing a second lens having a second optical axis are disclosed. In one dual-lens assembly, the first optical axis is approximately parallel to and spaced from the second optical axis by a lateral offset, axial lengths of the first lens barrel and the second lens barrel are approximately equal, and the first lens and the second lens are oriented in opposite directions at opposing ends of the first lens barrel and the second lens barrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
    Assignee: GoPro, Inc.
    Inventors: Adeel Abbas, Joshua P. Davies, William H. Tolbert
  • Patent number: 10317629
    Abstract: A method and system connects multiple cores within one fiber, e.g., a multi-core fiber (MCF), to multiple fibers with single-cores. The single-core fibers can then be terminated by traditional envelopes, such as a single core LC envelope. A connector holds the single-core fibers into a pattern that matches a pattern of all, or a sub group, of the individual cores of the MCF. The single-core fibers may all be terminated to individual connectors to form a fanout or breakout cable. Alternatively, the single-core fibers may extend to another connector wherein the single-core fibers are regrouped into a pattern to mate with the cores of another MCF, hence forming a jumper. One or more of the single core fibers may be terminated along the length of the jumper to form a jumper with one or more tap accesses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: CommScope, Inc. of North Carolina
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Nielson, Paul F. Kolesar, Gary F. Gibbs, Bradley Billman, Richard L. Case
  • Patent number: 10288736
    Abstract: A multi-wavelength array lidar system and a method of designing an array lidar system include arranging a plurality of lasers in an array to transmit a respective plurality of beams, arranging a lens to disperse the plurality of beams at a respective plurality of angles, and arranging a band pass filter to filter a plurality of reflections received at a respective plurality of incident angles resulting from the plurality of beams transmitted by the plurality of lasers at a respective plurality of transmit angles. Selecting a transmit wavelength of each of the plurality of beams is based on the respective plurality of transmit angles to ensure that a receive wavelength of each of the plurality of reflections is within a narrower range than a range of the transmit wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Ariel Lipson
  • Patent number: 10120142
    Abstract: Provided is an optical transceiver module having a dual band pass WDM coupler embedded therein, wherein the dual band pass WDM coupler provides pass bands for selectively passing a transmission signal output from an optical transmitting unit, and an optical signal having a specific wavelength received by an optical receiving unit among optical signals input through a common port. According to the present invention, a size and cross-talk of the optical transceiver module may be reduced, and the optical transceiver module may be used as a video transceiver in an optical subscriber network according to an ITU-RG.983.3 standard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: LIGHTRON FIBER-OPTIC DEVICES INC
    Inventors: Dong-Hyun Lee, Jin-Soo Choi, Yoon-Koo Kwon
  • Patent number: 10048457
    Abstract: Electro-optical connectors and connector systems are disclosed. In one embodiment, an electro-optical plug includes a tip connector, a ring connector, and a sleeve connector, wherein the tip connector, the ring connector, and the sleeve connector are electrically conductive. The electro-optical plug further includes a gradient-index lens co-axially disposed within at least the tip connector, wherein the tip connector has a tip window that optically exposes a coupling surface of the gradient-index lens, and an optical fiber that is co-axially disposed within at least the sleeve connector. In another embodiment, an electro-optical connector includes a plug body having a planar electrical coupling surface with an array of electrically conductive contacts, and an optical coupling surface having at least one optical window. The electro-optical connector further includes a gradient-index lens disposed within the plug body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: Micah Colen Isenhour, James Phillip Luther, Michael Wimmer
  • Patent number: 9880359
    Abstract: There is provided an adapter tip to be employed with an optical-fiber inspection microscope probe and an optical-fiber inspection microscope system suitable for imaging the optical-fiber endface of an angled-polished optical-fiber connector deeply recessed within a connector adapter. The adapter tip or microscope system comprises a relay lens system having at least a first relay lens which is disposed so as to directly receive light reflected from the optical-fiber endface during inspection, the lens axis of the first relay lens being offset relative to the optical-fiber endface so as to deviate light reflected from the optical-fiber endface towards the optical-fiber axis of the connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: EXFO INC.
