Patents Examined by Jerry Blevins
  • Patent number: 9182545
    Abstract: Technologies are generally described for fabricating a wafer level optical device using a plurality of substrates made of materials with a substantially compatible (e.g., same or similar) thermal expansion coefficient. An example device may include a first substrate including light-receiving or light-emitting elements, and a second substrate including optical elements located within through-holes of the second substrate. The through-holes can be configured to substantially align each of the light-receiving or light-emitting elements with a corresponding one of the optical elements. A thermal expansion coefficient of the second substrate can be configured to be substantially the same to a thermal expansion coefficient of the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Hiroshi Goto
  • Patent number: 9182533
    Abstract: A light guide plate structure includes a light guide plate, a first medium layer, a micro structure, a second medium layer, and a reflection layer. The light guide plate has a light exit surface and a bottom surface opposite to the light exit surface. The first medium layer is formed on the light exit surface. The micro structure is formed on the bottom surface for redirecting light inside the light guide plate to emit from the light exit surface. The second medium layer is formed on the micro structure. The refractive index of the first medium layer and the refractive index of the second medium layer are less than the refractive index of the light guide plate but greater than the refractive index of air. The reflection layer is formed on the second medium layer for reflecting light inside the light guide plate to emit from the light exit surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignees: DARFON ELECTRONICS (SUZHOU) CO., LTD., DARFON ELECTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Liang-Yu Yao, Hsin-Cheng Ho, Yen-Chang Chen
  • Patent number: 9176278
    Abstract: A broadband spectral power generator in a multimode optical fiber utilizes a standard multimode fiber that is coiled. A plate is placed on the coiled fiber and a force is applied to compresses the coiled fiber and thereby increase the interactions between the compressed windings and induce modal mixing and birefringence in the fiber. In addition, the compression causes additional non-linear processes to be excited and occur in the compressed fiber coil to generate more broadband light. This allows for better “mixing” of the spatial beam in the multimode fiber coil and allows for the various modes to overlap. The multimode fiber coil is made of silica, silicate, germinate, phosphate, fluoride, chalcogenide, or telluride. The compressed coiled fiber may be driven by a laser providing more than one wavelength output and this greatly increases the amount of nonlinear mixing in the fiber for a greatly enhanced spectral coverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventors: David P. Kelly, Peter A. Ketteridge, Daniel J. Creeden, Benjamin R. Johnson
  • Patent number: 9176353
    Abstract: An object is to propose a method of manufacturing, with high mass productivity, liquid crystal display devices having thin film transistors with highly reliable electric characteristics. In a liquid crystal display device having an inverted staggered thin film transistor, the inverted staggered thin film transistor is formed as follows: a gate insulating film is formed over a gate electrode; a microcrystalline semiconductor film which functions as a channel formation region is formed over the gate insulating film; a buffer layer is formed over the microcrystalline semiconductor film; a pair of source and drain regions are formed over the buffer layer; and a pair of source and drain electrodes are formed in contact with the source and drain regions so as to expose a part of the source and drain regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shunpei Yamazaki, Yukie Suzuki, Hideaki Kuwabara, Hajime Kimura, Hidekazu Miyairi, Yoshiyuki Kurokawa, Satoshi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 9176281
    Abstract: A microresonator structure comprises a waveguide and a microsphere. The waveguide is of elongated cylindrical shape and includes a first section of optical transmission material and a cavity section axially aligned with the first section. The cavity section includes a first cavity and a second cavity. The first cavity is adjacent to the first section and includes a first sidewall of optical transmission material with an inner surface that tapers inward to an apex positioned adjacent to the first section. The second cavity is positioned adjacent to the first cavity of hollow cylindrical shape and includes a circumferential second sidewall of optical transmission material that abuts the first sidewall. The microsphere has a spherical outer surface and is positioned within the cavity section such that the outer surface contacts a portion of the first sidewall and a portion of the second sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: The Curators of the University of Missouri
    Inventors: Hai Xiao, Hanzheng Wang
  • Patent number: 9173322
    Abstract: Preferred embodiments provide a cooling system for an electronic display. A constricted convection plate is used to force cooling air against a posterior surface of the electronic display. Fans may be used to propel or pull air between the constricted convection plate and the rear surface of an electronic display. A refrigeration unit or thermoelectric module may be employed to cool or heat the air traveling through the constricted convection channel. Some embodiments include a closed loop which extracts heat (or adds heat) to the front display surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
    Inventor: William Dunn
  • Patent number: 9164350
    Abstract: An optical circulator includes a first optical isolator including a first port and a second port and a plurality of optical isolators coupled to the second port of the first optical isolator. Each of the plurality of optical isolators comprise a first port and a second port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Skorpios Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lina He, Amit Mizrahi
  • Patent number: 9166361
    Abstract: Frequency standards based on mode-locked fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and fiber-based ultra-broad bandwidth light sources, and applications of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: IMRA AMERICA, INC.
