Fiber To Thin Film Devices Patents (Class 385/49)
  • Patent number: 8923664
    Abstract: A method and system for multi-mode integrated receivers are disclosed and may include receiving an optical signal from an optical fiber coupled to a chip comprising a photonic circuit. The photonic circuit may comprise an optical coupler, one or more multi-mode optical waveguides, and a detector. The received optical signal may be coupled to a plurality of optical modes in the one or more multi-mode optical waveguides, which are communicated to a detector to generate an electrical signal from the communicated modes. The optical coupler may comprise a grating coupler. The chip may comprise a CMOS chip, and the optical fiber may comprise a single-mode or a multi-mode fiber. The detector may comprise a germanium or silicon-germanium photodiode, and/or a waveguide detector. The optical fiber may be coupled to a top surface of the chip and the multi-mode optical waveguides may comprise rib waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Mekis, Gianlorenzo Masini
  • Patent number: 8909010
    Abstract: Provided is an optical coupling structure including an optical semiconductor element including a light receiving/emitting portion, an optical transmission path having an optical axis that intersects the optical axis of the optical semiconductor element at a predetermined angle, and an optical coupling portion configured to convert the optical path between the optical semiconductor element and the optical transmission path and optically couple them. The optical coupling portion is made of a resin that is transparent with respect to a transmitted light, the resin adhering to both at least a portion of the light receiving/emitting portion and at least a portion of the end portion of the optical transmission path, and the optical semiconductor element and the optical transmission path are bonded to each other with the resin itself that constitutes the optical coupling portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Naoki Kimura, Masato Takigahira
  • Publication number: 20140347605
    Abstract: A backlight module is disclosed. The backlight module includes an ambient light collector for collecting ambient lights, at least one optical fiber connecting to the ambient light collector, a light emitting plate arranged closely to an optical plate, at least one fixing sleeve being received in the through hole, and at least one optical fiber sleeve. The light emitting plate includes a plurality of through holes. The optical fiber sleeve is fixed within the fixing sleeve and engages with the light emitting ends of the optical fibers to fix the optical fibers on the light emitting plate. The backlight module utilizes the ambient lights as light source. In addition, by cutting the light emitting end of the optical fibers, the light emitting angle of the lights are greatly enlarged. As such, the brightness difference is decreased and the display performance is enhanced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Yongyuan Qiu, Yong Fan
  • Patent number: 8897612
    Abstract: Light-coupling systems and methods that employ light-diffusing optical fiber are disclosed. The systems include a light source and a light-diffusing optical fiber optically coupled thereto. The light-diffusing optical fiber has a core, a cladding and a length. At least a portion of the core comprises randomly arranged voids configured to provide substantially spatially continuous light emission from the core and out of the cladding along at least a portion of the length. A portion of the light-diffusing optical is embedded in an index-matching layer disposed adjacent a lower surface of a transparent sheet. Light emitted by the light-diffusing optical fiber is trapped within the transparent sheet and index-matching layer by total internal reflection and is scattered out of the upper surface of the transparent sheet by at least one scattering feature thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephan Lvovich Logunov
  • Patent number: 8873911
    Abstract: A method to assemble a pig-tailed optical module and an arrangement thereof are disclosed. The method includes a step to recover the optical coupling efficiency between the optical device in the optical module and the pig-tailed fiber. The method includes a step to iterating the YAG laser welding at points axially distributed but with an inconstant pitch as slightly rotating the optical module around the optical axis of the pig-tailed fiber clock wise and counter clock wise depending on the enhancement and/or the degradation of the optical coupling efficiency between the optical device and the pig-tailed fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yutaka Moriyama
  • Publication number: 20140314376
    Abstract: The present invention disclosed a backlight module comprising a light collection system, a light guide plate and a plurality of optical fibers, wherein all light incident ends of the plurality of optical fibers are connected to the light collection system for receiving sunlight; the backlight module further includes an optical fiber connector; the plurality of optical fibers are arranged in parallel on the surface of the light guide plate, with all their light emitting ends flush with the light incident end of the light guide plate; the optical fiber connector abuts against the light emitting end of the plurality of optical fibers and the light incident end of the light guide plate, respectively, used for guiding the sunlight emitting from the light emitting end of the plurality of optical fibers to enter the light guide plate from the light incident end of the light guide plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chao Ning