    Inventors: Etienne Morin-Drouin, Robert Baribault
  • Patent number: 9823421
    Abstract: A GRIN fiber lens connection system particularly suited for high-power laser applications is disclosed. In one aspect, a GRIN fiber lens expanded beam system that is efficient over a wide spectral region, e.g., a range of about 200 nm, 300 nm or 400 nm, is disclosed for coupling one optical fiber (such as a single-mode fiber) to another. For example, a GRIN fiber lens expanded beam system is efficient over a range of wavelengths from about 400 nm to about 800 nm, from about 190 nm to about 390 nm, or from about 1270 nm to about 1650 nm. A method for designing such a coupling system is also disclosed. In another example, the cores of the GRIN fiber lenses are substantially devoid of germanium, and the cladding is doped with an element, such as fluorine, that lowers the refractive index of the cladding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: COMMSCOPE ASIA HOLDINGS B.V.
    Inventors: Sander Johannes Floris, Jeroen Antonius Maria Duis, Jan Willem Rietveld, Rutger Wilhelmus Smink
  • Patent number: 9804338
    Abstract: A plug connector for a hybrid cable comprises a fiber and wire holder to hold at least one optical fiber and at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable. The plug connector comprises at least one optical device being configured such that a light beam received from the at least one optical fiber at a first side of the at least one optical device is collimated and coupled out at the second side of the at least one optical device. The plug connector comprises an electrical contact pin to be coupled to the at least one electrical conductor of the hybrid cable. The electrical contact pin has a structure being configured to be engaged in a complimentary receptacle to mechanically fix the plug connector to the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: CCS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Stephan ten Have, Michael Wimmer
  • Patent number: 9746624
    Abstract: An optical connector for an endoscope has a first holding member which holds a first waveguide therein, a second holding member which holds a second waveguide therein and replaceable replacement members which intervenes between the first holding member and the second holding member so that replacement waveguides intervenes between the waveguides and is optically coupled to the waveguides. The optical connector has attachment members and a positioning mechanism which positions the holding members and the replacement members relative to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi Ohara
  • Patent number: 9482830
    Abstract: A device-to-device optical connector assembly is configured to provide an optical signal as an expanded beam to an expanded beam plug cable. The connector assembly includes an active receptacle having a lead-in portion that receives a light beam from an opto-electronic device, a lead-out portion and a turn portion that turns the light beam and delivers a collimated light beam to the lead-out portion. A waveguide rod is optically coupled to the lead-out portion of the active receptacle that receives the collimated light beam and carries the collimated light beam from the active receptacle to the expanded beam plug cable. In one embodiment, the waveguide rod has a step index core waveguide profile with its fundamental mode generally matching the coupling optics of a complementary cable assembly or the like within a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Venkata Adiseshaiah Bhagavatula
  • Patent number: 9475729
    Abstract: The invention describes a method for the removal of glass where the parameters of the removal process are set over the length of the substrate (preform) so that a uniform removal can be achieved over the complete substrate length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: j-plasma GmbH
    Inventors: Jörg Kötzing, Robert Hanf, Lothar Brehm
  • Patent number: 9229170
    Abstract: Designs of 2-port optical devices are disclosed. The optical devices so designed are amenable to small footprint, enhanced impact performance, lower cost, and easier manufacturing process. The optical device comprises at least two collimators, each of the collimators including: a single-mode fiber, and a multi-mode graded index fiber, aligned with the single-mode fiber in a way that the multi-mode graded index fiber and the single-mode fiber are spliced together, wherein the multi-mode graded index fiber is designed to have a predefined length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optic Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Xuan Wang, Shiping Zhang, Yao Li
  • Patent number: 9223092
    Abstract: The performance, reliability, and cost of the optical couplers depends heavily on their design and packaging technologies. A need still exists in the art of design and manufacturing of optical coupler devices to provide superior performance, improved reliability and reduced cost simultaneously while addressing issues such as walk-off. Such improvements arising from the inclusion of asymmetric optical elements within the optical path rather than the circularly symmetric optical elements within the prior art.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Inventors: Yunqu Liu, Kin-Wai Leong