    Inventors: Ingmar Hartl, Martin Fermann
  • Patent number: 9151887
    Abstract: Multi-core optical fibers are disclosed herein. According to one embodiment, a multi-core optical fiber includes a common outer cladding formed from silica-based glass and having a cladding index of refraction ncl. At least one single mode core element may be disposed in the common outer cladding. The at least one single mode core element may have a maximum index of refraction n1 sm. In addition, at least one multimode core element may be disposed in the common outer cladding, the at least one multimode core element having a maximum index of refraction n1 mm. The maximum refractive index n1 sm of the at least one single mode core element may be greater than the cladding index of refraction ncl, the maximum refractive index n1 mm of the at least one multi-mode core element may be greater than ncl, and a center-to-center spacing between adjacent core elements is greater than or equal to 25 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Brett Jason Hoover, Ming-Jun Li
  • Patent number: 9151900
    Abstract: Optical couplings for making and optical connection between one or more devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical coupling includes a coupling face, an optical interface within the coupling face, an optical component positioned within the optical interface, and at least one coded magnetic array. The at least one coded magnetic array may include a plurality of magnetic regions configured aid in mating the optical component with a corresponding optical component of a complementary mated optical coupling to a predetermined tolerance for optical communication. Optical cable assemblies and electronics devices having optical couplings with optical interfaces using coded magnetic arrays are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: Seldon David Benjamin, Jeffery Alan DeMeritt, Micah Colen Isenhour, Dennis Michael Knecht, James Phillip Luther
  • Patent number: 9151904
    Abstract: A connector includes a ferrule assembly having a ferrule, a hub and a spring, the ferrule having a distal face accessible at a distal end of the connector housing, the ferrule being movable in a proximal direction relative to the connector housing. The distal and proximal positions are separated by an axial displacement distance. The ferrule proximal movement is against the spring's bias. The cable of the assembly includes an optical fiber contained within a jacket and also a strength layer between the fiber and the jacket that is anchored to the connector housing. The fiber extends through a fiber from the proximal end of the connector housing to the ferrule. The fiber has a distal portion potted within the ferrule. The fiber passage has a fiber take-up region configured to take-up an excess length of the fiber corresponding to the ferrule axial displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventor: Ponharith Nhep
  • Patent number: 9146347
    Abstract: Light diffusing optical fibers for use in ultraviolet illumination applications and which have a uniform color gradient that is angularly independent are disclosed herein along with methods for making such fibers. The light diffusing fibers are composed of a silica-based glass core that is coated with a number of layers including a scattering layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Stephan Lvovich Logunov, Paul John Shustack
  • Patent number: 9146097
    Abstract: An optical bend measurement apparatus includes a light source unit configured to supply measurement light, an optical transmission body configured to transmit the measurement light, a optical characteristic change members provided in different portions of the optical transmission body, and a photodetection unit configured to detect light output from the optical transmission body. Each optical characteristic change member imposes a change of optical characteristics on light impinging on the optical characteristic change member depending on a bend quantity in a specific direction of a portion of the optical transmission body where the optical characteristic change member is provided. The photodetection unit separates and detects the light that has undergone the change of the optical characteristics to independently measure bend quantities in specific directions of the different portions of the optical transmission bodies based on intensities of the detected light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiromasa Fujita, Eiji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9140860
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and devices for connecting optical fibers. In one aspect, a connector includes a transfer tube for equalizing the pressure between two chambers within the two connectors when the connectors are mated. The chambers may house biasing elements coupled to optical fiber holders to provide a pressure independent force against optical fiber terminals. The optical fiber holders may include side openings for receiving optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: BRANTNER & ASSOCIATES, INC.
