Patents Assigned to Capella Photonics
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Patent number: 9103992Abstract: A method and an apparatus for switching a beam from a first port to a second port in an optical switch are described. Switching is performed by a single-axis beam steering element and one or more actuatable beam diffraction devices. Each beam diffraction device is actuatable between diffracting and non-diffracting states. Each beam diffraction device is configured to deflect the optical beam when in the diffracting state such that at least part of the optical beam is diffracted outside a detection area of a column of I/O ports. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2012Date of Patent: August 11, 2015Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventor: Daniel P. Day
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Patent number: 8611742Abstract: Optical switches can include collimator elements that accommodate two or more optical ports. This increases the number of ports the switch can accommodate without having to increase the size of other optical components within the switch. Separate deflectors can be used to accommodate optical signals from two different groups of ports. In some embodiments cross-coupling of signals between the two groups can be accomplished through use of re-direction optics.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: December 17, 2013Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Long Yang, Jeffrey E. Ehrlich, Massimo Martinelli
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Patent number: 8315490Abstract: An optical apparatus can include an optical port array having an M×N array of fiber collimator ports. The array of ports is configured such that there is a gap within each column of ports located between two rows of ports. The gap is wide enough to permit a hitless beam switching trajectory to pass between the two rows of ports from one side of the array of ports to an opposite side.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2010Date of Patent: November 20, 2012Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Long Yang, Mark H. Garrett, Jeffrey E. Ehrlich
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Publication number: 20120275744Abstract: An optical apparatus can include an optical port array having an M×N array of fiber collimator ports. The array of ports is configured such that there is a gap within each column of ports located between two rows of ports. The gap is wide enough to permit a hitless beam switching trajectory to pass between the two rows of ports from one side of the array of ports to an opposite side.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 22, 2010Publication date: November 1, 2012Applicant: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Long Yang, Mark H. Garrett, Jeffrey E. Ehrlich
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Publication number: 20120237218Abstract: Optical switches can include collimator elements that accommodate two or more optical ports. This increases the number of ports the switch can accommodate without having to increase the size of other optical components within the switch. Separate deflectors can be used to accommodate optical signals from two different groups of ports. In some embodiments cross-coupling of signals between the two groups can be accomplished through use of re-direction optics.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2011Publication date: September 20, 2012Applicant: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Long Yang, Jeffrey E. Ehrlich, Massimo Martinelli
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Patent number: 8203789Abstract: An optical assembly for double passing a transmission grating may include a prism having first, second and third surfaces. A transmission grating may be bonded to the first surface. A first mirror coating may be bonded to the second surface and a second mirror coating to the third surface. The first, second and third surfaces, the transmission grating and the first and second mirror coatings are configured such that light of a predetermined wavelength entering the prism that is incident on the transmission grating is diffracted a first time by the transmission grating towards the second surface, reflected from the second surface to the third surface, reflected from the third surface back to the transmission grating, and diffracted a second time by the transmission grating as the light exits the prism.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2008Date of Patent: June 19, 2012Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Massimo Martinelli, Long Yang, Jeffrey E. Ehrlich, Mark H. Garrett
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Patent number: 7912331Abstract: Passive optical components may be used to tap the optical power, e.g., from fibers of a wavelength switch system. The passive optical components are realized by a standard photonics light-wave circuit (PLC) integrated to the fiber collimator array of the wavelength switch system. The PLC includes multiple waveguide paths that optically couple optical signals from one or more fiber ports to one or more corresponding free space optical component ports. Optical signals traveling through these waveguide paths are tapped by one or more optical taps and coupled to one or more corresponding tap ports. Each optical tap is located such that an optical signal is tapped after it is coupled into one of the waveguide paths.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2008Date of Patent: March 22, 2011Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventor: Long Yang