  • Patent number: 8867868
    Abstract: A semiconductor integrated circuit according to an example of the present invention includes a chip substrate, first and second switches arranged on the chip substrate in which ON/OFF of an electrical signal path is directly controlled by an optical signal, a first light shielding layer arranged above the chip substrate, an optical waveguide layer arranged on the first light shielding layer, a second light shielding layer arranged on the optical waveguide layer, a reflecting plate arranged in the optical waveguide layer to change an advancing direction of the optical signal, and means for leading the optical signal to the first and second switches from an inside of the optical waveguide layer. The first and second light shielding layers reflect the optical signal, and the optical waveguide layer transmits the optical signal radially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Natsuki Kushiyama, Yukihiro Urakawa
  • Patent number: 8860910
    Abstract: The present invention provides a backlight module and a display apparatus. The display apparatus comprises the backlight module and a display panel. The backlight module comprises a light collector, at least one optical fiber bundle, a fiber light-outputting substrate, a light guide plate and a fiber holding plate. The optical fiber bundle is connected between the light collector and the fiber light-outputting substrate. The light guide plate is disposed at one side of the fiber light-outputting substrate, and the fiber holding plate is configured to hold optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle. The present invention can use ambient light rays to form a backlight source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shih Hsiang Chen, Li-Yi Chen, Dehua Li, Guofu Tang
  • Patent number: 8855450
    Abstract: A system for measuring properties of a thin film coated glass having a light source, a spectrometer, at least one pair of probes, a first optical fiber switch and a second optical fiber switch. The pair of probes includes a first probe located on one side of a glass sheet and a second probe located on the opposite side of the glass sheet, directly across from the first probe. The first and second optical fiber switches are adapted to couple either probe to the light source and/or the spectrometer. Because the design of the system is optically symmetrical, calibration may be performed without the use of a reference material such as a tile or mirror. Each of the first and second probes has a first leg and a second leg that are separated from each other by a distance n so that angled reflections may be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Cardinal CG Company
    Inventors: Jordan B. Lagerman, Keith J. Burrows, Kyle R. Thering
  • Patent number: 8849080
    Abstract: An optical fiber coupler includes a clad optical fiber core having a coupling window formed therein. A laser source is joined to emit light into the core through the coupling window. The core has an output coupler for partially reflecting a portion of light and transmitting a portion as output. A Bragg grating is formed in the core having a pitch and being positioned to reflect light from said laser source toward the output coupler. The pitch is variable in response to a temperature change. A thermal control device is joined to the core for adjusting its temperature and the Bragg grating pitch. In other embodiments a mode convertor is provided to reduce the output modes to selected modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Tariq Manzur
  • Publication number: 20140286607
    Abstract: A connecting structure includes an optical waveguide part, a holding part of holding an optical input member, and an adhering part adhering the optical waveguide part and holding part. The optical waveguide part includes an optical waveguide substrate including an optical waveguide. At least one of the holding part and optical waveguide part includes a recess and an adhesive face adjacent to the recess. The adhering part is provided on the adhesive face and in a single region distant from the optical waveguide substrate in a direction of thickness of the optical waveguide substrate. The recess is provided between the adhering part and optical waveguide substrate. A space is provided between an end face of the optical input member and an end face of the optical waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Publication date: September 25, 2014
    Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ejiri, Jungo Kondo
  • Patent number: 8837878
