Patents Examined by Craig Curtis
  • Patent number: 7102821
    Abstract: An improved apparatus and system for a re-configurable optical channel dropping de-multiplexer is herein disclosed. A re-configurable channel dropping de-multiplexer in accordance with the present invention comprises an input, a first polarizing port optically coupled to the input, a first polarization modulator optically coupled to the first polarizing port, a polarization beam splitter (PBS) having a first side that is optically coupled to the first polarization modulator at a side opposite to the first polarizing port, a second polarization modulator optically coupled to the PBS at a second side of the PBS that is opposite to the first side, a second polarizing port optically coupled to the second polarization modulator at a side opposite to the PBS and a multiple-channel output optically coupled to the second polarizing port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Avonex Corporation
    Inventors: Yongsheng Liu, Giovanni Barbarossa
  • Patent number: 6994444
    Abstract: An apparatus and method of maintaining a time-constant heat load on a lithography mirror. The mirror includes a resistive layer formed on a substrate, contacts for coupling a power supply to the resistive layer, an insulating sublayer formed on the resistive layer, a polished layer formed on the insulating layer, and a reflective layer formed on the polished layer. The time-constant heat load on the lithography mirror is maintained by placing an additional electrical heat load on the mirror according to the actinic heat load transmitted by the mask. Maintaining the time-constant heat load can reduce or eliminate variation in image distortion that occurs as a result of changes in actinic heat load on the lithography mirror. Independent temperature control can be used to mitigate “cold-edge effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: ASML Holding N.V.
    Inventor: Santiago del Puerto
  • Patent number: 6934062
    Abstract: A scanning optical system includes a light source that emits a plurality of beams, a deflector disposed on optical paths of the beams emitted from light source, which deflector deflects the beams toward an object surface so that beam spots formed by the beams scan on the object surface in a main scanning direction, and a birefringent double-image member disposed on the optical paths of the beams. The birefringent double-image member splits each of the beams passing therethrough into an ordinary ray and an extraordinary ray that is displaced from the ordinary ray in an auxiliary scanning direction and travels in a vicinity of the ordinary ray. Note that the auxiliary scanning direction is a direction perpendicular to the main scanning direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Iizuka
  • Patent number: 6914726
    Abstract: A viewing optical system of an optical apparatus has an objective system for forming an image of an object and an eyepiece system for enlarging and directing the image to the pupil. The viewing optical system also has a hologram combiner comprising holograms of the volume type, phase type, and reflective type and having optical power for constructing a surface which is optically equivalent to the image surface at a different position than the image when viewed from the pupil. The system also includes an information display means for displaying information at the position of the equivalent surface, wherein the hologram combiner transmits light from the image and reflects light from the information display means so as to allow viewing of an image together with the information display overlaid onto the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Minolta Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ichiro Kasai
  • Patent number: 6900938
    Abstract: An apparatus for channel interleaving comprises a spatial birefringent device assembly and a reflector which is configured so as to direct light from the spatial birefringent device assembly back through the spatial birefringent device assembly. The spatial birefringent device assembly comprises at least one spatial birefringent device. Directing light from the spatial birefringent device assembly back through the spatial birefringent device assembly substantially mitigates cross-talk and/or dispersion of the apparatus for channel interleaving in communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Inventor: Bin Zhao
  • Patent number: 6898363
    Abstract: ADSS cable is laid out a length of cable along an aerial route defined by a series of poles, and loops of surplus cable are formed at occasional poles. The cable is raised to a predetermined installation height at each pole, where two dead-ends secure the ends of the loop so that the loop is substantially free of tension. The center of the loop is raised and secured to the pole, thus forming two bights in the loop. A bend radius protector is installed in each of the bights to protect the cable from bending damage. Each bend radius protector is suspended from a cable protecting device placed over the taut cable, so that the cable is not damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Inventors: Joseph H. Forrester, David E. Colley
  • Patent number: 6891673
    Abstract: This invention features a thin film polarization splitter, its manufacture and ophthalmic lens with projection inserts containing it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Essilor International
    Inventors: Herve Cado, Frederic Arrouy, Yvon Helmstetter
  • Patent number: 6891675
    Abstract: There is disclosed an optical device in which a first light source for outputting a first wavelength light is apart from a second light source for outputting a second wavelength light by a predetermined distance. An information recording medium is irradiated with the first and second wavelength lights transmitted through a holographic optical element having first and second diffraction areas. The first and second diffraction areas are provided with grating arrangements in which grating axis directions are parallel to each other and grating pitches are different from each other. The first and second wavelength lights reflected by the information recording medium are transmitted through the holographic optical element and diffracted by the first and second diffraction areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Limited
    Inventor: Minoru Ohyama
  • Patent number: 6873444
    Abstract: This invention discloses a method of producing, in a solid transparent material (3), a hologram of an object; the method includes the steps of: developing a three-dimensional mathematical model of an electro-magnetic field emanating from the object, the field producing an image of the object; computing a corresponding three-dimensional set of points, light scattered from which reconstructs the field; and focusing a pulsed laser beam into the solid transparent material onto each of the points sequentially, the beam being capable, when focused, of causing optical breakdown in the solid transparent material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: U. C. Laser Ltd.
