Patents Examined by Ellen E. Kang
  • Patent number: 5946434
    Abstract: A polarization device is provided for splitting a transverse electric (TE) mode component and a transverse magnetic (TM) mode component into two output waveguides and for coupling the inputs of a TE mode component and a TM mode component to an output optical waveguide. The integrated optic polarization device includes, in an integrated optic substrate, a first waveguide capable of simultaneously allowing to pass through two mode components, whose polarizations are perpendicular to each other, and a second waveguide, in the same substrate, for allowing to pass through only one of the two polarization mode components. The device has a coupled area having a predetermined length and across which the first and second waveguides are parallel and separated by a predetermined distance. The device also has a non-coupled area in which the first and second waveguides are separated by a distance wider than the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 31, 1999
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyung-Jae Lee
  • Patent number: 5943455
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for interfacing optical fiber cables with an optical integrated circuit. The apparatus comprises a flexible substrate having optical fibers fixedly arranged therein in a predetermined manner such that the distal ends of the optical fibers are disposed in groups on the outer periphery of the substrate to facilitate joining of the fibers with optical fibers of the optical fiber cables or ribbons using mass joining techniques. Once the optical fibers have been arranged in the substrate, the optical integrated circuit is mounted in the substrate. The substrate has an opening formed therein for receiving the optical integrated circuit. Once the optical integrated circuit has been mounted in the substrate, the proximal ends of the fibers fixed in the substrate are optically coupled to the ports of the optical integrated circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Ruben Travieso, William R. Holland, George F. Deveau
  • Patent number: 5940422
    Abstract: A vertical cavity surface emitting laser is provided with a mode control structure that selectively encourages or inhibits the lasing of the laser in regions of the mode control structure. Light is encouraged to lase and emit light through first portions of the mode control structure while lasing is inhibited in second portions. The first and second portions of the mode control structure are patterned by providing different thicknesses for the first and second portions of the mode control structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph H. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5940562
    Abstract: A stubless optoelectronic device receptacle for connecting multifiber optical ribbon cables to optoelectronic semiconductor components is provided. The optoelectronic device receptacle consists of a receptacle alignment block portion contained in the receptacle body. The alignment block has a connector coupling surface for engaging the fiber optic ribbon connector. An optoelectronic semiconductor component is fixedly mounted to the connector coupling surface of the alignment block and a flexible circuit is then mounted to the electronic semiconductor component to provide power to the component. In the preferred embodiment, the alignment block contains mechanical features which perform precision alignment of the block to a connector attached to the fiber ribbon cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Gordon D. Henson, Robert S. Reylek, Barry S. Carpenter
  • Patent number: 5937125
    Abstract: A detachable fiber optic connector has an improved nose block (800) which enhances cooling of power dissipating components, simplifies assembly, improves yield and reduces cost. The improved nose block (800) includes an upper tray (802) and lower tray (804) which slidingly receive an improved aluminum nitride optical subassembly (700). The subassembly (700) and nose block (800) are held together, properly aligned, and then fixated. The nose block (800) also has symmetrical protrusions (850) which allow the nose block (800) to be placed easily and precisely into mating protrusions (230, 240) in a seal ring (200). The nose block (800) provides a direct thermal pathway between power dissipating components, such as an opto-electronic component (750) and optical driver IC (730), and an aluminum package base (400). Various alternative nose blocks (810, 820, 830) are illustrated, and an alternative base (410) is also shown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: Steven B. Creswick, Shawki S. Ibrahim, Donald A. Pearson, II, David L. Morse, J. Scott Bechtel
  • Patent number: 5937114
    Abstract: A micro-photonics device is described that includes a substrate and a plurality of optical and electrical components mounted on the substrate. The optical and electrical components form a transmitter and a receiver. A wall is mounted on the substrate to physically separate some of the components from other components to prevent electrical and optical interference between the transmitter and receiver. The wall mounted on the substrate may also be mounted with electrical and optical components of the micro-photonics device. In this case, the wall physically separates the components mounted on the substrate from the components mounted on the wall to prevent electrical and optical interference. Moreover, the wall with the mounted components may simply be attached to a side surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company
    Inventors: Lawson H. Fisher, Gary R. Trott, Gerald J. Gleason, Robert William Musk
  • Patent number: 5930422
