Patents Examined by John Bedtelyon
  • Patent number: 11885670
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure describe distributed fiber optic sensing (DFOS) systems, methods, and structures that advantageously are employed in smart stadium or other venue applications, such applications including: parking lot security and management; intrusion detection; social sensing; air quality monitoring and early fire detection—among others.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Ming-Fang Huang, Ting Wang
  • Patent number: 11886014
    Abstract: A silicon-based photonic chip is provided that includes an interface for optically coupling the photonic chip to an optical fiber or an optical fiber assembly. The interface includes: a single-mode waveguide configured to guide light and to provide a first light beam; a first optical element configured to expand the light beam in a first direction in-plane of the photonic chip, thereby providing an expanded light beam; and a second optical element configured to deflect and to further expand the expanded light beam in a second direction, thereby providing an output light beam from the photonic chip. Also provided are methods for fabricating such a photonic chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Imec VZW
    Inventors: Junwen He, Joris Van Campenhout, Geert Van Steenberge, Jeroen Missinne, Yigit Yilmaz, Do Won Kim, Douglas Charles La Tulipe
  • Patent number: 11864731
    Abstract: A connector device for an endoscope that can prevent infiltration of water into an exterior member is provided. A linear portion (46A) of an elliptical ring portion (46) of a connector exterior case (28) includes through-holes (50 and 52). An inner peripheral surface of the linear portion (46A) includes a semicircular groove (54) that connects the through-hole (50) and the through-hole (52) to each other. An outer peripheral surface of a linear portion (30A) of an elliptical ring portion (30) of a plug (26) includes a semicircular groove (56), and the groove (56) is disposed to face the groove (54) so that an insertion passage (58) is formed. A pin (60) is fitted into the through-hole (52) from the through-hole (50) via the insertion passage (58), and the pin (60) is fitted to the through-hole (50), the insertion passage (58), and the through-hole (52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shintaro Hattori, Nobuyuki Torisawa
  • Patent number: 11867576
    Abstract: An optical cable (31) includes: a stress wave detection optical cable (30) having an optical fiber (7) and a plurality of first steel wires (8) which are helically wound so as to surround the optical fiber (7) and which are surrounded by a flexible material (9); and second steel wires (32) different from the first steel wires (8). The stress wave detection optical cable (30) and the plurality of second steel wires (32) are helically wound to form one annular body as a whole, and a winding angle (?) of the stress wave detection optical cable (30) with respect to the axis is determined by a property value prescribed by Lamé constants of the flexible material (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: PETROLIAM NASIONAL BERHAD (PETRONAS)
    Inventors: Kinzo Kishida, Ahmad Riza Ghazali, Mohamad Faizal Bin Abd Rahim
  • Patent number: 11867991
    Abstract: An optical scan device includes an optical waveguide array, including a plurality of optical waveguides each of which propagates light along a first direction, that emits a light beam, the plurality of optical waveguides being arranged in a second direction that intersects the first direction, a phase shifter array including a plurality of phase shifters connected separately to each of the plurality of optical waveguides, a control circuit that controls a phase shift amount of each of the plurality of phase shifters and/or inputting of light to each of the plurality of phase shifters and thereby controls a direction and shape of the light beam that is emitted from the optical waveguide array, a photodetector that detects the light beam reflected by a physical object, and a signal processing circuit that generates distance distribution data on the basis of output from the photodetector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhisa Inada, Atsushi Ishikawa, Yumiko Kato
  • Patent number: 11860425
    Abstract: Optical terminators comprising a ferrule assembly with an optical filter for providing a reflective event in an optical network are disclosed. The optical filter assembly reflecting one or more preselected wavelengths so that the service provide can test optical links in an unmated connection node of the optical network. In one embodiment, the optical terminator has a hardened connector interface for outside plant applications. A ferrule assembly comprises the optical filter, and at least a portion of the ferrule assembly is disposed within the connector housing of the optical terminator. In another embodiment the connector housing comprises a locking feature integrally formed into the body of the connector housing for securing the reflective terminator. Other embodiments comprise a sealing element for sealing a rear end of the reflective terminator, a plug end of an outer housing having first and second fingers, and a coupling nut disposed about a portion of the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Clinton Jensen, Martin Eugene Norris, Radawan Ripumaree
  • Patent number: 11862362
    Abstract: A multi-phase submarine power cable including: a plurality of power cores arranged in a stranded configuration, and a curvature sensor including: an elastic elongated member, and a plurality of Fibre Bragg Grating, FBG, fibres, each FBG fibre extending axially along the elongated member at a radial distance from the centre of the elongated member; wherein the elongated member extends between the stranded power cores along a central axis of the multi-phase submarine power cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: NKT HV Cables AB
    Inventors: Andreas Tyrberg, Patrik Holmberg, Petrus Althini
  • Patent number: 11846836
    Abstract: An electro-optical waveguide modulator device includes a seed layer on a substrate, the seed layer having a first crystallographic plane aligned with a surface of the seed layer, an electro-optical channel extending in a first direction on the seed layer and having a second crystallographic plane aligned with the surface of the seed layer, an insulator layer on both sides of the electro-optical channel on the substrate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, an electrode barrier layer on the electro-optical channel and the insulator layer, and one or more of electrodes extending in the second direction. The seed layer and the insulator layer each comprise material having a refractive index that is lower than the electro-optical channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell Chin Yee Teo, Ludovic Godet, Nir Yahav, Robert Jan Visser