    Inventors: Nikolay Nikolaevich Guletsky, Vladimir Yurevich Dmitriev, Sergey Viktorovich Oshemkov
  • Patent number: 6873773
    Abstract: A method of cross-connecting or reorganizing individual optical fibers of a plurality of fiber optic ribbons include the steps of providing a substrate having an adhesive thereon with a mixing zone within the boundaries thereof. A plurality of individual optical fibers are routed onto the substrate to form a plurality of fiber optic input ribbons, reorganizing the fibers in the mixing zone, and forming a plurality of fiber optic output ribbons. At least some of the output ribbons have fibers from more than one of the input ribbons. The input and output ribbons are coated on the substrate outside the mixing zone to hold the routed fibers in ribbon form, leaving at least portions of the fibers in the mixing zone uncoated. The coated ribbons are stripped from the substrate with the uncoated fibers from the mixing zone being loose. A holding device is placed about at least the uncoated loose fibers between the input and output ribbons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Molex Incorporated
    Inventors: Maurice X. Sun, Sammy Ali, Igor Grois, IIya Makhlin
  • Patent number: 6865024
    Abstract: The present invention provides a multi-functional separator which may be used as a demultiplexer or as a multiplexer in wavelength division multiplexed optical communication systems. The preferred embodiment of the multi-functional separator includes a first polarization beam splitter, a non-reciprocal rotator; a reciprocal rotator, a second polarization beam splitter, and a non-linear interferometer. Each of the polarizing input and polarizing output ports includes an optical fiber, a collimator, a birefringent walk-off plate and a non-reciprocal optical rotator. The multi-functional separator is easily aligned by adjusting the positions of each of the polarizing input and output port. Further embodiments of the present invention provide additional optical isolation, optical circulation, optical comb filtering and/or two-stage channel separation capabilities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Avanex Corporation
    Inventor: Simon X. F. Cao
  • Patent number: 6859316
    Abstract: An optical polarization beam splitter comprises a first optical fiber having an end defining a first optical axis, a second optical fiber having an end defining a second optical axis, and a third optical fiber having an end defining a third optical axis parallel to and spaced apart from the second optical axis. A collimating lens is disposed along the first optical axis positioned to form a collimated optical beam from the first optical fiber. A focussing lens is disposed along a path of the collimated optical beam. A birefringent walk-off crystal has a first face adjacent to the focussing lens and a second face located at a focal plane of the focussing lens and in contact with the ends of the second and third optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Yonglin Huang, Ping Xie
  • Patent number: 6853487
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a first polarization beam splitter (PBS); a first set of optical rotators optically coupled to the first PBS; a second PBS optically coupled to the first set of optical rotators; a first reflection interferometer (RI) optically coupled to the second PBS; a second RI optically coupled to the first PBS; a second set of optical rotators optically coupled to the second PBS; a third PBS optically coupled to the second set of optical rotators; and a third RI optically coupled to the third PBS. Preferably, the optical device is an Optical Add/Drop Multiplexer and may further comprise an Input Port optically coupled to the first PBS, an Output Port optically coupled to the second PBS, and an Add Port optically coupled to the third PBS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Avanex Corporation
    Inventors: Shudong Wu, Simon Xiaofan Cao
  • Patent number: 6850364
    Abstract: An optical device that can be used in a range of telecommunications applications including optical multiplexers/demultiplexers and optical routers. The optical device includes an optical processing loop which allows multi-stage performance characteristics to be achieved with a single physical filtration stage. Optical processing on the first leg and second legs of the loop is asymmetrical thereby improving the integrity of the optical signals by effecting complementary chromatic dispersion on the first and second legs. In an embodiment of the invention the optical device includes a fundamental filter cell, a retro reflector and a splitter/combiner. The fundamental filter cell filters optical signals propagating on each of two legs of an optical loop which intersects the fundamental filter cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2005