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Patent number: 7863752Abstract: A MEMS device and fabrication method are disclosed. A bottom substrate having an insulating layer sandwiched between an upper layer and a lower layer may be bonded to a device layer. One or more portions of the upper layer may be selectively removed to form one or more device cavities. Conductive vias may be formed through the lower layer at locations that underlie the one or more device cavities and electrically isolated from the lower layer. Devices may be formed from the device layer. Each device overlies a corresponding device cavity. Each device may be connected to the rest of the device layer by one or more corresponding hinges formed from the device layer. One or more electrical contacts may be formed on a back side of the lower layer. Each contact is electrically connected to a corresponding conductive via.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2009Date of Patent: January 4, 2011Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventor: Robert Ostrom
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Publication number: 20100214643Abstract: A MEMS device and fabrication method are disclosed. A bottom substrate having an insulating layer sandwiched between an upper layer and a lower layer may be bonded to a device layer. One or more portions of the upper layer may be selectively removed to form one or more device cavities. Conductive vias may be formed through the lower layer at locations that underlie the one or more device cavities and electrically isolated from the lower layer. Devices may be formed from the device layer. Each device overlies a corresponding device cavity. Each device may be connected to the rest of the device layer by one or more corresponding hinges formed from the device layer. One or more electrical contacts may be formed on a back side of the lower layer. Each contact is electrically connected to a corresponding conductive via.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 25, 2009Publication date: August 26, 2010Applicant: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventor: Robert Ostrom
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Patent number: 7756368Abstract: Switching optical signals containing a plurality of spectral channels characterized by a predetermined channel spacing is described. A selected beam deflector array may be selected from among a plurality of available beam deflector arrays configured to accommodate spectral channels of different channel spacings. The selected beam deflector array is configured to accommodate spectral channels of the predetermined channel spacing. The spectral channels are selectively optically coupled to the selected beam deflector array, which selectively optically couples the spectral channels between one or more input ports and one or more output ports.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2007Date of Patent: July 13, 2010Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Mark H. Garrett, Joseph E. Davis
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Patent number: 7567756Abstract: Methods for adjusting dither amplitude for MEMS mirrors in optical switches and optical switches employing such a method are disclosed. A dither amplitude of one or more MEMS mirrors may be adjusted in an optical switch having an input port, and an array of one or more MEMS mirrors that can be selectively optically coupled to one or more of N?3 optical input/output (I/O) ports. The MEMS mirrors are aligned mirrors to achieve nominal peak coupling at each of the N collimators. Digital-to-analog (DAC) settings for positioning mirrors in an open control loop as a function of the selected collimator are stored to a non-volatile memory. The DAC settings are used to determine a dither amplitude DITHER(x) for one of the MEMS mirrors positioned to couple optical signals to an output port at a position x.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2005Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: Capella PhotonicsInventor: Brian P. Tremaine
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Patent number: 7539371Abstract: A micromirror for use in an optical apparatus may comprise a reflective portion, configured to be rotatable about a switching axis and an attenuation axis that is different from the switching axis. The reflective portion may include an edge that is substantially parallel to the attenuation axis. The edge may include one or more edge features that protrude above a plane of the micromirror surface and/or are submerged below the plane of the micromirror surface, and/or have an edge shape that deviates from a straight line. Alternatively, an array of micromirrors may have mirrors characterized by sawtooth features disposed along edges that are substantially parallel to the attenuation axis.Type: GrantFiled: April 21, 2008Date of Patent: May 26, 2009Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Massimo Martinelli, Long Yang, Mark H. Garrett, Robert Ostrom, Joseph E. Davis
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Publication number: 20090028503Abstract: Switching optical signals containing a plurality of spectral channels characterized by a predetermined channel spacing is described. A selected beam deflector array may be selected from among a plurality of available beam deflector arrays configured to accommodate spectral channels of different channel spacings. The selected beam deflector array is configured to accommodate spectral channels of the predetermined channel spacing. The spectral channels are selectively optically coupled to the selected beam deflector array, which selectively optically couples the spectral channels between one or more input ports and one or more output ports.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2007Publication date: January 29, 2009Applicant: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Mark H. Garrett, Joseph E. Davis
