Patents Assigned to E-Tek Dynamics
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Patent number: 6556765Abstract: A planar optical attenuator designed as a MEMS structure has a mirror opposite an input and an output waveguide, and a TAB actuator for lateral displacement of the mirror relative to the input port and/or output port. The effective reflectivity of the mirror is variable as a function of the lateral location on the mirror. The optical attenuation is varied by varying the location on the mirror at which the optical beam is reflected.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2001Date of Patent: April 29, 2003Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Brian Lee Heffner, Gokul Krishnan
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Publication number: 20020150378Abstract: A planar optical attenuator designed as a MEMS structure has a mirror opposite an input and an output waveguide, and a TAB actuator for lateral displacement of the mirror relative to the input port and/or output port. The effective reflectivity of the mirror is variable as a function of the lateral location on the mirror. The optical attenuation is varied by varying the location on the mirror at which the optical beam is reflected.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2001Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Brian Lee Heffner, Gokul Krishnan
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Publication number: 20020149850Abstract: A tunable optical notch filter employing a Fabry-Perot etalon has a first partially reflective mirror and a second mirror with variable effective reflectivity. Both the gap of the etalon and the effective reflectivity of the second mirror can be controlled, e.g. by TAB actuators, enabling a control of the central wavelength and the depth (loss) of the notch of the spectral response of the filter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2001Publication date: October 17, 2002Applicant: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Brian Lee Heffner, Gokul Krishnan
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Publication number: 20020146210Abstract: Optical devices, such as couplers, isolators and filters, are important building blocks in most WDM systems, within which light from a fiber is collimated, processed, and then focused onto another fiber. Unfortunately, during the processing of the light the beam gets walked-off from its initial path. In order for the light to fully couple between the fibers it is imperative that this walk-off be accounted for. Conventional systems simply mount the focusing lens and output ferrule offset from the collimating lens and input ferrule to ensure good coupling. However, there are several advantages to positioning the collimating lens coaxial with the focusing lens. Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for optically coupling fibers with coaxial lenses by rotating an angle polished end face of at least one (preferably two) of the ferrules and lenses relative to the other ferrules and lenses. A greater range of positions is obtained when two of the ferrule and/or the lens are rotated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2001Publication date: October 10, 2002Applicant: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventor: Warren Hale Lewis
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Patent number: 6317250Abstract: A method and apparatus for optically isolating multiple core optical fibers while at the same time substantially reducing polarization mode dispersion, is disclosed. A multiple core fiber is optically coupled to optical birefringent elements, reciprocal and non-reciprocal rotators, and through a lens assembly to a multiple core optical fiber output.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2000Date of Patent: November 13, 2001Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Kejian Guan, Kok Wai Chang
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Patent number: 6275511Abstract: Overlapping multiple fiber Bragg gratings for reflecting light in a plurality of wavelength each with a selected narrow linewidth are described. Each fiber Bragg grating has a selected period so as to reflect light in a wavelength with a selected narrow linewidth. The overlapping multiple fiber Bragg gratings can be used in various applications, including a multiwavelength laser source. One embodiment of a multiwavelength laser source includes a laser diode having first and second facets from which output light is emitted and an optical fiber section having an end located near the second facet to receive output light from the laser diode. The optical fiber section includes overlapping multiple fiber Bragg gratings for reflecting output light in the wavelengths with selected narrow linewidths back into the laser diode through its second facet. The output light emitted from the first facet has very narrow linewidths about the selected linewidths.Type: GrantFiled: July 13, 1998Date of Patent: August 14, 2001Assignee: E-Tek DynamicsInventors: Jing-Jong Pan, Yuan Shi
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Patent number: 6249625Abstract: The present invention provides for a joined optical fiber subassembly having first, second and third sections. The first section has a plurality of separate optical fibers with each optical fiber having a core and cladding. The second section, which adjoins the first section, has the optical fibers joined so that a single cladding encloses the cores of the optical fibers. The third section, which adjoins the second section, has the single cladding enclosing the cores of the optical fibers. With the joined optical fiber subassembly as a constituent element, a subunit which can be used in many fiberoptic devices can be created.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: June 19, 2001Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventor: Jing-Jong Pan