  • Patent number: 9033325
    Abstract: An optical fiber fusion splicer that heats and fusion-splices optical fibers to each other, the optical fiber fusion splicer includes: a coating clamp installation base; a coating clamp that is attached to the coating clamp installation base and has a coating clamp lid that is openable and closable; and a first power source for advancing the coating clamp installation base and opening the coating clamp lid. An operation of opening the coating clamp lid is performed using the first power source after the fusion splicing is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Iwashita
  • Patent number: 9022628
    Abstract: A compact, high-efficiency, high-power, solid state light source, comprising a high-power solid state light-emitting device, a light guide having a proximal light-receiving end proximate the light-emitting device and a distal light-transmitting end spaced farther from the light-emitting device, and a mechanical light guide fixing device coupled to the light guide near its proximal end, to hold the proximal end of the light guide in position near the light-emitting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Optim, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Krupa, Peter G. Lorenz, Thomas V. Root
  • Patent number: 9025254
    Abstract: A fiber array for receiving a plurality of light-guiding fibers has a substrate with V grooves for guiding light-guiding fibers. These are fixed inside the V grooves by covers. In order to achieve a better utilization of space, the light-guiding fibers are disposed in two planes. To this end, first fibers in V grooves are fixed on the surface of the substrate in one plane. Second fibers are fixed by V grooves in recesses between the first fibers in a second parallel plane. Here a processing of the substrate may be done without changing clamping or re-clamping of the substrate. Particularly small production tolerances can be achieved by this means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Schleifring und Apparatebau GmbH
    Inventor: Gregor Popp
  • Patent number: 9002162
    Abstract: The specification describes multimode optical fibers produced by improved methods that reduce the manufacturing cost. These methods may also be more efficient in terms of power loss. In one of the embodiments, the improved design has a large core of pure silica derived from a rod-in-tube method. In the embodiment, a down-doped cladding is produced by depositing fluorine-doped silica on the inside of a silica starting tube using isothermal radio frequency plasma deposition. The silica core is inserted and the starting tube collapsed. The silica starting tube is removed and optical fiber is drawn from the fluorine-doped glass coated silica rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventors: John C Alonzo, David D Braganza, Merrill H Brodeur, James W Fleming
  • Patent number: 8977083
    Abstract: The photo module is provided with an incident light fiber guiding light, a gradient index lens having an optical axis different from the incident light fiber, having a period length larger than a ¼ period length and smaller than a ½ period length with respect to the wavelength of the incident light, joined to the incident light fiber on a surface forming a finite angle with a surface vertical to the optical axis, and having, as a light exit surface of emitting light, a surface substantially vertical to the optical axis, and a light receiving element disposed at a position where the emitting light is collected and measuring the strength of the emitting light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Kitanihon Electric Cable Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Yuto Yamashita, Etsuo Ogino, Keiichi Sasaki
  • Patent number: 8942523
    Abstract: Optical probe having, independently, an irradiation light guide path for irradiation light and a received light guide path for acquiring radiated light. A first optical fiber configures the irradiation light guide path, and a second optical fiber configures the received light guide path. A condensing lens receives on one surface irradiation light from the first optical fiber and emits same on the other surface, and receives radiated light radiated from the other surface and concentrates same on the side of the first and second optical fibers. The central axis of the exit end of the first optical fiber is deviated relative to the optical axis of the condensing lens, moving reflected light at the condensing lens surface away from, and moving radiated light concentrated by the condensing lens closer to, the center of the light-receiving end of the second optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Konica Minolta, Inc.
