Patents Assigned to Photon AG
  • Patent number: 12272919
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a method and a corresponding laser system that are simple and robust and that are able to provide sub-100 fs laser pulses using nonlinear frequency-conversion. The method of the invention comprises the steps of generating pulsed laser radiation at a fundamental wavelength, increasing the spectral bandwidth of the laser radiation by passing the laser radiation through a periodically poled nonlinear crystal material whose poling period is larger than or smaller than the poling period satisfying the quasi-phase-matching condition at the fundamental wavelength, and frequency-converting the spectrally broadened laser radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2025
    Assignee: Toptica Photonics AG
    Inventors: Robert Herda, Axel Friedenauer
  • Patent number: 12266901
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laser device comprising a laser source (1), which is configured to emit pulsed laser radiation (2) with a spectrum in the form of a frequency comb having a plurality of equidistant spectral lines, an optical modulator (3), which is configured to shift the frequency of the laser radiation (2), and a control unit (10), which is configured to control the modulator (3) by means of a control signal (6). It is the object of the present invention to demonstrate an improved way, compared to the prior art, of generating an optical frequency comb that is stabilized in terms of the CEO frequency, in which the CE phase is also adjustable. To this end, the invention proposes that the laser radiation (2) emitted by the laser source (1) is stabilized in terms of the carrier-envelope frequency. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of generating an optical frequency comb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2025
    Assignee: Toptica Photonics AG
    Inventors: Thomas A. Puppe, Christoph Tresp, Max Eisele, Christoph Skrobol
  • Patent number: 12228505
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for generating temporally spaced light pulses. Said device comprises a first light source which emits a first train of light pulses, a second light source which emits a second train of light pulses, and a phase-locked loop which regulates the relative phase of the light-pulse trains towards a target value. When the two light-pulse trains each pass through an optical transmission path to an application site that is spatially remote from the light sources, fluctuating phase differences in the light-pulse trains at the application site occur due to external influences along the transmission paths. The object of the invention is to provide an improved device for generating temporally spaced light pulses. In particular, the above-mentioned fluctuating phase differences are intended to be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventors: Thomas A. Puppe, Nico Vieweg, Christian Rausch
  • Patent number: 12222484
    Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination device, in particular for a confocal microscope. The object of the invention is to provide an illumination device which operates with a plurality of current-modulated semiconductor-based light sources, in which the light emission is as free as possible from distortions due to dynamic delays of the light emission in the output beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventors: Christian Rausch, Alf Rieckmann, Manfred Hager, Jörg Lembach
  • Publication number: 20250033317
    Abstract: A method for stiffening a sheet element is provided. In this regard, the method preferably includes a first step of providing stiffening modules that have a flange and at least one web. Furthermore, the stiffening modules are preferably attached to the sheet element sequentially along a load path, the stiffening modules are connected to each other via their respective flanges using connecting means and/or joining methods for a positive, frictional and/or materially bonded connection to form a stiffening structure, such that the stiffening modules have a combined effect, specifically stiffening and reinforcing the sheet element. A stiffening structure for a sheet element is also provided that includes stiffening modules arranged sequentially, and to a stiffening system including a stiffening structure and a sheet element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2024
    Publication date: January 30, 2025
    Applicant: Photon AG
    Inventors: Thomas Dziekan, Uriel Tradowsky, Andreas Knaub, Robert Braun, Lukas Neumann, Holger Alder
  • Patent number: 12138894
    Abstract: A method for stiffening a sheet element is provided. The method includes a first step of providing stiffening modules each having a flange and at least one web. The stiffening modules are attached to the sheet element sequentially along a load path, where the stiffening modules are connected to each other via their respective flanges for a positive, frictional and/or materially bonded connection to form a stiffening structure, such that the stiffening modules have a combined effect, specifically stiffening and reinforcing the sheet element. A stiffening structure for a sheet element is also provided that has a plurality of stiffening modules arranged sequentially, and to a stiffening system that includes a stiffening structure and a sheet element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Photon AG
    Inventors: Thomas Dziekan, Uriel Tradowsky, Andreas Knaub, Robert Braun, Lukas Neumann, Holger Alder
  • Publication number: 20240204474
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a device for generating pulsed laser radiation, having a laser resonator which contains a laser-active medium (EDF1, EDF2), a pump light source which optically pumps the laser-active medium (EDF1, EDF2) at a pump power (P), and a mode coupling device which is intended to effect phase coupling of the modes of the laser radiation circulating in the laser resonator, so that the spectrum of the laser radiation forms a frequency comb. The disclosure also relates to a method for designing or operating such a device. The disclosure proposes that phase noise of the frequency comb, i.e. the width of spectral lines of the frequency comb, is minimized at a predetermined useful frequency by adjusting the frequency of the pump power fixed point (vfix,pump) of the frequency comb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2023
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Applicant: TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventors: Sarah HUTTER, Alfred LEITENSTORFER, Ali SEER, Rafal WILK