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Patent number: 6246518Abstract: The isolator core having a walk-off crystal, a non-reciprocal rotator coupled to the walk-off crystal, and a reciprocal rotator coupled to the walk-off crystal.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 1999Date of Patent: June 12, 2001Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Kok Wai Chang, Kejian Guan
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Patent number: 6240220Abstract: A fiber optic package and methods for varying the tension within a fiber Bragg grating or other fiber-based optical device subjects a fiber (having the fiber Bragg grating written therein) to a controlled strain. The resulting strain in the fiber produces a desired and predetermined change in the grating wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 1998Date of Patent: May 29, 2001Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Jing-Jong Pan, Feng-Qing Zhou
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Patent number: 6219474Abstract: An add/drop device is described that allows channels from a multi-channel optical path to be dropped to a device and a new or modified channel to be added to the multi-channel optical path. The device thereby has access to a channel from the multi-channel optical path without having access to all of the channels. In one embodiment, the add/drop device of the invention includes one or more intermediate ports and a switch. The intermediate ports communicate the channels not dropped by the add/drop device and the switch selectively optically couples the dropped channel either to the device or to be added back into the multi-channel path. The switch also selectively optically couples the new or modified channel to be added to the multi-channel path. The one or more intermediate ports allow multiple add/drop devices to be optically coupled together to provide a configurable add/drop mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 1999Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: E-Tek DynamicsInventors: Bo Cai, Xing Ma, Gang Lei, Jyehong Chen
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Patent number: 6212305Abstract: An optical isolator has a sleeve with a longitudinal channel, a pair of optical fibers in the longitudinal channel, a first, second and third birefringent crystals, a GRIN lens, a Faraday rotator and a mirror element. The first birefringent crystal covers the end facet of one of the pair of optical fibers, and the second and third birefringent crystals cover the end facet of the other of the pair of optical fibers. The GRIN lens has first and second end faces with the first end face proximate the first, second and third birefringent crystals. The Faraday rotator is located between the mirror element and the second end face of the GRIN lens. Light in one direction from a first optical fiber of the pair passes through, and back from, the first, second and third birefringent crystals, the GRIN lens, the Faraday rotator and the mirror element into a second optical fiber of the pair.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: April 3, 2001Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventor: Jing-Jong Pan
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Patent number: 6208798Abstract: An apparatus that features an optical fiber with a core surrounded by a cladding, wherein at least one of the core and the cladding has a reduced thickness along an interval of the fiber to enlarge a modal field diameter of the guided mode in the fiber. A control layer is disposed on an external surface of the cladding along the interval. The control layer exhibits a strong change in its index of refraction as a function of temperature. The apparatus further includes a heating/cooling element and a controller to change the temperature of the control layer to more than two different levels, responsive to more than two different, corresponding attenuation settings for an optical signal to be guided by the fiber. In another embodiment of the invention, a coreless optical fiber is fused to the cladding of the optical fiber at the interval to achieve a flat wavelength response behavior.Type: GrantFiled: March 3, 2000Date of Patent: March 27, 2001Assignee: E-Tek DynamicsInventors: Val N. Morozov, Haining Fan, Long Yang
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Patent number: 6198858Abstract: A fiberoptic coupler capable of many functions is presented. The basic fiberoptic coupler has a first sleeve, a second sleeve, a first collimating GRIN or conventional lens, and a second collimating GRIN or conventional lens. The first sleeve holds end sections of two or more input optical fibers along the longitudinal axis of the sleeve. The second sleeve holds an end section of at least one output optical fiber. The end face of the second sleeve faces the first sleeve end face. The first collimating GRIN or conventional lens in front of the first sleeve end face collimates light signals from the input optical fibers and the second collimating GRIN or conventional lens in front of the second sleeve end face focusses light signals from at least one of the input optical fibers into the single output fiber, or at least one of the output optical fibers. With only one output fiber the coupler operates as a combiner.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1999Date of Patent: March 6, 2001Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Jing-Jong Pan, Ming Shih, Jingyu Xu
