Patents Examined by Guy Anderson
  • Patent number: 9921358
    Abstract: In one aspect, a display comprises a light source, a film-based lightguide with a light emitting region positioned adjacent to and directing light to an active area of a spatial light modulator in a thickness direction. The film may have a light mixing region positioned between a light input region and the light emitting region. In one aspect the display comprises a guide element having a surface curved in a first plane positioned along a first edge of the spatial light modulator, wherein the film is folded along the curved surface at a first fold such that the first fold positions a portion of the light mixing region above or below the active area, the light mixing region comprises the first fold, and an inner surface of the film in the light mixing region is in contact with and curved along the curved surface of the guide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Flex Lighting II, LLC
    Inventors: Anthony Nichol, Zane Coleman
  • Patent number: 9915798
    Abstract: An optical/electrical cable for downhole environments includes a plurality of optical fibers disposed within an interior metal tube. An electrically conducting layer surrounds the interior metal tube, an insulation layer surrounds and contacts the electrically conducting layer, and an exterior metal tube surrounds and contacts the insulation layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2018
    Assignee: PRYSMIAN S.P.A.
    Inventors: Mark Edmund Lowell, Edward Wiencek, Mark Denne, Matthew Bodziony
  • Patent number: 9910302
    Abstract: A novel phase shifter design for carrier depletion based silicon modulators, based on an experimentally validated model, is described. It is believed that the heretofore neglected effect of incomplete ionization will have a significant impact on ultra-responsive phase shifters. A low V?L product of 0.3V·cm associated with a low propagation loss of 20 dB/cm is expected to be observed. The phase shifter is based on overlapping implantation steps, where the doses and energies are carefully chosen to utilize counter-doping to produce an S-shaped junction. This junction has a particularly attractive V?L figure of merit, while simultaneously achieving attractively low capacitance and optical loss. This improvement will enable significantly smaller Mach-Zehnder modulators to be constructed that nonetheless would have low drive voltages, with substantial decreases in insertion loss. The described fabrication process is of minimal complexity; in particular, no high-resolution lithographic step is required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Elenion Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Baehr-Jones, Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 9904015
    Abstract: A WDM transmitter and/or receiver optoelectronic integrated circuit includes a plurality of microresonators and corresponding waveguides and couplers that are integrally formed on a substrate. For the WDM transmitter, the microresonators and waveguides are configured to generate a plurality of optical signals at different wavelengths. Each coupler includes a resonant cavity waveguide that is configured to transmit one optical signal from one waveguide to the output waveguide such that the plurality of optical signals are multiplexed on the output waveguide. For the WDM receiver, an input waveguide is configured to provide for propagation of a plurality of optical signals at different wavelengths. Each coupler includes a resonant cavity waveguide that is configured to transmit at least one optical signal from the input waveguide to one waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignees: THE UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT, Opel Solar, Inc.
    Inventor: Geoff W. Taylor
  • Patent number: 9885830
    Abstract: A semiconductor waveguide optical device and a method of manufacturing of a semiconductor optical device are disclosed. The semiconductor waveguide optical device may include a gradient index waveguide for mode conversion and/or vertical translation of optical modes of step-index waveguides, which may be disposed on or over a same substrate as the gradient index waveguide. The gradient index waveguide may be epitaxially grown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: John M. Heaton, Oleg Bouevitch
  • Patent number: 9880358
    Abstract: A switch for selectively coupling light from two input fibers to a selected two of plurality of output optical fibers. The switch was designed to handle standard Fiber optical connectors which have been polished and meet the specifications for the optical performance. The duplex mechanical switch creates a method to physically switch two fibers (Duplex) to another two fibers (Duplex). The performance regarding insertion losses, back reflection, crosstalk, immunity against backscattering of light and insensitivity to the wavelength of the light is consistent with this mechanical switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Nu Visions International, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Chudoba, Michael Coppola
  • Patent number: 9880342
    Abstract: An apparatus for distributing light from a planar waveguide through a collimating array. Light received within a waveguide is propagated transmissively and retained by total internal reflection, except in response to impinging upon deflector elements which sufficiently redirect the light to escape the waveguide into a collimator array that further aligns and distributes the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: SVV TECHNOLOGY INNOVATIONS, INC.