    Abstract: An optical device comprising a multi-core optical fiber coupler. The multi-core optical fiber coupler includes a substrate having a planar surface and turning mirrors located along the planar surface, each of the turning mirrors having a reflective surface oriented to change a direction of light between a direction that is parallel to the planar surface and a direction that is substantially non-parallel to the planar surface. The turning mirrors form a lateral pattern along the planar surface, the lateral pattern being configured to approximately match a pattern of optical cores in a multi-core optical fiber whose end segment faces the pattern and is positioned substantially normal to the planar surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Long Chen, Po Dong
  • Patent number: 8834041
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an optical transceiver assembly includes an active component substrate, first and second fiber securing devices, and a holder device coupled to the active component substrate. The holder device includes an active optical component recess that encloses a first and second active optical component of the active component assembly, and first and second fiber-locating holes having an engagement feature at the active optical component recess such that an end of first and second fibers inserted into the first and second fiber-locating holes are aligned with the first and second active optical components along the x-, y-, and z-axes. In another embodiment, an optical component assembly includes an active component substrate having a solder ring, a fiber securing device, and an active optical component on the active component substrate. The fiber securing device is aligned with the active optical component by the solder ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: John P. Ertel, Gary R. Trott
  • Patent number: 8837870
    Abstract: A fiber laser device includes a laser source that can emit a source laser beam, a birefringent beam separator configured to receive the source laser beam and to split the source laser beam into an o ray and an e ray which have mutually orthogonal polarizations, and a polarization maintaining fiber comprising a fiber core characterized by a core diameter, wherein after the o ray and the e ray exit birefringent beam separator, the o ray and the e ray are separated by a distance that is larger than the fiber core of the polarization maintaining fiber. The polarization maintaining fiber is positioned to couple one of the o ray and the e ray into the fiber core. The one of the o ray and the e ray transmits through the polarization maintaining fiber to form an output laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Photop Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhenyu Wang, Shaofeng Zhang, Dashan Li
  • Patent number: 8824839
    Abstract: An optical coupling device includes an optical fiber holder configured to hold an optical fiber, a wavelength conversion member including a phosphor and an optical characteristic matching member and a wavelength conversion member holder configured to hold the wavelength conversion member. The optical coupling device includes a first region which is formed on an end face of the optical fiber and an end face of the wavelength conversion member, which are optically coupled, when bonding the optical fiber holder and the wavelength conversion member holder, and in which foreign bodies that shield the laser beam are removed from an optical axis of the optical fiber and an optical axis of the wavelength conversion member and a second region which is formed outside the first region when bonding the optical fiber holder and the wavelength conversion member holder, and in which the foreign bodies removed from the first region flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshinori Tanaka
  • 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: 8814443
    Abstract: A connector defining a receiving space for receiving a corresponding plug, comprises a first housing, a second housing retained to the first housing along a back to front direction, and a plurality of contacts retained in the first housing and the second housing. The first housing has a first base and a first tongue forwardly extending into the receiving space. The second housing has a second tongue jointing with the first tongue along the back to front direction to form an integral tongue plate. The integral tongue plate has a volume which is same to that of the first tongue. A front end surface of the first tongue is located at front of a front end surface of the second tongue along a front to back direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jia-Yong He, Qi-Sheng Zheng
  • Patent number: 8818144
    Abstract: A process for preparing a subassembly, the process comprising: (a) defining the location of one or more grooves for receiving optical conduits on the top planar surface of a wafer or panel, the grooves corresponding to multiple interposers on the wafer or panel; and (b) etching the grooves into the wafer or panel, each groove having sidewalls and first and second terminal ends and a first facet at each terminal end perpendicular to the side walls, each first facet having a first angle relative to the top planar surface, each groove being shared by a pair of transmitting and receiving interposers on the wafer or panel prior to being diced such that the first and second terminal ends of each groove correspond to transmitting and receiving interposers, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignees: Tyco Electronics Corporation, Tyco Electronics Nederland B.V.