  • Patent number: 11881682
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for modulating the resonant frequency of an optical resonator (1) in accordance with a periodic, not necessarily harmonic, modulation signal (Umod(t)). Fast modulation of an optical resonator is intended to be made possible in which the current resonant frequency follows the modulation signal (Umod(t)) as precisely as possible, and specifically at a fundamental frequency of the modulation signal in the kHz range. To do this, the invention proposes the following method steps: deriving an error signal (E(t)) from a light field circulating in the resonator (1), wherein the error signal (E(t)) indicates the deviation of the optical frequency of the light field from a target value, deriving a first actuating signal (S1(t)) from the error signal (E(t)) by means of a controller (6), generating a second actuating signal (S2(t)), which has actuating-signal components at one or more harmonics (fmod, 2fmod, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventors: Martin Enderlein, Manfred Hager, Thomas A. Puppe, Frank Lison
  • Publication number: 20230273379
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a retaining arrangement with a carrier platform (2), for example in laser systems, to which at least one optical element (3) is fixed. The disclosure specifies a retaining arrangement for optical elements which ensures improved beam position stability with as little effort as possible. For this purpose, the carrier platform (2) is connected to a base (8) at bearing points (5) via a respective elastically compliant and/or damping connecting structure (6). The connecting structure (6) is designed to elastically absorb thermal expansions of the carrier platform (2). The at least one optical element (3) is located at a neutral point (13) and/or on a neutral axis on the carrier platform (2), wherein this neutral point (13) or the neutral axis is positionally stable relative to the base (8) during thermal deformation of the carrier platform (2).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Applicant: TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventors: Rami AL KAMAND, Markus MANHART
  • Patent number: 11733454
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for homogenization of the output beam profile of a multimode optical waveguide (10). The method comprises the following method steps: splitting input radiation (2) of coherent light over two or more beam paths (I-IV), modulating the radiation in at least one of the beam paths (I-IV), combining the beam paths (I-IV) by superimposing the modulated radiation onto the input (9) of the multimode waveguide (10), where the radiation forms a temporally variable interference pattern, and propagating the radiation using the multimode waveguide (10). The invention furthermore relates to a device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventor: Thomas Klos
  • Publication number: 20230014323
    Abstract: The invention relates to a laser device comprising a laser source (1), which is configured to emit pulsed laser radiation (2) with a spectrum in the form of a frequency comb having a plurality of equidistant spectral lines, an optical modulator (3), which is configured to shift the frequency of the laser radiation (2), and a control unit (10), which is configured to control the modulator (3) by means of a control signal (6). It is the object of the present invention to demonstrate an improved way, compared to the prior art, of generating an optical frequency comb that is stabilized in terms of the CEO frequency, in which the CE phase is also adjustable. To this end, the invention proposes that the laser radiation (2) emitted by the laser source (1) is stabilized in terms of the carrier-envelope frequency. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of generating an optical frequency comb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2022
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Toptica Photonics AG
    Inventors: Thomas A. Puppe, Christoph Tresp, Max Eisele, Christoph Skrobol
  • Patent number: 11506768
    Abstract: A TOF camera apparatus for transmitting light signals and recording the light that is scattered back at an object and also for determining the distance of the TOF camera apparatus from the object is proposed, wherein the TOF camera apparatus comprises: a transmitter for transmitting light signals, a receiver for detecting the light scattered back at the object, embodied in the form of a pixel matrix having at least one pixel, a modulation device for producing a modulation signal in order to modulate light signals that are to be transmitted by the transmitter, an evaluation device for evaluating the light detected by the receiver, which evaluation device is connected to the modulation device to obtain the modulation signal for evaluating and determining the distance. In order to make possible particularly reliable error detection, a check apparatus for error detection in at least one of the pixels is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: ESPROS Photonics AG
    Inventor: Beat De Coi
  • Publication number: 20220291493
    Abstract: The invention relates to an illumination device, in particular for a confocal microscope. The object of the invention is to provide an illumination device which operates with a plurality of current-modulated semiconductor-based light sources, in which the light emission is as free as possible from distortions due to dynamic delays of the light emission in the output beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2022
    Publication date: September 15, 2022
    Applicant: TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventors: Christian RAUSCH, Alf RIECKMANN, Manfred HAGER, Jörg LEMBACH
  • Publication number: 20220255285
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an all-fiber, easy to use, wavelength tunable, ultrafast laser based on soliton self-frequency-shifting in an Er-doped polarization-maintaining very large mode area (PM VLMA) fiber. The ultrafast laser system may include an all polarization-maintaining (PM) fiber mode-locked seed laser with a pre-amplifier; a Raman laser including a cascaded Raman resonator and an ytterbium (Yb) fiber laser cavity; an amplifier core-pumped by the Raman laser, the amplifier including an erbium (Er) doped polarization maintaining very large mode area (PM Er VLMA) optical fiber and a passive PM VLMA fiber following the PM Er VLMA, the passive PM VLMA for supporting a spectral shift to a longer wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Publication date: August 11, 2022