    Inventor: Sergiy Vasylyev
  • Patent number: 9857299
    Abstract: A chip-scale, reusable sensor can detect aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX), rapidly in water without sample preparation. The device is capable of real-time, continuous monitoring for BTEX solutes, which diffuse into a film, such as a polymer, on the sensors surface. In operation, BTEX analytes concentrate in the film, causing an increase in refractive index, which modulates evanescent coupling into the chips integrated photodetector array. Integration of the photodetector array simplifies system instrumentation and permits incorporation of an on-chip photocurrent reference region in the immediate vicinity of the sensing region, reducing drift due to temperature fluctuations. In some examples, the chip responds linearly for BTEX concentrations between 1 ppm and 30 ppm, with a limit of detection of 359 ppb, 249 ppb, and 103 ppb for benzene, toluene, and xylene in water, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Kevin Lear, Timothy Erickson
  • Patent number: 9857504
    Abstract: An optical waveguide photosensitive resin composition containing an aliphatic resin having a polymerizable substituent and a photopolymerization initiator, in which the aliphatic resin having the polymerizable substituent is formed of a side-chain polyfunctional aliphatic resin (A) and a bifunctional long-chain aliphatic resin (B), is provided. Accordingly, the composition brings together high transparency, satisfactory roll-to-roll compatibility, and a high resolution patterning property, and has excellent reflow resistance. Therefore, the composition is useful as a material for forming an optical waveguide, especially a core layer-forming material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Tomoyuki Hirayama, Yuichi Tsujita
  • Patent number: 9846281
    Abstract: An example system for inspecting fiber optic cables includes: a fixture including a body configured to hold a plurality of fiber optic cables, the fixture including a front portion defining a plurality of apertures positioned adjacent to ends of the fiber optic cables; and an adapter including two or more pin members extending therefrom, the two or more pin members being configured to be positioned in two or more of the plurality of apertures in the fixture to hold the fixture relative to the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: CommScope Connectivity UK Limited
    Inventor: David Patrick Murray
  • Patent number: 9835814
    Abstract: A fiber termination point arrangement (100) including an enclosure (110) and a storage member (130). The enclosure (110) holds at least one optical adapter having an external port. The storage member (130) includes a rearwardly facing cable spool (135). The fiber termination point arrangement (100) mounts over a wall outlet so that the cable spool (135) is hidden from view. The fiber termination point arrangement (100) has a rear input port that enables a cable or fiber to enter the fiber termination point arrangement (100) from the rear (e.g., at the cable spool) without extending beyond the boundaries of the fiber termination point arrangement (100) when routed from the wall outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignees: ADC CZECH REPUBLIC S.R.O., COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY SPAIN, S.L., COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY BELGIUM BVBA
    Inventors: Jiri Ambroz, Juraj Marak, Ales Smisek, Jose-Luis Gonzalez Blazquez, Karel An Johan Jaksons
  • Patent number: 9829646
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector (20) including a ferrule (42) having a front end (48) and a rear end (50). The ferrule (42) defines an axial bore (46) that extends through the ferrule (42) between the front end (48) and the rear end (50). The ferrule (42) includes a ferrule axis (64) that extends along the axial bore (46). The fiber optic connector (20) includes an optical fiber (62) positioned within the axial bore (46) that is movable relative to the ferrule (42) within the axial bore (46) along the ferrule axis (64). The optical fiber (62) has fiber end face (63) that has been energy treated to round the fiber end face (63). A fiber alignment structure (66) can be attached at a front ferrule end face (54) of the ferrule (42). A camera can be used to position a fiber end face (63) of the optical fiber (62) relative to the front ferrule end face (54) of the ferrule (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY BELGIUM BVBA
    Inventors: Jan Watte, Jan Vandenbroeck, Danny Willy August Verheyden, Stefano Beri
  • Patent number: 9831226
    Abstract: In order to improve properties, an optical coupling device has a potting resin and an internal mold resin between a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The internal mold resin is a cured product of a composition having an epoxy resin and a curing agent, and is a resin having a light transmission property. Additionally, the internal mold resin MRI contains an aromatic ring and an alicyclic compound. By thus lowering the ratio of an aromatic ring in the epoxy resin, deterioration of the resin can be suppressed. Thereby, a decrease in the light transmission property of the epoxy resin cured product can be suppressed, and degradation of the transmission performance for an optical signal can be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: RENESAS ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yukio Nomura
  • Patent number: 9829668
    Abstract: Anchoring an input cable (190) at an input port (123, 223) of an enclosure (110) includes inserting the input cable (190) through an anchor member (151, 251) so that a cable jacket (191) terminates within the anchor member (151, 251) and at least one optical fiber (195) extends outwardly from the anchor member (151, 251). The anchor member (151, 251) is secured to the cable jacket (191) using the sheath (175). A cover (162, 260) is mounted to the anchor member (151, 251) to form a pass-through assembly (150, 250) defining an enclosed region. Material is injected into the enclosed region to fix strength members (197) and/or optical fibers (195) of the input cable (190) to the pass-through assembly (150, 250). The ruggedized pass-through assembly (150, 250) is disposed at a base (120, 220) of the enclosure (110).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY BELGIUM BVBA