    Inventors: Junichi Jono, Toshinori Takimura, Shoichi Tao
  • Patent number: 8942521
    Abstract: Disclosed is a planar waveguide element including a first cylindrical lens disposed based on an z-axis and configured to collimate beams emitted from a plurality of emitters of a laser diode bar; a lens array configured to gather the beam emitted from each emitter via the first cylindrical lens; a plurality of first waveguides existing on an x-y plane by a number of the plurality of emitters and configured to gather at one place via a bending section; a taper configured to connect the lens array and each first waveguide, a width of the taper being narrower from the lens array to the plurality of first waveguide; and a combined waveguide configured to combine the plurality of first waveguides into one.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jung-Ho Song, Hong-Seok Seo, Won Seok Han, Bong Je Park
  • Patent number: 8909018
    Abstract: A lens element includes a main body. The main body includes a number of first lens portions, a number of second lens portions corresponding to the first lens portions, and a deflecting portion upwardly protruding from a surface of the main body. The deflecting portion includes a deflecting surface positioned outside the main body. The deflecting surface deflects optical signals between the first lens portions and the second lens portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chang-Wei Kuo
  • Patent number: 8905648
    Abstract: The expanded beam, fiber optic connector includes an optical fiber, and a ferrule. The optical fiber includes a modified mode field diameter segment. The ferrule includes a recess. The optical fiber is retained by the ferrule. The modified mode field diameter segment is positioned in the recess of the ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Cinch Connectivity Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Wade F. M. Zhang
  • Patent number: 8891919
    Abstract: An optical device includes first and second optical waveguides that each include a core and a cladding, and a connector that optically couples the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide with a lens interposed therebetween, wherein, in at least one of the first and the second optical waveguides, a difference in refractive index between the core and the cladding in a first direction differs from a difference in refractive index between the core and the cladding in a second direction that is different from the first direction, and wherein, in at least one of the first and the second optical waveguide, a first point of emergence of first rays that are output at angles in the first direction and a second point of emergence of second rays that are output at angles in the second direction are offset from each other along an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8885992
    Abstract: At the time of assembly of an optical transmission/reception module, a test variable wavelength light source 22 for outputting a test light signal is connected to a connector 8 of an optical fiber 7, and a large-diameter PD 23 measures a transmission loss in a light wavelength band limiting filter 12 while a rotational position determining unit 24 rotates a fiber ferrule 5, so that the rotational position determining unit 24 determines the rotational position ?loss-min of the fiber ferrule 5 which minimizes the transmission loss in the light wavelength band limiting filter 12, and aligns the fiber ferrule 5 at the rotational position ?loss-min.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Tamon Omura, Nobuo Ohata, Masatoshi Katayama
  • Patent number: 8873909
    Abstract: Micro-optic filtering devices and the method of making the same are described. In one aspect, the invention is related to techniques of obtaining low-loss coupling optics, packaging structure and process to secure components constituting a micro-optic fiber device. To support and fix various components in a fiber optic device, tubes are used to facilitate the manufacturability of these optical devices. These tubes may be metal tubes or glass tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optic Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Daoyi Wang, Shiping Zhang, Yao Li
  • Patent number: 8861907
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus may include an optical fiber that may have a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber. The surface may define a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the optical fiber and incident on the interface to a direction offset from the longitudinal axis. The apparatus may also include a doped silica cap that may be fused to the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber may be disposed within a cavity defined by the doped silica cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Zerfas, Richard P. Tumminelli
  • Patent number: 8861908
