Patents Examined by Ellen E. Kim
  • Patent number: 7539369
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a substrate side waveguide formed on a substrate; and a plurality of optical elements fixed on the substrate. The substrate side waveguide and an optical element side waveguide formed in each of the plurality of optical elements forms a continuous optical waveguide path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7393148
    Abstract: A splice enclosure assembly is provided for enclosing a splice between first and second fiber optic cables, the first and second fiber optic cables each having a jacket, an elongate optical fiber and at least one flexible, elongate strength member extending through the jacket. The splice enclosure assembly includes an elongate bridge member and an elongate cover member. The elongate bridge member has first and second opposed ends. The bridge member defines a channel extending axially between the first and second ends. The elongate bridge member includes an intermediate portion and first and second strain relief coupling structures. The intermediate portion is disposed between the first and second ends and has an intermediate portion of the channel defined therein. The bridge member is configured to receive the first and second fiber optic cables in the channel such that the splice is disposed in the intermediate portion of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Barry Wayne Allen, Erik David Bishop
  • Patent number: 7389029
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a photonic waveguide that is based on natural index contrast (NIC) principle and also discloses fabrication details thereof. Such waveguide forms the basis of a class of chip-scale micro- and nano-photonic integrated circuits (PICs). The NIC method utilizes the built-in refractive index difference between two layers of dielectric thin films of two materials, created from nano-materials that are designed for optical waveguide applications. This new class of waveguides simplifies the PIC fabrication process significantly. Based on the NIC based waveguides, which by design possess multiple photonic functionalities, PICs can be fabricated for a number of photonic applications such as arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), reflective arrayed waveguide grating (RAWG), interleaver, interferometer, and electro-optic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Research and Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Anis Rahman, Donald Tomalia
  • Patent number: 7386197
    Abstract: A method of testing a planar lightwave circuit is achieved by coupling an optical probe to the planar lightwave circuit. In one embodiment, a second probe is used in combination with the first probe to test the planar lightwave circuit by sending and receiving a light beam through the planar lightwave circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Dmitri E. Nikonov, Mark T. McCormack
  • Patent number: 7376317
    Abstract: A waveguide structure having a cross-sectional structure wherein Si is in the center and it is surrounded by a peripheral material, which is either SiO2 or a polymer material. The above-mentioned peripheral material functions as a cladding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hirohito Yamada
  • Patent number: 7376297
    Abstract: An optical device has an optical fiber, an optical demultiplexer having an optical demultiplexing member for demultiplexing a portion of an optical signal beam transmitted through the optical fiber, as a demultiplexed optical signal beam, and guiding the demultiplexed optical signal beam out of the optical fiber, an optical path changer for changing an optical path of the demultiplexed optical signal beam guided out of the optical fiber, a waveguide serving as at least a medium from which the demultiplexed optical signal beam is emitted to the optical path changer, and a filter disposed on a surface of the waveguide. An angle of incidence of the demultiplexed optical signal beam on the filter is equal to or greater than 0.5°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiyoshi Ide, Yasunori Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7373054
    Abstract: An optical cable shield layer connection may include a wire electrically connected to a shield layer of an optical cable. The optical cable shield layer connection may also be sealed, for example, to prevent leak paths. The optical cable shield layer connection may be made when coupling the optical cable to a device or another cable, for example, using a universal joint such as the Millennia® Joint available from Tyco Telecommunications (U.S.) Inc. The wire may provide a ground path from the shield layer or a continuity path from the shield layer to another optical cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Telecommunications (US) Inc.
    Inventors: Robert K. Stix, Jeremiah A. Mendez, James Jackson, Maurice Kordahi
  • Patent number: 7373055
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a buffer tube. The system includes a crosshead that coats at least one optical fiber with a buffer tube coating; a vat that includes a fluid, the fluid within the vat cooling the buffer tube coating to form a buffer tube, and the vat being provided downstream of the crosshead; a pulling roller that pulls the cooled buffer tube, the pulling roller being provided downstream of the vat; and a jet provided within the vat. The jet jets a jetting fluid against the buffer tube coating so as to compresses the buffer tube coating in a region downstream of the jet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Draka Comteq B.V.
