Patents Assigned to Praevium Research, Inc.
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Patent number: 11721953Abstract: Disclosed is an electrically pumped vertical cavity laser structure operating in the mid-infrared region, which has demonstrated room-temperature continuous wave operation. This structure uses an interband cascade gain region, two distributed mirrors, and a low-loss refractive index waveguide. A preferred embodiment includes at least one wafer bonded GaAs-based mirror.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2019Date of Patent: August 8, 2023Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.Inventors: Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Stephen Segal, Kevin Lascola
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Patent number: 11289876Abstract: Disclosed is an optically pumped vertical cavity laser structure operating in the mid-infrared region, which has demonstrated room-temperature continuous wave operation. This structure uses a periodic gain active region with type I quantum wells comprised of InGaAsSb, and barrier/cladding regions which provide strong hole confinement and substantial pump absorption. A preferred embodiment includes at least one wafer bonded GaAs-based mirror. Several preferred embodiments also include means for wavelength tuning of mid-IR VCLs as disclosed, including a MEMS-tuning element. This document also includes systems for optical spectroscopy using the VCL as disclosed, including systems for detection concentrations of industrial and environmentally important gases.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2020Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.Inventors: Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Kevin Lascola, Stephen Segal, Fredrick Towner, Alex Cable
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Patent number: 11183812Abstract: A tunable source includes a short-cavity laser optimized for performance and reliability in SSOCT imaging systems, spectroscopic detection systems, and other types of detection and sensing systems. The short cavity laser has a large free spectral range cavity, fast tuning response and single transverse, longitudinal and polarization mode operation, and includes embodiments for fast and wide tuning, and optimized spectral shaping. Disclosed are both electrical and optical pumping in a MEMS-VCSEL geometry with mirror and gain regions optimized for wide tuning, high output power, and a variety of preferred wavelength ranges; and a semiconductor optical amplifier, combined with the short-cavity laser to produce high-power, spectrally shaped operation. Several preferred imaging and detection systems make use of this tunable source for optimized operation are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2020Date of Patent: November 23, 2021Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.Inventors: Alex Ezra Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Benjamin Michael Potsaid
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Patent number: 10714893Abstract: Disclosed is an optically pumped vertical cavity laser structure operating in the mid-infrared region, which has demonstrated room-temperature continuous wave operation. This structure uses a periodic gain active region with type I quantum wells comprised of InGaAsSb, and barrier/cladding regions which provide strong hole confinement and substantial pump absorption. A preferred embodiment includes at least one wafer bonded GaAs-based mirror. Several preferred embodiments also include means for wavelength tuning of mid-IR VCLs as disclosed, including a MEMS-tuning element. This document also includes systems for optical spectroscopy using the VCL as disclosed, including systems for detection concentrations of industrial and environmentally important gases.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2018Date of Patent: July 14, 2020Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.Inventors: Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Kevin Lascola, Stephen Segal, Fredrick Towner, Alex Cable
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Patent number: 10615571Abstract: A tunable source includes a short-cavity laser optimized for performance and reliability in SSOCT imaging systems, spectroscopic detection systems, and other types of detection and sensing systems. The short cavity laser has a large free spectral range cavity, fast tuning response and single transverse, longitudinal and polarization mode operation, and includes embodiments for fast and wide tuning, and optimized spectral shaping. Disclosed are both electrical and optical pumping in a MEMS-VCSEL geometry with mirror and gain regions optimized for wide tuning, high output power, and a variety of preferred wavelength ranges; and a semiconductor optical amplifier, combined with the short-cavity laser to produce high-power, spectrally shaped operation. Several preferred imaging and detection systems make use of this tunable source for optimized operation are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.Inventors: Alex Ezra Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Benjamin Michael Potsaid
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Patent number: 10281256Abstract: An agile optical imaging system for optical coherence tomography imaging using a tunable source comprising a wavelength tunable VCL laser is disclosed. The tunable source has long coherence length and is capable of high sweep repetition rate, as well as changing the sweep trajectory, sweep speed, sweep repetition rate, sweep linearity, and emission wavelength range on the fly to support multiple modes of OCT imaging. The imaging system also offers new enhanced dynamic range imaging capability for accommodating bright reflections. Multiscale imaging capability allows measurement over orders of magnitude dimensional scales. The imaging system and methods for generating the waveforms to drive the tunable laser in flexible and agile modes of operation are also described.Type: GrantFiled: April 3, 2017Date of Patent: May 7, 2019Assignees: THORLABS, INC., PRAEVIUM RESEARCH, INC.Inventors: Alex Ezra Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, James Jiang, Benjamin Potsaid
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Patent number: 10263394Abstract: A high-speed, single-mode, high power, reliable and manufacturable wavelength-tunable light source operative to emit wavelength tunable radiation over a wavelength range contained in a wavelength span between about 950 nm and about 1150 nm, including a vertical cavity laser (VCL), the VCL having a gain region with at least one compressively strained quantum well containing Indium, Gallium, and Arsenic.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2017Date of Patent: April 16, 2019Assignees: Praevium Research, Inc., Thorlabs, Inc.Inventors: Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Christopher Burgner, Demis John, Peter Heim, Alex Ezra Cable
