Patents Examined by Michael J. Stahl
  • Patent number: 7076139
    Abstract: An optical fiber is fabricated with a refractive index profile having a central core; a middle part provided around the outer periphery of the central core and having a lower refractive index than that of the central core; and a cladding provided around the periphery of the middle part and having a higher refractive index than the middle part and a lower refractive index than the central core. This optical fiber has an effective core area of 120 ?m2 or more in an employed wavelength band selected from the range of 1.53˜1.63 ?m, and has a cut-off wavelength that is capable of substantially single mode propagation in the aforementioned employed wavelength band. As a result, it is possible to construct an optical transmission system having excellent transmission characteristics in which nonlinearity is decreased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Aikawa, Takashi Suzuki, Akira Wada, Ryozo Yamauchi, Takaaki Suzuki, Shoichiro Matsuo, Manabu Saitou
  • Patent number: 6827503
    Abstract: An optical device package includes a substrate, optical semiconductor component, optical fiber, frame and lid. The substrate has a longitudinal notch for mounting the optical fiber and a lateral groove with a proximally facing stop surface. The frame includes at least one downwardly extending projection configured and dimensioned so as to engage a lateral end portion of the lateral groove. The frame is self-aligning and seats itself by being dropped into place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Dan A. Steinberg, Mindaugas F. Dautartas
  • Patent number: 6778748
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical fiber having a compensation function of the dispersion characteristic of an optical transmission line in S-band, and preferably has a filter function for cutting off wavelengths exceeding S-band. The optical fiber of the present invention has three-layered glass layers having different compositions between neighboring layers. When the maximum relative refractive index difference of a first glass layer (1) formed at the innermost of the optical fiber to a third glass layer (3) (standard layer) is represented by &Dgr;1, and the minimum relative refractive index difference of a second glass layer (2) as a second layer from the innermost of the optical fiber to the standard layer is by &Dgr;2, the following inequalities are satisfied: 1.0%≦&Dgr;1≦3.0%, and −1.0%≦&Dgr;2≦−0.4%. The dispersion value at the set wavelength of the S-band is set to −8 ps/nm/km.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2004
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ryuichi Sugizaki, Takeshi Yagi
  • Patent number: 6760514
    Abstract: A photonic crystal drop filter apparatus and a method for tuning a photonic crystal drop filter. The photonic crystal drop filter has a photonic crystal having first waveguide for transmitting light having a frequency within a bandgap of the photonic crystal, and a second waveguide. The second waveguide is connected to the first waveguide by a resonant cavity for extracting at least one wavelength of the light transmitted by the first waveguide and redirecting the extracted light to the second waveguide. A tuning device is included in the apparatus to tune the wavelength of the extracted light over a full range of wavelengths. The apparatus is particularly suitable as an extraction device for optical communications systems such as a WDM communications system wherein it is necessary to extract one or more carrier signals from a plurality of carrier signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2004
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Carol J. Wilson, Mihail M. Sigalas, Curt Alan Flory
  • Patent number: 6729775
    Abstract: The electro-optical module has a housing in which a supporting plate provided with at least one optical element, electric circuit elements, and electric connection elements is accommodated. The object is to provide such a module with a smallest possible additional spatial requirement and good electrical properties with additional electric circuit elements. To this end, the circuit elements are arranged outside of the housing on a circuit board which forms an integral part of the wall of the housing. The circuit board is directly electrically connected to the supporting plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Klaus Panzer, Hans Hurt
  • Patent number: 6633698
    Abstract: A main optical path disposed between light input and output ends and an auxiliary optical path disposed so as to correspond to the main optical path are optically coupled to each other with first, second, and third optical couplers. The respective optical path lengths of main and auxiliary optical paths differ from each other between the first and second optical couplers and between the second and third optical couplers. Between the first and second optical couplers and between the second and third optical couplers, at least one of the main and auxiliary optical paths is provided with temperature adjusting means for adjusting the temperature of the corresponding optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hitoshi Hatayama, Masayuki Nishimura
  • Patent number: 6577800
    Abstract: An optical transmission fiber for use in a metropolitan or access network is disclosed. The transmission line includes a fiber being single mode at a first operating wavelength of around 1310 nm and a second operating wavelength of around 1550 nm. The dispersion of the fiber is negative at one of the first and second wavelengths and positive at the other wavelength, with an absolute value of between about 5 and 15 ps/nm/km. The fiber also has a zero dispersion wavelength that is located between the first and second operating wavelengths, and an effective area at a wavelength around 1550 nm greater than about 60 &mgr;m2. The cabled fiber has a cutoff wavelength less than about 1300 nm. The fiber allows wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) operation in both the bands (1310 nm and 1550 nm) by reducing nonlinear effects such as four-wave mixing (FWM).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.p.A.