    Abstract: A compact non-reciprocal optical waveguide-circulating device comprising three optical waveguides disposed along side one another at an input end adjacent a thin birefringent crystal to which they are optically coupled. The circulating device also includes at a distal end, a mirror for reflecting light backwards and providing a folded configuration. The device is capable of accepting a non-collimated beam of light that is launched from the input end through the birefringent crystal and rotating elements. By providing end faces at one end of the waveguides that are mode field expanded, light is effectively coupled between the waveguides and the adjacent crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Inventor: Yihao Cheng
  • Patent number: 5930412
    Abstract: The modulator includes a TE.revreaction.TM converter (3) between two electro-optical modulators (1, 2). The coupler includes two directional couplers interconnected via branches each including a TE.revreaction.TM converter. Another electro-optical component includes a light guide that is folded and metallization that extends at least over two juxtaposed portions of light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: France Telecom
    Inventor: Eric Toussaere
  • Patent number: 5926594
    Abstract: An input optical fiber (22), an output optical fiber (24, 26) and a waveguide (14) in an integrated optic chip (IOC) (12) intermediate the fibers are coupled together using service and alignment robots (42; 48, 50, 52). The service robot (42) establishes the three dimensional position of the waveguide. The alignment robots (48, 50, 52) three dimensionally and angularly align the input and output fibers respectively to the input and output legs (16; 18, 20) of the waveguide. An adhesive applying tool (46) coupled with the service robot adheres the input and output fibers respectively to their waveguide input and output legs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1999
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ike J. Song, Richard D. Hatch, Youngmin A. Choi, Clifton T. Council, Thomas G. Council, Daryl K. Sakaida, Henry C. Abbink, John A. Healey, Ricardo J. Rosete
  • Patent number: 5923690
    Abstract: A gallium nitride group compound semiconductor laser device of the present invention includes: a substrate; and a layered structure provided on the substrate, wherein the layered structure includes an In.sub.z Ga.sub.1-z N active layer (0.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.1) which is formed at least in a first region, an n-type Al.sub.x Ga.sub.1-x N cladding layer (0.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.1) and a p-type Al.sub.y Ga.sub.1-y N cladding layer (0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.1) interposing the active layer therebetween, and a current-defining structure made of Al.sub.u Ga.sub.1-u N (0.ltoreq.u.ltoreq.1) having an opening corresponding to the first region for defining a current within the first region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kume, Yuuzaburou Ban, Akihiko Ishibashi, Nobuyuki Uemura, Hidemi Takeisi, Isao Kidoguchi
  • Patent number: 5923806
    Abstract: A fiber optics device of this invention includes first and second assemblies. The first assembly is obtained by integrating a plurality of optical fibers by bundling, and has first and second end faces formed obliquely to the optical axis of the optical fibers contained in it. The second end face has small recesses and projections to scatter light emerging from it. The second assembly is obtained by integrating a plurality of optical fibers by bundling, and has first and second end faces substantially intersecting perpendicularly to the optical axis of the optical fibers contained in it. The first end face of the second assembly is bonded to the second end face of the first assembly. As a result, an optical loss occurring at the bonding portion between the assemblies can be decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Takeo Sugawara
  • Patent number: 5923807
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber buffer loop management system which may be incorporated into a conventional interconnection box and which comprises one or more spools or pins around which optical fiber buffer loops are loosely dressed. Strategically placed cover guards forming narrow insertion slots for the fibers are attached to the tops of the spools or pins to prevent the fibers from unraveling. By loosely dressing the fiber loops in the interconnection box, no excess slack exists in the portion of the loop running from the spool to the point at which the plug connector on the end of the buffer loop is connected to the coupling located inside of the interconnection box. Preferably, each of the buffer loops is loosely wrapped about two spools in a figure-of-eight configuration, which allows a buffer loop density approximately four times greater than that of the prior art systems to be achieved without bending the fibers beyond their minimum bend radii.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald L. Wild
  • Patent number: 5917979
    Abstract: An optical signal amplitude discriminator incorporating the invention includes an optical loop having a nonlinear optical amplifier positioned a distance .DELTA.x from the loop's midpoint. The nonlinear optical amplifier is responsive to an applied optical saturating signal to exhibit an altered index of refraction which persists for a limited duration and induces a phase shift in an applied optical signal propagating therethrough. An input source applies both data and clock pulses to an unbalanced coupler, with the clock pulses having an input energy that is greater than the saturation level of the nonlinear optical amplifier and the data pulses manifesting an input energy that is less than the saturation level. The nonlinear optical amplifier amplifies and phase delays the first incident clock pulse. The counter-propagating clock pulse experiences a large phase shift and reaches the input coupler at a displaced time and results in a coupling of the clock pulse to the output terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 29, 1999
    Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventor: Paul R. Prucnal
  • Patent number: 5911021
    Abstract: A subassembly for coupling a laser to an optical fiber comprises a substrate having an asymmetrical, pyramidal cavity, a spherical lens located in the cavity, and a semiconductor laser positioned on the substrate. The output face of the laser is located along an edge of the cavity (without overhanging the edge), and its active region is aligned with the center of the lens along the optic axis of the subassembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: William Michael MacDonald, Yiu-Huen Wong
  • Patent number: 5905829
    Abstract: Peripheral surfaces of end portions of individual optical fibers constituting a first optical fiber array are in close contact with an optical fiber fitting surface of a base, while the peripheral surfaces of the end portions of the individual optical fibers are in close contact with one another. Peripheral surfaces of end portions of optical fibers on both sides out of the individual optical fibers constituting the first optical fiber array are in close contact with a pair of stopper members, respectively, disposed on both sides of an end portion of the first optical fiber array. A second optical fiber or optical fiber array is opposed to an end face of the end portion of the first optical fiber array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Kozo Maenishi, Kazuo Tsuboi
  • Patent number: 5905827
    Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexing module capable of multiplexing or demultiplexing a plurality of optical signals having close wavelengths with less crosstalk. The wavelength division multiplexing module includes a housing having a bottom wall, a first side wall, and a second side wall inclined a predetermined angle with respect to the first side wall, and a common port assembly fixed to the bottom wall of the housing so as to emit a collimated beam substantially perpendicular to the first side wall. One or more filter port assemblies are fixed to the first side wall in the condition that the pass wavelength characteristic and optical axis of each assembly have been adjusted. Similarly, one or more filter port assemblies are fixed to the second side wall in the condition that the pass wavelength characteristic and optical axis of each assembly have been adjusted. Each filter port assembly includes an optical film holder rotatable in a hole having a center axis inclined a predetermined angle .theta.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Norihisa Naganuma, Teruhiro Kubo, Nobuhiro Fukushima
  • Patent number: 5903694
    Abstract: A fiber optics device of this invention includes first and second optical members. The first optical member is obtained by integrating a plurality of optical fibers of the first type by bundling, and has first and second end faces formed obliquely to the optical axis of the optical fibers of the first type and parallel to each other. The second optical member is obtained by integrating a plurality of optical fibers of the second type by bundling, and has first and second end faces formed obliquely to the optical axis of the optical fibers of the second type and parallel to each other. The optical fibers of the second type have a larger numerical aperture than that of the optical fibers of the first type. The first end face of the second optical member is bonded to the second end face of the first optical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventor: Takeo Sugawara
  • Patent number: 5903698
    Abstract: A connector assembly for optical fiber cables which provides an increased density of optical fiber connections in a confined space. The assembly includes a front panel defining a first plane; and a connection panel having a face defining a plane having an angle with respect to the first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Wiltron Company
    Inventors: John Poremba, Jack E. Patterson
  • Patent number: 5903589
    Abstract: A conductive element with a lateral oxidation barrier is provided for the control of lateral oxidation processes in semiconductor devices such as lasers, vertical cavity surface emitting lasers and light emitting diodes. The oxidation barrier is formed through modification of one or more layers which initially were receptive to oxidation. The quality of material directly below the oxidation barrier may be preserved. Related applications include the formation of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers on non-GaAs substrates and on GaAs substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Picolight, Incorporated
    Inventor: Jack L. Jewell
  • Patent number: 5901258
    Abstract: A waveguide-type optical isolator, which has: an optical waveguide which is formed a semiconductor material that absorbs only light with a specified wavelength; a pair of electrodes which are formed on the upper and lower surfaces of the optical waveguide; means for injecting a traveling-wave voltage pulse into the pair of electrodes; and an electric circuit which is connected with the pair of electrodes, wherein the electric circuit satisfies an impedance matching condition at a terminal of the optical waveguide; wherein the traveling-wave voltage pulse allows a non-absorption or amplfying region which travels with the traveling-wave voltage pulse to be formed in the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yidong Nuang