    Applicants: OFS Fitel, LLC, TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventors: Jeffrey W Nicholson, Armin Zach
  • Publication number: 20220066097
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for homogenization of the output beam profile of a multimode optical waveguide (10). The method comprises the following method steps: splitting input radiation (2) of coherent light over two or more beam paths (I-IV), modulating the radiation in at least one of the beam paths (I-IV), combining the beam paths (I-IV) by superimposing the modulated radiation onto the input (9) of the multimode waveguide (10), where the radiation forms a temporally variable interference pattern, and propagating the radiation using the multimode waveguide (10). The invention furthermore relates to a device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Publication date: March 3, 2022
    Applicant: TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventor: Thomas KLOS
  • Publication number: 20220016865
    Abstract: The invention preferably relates to a method for stiffening a sheet element. In this regard, the method preferably comprises a first step of providing stiffening modules comprising a flange and at least one web. Furthermore, the stiffening modules are preferably attached to the sheet element sequentially along a load path, wherein the stiffening modules are connected to each other via their respective flanges using connecting means and/or joining methods for a positive, frictional and/or materially bonded connection to form a stiffening structure, such that the stiffening modules have a combined effect, specifically stiffening and reinforcing the sheet element. The invention also preferably relates to a stiffening structure for a sheet element comprising a plurality of stiffening modules arranged sequentially, and to a stiffening system comprising a stiffening structure and a sheet element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2021
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Applicant: Photon AG
    Inventors: Thomas Dziekan, Uriel Tradowsky, Andreas Knaub, Robert Braun, Lukas Neumann, Holger Alder
  • Publication number: 20210391690
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for modulating the resonant frequency of an optical resonator (1) in accordance with a periodic, not necessarily harmonic, modulation signal (Umod(t)). Fast modulation of an optical resonator is intended to be made possible in which the current resonant frequency follows the modulation signal (Umod(t)) as precisely as possible, and specifically at a fundamental frequency of the modulation signal in the kHz range. To do this, the invention proposes the following method steps: deriving an error signal (E(t)) from a light field circulating in the resonator (1), wherein the error signal (E(t)) indicates the deviation of the optical frequency of the light field from a target value, deriving a first actuating signal (S1(t)) from the error signal (E(t)) by means of a controller (6), generating a second actuating signal (S2(t)), which has actuating-signal components at one or more harmonics (fmod, 2fmod, . . .
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2021
    Publication date: December 16, 2021
    Applicant: TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventors: Martin ENDERLEIN, Manfred HAGER, Thomas A. PUPPE, Frank LISON
  • Publication number: 20210381964
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for generating temporally spaced light pulses. Said device comprises a first light source which emits a first train of light pulses, a second light source which emits a second train of light pulses, and a phase-locked loop which regulates the relative phase of the light-pulse trains towards a target value. When the two light-pulse trains each pass through an optical transmission path to an application site that is spatially remote from the light sources, fluctuating phase differences in the light-pulse trains at the application site occur due to external influences along the transmission paths. The object of the invention is to provide an improved device for generating temporally spaced light pulses. In particular, the above-mentioned fluctuating phase differences are intended to be prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: December 9, 2021
    Applicant: TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventors: Thomas A. PUPPE, Nico VIEWEG, Christian RAUSCH
  • Patent number: 11175403
    Abstract: A flexibly usable optoelectronic sensor device for detecting an object, comprising a receiving device for receiving light backscattered after the scattering of an emitted light beam at the object, wherein the receiving device has an array of at least two receiving elements for detecting radiation and a receiving optical unit for imaging the received radiation on the array; the array is divisible and/or divided into at least two array regions, wherein the at least two array regions correspond in each case to scatterings at objects at different distances from the monitoring region and/or different brightnesses of the received radiation, and the receiving elements respectively arranged in different array regions are settable and/or set to detect with mutually different light sensitivities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2021
    Assignees: ESPROS Photonics AG, Valeo Schalter und Sensoren GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Simon, Thomas Schuler, Peter Horvath, Beat De Coi
  • Publication number: 20210296845
    Abstract: A method for generating pulsed laser radiation in the spectral range from 860 nm to 1000 nm is disclosed, including the steps of generating pulsed laser radiation in the spectral range from 1500 nm to 1600 nm, preferably at a wavelength of 1560 nm; shifting the wavelength of the pulsed laser radiation to a longer wavelength of at least 1720 nm, and preferably to 1840 nm; amplifying the wavelength-shifted pulsed laser radiation in a Thulium-doped gain medium so that the Thulium-doped gain medium is pumped in an in-band pumping scheme; and frequency-doubling the amplified wavelength-shifted pulsed laser radiation. A laser system suitable for practicing the method is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2021
    Publication date: September 23, 2021
    Applicant: TOPTICA Photonics AG
    Inventors: Axel Friedenauer, Robert Herda