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Patent number: 10234267Abstract: An optical instrument including at least a first and second wavelength swept vertical cavity laser (VCL) sources. The wavelength sweeping ranges spanned by the first and second VCL sources may differ with a region of spectral overlap. The first and second VCL sources may be operable under different modes of operation, wherein the modes of operation differ in at least one of: sweep repetition rate, sweep wavelength range, sweep center wavelength, and sweep trajectory. A VCL source may also exhibit sweep-to-sweep variation. Apparatus and methods are described for aligning sample signal data from the first VCL and sample signal data from the second VCL to generate output digital data. The output digital data is aligned with respect to at least one of: wavelength, wavenumber, and interferometric phase. The apparatus and methods can also be used to phase stabilize successive sweeps from the same VCL source or wavelength swept source.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2018Date of Patent: March 19, 2019Assignees: THORLABS, INC., PRAEVIUM RESEARCH, INC.Inventors: Alex Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, James Jiang, Benjamin Potsaid
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Patent number: 10215551Abstract: An agile optical imaging system for optical coherence tomography imaging using a tunable source comprising a wavelength tunable VCL laser is disclosed. The tunable source has long coherence length and is capable of high sweep repetition rate, as well as changing the sweep trajectory, sweep speed, sweep repetition rate, sweep linearity, and emission wavelength range on the fly to support multiple modes of OCT imaging. The imaging system also offers new enhanced dynamic range imaging capability for accommodating bright reflections. Multiscale imaging capability allows measurement over orders of magnitude dimensional scales. The imaging system and methods for generating the waveforms to drive the tunable laser in flexible and agile modes of operation are also described.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignees: Praevium Research, Inc., Thorlabs, Inc.Inventors: Benjamin Michael Potsaid, James Yi Jiang, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Scott Barry, Anjul M. Davis Loiacono, Alex Ezra Cable
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Patent number: 10205304Abstract: A high-speed, single-mode, high power, reliable and manufacturable wavelength-tunable light source operative to emit wavelength tunable radiation over a wavelength range contained in a wavelength span between about 950 nm and about 1150 nm, including a vertical cavity laser (VCL), the VCL having a gain region with at least one compressively strained quantum well containing Indium, Gallium, and Arsenic.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2017Date of Patent: February 12, 2019Assignees: PRAEVIUM RESEARCH, INC., THORLABS, INC.Inventors: Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Christopher Burgner, Demis John, Peter Heim, Alex Ezra Cable
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Patent number: 9997891Abstract: A tunable source includes a short-cavity laser optimized for performance and reliability in SSOCT imaging systems, spectroscopic detection systems, and other types of detection and sensing systems. The short cavity laser has a large free spectral range cavity, fast tuning response and single transverse, longitudinal and polarization mode operation, and includes embodiments for fast and wide tuning, and optimized spectral shaping. Disclosed are both electrical and optical pumping in a MEMS-VCSEL geometry with mirror and gain regions optimized for wide tuning, high output power, and a variety of preferred wavelength ranges; and a semiconductor optical amplifier, combined with the short-cavity laser to produce high-power, spectrally shaped operation. Several preferred imaging and detection systems make use of this tunable source for optimized operation are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: June 12, 2018Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.Inventors: Alex Ezra Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Benjamin Michael Potsaid
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Patent number: 9958255Abstract: An agile optical imaging system for optical coherence tomography imaging using a tunable source comprising a wavelength tunable VCL laser is disclosed. The tunable source has long coherence length and is capable of high sweep repetition rate, as well as changing the sweep trajectory, sweep speed, sweep repetition rate, sweep linearity, and emission wavelength range on the fly to support multiple modes of OCT imaging. The imaging system also offers new enhanced dynamic range imaging capability for accommodating bright reflections. Multiscale imaging capability allows measurement over orders of magnitude dimensional scales. The imaging system and methods for generating the waveforms to drive the tunable laser in flexible and agile modes of operation are also described.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: May 1, 2018Assignees: THORLABS, INC., PRAEVIUM RESEARCH, INC.Inventors: Benjamin Michael Potsaid, James Yi Jiang, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Scott Barry, Anjul M. Davis Loiacono, Alex Ezra Cable
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Patent number: 9915520Abstract: An optical instrument including at least a first and second wavelength swept vertical cavity laser (VCL) sources. The wavelength sweeping ranges spanned by the first and second VCL sources may differ with a region of spectral overlap. The first and second VCL sources may be operable under different modes of operation, wherein the modes of operation differ in at least one of: sweep repetition rate, sweep wavelength range, sweep center wavelength, and sweep trajectory. A VCL source may also exhibit sweep-to-sweep variation. Apparatus and methods are described for aligning sample signal data from the first VCL and sample signal data from the second VCL to generate output digital data. The output digital data is aligned with respect to at least one of: wavelength, wavenumber, and interferometric phase. The apparatus and methods can also be used to phase stabilize successive sweeps from the same VCL source or wavelength swept source.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2016Date of Patent: March 13, 2018Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.Inventors: Alex Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, James Jiang, Benjamin Potsaid