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Publication number: 20080266637Abstract: A micromirror for use in an optical apparatus may comprise a reflective portion, configured to be rotatable about a switching axis and an attenuation axis that is different from the switching axis. The reflective portion may include an edge that is substantially parallel to the attenuation axis. The edge may include one or more edge features that protrude above a plane of the micromirror surface and/or are submerged below the plane of the micromirror surface, and/or have an edge shape that deviates from a straight line. Alternatively, an array of micromirrors may have mirrors characterized by sawtooth features disposed along edges that are substantially parallel to the attenuation axis.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 21, 2008Publication date: October 30, 2008Applicant: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Massimo Martinelli, Long Yang, Mark H. Garrett, Robert Ostrom, Joseph E. Davis
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Patent number: 7362930Abstract: Effects of diffraction of a spectral beam from an edge of the micromirrors are reduced in order to optimize the passband in a wavelength selective switch. The effects of diffraction on the pass band may be reduced by using rotation of the micromirror about both the attenuation axis and the switching axis to achieve the desired level of attenuation. Peak coupling can be attained by dithering the micromirror about a dither axis that is tangent to a contour of constant attenuation using simultaneous rotation about the switching and attenuation axes. A power level of a spectral channel may be attenuated by rotating the channel micromirror with respect to an effective attenuation axis that is non-orthogonal to the dither axis through a combination of rotations about the switching axis and the attenuation axis.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2006Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Capella PhotonicsInventors: Joseph E. Davis, Brian P. Tremaine
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Patent number: RE42368Abstract: This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels, which are then focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. The WSR apparatus of the present invention may be further equipped with servo-control and spectral power-management capabilities, thereby maintaining the coupling efficiencies of the spectral channels into the output ports at desired values.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Tai Chen, Jeffrey P. Wilde, Joseph E. Davis
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Patent number: RE42521Abstract: This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels, which are focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. The WSR apparatus of the invention may further employ a polarization diversity scheme, whereby polarization-sensitive effects become inconsequential and insertion loss is minimized. The WSR apparatus of the invention may additionally be equipped with servo-control and channel equalization capabilities.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Mark H. Garrett, Masud Mansuripur, Jeffrey P. Wilde, Pavel G. Polynkin, Joseph E. Davis
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Patent number: RE42678Abstract: This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral characters, which are then focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. The WSR apparatus of the present invention may be further equipped with servo-control and spectral power-management capabilities, thereby maintaining the coupling efficiencies of the spectral channels into the output ports at desired values.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: September 6, 2011Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey P. Wilde, Joseph E. Davis
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Patent number: RE47905Abstract: This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral channels, which are then focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. The WSR apparatus of the present invention may be further equipped with servo-control and spectral power-management capabilities, thereby maintaining the coupling efficiencies of the spectral channels into the output ports at desired values.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Tai Chen, Jeffrey P. Wilde, Joseph E. Davis
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Patent number: RE47906Abstract: This invention provides a novel wavelength-separating-routing (WSR) apparatus that uses a diffraction grating to separate a multi-wavelength optical signal by wavelength into multiple spectral characters, which are then focused onto an array of corresponding channel micromirrors. The channel micromirrors are individually controllable and continuously pivotable to reflect the spectral channels into selected output ports. As such, the inventive WSR apparatus is capable of routing the spectral channels on a channel-by-channel basis and coupling any spectral channel into any one of the output ports. The WSR apparatus of the present invention may be further equipped with servo-control and spectral power-management capabilities, thereby maintaining the coupling efficiencies of the spectral channels into the output ports at desired values.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 2018Date of Patent: March 17, 2020Assignee: Capella Photonics, Inc.Inventors: Jeffrey P. Wilde, Joseph E. Davis