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a connector for an optical imaging probe that includes one or more optical fibers communicating light along the catheter. The device may use multiple sections for simpler manufacturing and ease of assembly during a medical procedure. Light energy to and from a distal minimally-invasive portion of the probe is coupled by the connector to external diagnostic or analytical instrumentation through an external instrumentation lead. Certain examples provide a self-aligning two-section optical catheter with beveled ends, which is formed by separating an optical cable assembly. Techniques for improving light coupling include using a lens between instrumentation lead and probe portions. Techniques for improving the mechanical alignment of a multi-optical fiber catheter include using a stop or a guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Vascular Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eberle, Kenneth N. Bates, William W. Morey
  • Patent number: 8818149
    Abstract: Exemplary apparatus for obtaining information for a structure can be provided. For example, the exemplary apparatus can include at least one first optical fiber arrangement which is configured to transceive at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and can include at least one fiber. The exemplary apparatus can also include at least one second focusing arrangement in optical communication with the optical fiber arrangement. The second arrangement can include a ball lens, and be configured to focus and provide there through the first electro-magnetic radiation to generate the focused electro-magnetic radiation. Further, the exemplary apparatus can include at least at least one dispersive third arrangement which can receive a particular radiation (e.g., the first electro-magnetic radiation(s) and/or the focused electro-magnetic radiation), and forward a dispersed radiation thereof to at least one section of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Milen Shishkov, Guillermo J. Tearney, Brett Eugene Bouma, Dvir Yelin, Nicusor Iftimia
  • Patent number: 8787714
    Abstract: Provided is a lens array that can reliably obtain monitor light and is easy to manufacture. In the provided lens array, light incident on a first lens surface (11) from light-emitting elements is split by a reflective/transmissive layer (17) between a first optical surface (14a) and a first prism surface (16a) and sent, respectively, towards a second lens surface (12) and a third lens surface (13). Monitor light included in the light sent towards the third lens surface (13) is sent by the third lens surface (13) towards a light-receiving element (8). The path of light incident on the first optical surface (14a) is collinear with the path of light outgoing from the second optical surface (14b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventor: Shimpei Morioka
  • Patent number: 8783971
    Abstract: An optical transmission apparatus comprising a first gradient index lens, an optical receiver, and a second gradient index lens. The first gradient index lens is connected to an end of an optical transmission line. The optical receiver receives light and is provided to an electronic device. The second gradient index lens is arranged between the first gradient index lens and the optical receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tetsuya Miyatake
  • Patent number: 8781274
    Abstract: An optical amplifier includes: a first optical fiber, through which seed light and excitation light propagate; an optical coupler that inputs the excitation light into the first optical fiber; a first lens to which the seed light and the excitation light output from the first optical fiber are input and which increases diameters of the seed light and the excitation light; a glass rod doped with rare earth elements to be excited by the excitation light, to which the seed light and the excitation light output from the first lens are input and which amplifies and outputs the seed light as output light; a second lens to which at least the output light output from the glass rod is input and which decreases a diameter of the output light; and a second optical fiber to which the output light output from the second lens is input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshikiyo Noguchi, Michihiro Nakai
  • Patent number: 8746899
    Abstract: A light emitting apparatus includes a first rod integrator and a second rod integrator supported by a support substrate and a light emitting device disposed between the first rod integrator and the second rod integrator. The light emitting device emits a plurality of light beams to be incident on the first rod integrator and a plurality of light beams to be incident on the second rod integrator. Each of the rod integrators has a light incident surface on which the plurality of light beams are incident, a bent portion that changes the propagating direction of the plurality of incident light beams, and a light exiting surface through which the plurality of light beams mixed with each other exit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyasu Kaseya
  • Patent number: 8724948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for terminating optical fiber bundles, wherein the fiber bundle is inserted into a sleeve which is filled with adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Hubertus Russert, Werner Sklarek
  • Patent number: 8693825