  • Patent number: 11835803
    Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for communication are disclosed. An example device can comprise a first waveguide portion disposed on a substrate, a second waveguide portion, and a third waveguide portion disposed between the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion. The third waveguide portion can be configured to carry a signal based on a refractive index of the third waveguide portion matching an effective refractive index of an optical mode of a combination of the first waveguide portion and the second waveguide portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York
    Inventors: Michal Lipson, Janderson Rocha Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 11835840
    Abstract: An optical scanning device includes: a first waveguide that propagates light by total reflection; and a second waveguide. The second waveguide includes: a first multilayer reflective film; a second multilayer reflective film that faces the first multilayer reflective film; and a first optical waveguide layer directly connected to the first waveguide and located between the first and second multilayer reflective films. The first optical waveguide layer has a variable thickness and/or a variable refractive index and propagates the light transmitted through the first waveguide. The first multilayer reflective film has a higher light transmittance than the second multilayer reflective film and allows part of the light propagating through the first optical waveguide layer to be emitted to the outside. By changing the thickness of the first optical waveguide layer and/or its refractive index, the direction of the part of the light emitted from the second waveguide is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Hashiya, Yasuhisa Inada, Taku Hirasawa, Yoshikazu Yamaoka, Nobuaki Nagao
  • Patent number: 11835763
    Abstract: A method of making a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) is provided. The method comprises depositing a functional resist material layer over a substrate, disposing and pressing a stamp with a plurality of nanopatterns into the functional resist material for a period of time, and removing the stamp from the functional resist material to provide nanofeatures that are inverted versions of the nanopatterns, wherein the nanofeatures form one or more optical elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark William Knight, Stephanie Roxane Sandor-Leahy, Lakshminarayanan Ravi Narasimhan
  • Patent number: 11822121
    Abstract: A cavity substrate may have a directional optoelectronic transmission channel. The cavity substrate includes a support frame, a first dielectric layer on a first surface of the support frame, and a second dielectric layer on a second surface of the support frame. The support frame, the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer constitute a closed cavity having an opening on one side in the length direction of the substrate, a first circuit layer is arranged on the inner surface of the first dielectric layer facing the cavity, an electrode connected with an optical communication device is arranged on the first circuit layer, the electrode is electrically conducted with the first circuit layer, a second circuit layer is arranged on the outer surfaces of the first dielectric layer and the second dielectric layer, and the first circuit layer and the second circuit layer are communicated through a via column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: Zhuhai ACCESS Semiconductor Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Xianming Chen, Lei Feng, Benxia Huang, Wenshi Wang, Lina Jiang
  • Patent number: 11815721
    Abstract: An integrated circuit includes an electronic circuit. The integrated circuit further includes a photonic device. The photonic device includes a first photodetector (PD) electrically connected to the electronic circuit. The photonic device further includes a second PD electrically connected to the electronic circuit. The photonic device further includes a first waveguide configured to receive an optical signal input, wherein the first waveguide is optically connected to the first PD. The photonic device further includes a second waveguide optically connected to the second PD. The photonic device further includes a resonant structure between the first waveguide and the second waveguide, wherein the resonant structure is configured to optically couple the first waveguide to the second waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Weiwei Song, Stefan Rusu
  • Patent number: 11808998
    Abstract: Disclosed are apparatus and methods for optical coupling in optical communications. In one embodiment, an apparatus for optical coupling is disclosed. The apparatus includes: a planar layer; an array of scattering elements arranged in the planar layer at a plurality of intersections of a first set of concentric elliptical curves crossing with a second set of concentric elliptical curves rotated proximately 90 degrees to form a two-dimensional (2D) grating; a first taper structure formed in the planar layer connecting a first convex side of the 2D grating to a first waveguide; and a second taper structure formed in the planar layer connecting a second convex side of the 2D grating to a second waveguide. Each scattering element is a pillar into the planar layer. The pillar has a top surface whose shape is a concave polygon having at least 6 corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chan-Hong Chern, Min-Hsiang Hsu
  • Patent number: 11803012
    Abstract: Disclosed is a photonic structure and associated method. The structure includes a closed-curve waveguide having a first height, as measured from the top surface of an insulator layer, and an outer curved sidewall that extends essentially vertically the full first height (e.g., to minimize signal loss). The structure includes a closed-curve thermal coupler and a heating element. The closed-curve thermal coupler is thermally coupled to and laterally surrounded by the closed-curve waveguide and has a second height that is less than the first height. In some embodiments, the closed-curve waveguide and the closed-curve thermal coupler are continuous portions of the same semiconductor layer having different thicknesses. The heating element is thermally coupled to the closed-curve thermal coupler and thereby indirectly thermally coupled to the closed-curve waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: GlobalFoundries U.S. Inc.
