Patents Examined by James D. Stein
  • Patent number: 7215854
    Abstract: An improved low-loss waveguide crossover uses an out-of-plane, such as vertical, waveguide to bridge over any number of waveguides with very low, or essentially no, optical loss or crosstalk. Optical signals transmitted in a waveguide system having the improved waveguide crossover can cross over one or multiple transverse waveguides with a greatly reduced loss of signal intensity by using a second waveguide (such as a bridge) positioned in a second plane different from the plane containing the transverse waveguides. An optical signal from the input waveguide is coupled efficiently through directional coupling to the bridge waveguide and optionally from the bridge waveguide to the output waveguide. Methods for fabricating the improved waveguide crossover are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Gemfire Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur Telkamp, Randy Bindrup
  • Patent number: 7212692
    Abstract: An integrated optical waveguide based surface plasmon resonance biosensor is formed by detecting amplitude and phase of electromagnetic waves utilizing interferometry and/or optical delay configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Inventor: Ming Yan
  • Patent number: 7194184
    Abstract: A light pipe with uniform side-light emission has a core comprising a polymer, and a fluoropolymer cladding on the core with a lower refractive index than the core. Light-scattering material is distributed within the core along an active section of light pipe in which side-light emission is desired, with a density gradient chosen to achieve uniform side-light emission. Another light pipe with uniform side-light emission has a core comprising a polymer, and a fluoropolymer cladding on the core with a lower refractive index than the core. Light-scattering material is distributed within at least one of the cladding and the core along an active section of light pipe in which side-light emission is desired, with a density gradient chosen to yield uniform side light emission, and substantially only in a radial swath, along the longitudinal axis of the light pipe, of substantially less than 360 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2007
    Assignee: Fiberstars Incorporated
    Inventors: Roger F. Buelow, II, Chris H. Jenson, John M. Davenport
  • Patent number: 7155090
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide optical devices including optical members whose disposed positions, shapes and sizes are excellently controlled, and methods for manufacturing the same, and to provide optical modules and optical transmission devices that include the aforementioned optical devices. An optical device of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention include a device section having an optical surface, a pointed section provided in a manner to surround the optical surface, and an optical member having at least one section that is provided on the optical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Kaneko
  • Patent number: 7146083
    Abstract: An alignment apparatus for optical components includes chemically co-etched parts which may be assembled with high tolerances and in a repeatable manner. The resulting construction, together with a translatable stage and/or a micrometer, allows for rapid and extremely precise alignment of the mounted optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.
    Inventor: Charles D. Carr
  • Patent number: 7123807
    Abstract: An optical networking circuit pack is described. The circuit pack houses a plurality of pluggable electronic modules and includes an enclosure panel, a plurality of module identifiers, and a fiber management assembly. The enclosure panel has at least two collinear openings to receive electronic modules. The module identifiers reside on the enclosure panel and are proximate to a respective opening. Each module identifier is oriented at an angle with respect to an edge of the enclosure panel to facilitate association of pluggable electronic module with the respective opening regardless of whether the circuit pack is oriented in a horizontal position or a vertical position. The fiber management assembly is disposed at an end of the circuit pack to facilitate routing of optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Kwong Ng, Simon Shearman
  • Patent number: 7123785
    Abstract: A security system is described that includes an optical fiber net woven from an optical fiber wire. A light generator introduces an incident light signal into the optical fiber wire. A light receiver receives an exigent light signal from the optical fiber wire. An optical sensor wire is connected to the optical fiber net and is displaced when a force is applied to the optical fiber net. The optical sensor wire receives a patterned incident light signal that is altered upon application of the force applied to the optical fiber net, thereby producing an altered patterned exigent light signal. The light receiver initiates an alarm either (1) if the exigent light signal from the optical fiber wire terminates, or (2) after comparing the exigent patterned light signal with the incident patterned light signal in the optical sensor wire and establishing a deviation, if the deviation exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Inventor: David Iffergan
  • Patent number: 7116854
