Patents Assigned to Thorlabs, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11183812
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Ezra Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Benjamin Michael Potsaid
  • Patent number: 11150439
    Abstract: An optomechanical device having an interface that is mounted to another interface wherein the two interfaces are made of materials having the same or similar coefficients of thermal expansion and within the optomechanical device is an interface that is designed to compensate for the second mechanical component that is made of materials having the same or similar coefficients of thermal expansion as the optic or photonic device or instrument being held or controlled altogether with a fully constrained set of slip planes making for an optical mechanical device consisting of two or more materials that have coefficients of thermal expansion that are suitably matched to the materials it is being mounted to and the materials it is holding or controlling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2021
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventor: Brett D'Alessio
  • Patent number: 11101615
    Abstract: Apparatus for modelocking a fiber laser cavity includes two variable retarder assemblies and a polarizing element. The variable retarder assemblies each have two electronically addressable elements and one fixed element. The first variable retarder assembly prepares a polarization state suitable for NPE modelocking to be launched into the fiber, and the second variable retarder assembly controls the polarization state after exiting the fiber, before being incident on the polarizing element. A control system controls the electronically addressable phase retarders in order to create and modify conditions for modelocking the fiber laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: David Winters, Matthew S. Kirchner, Sterling J. Backus
  • Patent number: 11070020
    Abstract: An ultrafast mode-locked laser comprising circuitry configured to drive an electro-optic modulator (EOM) in the mode-locked laser with a drive waveform, the drive waveform being a phase-coherent sinusoidal waveform at a frequency equal to a repetition rate of the mode-locked laser, a phase-coherent pulsed waveform at a frequency equal to the repetition rate of the mode-locked laser, or a phase-coherent sinusoidal waveform at a frequency equal to half of the repetition rate of the mode-locked laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Brooker, William Radtke, Hongzhou Ma, Eric Lieser
  • Patent number: 11002603
    Abstract: An interlaced diffraction grating system and process are disclosed. The interlaced grating system includes an optical dispersive grating with alternating bands of unique grating densities wherein the number of unique grating densities is greater than or equal to two. The optical dispersive grating may be reflective or transmissive, and it may be fabricated by mechanical ruling, holography, or reactive ion etching of a binary mask. An interlaced grating allows additional utility for both point spectroscopic detection as well as hyperspectral imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventor: Ryan Joseph Priore
  • Patent number: 10965088
    Abstract: A method for generating a single-cavity dualcomb or multicomb for laser spectroscopy, the method comprising the steps of providing a laser system comprising a pump source, a gain medium, and a resonator having a spectral filter; spectrally filtering, by the spectral filter, light in the resonator and attenuating, in particular blocking, by the spectral filter, one or more wavelength bands at least one of which being located completely within the gain bandwidth of the laser system such that two or more at least partially separated spectral regions are provided; mode-locking the two or more at least partially separated spectral regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Oliver H. Heckl, Georg Winkler, Jakob Fellinger
  • Patent number: 10955683
    Abstract: An imaging incident angle tracking device, including: a light source; a first and second beam splitters or dichroic mirrors; a position sensitive detector; wherein the first and second beam splitters or dichroic mirrors are configured to direct light from the light source to a window surface through an objective lens; the first and second beam splitters or dichroic mirrors is further configured to direct the light reflected from the window surface and through the objective lens into the position sensitive detector. A positioning system, including: a baseplate; a platform; a plurality of strut assemblies connecting the baseplate and the platform; wherein each of the strut assembly includes: a linear actuator; a first flexure assembly and a second flexure assembly at the first and second ends of the strut assembly; the first and second flexure assemblies are rigid along and flexibly bendable orthogonal to the length of the strut assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Brooker, Hongzhou Ma, Shane Patton, Eric Lieser, Brett D'Alessio
  • Patent number: 10890431
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical probe system that is capable of high speed, high precision, and high resolution 3D digitalization of engineered objects. The 3D dimensional data of the engineered object is measured using a swept source optical coherence tomography system with improved speed, spatial resolutions, and depth range. Also disclosed is a type of coordinate measurement machine (CMM) that is capable of performing high speed, high resolution, and non-contact measurement of engineered objects. The mechanic stylus in the touch-trigger probe of a conventional CMM is replaced with an optical stylus with reconfigurable diameter and length. The distance from the center of the optical stylus to the measurement probe is optically adjusted to match the height of the object to be measured quickly, which eliminates one dimensional movement of the probe and greatly improves the productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: James Jiang, Alex Cable
  • Publication number: 20200335932