    Inventors: Michal Rakowski, Petar I. Todorov, Yusheng Bian, Won Suk Lee, Asif J. Chowdhury, Kenneth J. Giewont
  • Patent number: 11802790
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable for sound wave sensing that uses a straight optical fiber and is capable of suppressing directivity is provided. The optical fiber cable for sound wave sensing includes a cover part (10) that is capable of covering a straight cable core (11) and is provided with a sound wave refraction part (12) which refracts sound waves made incident roughly perpendicularly to a longitudinal direction of the cable core (11) and makes the sound waves be incident diagonally to the longitudinal direction of the cable core (11). The cover part (10) includes a gap filling part (23) which covers the sound wave refraction part (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yutaka Yano, Eitaro Misumi
  • Patent number: 11803095
    Abstract: A method for implementing folding M×N wavelength selective switch is provided. A one-dimensional single-mode fiber optic collimator array, a short-focus cylindrical mirror, a first long-focus cylindrical mirror, a retroreflector, a transmission phase diffraction grating, a second long-focus cylindrical mirror, a liquid crystal spatial light modulator, and a liquid crystal graphic loading control system are provided along beam transmission direction. The same set of optical elements is used for incident light and outgoing light by ingenious folding structure. The input port and output port of optical signal are consistent in spatial arrangement, thereby reducing space and improving port utilization. Based on composite liquid crystal chips, a working area of the liquid crystal spatial light modulator is doubled, and a quantity of accommodating ports is greatly increased. A quantity of M×N ports of the WSS can be increased greatly by the above structure and design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2023
    Assignee: MINZU UNIVERSITY OF CHINA
    Inventors: Genxiang Chen, Yunshu Gao, Nan Wang, Bing Yu, Qian Cui, Shengjuan Peng
  • Patent number: 11781888
    Abstract: A reflected light wavelength scanning device having a silicon photonics interrogator is provided. The device includes: a light source module for outputting broadband light; an optical sensor that receives light output from the light source module through a circulator, reflects light in a specific band to the circulator, and transmits light in a band other than the specific band; and an interrogator for selectively injecting the polarized light by separating the polarized light from the reflected light input through the circulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventors: Hyung Myung Moon, Seung Chan Kwak, Jin Bong Kim, Sangyoon Han
  • Patent number: 11781923
    Abstract: A fiber optic sensing head includes a single-mode optical fiber, a twin hole optical fiber including a cladding region and a core region surrounded by the cladding region, and the core region includes a second core located at an axis center, as well as a first and second round holes symmetrically distributed with respect to the second core; an incoming end of a gradient refractive-index fiber is connected to an outgoing end of the twin hole optical fiber with the incoming end of the gradient index fiber aligned with the outgoing end of the single-mode optical fiber at center. A thermal-sensitive structure is filled in a preset length part of the second round hole extending along an axial direction of the twin hole optical fiber. An incoming end of the twin hole optical fiber is connected to an outgoing end of the gradient index optical fiber with displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, CAS
    Inventors: Linjun Li, Yuqiang Yang, Shilie Pan, Yu Zhou, Xiaoming Duan, Yingjie Shen, Qianqian Hao, Xin He
  • Patent number: 11754776
    Abstract: A light-emitting fiber includes a core and a cladding and is configured to emit light through a side surface of the fiber. A resin used for the core is at least one selected from the group consisting of polymethyl methacrylate, polymethyl methacrylate copolymers, polystyrene, polycarbonates, polyorganosiloxanes, and norbornene, and a resin used for the cladding is fluorine resin. The light-emitting fiber has a fiber diameter of 95 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KURARAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takeshi Tsudaka, Yosuke Washitake, Ryokei Endo, Shunsuke Suiko