    Abstract: To provide a optical element array in which a plurality of optical elements can be monolithically integrated, and each of the optical elements can be independently driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kaneko, Hajime Onishi
  • Patent number: 7113658
    Abstract: To provide optical modules and optical transmission devices that are suitable for communication forms using multimode optical fibers, an optical module includes a surface-emitting type semiconductor laser that emits polarized light oscillating in a multimode which is preferentially oriented in two given polarization axes, and an optical member that demonstrates at least one function among a transmission function, a reflection function, a refraction function, and a diffraction function alternatively to a predetermined polarization. The optical member is disposed such that a principal plane thereof intersects with a traveling direction of emission light of the surface-emitting type semiconductor laser and a polarization axis of the polarization plane does not overlap with the polarization axes of the emission light of the surface-emitting type semiconductor laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsugio Ide, Yusuke Aritake
  • Patent number: 7113673
    Abstract: A distributed Bragg reflector has a sectioned waveguide with a high index of refraction. The waveguide is disposed within a medium having a relatively low index of refraction. Each of the sections of the waveguide are coupled with a thin waveguide having a high index of refraction. In one embodiment, the wire and waveguide sections are formed of the same high index material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Cornell Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Michal Lipson, Vilson Rosa de Almeida
  • Patent number: 7113687
    Abstract: A splice site carrier includes an interconnecting member and a plurality of generally planar carrier members that are pivotally interconnected therewith. The carrier members are configured to receive a splice tray mounted on a front side thereof. Each of the carrier members is pivotable about a respective pivot axis between an access position, in which the front side of the carrier member faces in a first direction, such that the splice tray is presented for access to splice sites thereon, and a non-access position that is at least partially inverted from the access position, in which a rear side of the carrier member is presented and the splice tray is not accessible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Commscope Solutions Properties LLC
    Inventors: Wade J. Womack, Richard Lee Case
  • Patent number: 7113686
    Abstract: In one aspect the invention provides an optical circuit enclosure enclosing at least one optical circuit or optical circuit component; the enclosure comprises: a tray type container containing at least one optical circuit or optical circuit component; a tray type closure member closing the container; the closure member containing at least one further optical circuit component on an external side thereof for optically connecting the enclosed component to an external optical circuit; and sealing means providing a moisture resistant seal between the container and the closure member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem NV
    Inventors: Kathleen Bellekens, Joris Franckx
  • Patent number: 7099530
    Abstract: An optical transmitter module for creating an optical signal having the same wavelength as an incoherent light inputted thereinto is provided. The module includes a substrate, a multi-layer crystal growth layer including a first area for amplifying the incoherent light and the optical signal and a second area for creating an optical signal having the same wavelength as the incoherent light amplified by means of the first area, and an electrode unit for independently injecting currents into the areas of the multi-layer crystal growth layer. A light generated at a broadband light source is spectrum-sliced and injected into the optical transmitter module so that a wavelength division multiplexing light source is realised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong-Jae Shin, Jung-Kee Lee, Jeong-Seok Lee, Seong-Taek Hwang
  • Patent number: 7099549
    Abstract: A resonator structure is presented comprising a closed loop resonator having a distributed Bragg reflector for confining the light within the guiding core. In one embodiment the light is confined from both the internal and the external sides of the device forming a guiding channel (defect) or just by the external side forming a disk resonator. Although the perfectly circular shape is generally preferred, the resonator could be of any closed loop shape such as an ellipse, etc. Although not mentioned explicitly throughout the text, the Bragg reflectors can of any type of distributed reflector such as, for example, a photonic bandgap crystal where the Bragg reflector is constructed by series of holes in a dielectric material. The resonator structure can be used in various applications, such as optical filters, lasers, modulators, spectrum analyzers, wavelockers, interleave filters, and optical add drop multiplexers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: California Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Jacob Scheuer, Amnon Yariv
  • Patent number: 7093983