    Abstract: A ferrule structure including a ferrule having an end face shape configured to incorporate at least a portion of a lens attached to an end of an optical fiber. The end face includes a cavity in which a circumference of the cavity is equal to or less than the outer diameter of the ferrule and larger than in inner diameter of an opening in the ferrule housing an optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC
    Inventors: Chandraika (John) Sugrim, Daiichiro Tanaka, Lalitkumar Bansal, Ted Lichoulas, Lawrence Srutkowski
  • Publication number: 20140086530
    Abstract: A gradient-index (GRIN) optical connector is disclosed that includes a GRIN lens having a central optical axis and front and back opposite endfaces. A plurality of optical fibers are optically coupled to the back endface of the GRIN lens and defines a first optical fiber bundle having an asymmetric arrangement relative to the central optical axis of the GRIN lens. The GRIN lens has a refractive index profile generally defined by an alpha profile having an alpha parameter ? in a range 1.92???1.98. An optical fiber connector assembly formed by interfacing two of the GRIN optical connectors is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Seldon David Benjamin, Davide Domenico Fortusini, Chi Zhang
  • Patent number: 8636366
    Abstract: A lighting apparatus of the present invention includes light source (101), rod integrator (105), reflecting mirror (103), diffusion plate (104) disposed adjacently to reflection mirror (103), reflective polarizing plate (107), and wavelength plate (106). The lighting apparatus further includes curved mirror (102) disposed among light source (101), reflecting mirror (103), and diffusion plate (104). Reflecting mirror (103) and curved mirror (102) include apertures (102a and 103a) formed to allow at least light from light source (101) to pass. Curved mirror (102) reflects light leaked from the entrance plane side of rod integrator (105) toward aperture (103a) of reflecting mirror (103).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: NEC Display Solutions, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Kato
  • Patent number: 8639070
    Abstract: An optical assembly for a wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) transmitter or receiver that lends itself to cost-effective production-line manufacturing. In one embodiment, the fiber optic assembly has a vernier-type arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) with five optical ports at one side and fourteen optical ports at another side. Ten of the fourteen ports are optically coupled to ten photo-detectors or lasers. A selected one of the five ports is optically coupled to an external optical fiber. The coupling optics and the mounting hardware for the AWG are designed to accommodate, with few relatively straightforward adjustments performed on the production line, any configuration of the AWG in which any consecutive ten of the fourteen ports are optically coupled to the ten photo-detectors or lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: David T. Neilson, Nagesh R. Basavanhally, Mark P. Earnshaw
  • Patent number: 8634682
    Abstract: In one configuration of the present teachings, compliant mountings are used to allow for point-to-point optical data pipe (PP-ODP) operation over wide temperature ranges. In another configuration, a long finite conjugate imager is replaced by to infinite conjugate imagers, which allows for enhanced thermal expansion tolerances. Sleeves may be used to further ruggedize the interconnect and to provide further protection from contamination. In addition, long-range capability spanning multiple boards can be achieved by the pres set of ODP configurations of these teachings that utilize edge-mounted ODP modules in PP-ODP, BB-ODP, and ODP Bus forms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Stone
  • Patent number: 8625937
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide optical lenses comprised of layers of material each having a different index of refraction from that of the other layers wherein the layers of material are arranged in order of increasing index of refraction. The lens region is capable of causing an optical beam that enters the lens region to be focused into an output beam that is smaller in at least one dimension. A waveguide is optically coupled to the optical lens and a photodetector is optically coupled to the waveguide. The optical lens is capable of being manufactured using semiconductor processing techniques and is capable of being integrated into an integrated circuit chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Tao Yin, Yun-Chung Na
  • Patent number: RE45512
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are provided for transmitting at least one electro-magnetic radiation is provided. In particular, at least one optical fiber having at least one end extending along a first axis may be provided. Further, a light transmissive optical arrangement may be provided in optical cooperation with the optical fiber. The optical arrangement may have a first surface having a portion that is perpendicular to a second axis, and a second surface which includes a curved portion. The first axis can be provided at a particular angle that is more than 0° and less than 90° with respect to the second axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Guillermo J. Tearney, Milen Shishkov, Brett E. Bouma