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Ping Xie, R. Brad Bettman, Haisheng Rong, Kevin Zhang, Yalan Mao, Wei Wang, Simon Yuanxiang Wu
  • Patent number: 6844971
    Abstract: A wire grid polarizer (100) for polarizing an incident light beam (130), comprising a substrate (505) having a first surface (410) and a second surface (510); and a first array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on the first surface (410). Each of the wires are spaced apart at a grid period less than a wavelength of the incident light; and a second array of parallel, elongated wires disposed on said second surface (420) where the second array of wires are oriented parallel to the first array of wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Barry D. Silverstein, Andrew F. Kurtz, Xiang-Dong Mi
  • Patent number: 6843575
    Abstract: Even when a stay is mounted to a mounting surface with tilting angle different according to types of vehicles, a predetermined or more tilting range of the mirror assembly can be obtained, thereby securing a rear field of view. As a result, since an inside mirror can be for general-purpose use of types of vehicles having a mounting surface with different tilting angles, the inside mirror does not have to be designed and manufactured according to each type of vehicles, thereby lowering the cost of the inside mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Ichikoh Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenichi Wachi
  • Patent number: 6842574
    Abstract: The car industry increasingly uses plastic optical fibers whose protective sheathing (4) is made of a polyamide. As unmodified PA poorly adheres to the fluoropolymers often used as the material for the fiber cladding (3), the plastic optical fiber (2, 3) moves in relation to the protective sheathing (4) when the temperature varies. To suppress this effect referred to as “pistoning”, the connectors and holders of the optical fibers must apply very large clamping forces to the protective sheathing (4) and the plastic optical fiber (2, 3) arranged therein, resulting in an increased signal attenuation. The use of a modified PA can clearly improve the adherence of the protective sheathing (4) to the cladding (3) of a plastic optical fiber which is made of a fluoropolymer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2005
    Assignee: EMS-Chemie AG
    Inventors: Hans-Matthias Horn, Joachim Schaefer, Ilona Schmidt, Helmut Thullen, Volker Eichhorn, Thomas Wutke, Georg Stoeppelmann
  • Patent number: 6839171
    Abstract: A film for releasing a polarizing plate, which has excellent transparency, silicone adhesion and processing work efficiency, and a small orientation angle, contains little optical foreign matter and is hardly scratched. This film comprises a coextruded polyester film comprising at least two layers and a silicone adhesive layer. The coextruded polyester film has a haze value of 4% or less and an orientation angle of 10° C. or less and contains 5 or less flyspecks having a long diameter of 90 ?m or more per 0.3 m2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2005
    Assignee: Teijin Limited
    Inventors: Kei Mizutani, Tetsuo Ichihashi
  • Patent number: 6833949
    Abstract: The invention provides coated optical lithography elements and methods of coating optical elements, and particularly optical photolithography elements for use in below 240 nm optical photolithography systems utilizing vacuum ultraviolet light (VUV) lithography wavelengths no greater than about 193 nm, such as VUV projection lithography systems utilizing wavelengths in the 193 nm or 157 nm region. The optical devices manipulate vacuum ultraviolet lithography light less than 250 nm utilizing a deposited silicon oxyfluoride film. The deposited silicon oxyfluoride optical coating assists in the manipulation of incident light and protects the underlying optical materials, layers, and surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2004
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert L. Maier, Lisa A. Moore, Charlene M. Smith
  • Patent number: 6813078
    Abstract: A polarizer having good durability that is dyed by iodine, and is given boric acid processing, and moreover contains zinc without generating fault by deposit of boric acid or zinc, may be produced by a process of producing, comprising the steps of: conducting a dyeing processing by iodine to a non-stretched poly vinylalcohol film; conducting an uniaxial stretching processing and a boric acid processing; subsequently conducting a zinc impregnation processing; and furthermore, conducting an iodine ion impregnation processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Seiichi Kusumoto, Hisashi Mihara, Youichirou Sugino, Yuuji Saiki, Senri Kondou, Takashi Shouda