Patents Examined by Michael Mooney
  • Patent number: 9869817
    Abstract: An optical interferometer based on multi-mode interference (MMI) devices includes an input port, an output port, a first MMI device connected to the input port at an input face of the first MMI device, a second MMI device connected to the first output port at an output face of the second MMI device. In the optical interferometer, an output face of the first MMI device and an input face of the second MMI device are directly connected, the first MMI device includes a first and a second self-imaging points at an interface between the first MMI device and the second MMI device, and a propagation axis of the second MMI device is tilted with respect to a propagation axis of the first MMI device, causing a path length difference between an upper optical path via the first self-imaging point and a lower optical path via the second self-imaging point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Yves Painchaud, Alexandre D. Simard
  • Patent number: 9864148
    Abstract: An optical device includes at least three optical ports. An optical arrangement arranges an optical beam received from any of the optical ports into a first polarization state. A dispersion element spatially separates the optical beam into a plurality of wavelength components. An optical power element converges each wavelength component in at least one direction. A programmable optical phase modulator steers the wavelength components through the optical arrangement, the dispersion element and the focusing element to a selected optical output. The programmable optical phase modulator includes an active area that performs the steering and a non-active area surrounding the active area. A polarizing arrangement located in an optical path between at least one of the optical ports and at least a portion of the non-active area of the programmable optical phase modulator is configured to arrange optical energy into a second polarization state orthogonal to the first polarization state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: Nistica, Inc.
    Inventor: Takaaki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 9864131
    Abstract: Application of non-uniform strain to discrete segments of a fiber grating mechanically changes the structure type of the associated device, e.g., the refractive index perturbation profile of the fiber grating is changed from uniform to phase shifted superstructured, or from chirped to superstructured. The strain may be applied with one or more deformable corrugated slides which are bonded to the fiber grating between the discrete segments. The applied strain changes the local period of fiber grating. Complex changes may be achieved via variations of corrugated slide dimensions. An LPFG may be provided with bare fiber by applying periodically longitudinal axial strain to fiber at multiple discrete segments on the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Inventor: Fei Luo
  • Patent number: 9864140
    Abstract: In part, the invention relates to optical caps having at least one lensed surface configured to redirect and focus light outside of the cap. The cap is placed over an optical fiber. Optical radiation travels through the fiber and interacts with the optical surface or optical surfaces of the cap, resulting in a beam that is either focused at a distance outside of the cap or substantially collimated. The optical elements such as the elongate caps described herein can be used with various data collection modalities such optical coherence tomography. In part, the invention relates to a lens assembly that includes a micro-lens; a beam director in optical communication with the micro-lens; and a substantially transparent film or cover. The substantially transparent film is capable of bi-directionally transmitting light, and generating a controlled amount of backscatter. The film can surround a portion of the beam director.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: LIGHTLAB IMAGING, INC.
    Inventors: Desmond Adler, Stephen McCartin, Christopher Petersen
  • Patent number: 9864150
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical interconnection component enabling implementation of optical fiber connection with higher accuracy than by the conventional technologies. The optical interconnection component is configured to maintain arrangement of end faces of a plurality of rotationally-aligned MCFs, so as to reduce connection loss to another component. Since arrangement of the MCFs can be confirmed by markers provided on a holding portion holding the plurality of MCFs inside, it becomes feasible to achieve the optical connection with higher accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Sasaki, Yasuomi Kaneuchi, Osamu Shimakawa
  • Patent number: 9864147
    Abstract: An optical modulator module includes: a semiconductor modulator that includes a plurality of output waveguides; a first cylindrical lens that has a longitudinal direction in a direction in which the plurality of output waveguides are aligned, and through which lights output from the plurality of output waveguides penetrate; and a plurality of second cylindrical lenses each having a longitudinal direction that intersects with the longitudinal direction of the first cylindrical lens and allowing a corresponding light of the lights output from the plurality of output waveguides to penetrate therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: FUJITSU OPTICAL COMPONENTS LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kato, Shinji Maruyama, Kohei Shibata, Seimi Sasaki, Teruhiro Kubo, Takehito Tanaka
  • Patent number: 9857610
    Abstract: In an optical modulator 115 of an embodiment, an optical waveguide core 121 is configured from an n? type semiconductor region 134, a gate insulating film 136 on the n? type semiconductor region 134, and a p? type semiconductor region 137 on the gate insulating film 136. Further, a width W1 of the n? type semiconductor region 134 and a width W1 of the p? type semiconductor region 137 are equally formed and are layered without being shifted. Therefore, an optical modulator having stable optical characteristics can be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: HITACHI, LTD.