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Patent number: 9843159Abstract: A tunable source includes a short-cavity laser optimized for performance and reliability in SSOCT imaging systems, spectroscopic detection systems, and other types of detection and sensing systems. The short cavity laser has a large free spectral range cavity, fast tuning response and single transverse, longitudinal and polarization mode operation, and includes embodiments for fast and wide tuning, and optimized spectral shaping. Disclosed are both electrical and optical pumping in a MEMS-VCSEL geometry with mirror and gain regions optimized for wide tuning, high output power, and a variety of preferred wavelength ranges; and a semiconductor optical amplifier, combined with the short-cavity laser to produce high-power, spectrally shaped operation. Several preferred imaging and detection systems make use of this tunable source for optimized operation are also disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2013Date of Patent: December 12, 2017Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.Inventors: Alex Ezra Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Benjamin Michael Potsaid
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Patent number: 9774166Abstract: A high-speed, single-mode, high power, reliable and manufacturable wavelength-tunable light source operative to emit wavelength tunable radiation over a wavelength range contained in a wavelength span between about 950 nm and about 1150 nm, including a vertical cavity laser (VCL), the VCL having a gain region with at least one compressively strained quantum well containing Indium, Gallium, and Arsenic.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignees: Praevium Research, Inc., Thorlabs, Inc.Inventors: Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Christopher Burgner, Demis John, Peter Heim, Alex Ezra Cable
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Patent number: 9696132Abstract: A system for swept source optical coherence tomography, the system including a light source emitting multiplexed wavelength-swept radiation over a total wavelength range, the light source including N wavelength-swept vertical cavity lasers (VCL) emitting N tunable VCL outputs having N wavelength trajectories, a combiner for combining the N tunable VCL optical outputs into a common optical path to create the multiplexed wavelength-swept radiation, a splitter for splitting the multiplexed wavelength-swept radiation to a sample and a reference path, an optical detector for detecting an interference signal created by an optical interference between a reflection from the sample and light traversing the reference path, and a signal processing system which uses the interference signal to construct an image of the sample, wherein at least one of the N wavelength trajectories differs from another of the N wavelength trajectories with respect to at least one parameter.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2014Date of Patent: July 4, 2017Assignees: Praevium Research, Inc., Thorlabs, Inc.Inventors: Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Christopher Burgner, Demis John, Benjamin Michael Potsaid, Alex Ezra Cable
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Publication number: 20160301189Abstract: A tunable source includes a short-cavity laser optimized for performance and reliability in SSOCT imaging systems, spectroscopic detection systems, and other types of detection and sensing systems. The short cavity laser has a large free spectral range cavity, fast tuning response and single transverse, longitudinal and polarization mode operation, and includes embodiments for fast and wide tuning, and optimized spectral shaping. Disclosed are both electrical and optical pumping in a MEMS-VCSEL geometry with mirror and gain regions optimized for wide tuning, high output power, and a variety of preferred wavelength ranges; and a semiconductor optical amplifier, combined with the short-cavity laser to produce high-power, spectrally shaped operation. Several preferred imaging and detection systems make use of this tunable source for optimized operation are also disclosed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2013Publication date: October 13, 2016Applicants: Praevium Research, Inc., Thorlabs, Inc.Inventors: Alex Ezra Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Benjamin Michael Potsaid
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Patent number: 9397468Abstract: Optical systems employ a tunable source which includes a short cavity laser with a large free spectral range cavity, fast tuning response, and single transverse and longitudinal mode operation. Systems for optical spectroscopy with optimized scanning, a system for optical beam steering and a system for a tunable local oscillator are disclosed.Type: GrantFiled: October 8, 2015Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.Inventors: Alex Ezra Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Benjamin Michael Potsaid
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Publication number: 20140268169Abstract: A high-speed, single-mode, high power, reliable and manufacturable wavelength-tunable light source operative to emit wavelength tunable radiation over a wavelength range contained in a wavelength span between about 950 nm and about 1150 nm, including a vertical cavity laser (VCL), the VCL having a gain region with at least one compressively strained quantum well containing Indium, Gallium, and Arsenic.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicants: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.Inventors: Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Christopher Burgner, Demis John, Peter Heim, Alex Ezra Cable
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Publication number: 20140268050Abstract: A system for swept source optical coherence tomography, the system including a light source emitting multiplexed wavelength-swept radiation over a total wavelength range, the light source including N wavelength-swept vertical cavity lasers (VCL) emitting N tunable VCL outputs having N wavelength trajectories, a combiner for combining the N tunable VCL optical outputs into a common optical path to create the multiplexed wavelength-swept radiation, a splitter for splitting the multiplexed wavelength-swept radiation to a sample and a reference path, an optical detector for detecting an interference signal created by an optical interference between a reflection from the sample and light traversing the reference path, and a signal processing system which uses the interference signal to construct an image of the sample, wherein at least one of the N wavelength trajectories differs from another of the N wavelength trajectories with respect to at least one parameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: September 18, 2014Applicants: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.Inventors: Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Christopher Burgner, Demis John, Benjamin Michael Potsaid, Alex Ezra Cable