Patents Examined by Daniel Dobson
  • Patent number: 8798474
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for communicating information content by modulation of light in an illumination system via a liquid lens optically coupled to the illumination system and capable of modulation of light thereof, using resonant modes of the liquid lens. A modulation control system operatively coupled to the liquid lens and to the information content is configured to represent at least a portion of the information content as a time-varying configuration of the liquid lens, the time-varying configuration substantially including one or more of said one or more resonance modes. A receiver system optically coupled to the liquid lens is configured to reconstruct at least a portion of the information content from light modulated by the time-varying configuration of the liquid lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventor: Ian Ashdown
  • Patent number: 8787756
    Abstract: An all-optical contention manager includes at least two inputs and at least two outputs. The outputs are configured to output signals to a Banyan switch. The contention manager detects and resolves routing contentions between incoming optical signals prior to outputting the signals to the Banyan switch. The signals have tags that include routing information. A photonic comparator in the contention manager compares the tags of incoming optical signals in order to detect contention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ)
    Inventors: Antonella Bogoni, Luca Poti, Nicola Andriolli, Mirco Scaffardi, Gianluca Berrettini, Piero Castoldi
  • Patent number: 8787771
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical networking device for re-amplifying, re-shaping, and re-timing an optical signal, as well as providing distortion compensation and performance monitoring of the optical signal. The optical networking device includes an all-optical regenerator device for one or more of re-amplifying, re-shaping, and re-timing the optical signal; a distortion compensator device for compensating for distortion associated with the optical signal; and a quality-of-signal monitoring device for measuring the quality of the optical signal. Preferably, the all-optical regenerator device, the distortion compensator device, and the quality-of-signal monitoring device are disposed within a single module. The quality-of-signal monitoring device measures the optical signal subsequent to distortion compensation. Alternatively, the quality-of-signal monitoring device measures the optical signal subsequent to distortion compensation and all-optical regeneration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventor: Michael Y. Frankel
  • Patent number: 8781329
    Abstract: A dispersion compensation design system includes a segment dividing unit to divide an optical network into segments of a linear network or a ring network, a path classifying unit to classify one of paths of the optical network, as a specific type path, the one of the paths being incapable of transmitting an optical signal and contained in a longer path having a route longer than that of the one of the paths and capable of transmitting the optical signal, a segment reconfiguration unit to reconfigure the segments so as to maximize a number of the specific type paths, a dispersion compensation amount computing unit to compute a dispersion compensation amount in any of spans of the optical network so as to minimize the number of the specific type paths within the reconfigured segment, and an update unit to update the dispersion compensation amount with the computed dispersion compensation amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Yutaka Takita, Tomohiro Hashiguchi, Kazuyuki Tajima
  • Patent number: 8774620
    Abstract: An OADM device without a transponder unit does not mount the transponder in charge of separating a fault between the OADM device and an external device and is difficult to perform fault separation and to identify a fault interval. To solve this problem, for the OADM device without the transponder unit, the optical loop back function is provided by using such a switch as, for example, 2×2 optical switch. By identifying a fault developing interval by the use of the optical loop back function, fault separation at the time of occurrence of a fault can be facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kento Iizawa, Tetsuya Uda
  • Patent number: 8768180
    Abstract: An optical sampling arrangement for high-speed measurement of the time-varying electric field of an optical input signal utilizes coherent mixing of the optical input signal with a reference laser source in a phase-diverse optical hybrid solution, followed by optical sampling of the coherently-mixed fields at the output of the optical hybrid. The generated streams of optical samples are then detected and signal processed in order to reconstruct a sampled version of the electric field of the original optical input signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: ExFo, Inc.