    Inventor: Patrick Strong
  • Patent number: 7373037
    Abstract: A system and method of optically routing wavelength channels from within a plurality of optical inputs to any of a plurality of optical outputs. An optical wavelength-selective cross connect (WSXC) switch is described with a first stage of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) routers which support an optical input and a plurality of optical outputs, which are interconnected to a second stage of WDM routers having a plurality of optical inputs and an optical output. The wavelength channel is routed in two stages from one of the input stage routers to an output stage router for output. It should be appreciated that the WSXC switch of the invention can be utilized for passing optical signals in either direction. In a preferred implementation integrated circuit router chips are stacked into cubes to form the routers stages which are cross coupled using a twisted butt joint to form a WSXC switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventor: Ming-Chiang Wu
  • Patent number: 7373025
    Abstract: In the present invention, for example with regards to a Mach-Zehnder type LN modulator which uses a Z-cut LN substrate, by providing a step by forming an etching part on the surface of the LN substrate, and forming an optical waveguide so as to position a pair of branching waveguides of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer in the step portion, a height difference is produced between the branching waveguides, in the perpendicular direction to the substrate surface. As a result, lines of electric force directed from a signal electrode provided above one branching waveguide towards a ground electrode provided above an other branching waveguide are hardly dispersed, and a desired electro-optic effect can be obtained at a lower drive voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Yasuhiro Ohmori
  • Patent number: 7369721
    Abstract: An electromagnetic signal processing system (10) comprises a plurality of optical fiber arrays (11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16) each having a cluster of optical fibers with their one ends (40) oriented to receive electromagnetic radiation from free-space, or to transmit electromagnetic radiation into free-space. Received electromagnetic radiation passes through respective array outputs (21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26) and optical delays (50, 51; 55, 56; 65) to the input (68) of a signal detector (69). Transmitted electromagnetic radiation from sources (71, 72) passes through optical delays (50, 51; 55, 56) to array inputs (21, 22, 23, 24, 25 and 26) so that the one ends (40) of the optical fibers transmit the electromagnetic radiation into free-space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: MBDA UK Limited
    Inventors: Lee D Miller, Martyn R Jennings
  • Patent number: 7366366
    Abstract: To provide a low-cost FBG sensing device having a high reliability, suitable for high-speed measurement such as vibration measurement, able to perform a remote measurement, and simple data processing, the FBG sensing device comprising one or more light sources each outputting a light having fixed output wavelength, one or more fiber-Bragg gratings each having a reflection wavelength band having an attenuation band where the magnitude of reflection attenuates with distance from the center wavelength, the fiber-Bragg gratings reflecting the lights output from said light sources, light receiving units corresponding said fiber-Bragg gratings respectively and receiving the light reflected by the corresponding fiber-Bragg grating, wherein intensities of reflected lights each of which changes corresponding to the attenuation band that changes due to a distortion produced at each of the fiber-Bragg gratings are detected to detect the distortions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Takei, Hiromi Ajima, Michitaka Okuta
  • Patent number: 7366389
    Abstract: A multi step index optical fiber includes at least two concentrically arranged core portions, each having constant refractive index. The refractive indices of the core portions decrease toward the outer periphery of the optical fiber. The refractive indices of the core portions are set such that differences ?N between refractive indices of adjacent core portions are uniform, and the distribution of the refractive indices approximates a G power distribution. Thereby, bandwidths on the order of several GHz/l00 m can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Osamu Iwasaki
  • Patent number: 7366387
    Abstract: A single-mode optical fiber has a prescribed mode field diameter (MFD1 (?m)) at a first wavelength ?1, in which a bending loss when measured at a second wavelength ?2 (?m) and wound with a bending radius r (mm) is Lb (dB) for one bending, a connector/splice loss with an optical fiber that has a prescribed mode field diameter MFD2 (?m) at the first wavelength ?1 is Ls (dB) for one connection/splice point at the second wavelength ?2 (?m), and an mode field diameter dependence of a total loss coefficient calculated by a formula (1) has a local minimal value in a range of MFD1±0.5 ?m, with the formula (1) being as follows: L=ws·Ls+wb·Lb,??(1) ws+wb=1,??(2) ws>0, wb>0??(3) where ws and wb in the formula (1) represent dimensionless weighting factors and are set within a range that satisfies the formulas (2) and (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichiro Matsuo, Kuniharu Himeno
  • Patent number: 7356219
    Abstract: An integrated optical add/drop device having switching function for use in wavelength division multiplexing optical communication systems, has first and second optical couplers between which first and second interferometric arms of an interferometer are extended. The integrated optical add/drop device has an optical filter having first and second input ports connected to first portions of the first and second interferometric arms and first and second output ports connected to second portions of the first and second interferometric arms. The optical filter acts as a selective switch exchanger for exchanging between one interferometric arm and the other at least one of a plurality of optical signals S (?1), S (?2), . . . , S (?n), received at its input ports and for transmitting the remaining optical signals through its output ports in the first and second interferometric arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Pirelli & C. S.p.A.