    Inventors: Terry Patrick Bowen, Jan Willem Rietveld
  • Patent number: 8811778
    Abstract: Systems and a method for routing optical signals are disclosed. One system includes a first large core hollow metal waveguide configured to guide a substantially coherent optical beam. A second large core hollow waveguide is optically coupled to the first waveguide with a coupling device. The coupling device is configured to divide the coherent optical beam into a transmitted beam and a reflected beam. Beam walk-off within the coupling device causes the transmitted beam to be shifted by an offset amount. The second large core hollow metal waveguide is shifted from the first large core hollow metal waveguide by approximately the offset amount to receive the shifted transmitted beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Robert Newton Bicknell, Jong-Souk Yeo, Pavel Kornilovich, Michael Renne Ty Tan, Paul Kessler Rosenberg
  • Patent number: 8811782
    Abstract: An optical transmission board includes a substrate being provided with a through hole formed in a thickness direction of the substrate so as to penetrate from top to bottom of the substrate; a cladding member at least part of which locates inside the through hole, having an optical waveguide hole being inside the through hole and penetrating the cladding member in the thickness direction thereof, and having an upper surface having a surface roughness smaller than that of an upper surface of the substrate; a core member disposed inside the optical waveguide hole; an electrically conductive body disposed on the upper surface of the cladding member; and an optical element electrically connected to the electrically conductive body, having a light-receiving surface or a light-emitting surface opposed to an upper surface of the core member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Maraki Maetani
  • Patent number: 8787717
    Abstract: Systems and methods for coupling light into a transparent sheet. The systems include a light source and a light-diffusing optical fiber optically coupled to the light source. The light-diffusing optical fiber has a core, a cladding and a length, with at least a portion of the core comprising randomly arranged voids configured to provide substantially continuous light emission from the core and out of the cladding along at least a portion of the length, and into the transparent sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephan Lvovich Logunov
  • Patent number: 8781276
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to optical waveguide-to-fiber interconnects. In one aspect, an optical fiber-to-waveguide interconnect includes a grating coupler (102) located at the end of a waveguide, and a grating layer (110) disposed on the end of an optical fiber (112). The optical fiber includes a core (118) and the grating layer includes a planar, non-periodic, sub-wavelength grating (116). Light carried by the waveguide into the grating coupler is output and coupled into the core via the sub-wavelength grating, and light transmitted along the core to the grating layer is directed by the sub-wavelength grating into the grating coupler for transmission in the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: David A. Fattal, Raymond G. Beausoleil
  • Patent number: 8761558
    Abstract: A photoelectric transmission module being connected to a terminal of a composite cable including an optical fiber and an electrical cable, includes a substrate connected to the electrical cable drawn from the composite cable, a flexible printed circuit board including one end connected to a connector on the substrate and an other end connected to the optical fiber drawn from the composite cable, and an optical waveguide member formed along an outer surface of the flexible printed circuit board and connected to the optical fiber. The flexible printed circuit board further includes a displacement permitting area formed in a section from a connection end of the connector to a connection end of the optical fiber to allow the connection end of the connector and the connection end of the optical fiber to be relatively displaced in a direction along the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kouki Hirano, Juhyun Yu, Hiroki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 8761222
    Abstract: A light source, e.g., for optical excitation of a laser device, includes a diode laser having a large number of emitters and a light-guiding device, the light-guiding device including a large number of optical fibers. Each fiber has a first end and a lateral surface, the first ends being arranged relative to the emitters in such a manner that light generated by the emitters is coupled into the first ends of the optical fibers, the optical fibers being arranged in abutting relationship along their lateral surfaces at least in the region of their first ends. The optical fibers are connected in the region of their first ends to a fiber support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Stoppel, Werner Herden, Hans-Jochen Schwarz, Andreas Letsch
  • Patent number: 8750660
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an integrated optical interconnect includes disposing a layer over a substrate on which at least one optoelectronic transducer has been formed. A groove is formed in the layer in alignment with the optoelectronic transducer. A slanted mirror is formed in the layer at an end of the groove adjacent to the optoelectronic transducer to direct light between the optoelectronic transducer and an optical fiber placed in the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Mellanox Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Shmuel Levy, Shai Cohen, Shai Rephaeli, Eyal Babish, Ronnen Lovinger
  • Patent number: 8727640
    Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, an optical coupler of a fiber optic system can include a light-source input cavity packaged in an outer casing. The cavity can receive an optical signal from a light source. An optical collimator packaged in the outer casing such that a receiving end of the optical collimator can receive the light source from the light-source input cavity. The optical collimator can include at least one beam forming stage. The optical collimator can generate a collimated beam output from the optical signal. An optical cavity can receive the collimated beam output of the optical collimator. The optical cavity can be coaxially included in a receiving optical fiber coupled with the outer casing coupled with optical cavity. The optical cavity can receive the collimated beam output of the optical collimator and input the collimated beam into the receiving optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Inventor: Angelica Simone Joseph
  • Patent number: 8721194
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical transceiver module, comprising: a circuit substrate; a z-axis positioning base connected to the circuit substrate that, wherein the z-axis positioning base comprises two first sides respectively provided on two lateral sides of the optical transceiver sub-module, a second side provided between and connecting the two first sides, an opening corresponding in position to a side of the optical transceiver sub-module that faces away from the second side, and a step difference provided on each of the two first sides and the second side; a fiber-optic lens element provided on the z-axis positioning base and comprises a cover and a fiber-optic lens sub-module, wherein the cover comprises a recess and step differences surrounding the recess and respectively corresponding in position to the step differences provided on the z-axis positioning base, so as for the cover to be fitted on the z-axis positioning base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: LuxNet Corporation
    Inventors: Yun-Cheng Huang, Chi-Min Ting, Tsing-Chow Wang, Chung Hsin Fu
  • Publication number: 20140125919
    Abstract: The present invention provides a backlight module and a display apparatus. The display apparatus comprises the backlight module and a display panel. The backlight module comprises a light collector, at least one optical fiber bundle, a fiber light-outputting substrate, a light guide plate and a fiber holding plate. The optical fiber bundle is connected between the light collector and the fiber light-outputting substrate. The light guide plate is disposed at one side of the fiber light-outputting substrate, and the fiber holding plate is configured to hold optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle. The present invention can use ambient light rays to form a backlight source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2012
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: SHENZHEN CHINA STAR OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shih Hsiang Chen, Li-Yi Chen, Dehua Li, Guofu Tang
  • Patent number: 8699838
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fiber optic furcation module, comprising: at least one planar wave guide card; a first adapter assigned to the or each planar wave guide card, the or each first adapter comprising a plurality of adapter ports for optical fibers terminated in an optical fiber ribbon connector; a plurality of second adapters assigned to the or each planar wave guide card, each of said second adapters comprising one adapter port or two adapter ports, the one or two adapter ports being operative to receive respective single optical fiber connectors terminated with single optical fibers; a plurality of fiber optic transmission channels provided by the or each planar wave guide card, the fiber optic transmission channels providing optical traces being operative to transmit and/or receive optical wavelength signals and connecting each adapter port of a first adapter with an adapter port of one of said second adapters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: CCS Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Tomasz Andrzejewski, Grzegorz Tosik
  • Publication number: 20140064663
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for optically interfacing optical fibers with photo devices. In one implementation, the optical fiber comprises an end surface configured to produce internal reflection of an incident optical signal propagating within the fiber from a distal end, and a photo device configured to receive the reflected optical signal. In another implementation, the optical fiber comprises an end surface configured to produce internal reflection of an incident optical signal generated by a photo device for propagation within the fiber towards a distal end. In another implementation, the optical fiber comprises an end surface configured to refract an incident optical signal propagating within the fiber from a distal end, and a photo device configured to receive the refracted optical signal. In another implementation, the optical fiber comprises an end surface configured to refract an incident optical signal generated by a photo device for propagation within the fiber towards a distal end.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: OPTILAB, LLC
    Inventor: Henry H. Hung
  • Patent number: 8666202
    Abstract: A system for measuring properties of a thin film coated glass having a light source, a spectrometer, at least one pair of probes, a first optical fiber switch and a second optical fiber switch. The pair of probes includes a first probe located on one side of a glass sheet and a second probe located on the opposite side of the glass sheet, directly across from the first probe. The first and second optical fiber switches are adapted to couple either probe to the light source and/or the spectrometer. Because the design of the system is optically symmetrical, calibration may be performed without the use of a reference material such as a tile or mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cardinal IG Company