    Inventor: Mark D Allen
  • Patent number: 9122034
    Abstract: A cable storage system includes a box and at least one cable retainer. The box includes a plurality of walls at least partially defining a box interior. The box receives a cable from an exterior of the box. At least one wall of the box defines a retainer opening. The retainer is adapted to receive an unsecured length of the cable and may be selectively secured to the retainer opening. When the retainer is secured to the retainer opening, the retainer extends out of the interior of the box. Multiple retainers may be used to store additional lengths of cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph C. Coffey, Cyle D. Petersen, Gordon P. Clark, Loren J. Mattson
  • Patent number: 9119325
    Abstract: A cooling assembly for an electronic image assembly having an open and closed gaseous loop. A closed gaseous loop allows circulating gas to travel across the front surface of an image assembly and through a heat exchanger. An open loop allows ambient gas to pass through the heat exchanger and extract heat from the circulating gas. An optional additional open loop may be used to cool the back portion of the image assembly (optionally a backlight). Ribs may be placed within the optional additional open loop to facilitate the heat transfer to the ambient gas. The cooling assembly can be used with any type of electronic assembly for producing an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: MANUFACTURING RESOURCES INTERNATIONAL, INC.
    Inventors: William Dunn, Tim Hubbard
  • Patent number: 9119330
    Abstract: A system for cooling an electronic image assembly using a heat exchanger with an internal fan assembly. Circulating gas may also be used to cool a front portion of the electronic image assembly or any other internal cavity of the electronic display housing. The circulating gas may be drawn through a heat exchanger so that heat may be transferred to an ambient gas. The heat exchanger may have an internal fan assembly for drawing ambient air through the heat exchanger and exhausting it out of the display housing. The heat exchanger may be divided into two portions so that the fan assembly is placed between the two portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Manufacturing Resources International, Inc.
    Inventors: Tim Hubbard, William Dunn
  • Patent number: 9109969
    Abstract: A twisted, multicore fiber communicates light input to each core to an output. The twisting mitigates relative time delays of the input light traveling through each of the cores in the multicore fiber to the output caused by bending of that multicore fiber. An example application is in an optical network that includes an optical input terminal and an optical sensor connected by a twisted multicore connecting fiber. One example of twisted multicore optical fiber is helically-wrapped, multicore fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: INTUITIVE SURGICAL OPERATIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Stephen T. Kreger, Paul F. Wysocki, Jeff T. Lacroix
  • Patent number: 9110351
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to a fiber design that achieves high nonlinearity, an effective index providing phase matching for an illustrative wavelength conversion process, and a low sensitivity to perturbations in fiber scaling. In one embodiment, a fiber comprises an inner core having an inner core radius and an inner core index, an outer core having an outer core radius and an outer core index, the outer core index being lower than the inner core index, an inner cladding, having an inner cladding radius and an inner cladding index, the inner cladding index being less than the outer core index, and an effective index of the fiber, the effective index being greater than the inner cladding index and less than the outer core index, wherein the fiber has a low perturbation sensitivity factor of dispersion to scaling less than about 20 ps/nm/km along the length of the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: OFS FITEL, LLC
    Inventors: John M Fini, Lars Gruner-Nielsen, Dan P Jakobsen
  • Patent number: 9110259
    Abstract: A plurality of AWG filters with aliasing responses are selected such that the wavelength range of a fundamental response of the AWG filters results in the aliased range of AWG filters to be adjacent to a fundamental range of the AWG filters. A plurality of optical sources is provided sufficient to cover each fundamental wavelength range and each alias wavelength range of the AWG filters. When a single one of the optical sources is enabled, reflected optical energy from a series string of FBGs coupled to the optical source is applied to the plurality of AWG filters, and the AWG output in combination with the wavelength range of the optical source is used to discriminate reflected wavelength from the FBG sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Intelligent Fiber Optic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Black, Joannes M. Costa, Behzad Moslehi, Vahid Sotoudeh, Jay A. Chesavage