    Inventors: Davide Sarchi, Giacomo Stefano Roba
  • Patent number: 6513991
    Abstract: The invention is an optical device package which includes a housing defining an enclosure and including an exterior wall. An optical device is mounted within the enclosure. An assembly including a wavelength division multiplexer element is attached to the exterior wall so that the multiplexer element receives light from the optical device. An optical fiber termination including at least one optical fiber is attached to the assembly so that the fiber receives light from the multiplexer element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Agere Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Vincent T. Kowalski
  • Patent number: 6513989
    Abstract: A ferrule container for holding a plurality of ferrules retaining a multiplicity of optical fibers. The ferrule container includes outer walls defining a plurality of parallel ferrule passageways for holding a plurality of ferrules, and a ferrule holder including a spring holder and a compression spring. The spring holder and one of the outer walls are formed with mutually cooperating structure including a latching nose and a latching nose opening cooperating to orient and hold the spring holder in at least one of the ferrule passageways. A connecting configuration is also provided for connecting a multiplicity of optical fibers including a board housing with a first ferrule and a bushing housing with a second ferrule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2003
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Logistics AG
    Inventors: Oliver Bleck, Helge Schmidt
  • Patent number: 6511233
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a spring clip for holding the connection sides of optical units in contact with one another, said optical units including guide pins and optical coupling surfaces. The clip includes a main part from which hooked members project out generally at right angles. A first and a second hooked member are adapted to snap firmly over a first optical unit, whereas a third hooked member is adapted to urge an optical connection side on a second optical unit against an optical connection side on the first optical unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventors: Odd Steijer, Paul Eriksen
  • Patent number: 6510271
    Abstract: The present invention incorporates an optical fiber cleaving mechanism within a prior art optical fiber impact mounting device. The optical fiber cleaving mechanism is pivotally mounted within the fiberoptic connector holding mechanism, such that an optical fiber cleaving blade is disposed proximate the tip of the fiberoptic connector. After the optical fiber has been engaged within the fiberoptic connector an end of the optical fiber protrudes from the tip of the fiberoptic connector. An actuator member is then manipulated to cause the optical fiber cleaving mechanism to rotate downwardly, such that the cleaving blade will make cleaving contact with the surface of the optical fiber. Immediately prior to the contact of the cleaving blade with the optical fiber, a portion of the cleaving mechanism makes contact with the protruding end of the optical fiber to bend it downwardly, and the subsequent contact of the cleaving blade will cleave the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2003
    Assignee: Valdor Fiber Optics, Inc.
    Inventor: Wojciech Beldycki
  • Patent number: 6493486
    Abstract: Various aspects of thermal compensated Bragg grating filters are disclosed. In one disclosed aspect, an optical fiber having a Bragg grating therein is laid adjacent to a torsion member, and the two are then rigidly affixed between a torsion adjusting member and a compensating member. The torsion adjusting member may then be rotated, twisting the optical fiber around the torsion member, and thus applying torsion to the optical fiber containing the Bragg grating, and changing the period of the Bragg grating. A further disclosed aspect provides an optical fiber, containing a Bragg grating filter therein, which is rigidly affixed between a torsion adjusting member and a compensating member in an axis other than the compensating member's longitudinal axis. The torsion adjusting member may then be rotated to apply torsion to the optical fiber, and change the period of the Bragg grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Chen
  • Patent number: 6480641
    Abstract: An optical modulator that modulates light through the back side of a flip chip packaged integrated circuit die. In one embodiment, an optical modulator includes a p-n junction having a side wall that is substantially vertical or perpendicular relative to a surface of the integrated circuit die. A charged region is generated at the p-n junction and is modulated in response to an electrical signal of the integrated circuit die. An optical beam is directed through the back side, of the semiconductor substrate and through the charged region along the side wall p-n junction. The optical beam is deflected off a deflector back through the charged region along the side wall back out the back side. In one embodiment, the side wall p-n junction is provided with a metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gate structure. In another embodiment, the side wall p-n junction is provided by an n− (or p−) well in a p− (or n−) epitaxy layer of the semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Yi Ding, Mario J. Paniccia, Timothy J. Maloney
  • Patent number: 6463192
    Abstract: The non-blocking micro-optic switch matrix (NMSM) includes a plurality of optical routing elements (OREs) forming an M×N matrix. Each ORE of the plurality includes a first and second wafer prism having a gap disposed therebetween. A body of transparent solid material disposed in the gap has a contracted state at a first temperature and an expanded state at a second temperature. The contracted state defines an air gap in the path of light traveling along a first axis, causing light to be deflected along a second axis through total internal reflection. The first and second axes are at a non-zero angle with respect to one another. The expanded state of the transparent material removes the air gap disposed in the path of light traveling along the first axis allowing light to pass through the first wafer prism, through the body of transparent material and into the second wafer prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: K2 Optronics, Inc.