    Inventors: Daniele Faccio, Giacomo Gorni, Marco Romagnoli
  • Patent number: 7352929
    Abstract: A rotary joint is disclosed. The rotary joint comprise a power transfer interface for transferring power between a first portion having a first magnetic core and a second portion having a second magnetic core and rotatable relative to the first portion. The rotary joint may also comprise a data interface for transferring data between a cable and a second cable that is rotatable relative to the first cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventors: Bo S. Hagen, Daniel L. Woodell, Jeffrey J. Deloy
  • Patent number: 7347633
    Abstract: An optical module comprises a case having a connection port for connection with an external optical fiber cable connector, and a locking member for locking the case in a cage for accommodating the case. The locking member is configured to lock the case in the cage when a connector is connected to the connection port after the case has been inserted into the cage up to a predetermined position, and to unlock the case from the cage when the connector is disconnected from the connection port. According to this optical module, the case can be locked in the cage through a simple operation of inserting the connector into the connection port after the case has been inserted into the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Yuji Minota
  • Patent number: 7349590
    Abstract: An optical interrogation system and a GCW sensor are described herein that are used to determine whether a biological substance (e.g., cell, molecule, protein, drug) is located in a sensing region of the GCW sensor. The optical interrogation system includes a light source, a polarization modulator and a detection system. The light source outputs a polarized light beam and the polarization modulator modulates the polarized light beam and outputs a polarization-modulated light beam. The GCW sensor receives and converts the polarization-modulated light beam into an amplitude modulated light beam that is directed towards the detection system. The detection system receives the amplitude modulated light beam and demodulates the received amplitude modulated light beam by responding to signals at a modulation frequency of the polarization-modulated light beam and ignoring noise affecting the signals outside the modulation frequency to detect a resonant condition (e.g., resonant angle, resonant wavelength).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Eric J. Mozdy
  • Patent number: 7349600
    Abstract: An optical fiber system that includes an in-fiber optic component powered by in-fiber light includes an optical fiber having a core, wherein the optical fiber propagates a sensing/signal light and a power light, with the sensing/signal light being propagated in the core. An optical transducing element, such as a layer of light absorbing material, is located in proximity to the in-fiber optic component. An optical tap region is provided in the optical fiber in proximity to the optical transducing element, and enables the power light to leak from the optical fiber and be absorbed by the optical transducing element. The optical transducing element converts the absorbed power light into a second energy form, such as heat, which is used to tune the in-fiber optic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: University of Pittsburgh - Of the Commonwealth System of Higher Education
    Inventor: Peng Chen
  • Patent number: 7347632
    Abstract: A high-data rate connector for use with consumer electronics couples digital electrical connection interfaces with optical cabling and optical transceivers. In one implementation, an electrical connection interface, such as a DVI, HDMI, or USB connection interface is electrically coupled to an optical transceiver. The optical transceiver includes an optical transmitter, such as a VCSEL, and an optical detector, such as a photodiode. The transmit fiber and the receive fiber are each positioned relatively close to the corresponding optical transmitter and optical detector without a lens. The optical transmitter and the optical detector are each optimized for the size of the optical fiber core to enable high throughput speed at relatively low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: Mina Farr