    Inventors: Mathias Westlund, Mats Skold, Henrik Sunnerud, Peter Andrekson, Bernard Ruchet
  • Patent number: 8761597
    Abstract: The invention refers to a optical communication network comprising a monitoring node having a port for outputting at least one optical signal that has a first wavelength range over an optical link of the network to a reflector node of the network. In order to allow for efficient monitoring the optical link it is suggested that the reflector node comprises a wavelength selective optical reflector connected to the link, the reflector being configured for generating a monitoring signal by reflecting a part of the optical signal back into the link, the monitoring signal having a second wavelength range that is a proper sub-range of the first wavelength range and the monitoring node comprises a detector coupled with the port for determining whether the link is defective arranged for detecting the monitoring signal generated by the reflector node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: ADVA AG Optical Networking
    Inventor: Henning Hinderthuer
  • Patent number: 8761609
    Abstract: A receiver for fiber optic communications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: ClariPhy Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Oscar E. Agazzi, Diego E. Crivelli, Hugo S. Carrer, Mario R. Hueda, Martin I. del Barco, Pablo Gianni, Ariel Pola, Elvio Serrano, Alfredo Taddei, Alejandro Castrillon, Martin Serra, Ramiro Matteoda
  • Patent number: 8755690
    Abstract: An optical network contains dispersion compensation modules with Fiber Bragg Gratings. A photo detector behind the Fiber Bragg Grating detects the not reflected rest of the gratings input signal and therefore the dispersion compensation modules input signal. This information is used to reduce the expenditure and to avoid errors of configuration or administration of the dispersion compensating subsystem of the optical network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Xieon Networks S.a.r.l.
    Inventor: Arne Striegler
  • Patent number: 8750727
    Abstract: A particular method includes directing wave energy toward a collection region inside a collector by receiving the wave energy from outside the collector through an at least partially transparent portion of the collector and reflecting the wave energy toward the collection region using an at least partially reflective portion of the collector. The method also includes receiving the wave energy at a receiver disposed in the collection region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Nathan D. Hiller
  • Patent number: 8744268
    Abstract: A GPON module comprises a housing and a circuit board disposed in the housing. The circuit board further includes ground lines that substantially isolate regions of the circuit board, an electro-optical interface for converting an inbound optical signal to an electrical signal and processing circuitry that is arranged to provide an electrical RF signal to an RF interface. The RF interface comprises a three-pin RF connector exposed from the housing, wherein the RF connector is coupled directly to the circuit board, and two of the three pins are coupled to ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Emcore Corporation
    Inventors: Xiaoming Lou, Genzao Zhang, Eric Hufstedler, Leonel Gomez, Eva Peral
  • Patent number: 8744267
    Abstract: An LED light and communication system includes one or more optical transceivers that have a light support having a plurality of light emitting diodes and one or more photodetectors attached thereto, and a processor in communication with the light emitting diodes and the one or more photodetectors. The processor is constructed and arranged to generate a communication signal. The one or more optical transceivers are engaged to a lighting fixture within a building. The one or more optical transceivers are constructed and arranged to communicate with a name tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Federal Law Enforcement Development Services, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Pederson
  • Patent number: 8744278
    Abstract: In a digital signal processing circuit of an optical receiver applicable to this method for electric power supply control, tap coefficients of a filter used in a waveform equalization section are calculated in a tap coefficient calculating section, based on a state of an optical fiber transmission line. Then, among the calculated tap coefficients, a tap coefficient for which an absolute value is less than a previously determined threshold is determined, and electric power supply to a circuit part of a filter corresponding to the tap coefficient is stopped. As a result, for an optical receiver that performs digital signal processing, it is possible to reduce the power consumption, while realizing waveform equalization at a high accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shoichiro Oda, Takeshi Hoshida, Hisao Nakashima, Takahito Tanimura
  • Patent number: 8737838