    Inventors: Jordan B. Lagerman, Keith J. Burrows, Kyle R. Thering
  • Patent number: 8666211
    Abstract: An optical device including at least one first optical waveguide coupled to a second optical waveguide of smaller cross-section which penetrates into it on the side of a first end. The first optical waveguide is capable of being coupled with an optical fiber on the side of a second end. A surface of the first optical waveguide includes a diffraction grating capable of introducing-extracting-sending back light into and from the first optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Christophe Kopp, Badhise Ben Bakir, Stéphane Bernabe
  • Patent number: 8666204
    Abstract: An optical transmission module includes a semiconductor substrate, a first film layer, an electronic component layer and a waveguide structure. The electronic component layer is used for converting a first electrical signal into an optical signal. The waveguide structure is formed on the first film layer, and includes a first reflective surface, a waveguide body and a second reflective surface. After the optical signal is transmitted through the semiconductor substrate and the first film layer and enters the waveguide structure, the optical signal is reflected by the first reflective surface, transmitted within the waveguide body and reflected by the second reflective surface. After the optical signal reflected by the second reflective surface is transmitted through the first film layer and the semiconductor substrate and received by the electronic component layer, the optical signal is converted into a second electrical signal by the electronic component layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: National Central University
    Inventors: Mao-Jen Wu, Hsiao-Chin Lan, Yun-Chih Lee, Chia-Chi Chang, Hsu-Liang Hsiao, Chin-Ta Chen, Bo-Kuan Shen, Guan-Fu Lu, Yan-Chong Chang, Jen-Yu Chang
  • Patent number: 8644662
    Abstract: An optical connection structure which permits easy and automatic alignment between the optical axes of optical fibers and the optical axes of cores of an optical waveguide, and a production method which ensures that an optical waveguide for the optical connection structure can be efficiently produced with higher dimensional accuracy are provided. An over-cladding layer of the optical waveguide includes an extension portion provided in a longitudinal end portion thereof, and optical fiber fixing grooves are provided in the extension portion as extending along extension lines of cores coaxially with the cores and each having opposite ends, one of which is open in an end face of the extension portion and the other of which is closed. Optical fibers are fitted and fixed in the respective optical fiber fixing grooves. The over-cladding layer further includes a boundary portion (6) provided between the other closed ends of the optical fiber fixing grooves and the cores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Kazunori Mune, Junichi Fujisawa, Yuichi Tsujita
  • Patent number: 8620122
    Abstract: A low-profile optical communications module is provided that has two generally flat optical connector modules that slidingly engage one another to allow optical signals to be coupled between the optical connector modules. Because of the generally flat shapes of the optical connector modules and the manner in which they slidingly engage on another, the optical communications module has a very low profile that makes it well suited for use in thin devices, such as laptop and notebook computers and other electronics devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: David J. K. Meadowcroft, Ye Chen, Ron Kaneshiro
  • Patent number: 8615149
    Abstract: Provided are a photonics chip and an optical apparatus including the same. The chip may include a substrate, an optical waveguide, an optical coupler, and a plurality of alignment units. The optical waveguide is formed on the substrate. The optical coupler is formed at the optical waveguide. The alignment units align an optical connector which fixes at least one optical fiber coupled to the optical coupler, on the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Do Won Kim, Gyungock Kim, JunYeong Lee
  • Publication number: 20130308903
    Abstract: An optical connector is described. This optical connector spatially segregates optical coupling between an optical fiber and an optical component, which relaxes the associated mechanical-alignment requirements. In particular, the optical connector includes an optical spreader component disposed on a substrate. This optical spreader component is optically coupled to the optical fiber at a first coupling region, and is configured to optically couple to the optical component at a second coupling region that is at a different location on the substrate than the first coupling region. Moreover, the first coupling region and the second coupling region are optically coupled by an optical waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Drost, John E. Cunningham, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy
  • Publication number: 20130308906
    Abstract: An optical system and method for coupling optical devices and an optical fiber array are provided. The optical system includes a substrate comprising a first side and a second side facing generally opposite to the first side. The optical system further includes at least one optical waveguide extending along at least a portion of the first side, at least one hole extending from the second side towards the first side, and at least one reflective element at the first side. The at least one reflective element is in optical communication with the at least one optical waveguide and with the at least one hole. The at least one reflective element is configured to deflect light between the at least one optical waveguide and the at least one hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: LaXense, Inc.