    Abstract: Provided are an optical connector plug and an optical connector, including: a shielding plate which is held in a plug frame holding hole of a plug housing in a manner that allows the shielding plate to tilt, the distal end of the shielding plate moving between a shielding position and an unshielding position; an operating plate which is held in a tiltable manner in the plug frame holding hole and adapted to tilt along with the shielding plate, the plug frame being capable of retracting, upon movement of the shielding plate to the shielding position, to a housing position at which no interference occurs with the shielding plate and the operating plate; and a biasing and holding member for biasing and positioning the shielding plate and the operating plate in a manner that brings the shielding plate to the shielding position as the plug frame moves to the housing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Seikoh Giken Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junji Taira, Norimasa Arai, Kouji Minami
  • Patent number: 7092597
    Abstract: A bidirectional transmitting and receiving device includes a transmitting component with an emission area of a first size, and a receiving component with a receiving area of a second size. The device further includes coupling optics for coupling light between the transmitting component and the receiving component on the one hand, and an optical waveguide to be coupled thereto on the other hand. The coupling optics have two imaging systems that are arranged one behind the other such that the light that is emitted from the transmitting component is imaged by the first imaging system on an intermediate plane on which the receiving component is located, and in the process passes through the receiving component or passes by it at the side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2006
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventor: Jörg-Reinhardt Kropp
  • Patent number: 7085467
    Abstract: A three-dimensional periodic structure exhibiting a complete photonic band gap in a wide wavelength range and being readily produced, as well as a functional element including the same, is provided. In the three-dimensional periodic structure exhibiting a photonic band gap according to the present invention, layers composed of a plurality of square columns spaced apart by a predetermined interval are stacked sequentially with additional layers therebetween, rectangular parallelepipeds contained in the additional layers are disposed at the positions corresponding to the intersections of the square columns, and 1.21?W1/W?2.39 and W/W1<W2/W are satisfied, where W1 and W2 represent lengths of sides of the rectangular parallelepiped and W represents the width of the square column, each in a plane parallel to the layer containing the square columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kiyokatsu Ikemoto, Akinari Takagi, Hikaru Hoshi
  • Patent number: 7085438
    Abstract: An optical multi/demultiplexing circuit includes at least one phase generating optical coupler and an optical delay line coupled to the phase generating optical coupler. The phase generating optical coupler consists of at least one input and at least two outputs. At least one of the phase generating optical coupler has a wavelength dependent or frequency dependent output phase difference in the passband of the circuit so that it can change the transmittance characteristics of the optical multi/demultiplexing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2006
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Takayuki Mizuno, Tsutomu Kitoh, Manabu Oguma, Yasuyuki Inoue
  • Patent number: 7079726
    Abstract: An optical switch includes support devices to create bends in the flexible optical fibers. In accordance with the invention, the support devices may be fabricated to include one or more microelectromechanical system (MEMS) devices. The support devices may also be fabricated as a support plate connected to one or more MEMS devices. A MEMS device includes a pair of actuators, such as electrostatic actuators, to create a bend in a flexible optical fiber. Selectively actuating or rotating the support devices creates bends in the optical fibers, which direct a beam of light from an input optical fiber to a corresponding output optical fiber. The bends in the fibers provide maximum coupling of the light into an output fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Inventor: Dale W. Schroeder
  • Patent number: 7079745
    Abstract: A fiber optics system includes a relay rack having network equipment bays inserted therein. A raceway extends over the relay rack for routing fiber optic jumpers to the bays. A spool assembly for absorbing and storing slack or excess length of the jumpers is selectively incorporated in the system. The spool assembly includes a cylindrical spool supported on a mount having an adhesive surface. The adhesive surface attaches to the relay rack in order to attach the spool to the relay rack such that the spool is positioned adjacent to the bays in order to store the slack of jumpers connected between the raceway and the bays upon the jumpers being wrapped over or around the spool. The spool has a radius larger than a minimum bend radius of the jumpers such that the jumpers are not bent beyond the minimum bend radius when wrapped over or around the spool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures, L.P.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Weinert, Michael L. Yeilding