    Inventors: Bart Mattie Claessens, Philippe Coenegracht
  • Patent number: 9829627
    Abstract: Good optical properties can be achieved in an optical waveguide made of polycrystalline silicon. A semiconductor layer that constitutes each of a first optical signal line, a second optical signal line, a grating coupler, an optical modulator, and a p-type layer of a germanium optical receiver is formed by a polycrystalline silicon film. Crystal grains of polycrystalline silicon exposed on an upper surface of the semiconductor layer include crystal grains having flat surfaces parallel to a first main surface of a semiconductor substrate, and crystal grains of polycrystalline silicon exposed on side surfaces (including side surfaces of a protrusion of a protruding portion) of the semiconductor layer include crystal grains having flat surfaces perpendicular to the first main surface of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Renesas Electronics Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Usami
  • Patent number: 9823114
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention address aliasing problems by providing a plurality of discrete acoustic sensors along a cable whereby acoustic signals may be measured in situations where the fiber optic cable has not been secured to a structure or area by a series of clamps, as described in the prior art. Acoustic sampling points are achieved by selectively enhancing the acoustic coupling between the outer layer and the at least one optical fiber arrangement, such that acoustic energy may be transmitted selectively from the outer layer to the at least one optical fiber arrangement. The resulting regions of acoustic coupling along the cable allow the optical fiber to detect acoustic signals. Regions between the outer layer and the at least one optical fiber arrangement that contain material which is acoustically insulating further this enhancement since acoustic waves are unable to travel through such mediums, or at least travel through such mediums at a reduced rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: Silixa Ltd.
    Inventors: Mahmoud Farhadiroushan, Daniel Finfer, Dmitry Strusevich, Sergey Shatalin, Tom Parker
  • Patent number: 9823467
    Abstract: A scanning type endoscope includes a light guide section configured to guide illumination light, a ferrule provided along the light guide section, an actuator configured to vibrate the ferrule to thereby swing a distal end of the light guide section, a cylindrical member configured to include a space containing the light guide section, the ferrule and the actuator and being provided along the light guide section, and a damping section configured to fix the ferrule to the cylindrical member and absorb vibration of the ferrule, in which the damping section is formed of a ferrule holding member configured to hold a proximal end of the ferrule and a ring-shaped member configured to fix the ferrule holding member to the cylindrical member, be disposed near a joint in the cylindrical member connected to holding member and be made of a material that absorbs vibration of the ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Sakai, Hiroyuki Takizawa, Daiki Ariyoshi, Soichiro Koshika
  • Patent number: 9817185
    Abstract: A silicon photonic platform includes a substrate supporting a buried oxide layer, an active silicon layer deposited on the buried oxide layer, a first silicon nitride layer separated from the active silicon layer by a first spacer, the first silicon nitride layer and the active silicon layer constituting a first light-transferring interlayer transition and a second silicon nitride layer covered by a cladding and separated from the first silicon layer by a second spacer, the second silicon nitride layer and the first silicon nitride layer constituting a second light-transferring interlayer transition. The second silicon nitride layer passes over one or more waveguides in the active silicon layer to thereby define a waveguide crossing. The silicon nitride layers may be substituted with an equivalent dielectric with a similar refractive index and high optical transparency in the desired operating wavelength range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: The Governing Council of the University of Toronto
    Inventors: Wesley David Sacher, Joyce Kai See Poon
  • Patent number: 9817202
    Abstract: A telecommunications cable management assembly (100) for a distribution frame (10) is disclosed. The cable management assembly (100) includes a front plate (110) extending between first and second ends (110a, 110c) and is provided with apertures (112) for mounting telecommunications components (20). A first side bracket (120) is mounted with the first end (110a) of the front plate (110) to the distribution frame (10). The first side bracket (120) supports cables (26) extending laterally from components (20). A second side bracket (130) is mounted with the second end (110c) of the front plate (110) to the distribution frame (10). The second side bracket (130) can also support cables (28) extending laterally from components (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY BELGIUM BVBA
    Inventors: Danny Ghislain Thijs, Heidi Bleus, Willem De Vis
  • Patent number: 9810854
    Abstract: An optical fiber holding component includes a ferrule; an optical fiber including a front end portion which is inserted into the ferrule and is fixed thereto, and includes a rear end side drawn to an outside from a rear end of the ferrule; a holder which surrounds part of the optical fiber drawn from the rear end of the ferrule and holds a rear end portion of the ferrule; and a case including a press-fitted region press-fitted to a front end side portion of the holder which is located at a position closer to a front end side than to a rear end surface position of the ferrule, the case including a covering portion situated closer to a rear end side than to the press-fitted region, the covering portion having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the holder and surrounding the holder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoyoshi Akashi