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Patent number: 6195479Abstract: A polarization-insensitive fiberoptic reflective variable aftenuator and on-off switch is provided. The device has a sleeve holding a pair of optical fibers, a first, second and third birefringent crystals, a collimating GRIN lens, a liquid crystal cell and a mirror element. The first birefringent crystal is fixed over an end facet of one of the optical fiber pair, and the second and third birefringent crystals are fixed over an end facet of the other of the optical fiber pair. The GRIN lens has a first end face proximate the first, second and third birefringent crystals and the liquid crystal cell is located between the mirror element and a second end face of the GRIN lens. Responsive to preselected voltages applied to its electrical terminals, the liquid crystal cell is in a first state or a second state.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: February 27, 2001Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventor: Jing-Jong Pan
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Patent number: 6181846Abstract: A fiberoptic liquid crystal on-off switch and variable attenuator is provided. The end facets of two optical fiber cores in a sleeve, a birefringent crystal, a quarter-pitch GRIN lens, a liquid crystal cell and a mirror element are arranged and oriented with respect to each other so that light from the first optical fiber core passes through, and back from, the first birefringent crystal, the GRIN lens, the liquid crystal cell and the mirror element into the second optical fiber core when the liquid crystal cell is in a first state. When the liquid crystal cell is in an opposite second state, light from the first optical fiber core passes through, and back from, the first birefringent crystal, the GRIN lens, the liquid crystal cell and the mirror element, but not into the second optical fiber core.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 1999Date of Patent: January 30, 2001Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventor: Jing-Jong Pan
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Patent number: 6181851Abstract: The invention provides a package which varies the tension within a fiber Bragg grating (or other fiber-based optical device) by resilient deflection of a fiber support member through differential thermal expansion, thereby allowing the temperature/tension characteristics of the package to be tailored so as to provide the desired optical characteristics throughout a wide temperature range. The fiber tension/temperature correlation may be tailored using the linear coefficient of expansion of two different materials, by varying the resilient flexibility of a beam supporting the fiber, by varying a length of an arm extending from the beam to the fiber, by varying the resilient strength of the arm, and the like. By relying on the resilient deformation of a flexible fiber support structure, the present invention provides a large number of degrees of freedom within the package design parameters.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1998Date of Patent: January 30, 2001Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Jing-Jong Pan, Jian Chen, Pan Ma
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Patent number: 6169626Abstract: An interleaver and a deinterleaver for filtering optical signals are described. The interleaver separates subsets of channels. The deinterleavers mix subsets of channels. Interleavers and deinterleavers can be used to increase the bandwidth of an optical network. The interleavers and deinterleavers can be used to interface components designed for a first channel spacing to components designed for a second channel spacing.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1999Date of Patent: January 2, 2001Assignee: E-Tek DynamicsInventors: Jye-Hong Chen, Kuochou Tai
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Patent number: 6149278Abstract: The invention provides an optical attenuator having a pair of substantially parallel mirrors that attenuate an optical signal based, at least in part, on the rotation angle of the mirrors. When the pair or mirrors is in a predetermined position, an input optical signal is directed from an input port to an output port with a minimum insertion loss. As the pair of mirrors is rotated, the optical signal is shifted parallelly, which provides increased insertion loss and an attenuated signal at the output port. The pair of mirrors can be rotated, for example, with a stepper motor, or other device.Type: GrantFiled: June 29, 1999Date of Patent: November 21, 2000Assignee: E-Tek DynamicsInventors: Hongwei Mao, Yi-Xin Chen, Kok Wai Chang
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Patent number: 6148129Abstract: The present invention provides for a fiber optic coupler of first and second optic fibers formed by a length of the two fibers. The first optic fiber along the length has a different core diameter than that of the second optic fiber. At the both ends of the length the first and second optic fibers are twisted about each other with a central portion in which said first and second optic fibers are fused substantially parallel to each other. The resulting coupler is such that an input light signal is split into output light signals in a predetermined power ratio on the two optic fibers with the coupled power ratio relatively insensitive for a predetermined range of signal wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1997Date of Patent: November 14, 2000Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Jing-Jong Pan, Donna Yu
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Patent number: 6130984Abstract: A variable optical attenuator controllably filters an optical signal after the signal has been expanded and collimated. The optical signals are optionally expanded and refocused by a single GRIN lens, the signal passing through a variable filter between the GRIN lens and a reflector, and again between the reflector and the GRIN lens. Both the input and output fibers can be held within a single sleeve in alignment with the GRIN lens. Alternatively, separate input and output GRIN lenses may be used. The amount of attenuation can be indicated by a potentiometer.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 1998Date of Patent: October 10, 2000Assignee: E-Tek Dynamics, Inc.Inventors: Ronggui Shen, Jingyu Xu, Jing-Jong Pan