    Abstract: A feed structure for a radio frequency antenna, comprising: a plurality of radio frequency antenna elements; and a plurality of detectors, each one of the detectors being coupled to a corresponding one of the radio frequency antenna elements. Each one of the detectors is responsive to optical frequency energy to produce input radio frequency power for the corresponding one of the antenna elements coupled to said one of the detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Michael G. Adlerstein
  • Patent number: 8737841
    Abstract: The sender and the receiver prepare two photons in the entangled state of polarization. The first photon of the two photons is sent to the sender and the second photon of the two photons is sent to the receiver. The sender measures the first photon after the first photon pass the polarizer in which the vertical polarized photon can pass, when the sender sends the signal “1”. The sender measures the first photon after the first photon pass the polarizer in which the 45 degrees polarized photon can pass, when the sender sends the signal “0”. The receiver measures the second photon by the balanced homodyne measurement. And, the receiver knows the signal from the absolute value of the result of the balanced homodyne measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Inventor: Narumi Ohkawa
  • Patent number: 8718484
    Abstract: An optical transmitter for generating a modulated optical signal for transmission over dispersive fiber optic links in which a first information-containing radio frequency signal input is applied to a modulation circuit for directly modulating a semiconductor laser with the signal input. The output of the laser is applied to a phase modulator to which a second information-containing radio frequency signal is applied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Emcore Corporation
    Inventors: John Dallesasse, John Iannelli, Daniel McGlynn
  • Patent number: 8718479
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical floating sub-assembly, comprising a thermally conductive non rigid substance between the heat sink carrier and external casing, to minimize mechanical stress on the optical assembly. Also disclosed is a printed circuit board as an electrical interface, comprising two modules capable of converting an electrical signal to an optical signal, transmitting the optical signal and then converting the optical signal back to an electrical signal. Also disclosed is an optical assembly, comprising a heat sink with mechanical features for optical alignment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Services GmbH
    Inventors: Hans Magnus Emil Andersson, Asa Christina Johansson, John Krister Frode, Lars-Gote Svenson
  • Patent number: 8718476
    Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for tuning an optical discriminator to the carrier frequency of an optical signal to allow superior reception of said signal. The carrier frequency of the signal is dithered during a test phase in order to provide information that allows a subsequent tuning phase to optimise the reception of the optical signal, as measured by a signal quality metric. The tuning phase may comprise adjustment of one or both of the carrier frequency and the optical discriminator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Xtera Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven Webb, David Winterburn
  • Patent number: 8712243
    Abstract: Systems and techniques for multiple bit rate optical data transmission. A passive optical network includes an optical line termination unit (OLT) connected to one or more optical network units (ONUs) by optical elements. The OLT is capable of performing downstream transmission to the ONUs at each of a variety of different bit rates, and each ONU performs upstream transmission at one or more bit rates. The OLT can sense a bit rate of a received transmission and change its operation so as to receive and process the transmission exhibiting the sensed bit rate. Each of the ONUs receives and processes downstream transmissions at one or more bit rates, but each ONU is capable of maintaining a phase and frequency lock to downstream transmissions at all bit rates supported by the OLT. One or more of the ONUs may also receive and process downstream transmissions exhibiting different or changed bit rates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Hungkei Keith Chow, Manyalibo Joseph Matthews, Dusan Suvakovic, Doutje T. Van Veen
  • Patent number: 8712244
    Abstract: In a communication system using a PON, time synchronization of a slave device such as a base station is realized with respect to a master device such as an L2SW or the base station. Time information acquired by a GPS satellite is corrected by ranging information of a discovery function of an OLT so as to be reflected on time information of each ONU. A propagation delay from the L2SW to the OLT is obtained with the use of a delay estimation mechanism, a propagation delay from the OLT to the ONU which is obtained by ranging is added to obtain a propagation delay from the L2SW to the ONU. The obtained propagation delay from the L2SW to the ONU is added to the transmitted time stamp value whereby a time stamp value received at a base station or femtocell side becomes a time into which the propagation delay to the ONU is incorporated, and absolute values of clock timers can be synchronized with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Hasegawa, Kazuyori Umematsu, Tohru Kazawa, Atsushi Otani