    Inventors: Hideo Arimoto, Kazuki Tani, Takashi Takahama, Daisuke Ryuzaki, Yoshitaka Sasago
  • Patent number: 9851515
    Abstract: A receptacle for transceiver optical sub-assembly is configured for optical elements such as a light-emitting unit, a light guide unit, a light-receiving unit and a filter to connect thereto. The receptacle includes a lower receptacle body having a through bore, to which the light-emitting unit is connected; and an upper receptacle body having an axial receiving bore, to which the light guide unit is connected. The upper and the lower receptacle body are movable relative to each other in the x-y plane. The lower receptacle body can be moved relative to the upper receptacle body until an optical signal emitted from the light-emitting unit is optically coupled and collimated with an optical fiber in the light guide unit, and then the upper and lower receptacle bodies are fixedly connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Optoway Technology Inc.
    Inventor: Eddy Chien
  • Patent number: 9851511
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spring bias that is particularly suited for use to preload a low profile ferrule of an optical connector. In accordance with the present invention, an axial preload is applied to a connector ferrule by a spring structure provided external of the connector. In one embodiment, spring structure is provided outside a plurality of optical fiber connectors, which provides axial preload of multiple ferrules. Each ferrule could be of the type that supports a plurality of optical fibers of a fiber cable. In one embodiment, the spring bias is effected by a planar flexure external of the connector. The ferrule is coupled to the planar flexure with its longitudinal axis through the center of the planar flexure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: NANOPRECISION PRODUCTS, INC.
    Inventors: Shuhe Li, Gregory L. Klotz, Michael K. Barnoski, Robert Ryan Vallance
  • Patent number: 9851523
    Abstract: A communication system includes an outer housing, an inner housing, and a hanger plate assembly. The outer housing has first and second side walls. The inner housing is at least partially positioned within the outer housing. The inner housing has first and second side walls and is configured to receive a plurality of patch panel devices therein in a stacked arrangement. The hanger plate assembly includes a first hanger plate hingedly coupled to the first side wall of the inner housing and a plurality of hangers connected to the first hanger plate in a stacked arrangement. Each hanger is adapted to support a cable thereon. The hanger plate assembly has a stored condition in which the hanger plate assembly is fully positioned within the outer housing, and a pulled out condition in which the hanger plate assembly is at least partially positioned outside the outer housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenichiro Takeuchi, Haiguang Lu, Alla Shtabnaya
  • Patent number: 9841618
    Abstract: An optical modulator circuit includes first and second electrodes, first and second p-n junction segments (PNJSs), and first and second optical waveguides. The first PNJS includes a first modulating p-n junction (MPNJ) in series with a first non-modulating device (NMD) that are connected to the first and second electrodes, respectively, where the first NMD includes a first substantially larger capacitance than the first MPNJ. The second PNJS includes a second NMD in series with a second MPNJ that are connected to the first and second electrodes, respectively, where the second NMD includes a second substantially larger capacitance than the second MPNJ. The first and second optical waveguides superimpose the first and second MPNJs, respectively, where the first and second MPNJs are configured to modulate a refractive index of the first and second optical waveguides, respectively, based on the substantially larger capacitance of the first NMD and the second NMD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Michel Poulin, Yves Painchaud, Alexandre Delisle-Simard
  • Patent number: 9829638
    Abstract: An optical multiplexer and methods of making and calibrating the same are disclosed. A method of aligning components in a multichannel optical/optoelectronic transmitter includes passively fixing a plurality of light emitters in place on a substrate; adjusting positions of a first lens passing light from a first light emitter and an optical signal transmission medium receiving the light from the first light emitter until a far field spot of the light from the first light emitter is at or near an end of the transmission medium; fixing one or more optical subassemblies on the substrate; and adjusting positions of the optical subassembly(ies) to align light from the remaining light emitters with the far field spot. Some embodiments include multiple optical subassemblies, each including a lens and a filter. Other embodiments include one optical subassembly including a mirror and a beam combiner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Source Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Moshe Amit, Mark Heimbuch
  • Patent number: 9829665
    Abstract: A fiber optic splice enclosure includes a basket. The basket includes an outer shell, the outer shell including an outer sidewall defining at least a portion of a periphery of the basket. The basket further includes an insert disposed within the outer shell, the insert including a first sidewall and a second sidewall spaced apart from each other along a transverse axis and each extending along a longitudinal axis to define an inner channel therebetween. The first sidewall and the second sidewall are each further spaced apart from the outer sidewall along the longitudinal axis to define a first outer channel and a second outer channel. The fiber optic splice enclosure further includes a splice tray assembly including at least one splice tray, the splice tray assembly disposed within the inner channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC
    Inventors: Patrick E. Dobbins, David Reeve, Richard Megill, Vahid Ebrahimi
  • Patent number: 9829639
    Abstract: A tunable optical filter is described, utilizing a diffraction grating and a rotating mirror. By incorporating a phase screen, or the combination of a phase screen and a transmission amplitude-modulated mask, located in front of the rotating mirror, or possibly at other locations in the optical path, the selected wavelength's passband spectrum can be shaped in a variety of ways. In particular, the output spectrum of the tunable optical filter can be made flatter within the passband, while maintaining good isolation of adjacent channels or wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: DICON FIBEROPTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Alexander Jacob Birman, Ho-Shang Lee
  • Patent number: 9829636
    Abstract: Apparatus and method are disclosed for co-aligning a number of laterally displaced radiation beams from respective radiation source outputs, each beam having a respective waveband. The apparatus comprises a collimating element for receiving each of said radiation beams with respective lateral displacements and a combining element for receiving each of said radiation beams passed by said collimating element. The apparatus further comprises a radiation source mount for positioning the radiation source outputs relative to the collimating element. The method comprises longitudinally positioning the radiation source outputs upon the mount, relative to the collimating element, in dependence upon the waveband of each beam, to cause the radiation beams passed by the combining element to be co-aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEM plc
    Inventors: Craig Daniel Stacey, Christopher Stace
  • Patent number: 9817195
    Abstract: A cable sealing device is described herein for use in a sealed optical fiber connector that includes a spreading member disposed around and axially movable with respect to a cable and elastic sleeve concentrically disposed around the cable and over the spreading member. The elastic sleeve includes a first cable sealing portion disposed in fixed sealing contact with the cable, a central sealing portion that is axially offset from the first cable sealing portion and concentrically arranged around the spreading member, and a first flexible membrane portion disposed between the first cable sealing portion and the central sealing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY
    Inventors: Michel T. Menguy, Thomas Cavallaro
  • Patent number: 9817254
    Abstract: A stabilized integrated optical circuit is presented. The stabilized integrated optical circuit includes at least one integrated optical chip formed from at least one inorganic material, a stabilizing-polarizable-fill gas, and an enclosure enclosing the at least one integrated optical chip and the stabilizing-polarizable-fill gas. At least one surface of the at least one integrated optical chip is modified by a treatment with at least one treatment gas selected to stabilize defects on the at least one surface. The stabilizing-polarizable-fill gas includes N2O and at least one polarizable material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy E. Iwamoto, Steven J. Sanders, Stephen F. Yates, Paul S. Fechner, Austin Taranta
  • Patent number: 9804348
    Abstract: An optical apparatus, comprising a Silicon Photonics (SiP) device, with multiple optical waveguides and an array of collimating lenses, configured to receive light from the multiple optical waveguides in paths not including optical fibers and to collimate the light of the multiple optical waveguides into collimated beams. A receptacle is configured to receive an external optical device in an orientation aligned with the collimated beams from the array of collimating lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: MELLANOX TECHNOLOGIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Avner Badihi, Sylvie Rockman, Elad Mentovich
  • Patent number: 9804345
    Abstract: An optical module-member is provided, including: a layer-shaped optical waveguide; a light-emitting unit substrate including an insulating substrate, light-emitting element-mounting portions where light-emitting elements are configured to be mounted so as to be optically connected to the optical waveguide, and driving element-mounting portions which are electrically connected to the light-emitting element-mounting portions where driving elements for driving the light-emitting elements are configured to be mounted; and a light-receiving unit substrate which is separated from the light-emitting unit substrate, the light-receiving unit substrate including: an insulating substrate, light-receiving element-mounting portions where light-receiving elements are configured to be mounted so as to be optically connected to the optical waveguide, and signal amplification element-mounting portions which are electrically connected to the light-receiving element-mounting portions and where signal amplification elements for
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: SUMITOMO BAKELITE CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Makoto Fujiwara, Shinya Arai
  • Patent number: 9798080
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing metal-coated optical fiber involves providing a length of optical fiber having a glass fiber with or without a carbon layer surrounded by a liquid-soluble polymeric coating. The optical fiber is passed through a series of solution baths such that the fiber will contact the solution in each bath for a predetermined dwell time, the series of solution baths effecting removal of the polymer coating and subsequent electroless plating of metal on the glass fiber. The optical fiber is collected after metal plating so that a selected quantity of the metal-coated optical fiber is gathered, Preferably, the glass fiber passes through the series of solution baths without contacting anything except for the respective solution in each.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC
    Inventors: Matsuhiro Miyamoto, Masami Miyachi