    Inventor: Narinder Kapany
  • Patent number: 6453098
    Abstract: The reinforced optical fiber cable of unitube structure comprises a protective tube for protecting optical fibers and reinforcing elements, together with an outer sheath around said protective tube. In the cable said protective tube is of corrugated tubular structure. Application: Long distance transmission cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Peter Elisson, Jörgen Paborn
  • Patent number: 6445862
    Abstract: A fiber optic waveguide is disclosed. The fiber optic waveguide includes a core region, and a moat region surrounding the core region. A cladding region surrounds the moat region and the core region. The cladding region includes a lattice of column structures disposed within a solid background matrix. A diameter of the core region is sized for making contact with the moat region for creating an extended core region at longer wavelengths. The core region, the moat region, and the cladding region function to produce unique dispersion compensating properties, which include negative dispersion and positive dispersion. The core region may be formed from a high index material and the moat region may be formed from a material having a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the core region. The cladding region is formed from a material having a refractive index which is higher than the index of the moat region and lower than the refractive index of core region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: James C. Fajardo, V. Srikant, James A. West
  • Patent number: 6443629
    Abstract: An optical fiber terminus body has a helical spring (32) trapped between front and rear shoulders, with the rear shoulder formed by a thin flange (64) that facilitates mounting of the spring on a one-piece body (40). The thin flange has front and rear surfaces that are angled by no more than about 30° from a radial direction, and the base of the flange has an axial length substantially no greater than the radial length of the flange, to facilitate installation of the spring by turning the spring to thread it past the flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: James Edward Novacoski, Can Trong Nguyen
  • Patent number: 6445844
    Abstract: A fiber optic switch includes a fiber optic switching module that receives and fixes ends of optical fibers. The module includes numerous reflective light beam deflectors which may be selected as pairs for coupling a beam of light between a pair of optical fibers. The module also produces orientation signals from each deflector which indicate its orientation. A portcard included in the switch supplies drive signals to the module for orienting at least one deflector. The portcard also receives the orientation signals produced by that deflector together with coordinates that specify an orientation for the deflector. The portcard compares the received coordinates with the orientation signals received from the deflector and adjusts the drive signals supplied to the module to reduce any difference between the received coordinates and the orientation signals. The switch also employs optical alignment to precisely orient pairs of deflectors coupling a beam of light between optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: XROS, Inc.
    Inventors: Armand P. Neukermans, Timothy G. Slater, Tyler L. Baughman, James P. Downing, John S. Forker, Gregory A. Reznick, Sam Calmes, Steven M. Clark, Jack D. Foster, Marc R. Schuman, Rajiv Ramaswami
  • Patent number: 6438306
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a coated optical fiber comprising a glass optical fiber with a single protective coating or a combination of an inner and an outer primary coating applied thereon and optionally with a colored coating subsequently applied thereon wherein the inner primary coating or at least a portion of the single coating is prepared from a radiation curable composition which when cured as a capillary film with a 100 W medium pressure mercury lamp has a percentage reacted acrylate unsaturation of at least about 54% after exposure to a dose of about 4.4 mJ/cm2 or wherein the outer primary coating is prepared from a radiation curable composition which when cured as a capillary film with a 100 W medium pressure mercury lamp has a percentage reacted acrylate unsaturation of at least about 56% after exposure to a dose of about 4.4 mJ/cm2. The invention further relates to a radiation curable composition having a high cure speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: DSM N.V.
    Inventors: Timothy E. Bishop, Paul E. Snowwhite, Tyson Norlin, James J. Schouten, John Southwell, Anthony Toussaint
  • Patent number: 6430324
    Abstract: A proximity field optical microscope is provided which can simultaneously conduct optical observation in the ultraviolet and infrared light ranges and conduct geometrical observation and detect other physical information, wherein a microscopic opening is stably and easily formed in a probe tip with low manufacturing cost and high yield. The microscope has an optical probe which comprises a tube having a tip portion formed with a smaller diameter than an overall diameter of the tube, an optically opaque material coated on the tube, an optical microscope opening formed at the tip portion, and an optical waveguide having at least two optical end surfaces, one end surface being inserted in the tube facing the microscopic opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Seiko Instruments Inc.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Muramatsu, Katsunori Honma, Norio Chiba, Noritake Yamamoto, Akira Egawa