    Inventors: Dawei Zheng, Ningning Feng, Xiaochen Sun
  • Patent number: 8588566
    Abstract: According to the electronic apparatus and cellular phone of the present invention, in an optical waveguide forming body of a flexible cable, an air layer is provided in a deforming section which experiences bending deformation as a result of the movement of a second body relative to a first body (either a pivoting or sliding movement), and the position of this air layer becomes located on the outer circumferential side of a core when the deforming section undergoes bending deformation. As a result of this, it is possible to ensure sufficient flexibility and to also achieve a sufficient improvement in the folding endurance of the core portion for this optical waveguide forming body to be utilized in practical applications. Moreover, it is possible to suppress light loss and achieve high-speed, large-capacity transmissions even when the optical waveguide forming body of a flexible cable experiences bending deformation due to the relative movement of the second body relative to the first body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mutsuhiro Matsuyama, Koji Choki, Tetsuya Mori, Kei Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130259425
    Abstract: An optical device includes an optical waveguide including a core and a cladding, and includes a wide optical waveguide. An input optical waveguide is connected with one side the wide waveguide and output optical waveguides are connected to an opposite side of the wide waveguide. Center intervals between adjacent ones of the output waveguides meet either a condition 1 that the center intervals are wider than or equal to 4??, where ?? is the optical wavelength in the wide waveguide, or they meet a condition 2 that the center intervals are narrower than 4?? and adjacent output waveguides are disposed at intervals shorter than a length in which optical signals that propagate through each of the output waveguides interact with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki OKAYAMA
  • Patent number: 8548291
    Abstract: One aspect provides an optical device. The optical device includes a first and a second array of optical couplers, a plurality of waveguides and a plurality of pump couplers located over a surface of a substrate. The optical couplers of the first array are able to end-couple in a one-to-one manner to the optical cores of a first multi-core fiber having an end facing and adjacent to the first array and the surface. The optical couplers of the second array are able to end-couple in a one-to-one manner to optical cores having ends facing and adjacent to the second array. The plurality of optical waveguides connects in a one-to-one manner the optical couplers of the first array to the optical couplers of the second array. Each optical waveguide has a pump coupler connected thereto between the ends of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Christopher Doerr, Peter Winzer
  • Patent number: 8548286
    Abstract: A method for imaging light from a plurality of laser diodes (504) onto a multi-channel light valve (6) includes applying light from the plurality of laser diodes to a fiber waveguide (508) wherein each of the plurality of laser diodes is coupled to the fiber waveguide; guiding the light from the fiber waveguide through a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) (408) wherein light from the plurality of laser diodes is combined in the PLC; splitting the combined light in the PLC; and directing the split light from the PLC onto the multi-channel light valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventor: Ruizhi Zheng
  • Patent number: 8538213
    Abstract: There is provided a SSC chip whose yield may be improved and whose processing steps may be simplified as compare to those of a prior art PLC chip having a light waveguide circuit to which a spot-size converter (SSC) is added, a fiber array attached with the SSC chip, a PLC module attached with the SSC chip and a method for manufacturing the SSC chip. The SSC chip has four spot-size converters and is fabricated separately from a PLC chip. Each SSC has a straight waveguide having the same core width and height with an end of an input/output waveguide of the PLC chip, a horizontally tapered waveguide in which the core width is enlarged in a tapered shape in the horizontal direction from the core width of the straight waveguide, a vertically tapered waveguide in which the core height is enlarged in a tapered shape in the vertical direction from the core height of the horizontally tapered waveguide and a spot-size enlarged portion whose core width and core height are both enlarged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyoshi Uchida, Kazutaka Nara
  • Patent number: 8532494
    Abstract: An optical bidirectional communication module includes a light-emitting element, a light-receiving element and an optical waveguide. The optical waveguide performs wavelength division on light received from an optical fiber and guides the received light to the light-receiving element. The optical waveguide also performs wavelength division on light emitted from the light-emitting element and guides the emitted light to the optical fiber. The light-emitting element, the light-receiving element and the optical waveguide are incorporated on an optical substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Daisuke Shimura