    Abstract: Apparatus for modelocking a fiber laser cavity includes two variable retarder assemblies and a polarizing element. The variable retarder assemblies each have two electronically addressable elements and one fixed element. The first variable retarder assembly prepares a polarization state suitable for NPE modelocking to be launched into the fiber, and the second variable retarder assembly controls the polarization state after exiting the fiber, before being incident on the polarizing element. A control system controls the electronically addressable phase retarders in order to create and modify conditions for modelocking the fiber laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2017
    Publication date: October 22, 2020
    Applicant: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: David WINTERS, Matthew S. KIRCHNER, Sterling J. BACKUS
  • Patent number: 10722977
    Abstract: A scanning device including: a first, second and third scan mirrors; a first and second relay lenses; and a mirror; wherein the rotational axis of the second scan mirror is tilted with a first angle with respect to a reference plane, the optical axis of the first relay lens is tilted with the first angle with respect to the reference plane, the optical axis of the second relay lens is parallel to the reference plane and is orthogonal to that of the first relay lens, and the rotational axis of the first scan mirror is parallel to the reference plane; and the first and second scan mirrors, and first and second relay lenses are arranged such that the respective axes of the first and second scan mirrors, and first and second relay lenses lie on a plane that is tilted at the first angle with respect to the reference plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventor: Hongzhou Ma
  • Patent number: 10714893
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Kevin Lascola, Stephen Segal, Fredrick Towner, Alex Cable
  • Patent number: 10615564
    Abstract: A mode-locked laser comprising circuitry configured to drive an electro-optic modulator (EOM) in the mode-locked laser with a drive waveform, the drive waveform being a phase-coherent sinusoidal waveform at a frequency equal to a repetition rate of the mode-locked laser, a phase-coherent pulsed waveform at a frequency equal to the repetition rate of the mode-locked laser, or a phase-coherent sinusoidal waveform at a frequency equal to half of the repetition rate of the mode-locked laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Brooker, William Radtke, Hongzhou Ma, Eric Lieser
  • Patent number: 10615571
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Ezra Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Benjamin Michael Potsaid
  • Patent number: 10557701
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical probe system that is capable of high speed, high precision, and high resolution 3D digitalization of engineered objects. The 3D dimensional data of the engineered object is measured using a swept source optical coherence tomography system with improved speed, spatial resolutions, and depth range. Also disclosed is a type of coordinate measurement machine (CMM) that is capable of performing high speed, high resolution, and non-contact measurement of engineered objects. The mechanic stylus in the touch-trigger probe of a conventional CMM is replaced with an optical stylus with reconfigurable diameter and length. The distance from the center of the optical stylus to the measurement probe is optically adjusted to match the height of the object to be measured quickly, which eliminates one dimensional movement of the probe and greatly improves the productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: James Jiang, Alex Cable
  • Patent number: 10317046
    Abstract: A phosphor based light source, including: an incident beam of light focused onto the front surface of a piece of phosphor; wherein the phosphor has polished back surface coated with a high-reflection, high-thermal-conduction layer, sandwiched between the phosphor and a heat sink, and the phosphor emission light is collected into a fiber or fiber bundle by a single lens or lens groups.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Yifan Liu, Yat-Hei Lo, Shengwei Cao
  • Patent number: 10263394
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignees: Praevium Research, Inc., Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Christopher Burgner, Demis John, Peter Heim, Alex Ezra Cable
  • Patent number: 10215551
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignees: Praevium Research, Inc., Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin Michael Potsaid, James Yi Jiang, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Scott Barry, Anjul M. Davis Loiacono, Alex Ezra Cable
  • Patent number: 10101559
    Abstract: A monolithic optical mount having a bore for accommodating an optical element, the bore including: a first ridge located at a first position on the inside circumference of the bore; a second ridge located at a second position on the inside circumference of the bore; and a flexure extending from along the inside circumference of the bore to a point beyond a threaded hole which passes through from the outside circumference of the bore to the inside circumference of the bore; wherein the flexure is actuated by turning a screw in the threaded hole thereby adjusting an amount of force pushing against a point on the flexure by a tip of the screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett D'Alessio, Alex Cable, Blace Jacobus
  • Patent number: 9997891
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignees: Thorlabs, Inc., Praevium Research, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Ezra Cable, Vijaysekhar Jayaraman, Benjamin Michael Potsaid
  • Patent number: 9989749
    Abstract: Disclosed are several technical approaches of using low coherence interferometry techniques to create an autofocus apparatus for optical microscopy. These approaches allow automatic focusing on thin structures that are positioned closely to reflective surfaces and behind refractive material like a cover slip, and automated adjustment of focus position into the sample region without disturbance from reflection off adjacent surfaces. The measurement offset induced by refraction of material that covers the sample is compensated for. Proposed are techniques of an instrument that allows the automatic interchange of imaging objectives in a low coherence interferometry autofocus system, which is of major interest in combination with TDI (time delay integration) imaging, confocal and two-photon fluorescence microscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Thorlabs, Inc.
    Inventors: Alex Cable, Jörn Wollenzin, Ross Johnstone, Kirk Gossage, Jeffrey S. Brooker, Jason Mills, James Jiang, Dierck Hillmann