  • Patent number: 8520991
    Abstract: A method of coupling a light beam into a waveguide. The method includes applying the light beam onto a grating portion at non-zero degree angle with respect to a plane of the grating portion, coupling the light beam into the waveguide using the grating portion and converting a spot-size of the light beam to correspond with a size of the waveguide using the grating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jens Hofrichter, Nikolaj Moll
  • Patent number: 8498504
    Abstract: An integrated optical transmission board in accordance with one embodiment of the invention includes: a first optical transmission board having a first optical transmission line; a second optical transmission board having a second optical transmission line; and an optical coupling structure which is disposed between the first optical transmission board and the second optical transmission board and has a third optical transmission line for providing optical connection between the first optical transmission line and the second optical transmission line. The first optical transmission board further has a first engagement portion provided in an area thereof opposed to the optical coupling structure. The optical coupling structure further has a second engagement portion provided in an area thereof opposed to the first optical transmission board so as to make engagement with the first engagement portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Matsubara, Keiko Oda
  • Patent number: 8494321
    Abstract: A diode laser having a beam-forming device and a method for producing it are described. The diode laser includes at least one diode laser bar, the diode laser bar having a multitude of emitters, the emitters being disposed next to each other in the direction of their longitudinal axes. The diode laser includes a beam-forming device assigned to the diode laser bar, for the laser beam emerging from the diode laser bar, the beam-forming device having a light-guide device having a plurality of fibers, into which the laser beam is coupled. The maximum thickness of the optical fibers at their end facing the diode laser bar is considerably smaller than their width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Herden, Bernd Schmidtke
  • Patent number: 8463092
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) system includes a fiber optical waveguide comprising an active core that hosts material configured to absorb and emit light, a cladding layer surrounding the active core, the cladding layer being configured to allow ambient light to pass through the cladding layer, and an exit port located proximate an end of the waveguide. The PV system further comprises one or more solar cells disposed at the exit port of the waveguide. The waveguide is configured to guide light to the one or more solar cells. Another photovoltaic (PV) system includes a waveguide comprising an active cladding layer hosting material configured to absorb and emit light, and a core layer configured to confine light emitted by the active cladding layer. The PV system further includes one or more solar cells disposed proximate the waveguide. The core layer is configured to guide light to the one or more solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
    Inventor: Faramarz Farahi
  • Publication number: 20130142484
    Abstract: An optical element package includes an optical wave guide array, at least one optical assembly and at least one optical transmission member. The optical wave guide array has a reflection groove. The reflection groove includes a reflection surface. The at least one optical assembly is positioned on the optical wave guide array adjacent to the reflection surface. The at least one optical transmission member is positioned on the optical wave guide array, and is optically coupled with the reflection surface. The optical signals emitted by the at least one optical assembly are reflected by the reflection surface and then reaching the at least one optical transmission member for transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kai-Wen Wu, Tai-Cherng YU
  • Patent number: 8457450
    Abstract: A printed circuit board is disclosed. A printed circuit board, which includes a first board part, a flexible board part which has one side coupled with the first board part and which includes an electrical wiring layer and an optical waveguide to transmit both electrical signals and optical signals, and a second board part coupled with the other side of the flexible board part, where the electrical wiring layer and the optical waveguide are disposed with a gap in-between, can provide greater bendability and reliability, by having the optical waveguide and electrical wiring layer separated with a gap in-between at the flexible portion of the board, and the optical waveguide can be manufactured with greater precision for even higher reliability, by having the optical waveguide manufactured separately and then inserted during the manufacturing process of the board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang-Hoon Kim, Je-Gwang Yoo, Joon-Sung Kim, Han Seo Cho