Patents Examined by Sarah Song
  • Patent number: 7424183
    Abstract: A collimator array includes a substrate; a plurality of lenses formed on one face of the substrate; and a plurality of projecting parts, each of which is formed on a portion corresponding to the lens on the other face of the substrate, respectively and is fusion-connected to an optical fiber, respectively; wherein an area of the fusion-connected face of the projecting part with respect to the optical fiber is set to be larger than a cross sectional area of the optical fiber. Thereby, it is possible to provide a collimator having fewer variations in an output beam angle and a diameter of an output beam and having excellent strength, and a method for manufacturing the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tamotsu Akashi, Tsuyoshi Yamamoto, Shinji Yamashita, Kohei Shibata, Hirofumi Aota
  • Patent number: 7415172
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a diffractive waveguide-spatial optical modulator. The diffractive waveguide-spatial optical modulator includes a substrate member, a plurality of reflecting members, and an actuation means. The reflecting members are each formed in a plate shape, are arranged on the substrate member at regular intervals to form a grating array, are configured to form openings therebetween, and are provided with reflecting surfaces formed on the opposite vertical surfaces of the reflecting members and the bottoms of the openings. The actuation means varies the interval between the reflecting members by actuating the reflecting members. The openings between the reflecting members act as wave guides when light is incident on the open sides thereof, and shift the phase of the incident light and then reflect the incident light, so that the reflected light can form diffracted light, when the interval is varied by the reflecting members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seung Do An, Anatoliy Lapchuk, Victor Yurlov
  • Patent number: 7406237
    Abstract: An optical waveguide fiber having a core surrounded by a cladding. The core may have only a central segment, or a central segment and an annular segment surrounding the central segment. The central segment has a positive relative refractive index profile. The annular segment has a negative relative refractive index profile. The relative refractive index of the optical fiber provides an LP02 cable cutoff less than 850 nm and an LP21 cable cutoff less than 850 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott Robertson Bickham, Snigdharaj Kumar Mishra
  • Patent number: 7406234
    Abstract: A method of determining characteristic spin parameters of a spun optical fiber by performing optical time-domain reflectometry measurements on the fiber, so as to obtain a state of polarization spatial function from a backscattered electromagnetic field, the state of polarization spatial function being defined by a plurality of components; and processing the state of polarization spatial function. The process includes calculating a further spatial function related to the spatial first derivative of at least one of the components of the state of polarization spatial function; identifying a spatial periodicity of the further spatial function; and determining the characteristic spin parameters as a function of the spatial periodicity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Prysmian Cavi e Sistemi Energia S.r.L.
    Inventor: Luca Palmieri
  • Patent number: 7406227
    Abstract: Method and apparatus of coupling light into a light guide using error detecting and correcting systems. A rectangular light guide is mated with an X-axis optical fiber and with a Y-axis optical fiber. An X-axis photodetector senses light that couples from the light guide into the X-axis optical fiber, while a Y-axis photodetector senses light that couples from the light guide into the Y-axis optical fiber. An error detector compares the outputs of the X-axis and the Y-axis photodetectors to produces error signals that depend on the X-axis, the Y-axis, and the Z-axis positional errors. The errors signals are applied to an error correcting system that adjusts the relative position of the light guide and the light directed onto the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Duncan J. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7406232
    Abstract: A non-round fiber optic cable that has improved crush performance is disclosed. The fiber optic cable includes at least one optical fiber, at least one strength element, and a cable jacket having a cavity. The at least one optical fiber is disposed within the cavity. The cable jacket further includes a concave upper wall and a concave lower wall disposed on opposite sides of the cavity, thereby improving the crush performance along the major axis of the optical fiber cable. In other embodiments, the fiber optic cable is a portion of a cable assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Andreas Stingl, Jody L. Greenwood, Kenneth D. Temple, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7393146
    Abstract: An optical module has a package, a first fixing portion, a second fixing portion, and two attachment portions. The package has an optical fiber passing through a sidewall thereof. The first fixing portion fixes the optical fiber to the sidewall of the package directly or indirectly through an intermediate member. The second fixing portion fixes the optical fiber inside of the package. The two attachment portions are arranged respectively at two opposing corners of the package or at two sides of the package around the corners. A distance between the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion is less than 6 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Eudyna Devices Inc.
    Inventors: Kakushi Nakagawa, Kazuyoshi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7393144
    Abstract: A junction box and hybrid fiber optic cable connector which permit repair of damaged fibers or copper conductors carried by a hybrid fiber/copper cable without requiring replacement of the entire cable assembly or retermination of the cable. A hybrid fiber/copper connector including cable management within the connector housing. A method of assembling a hybrid fiber/copper connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: M'hamed Anis Khemakhem, Jeffrey Louis Peters, Duane Sand
  • Patent number: 7386213
    Abstract: The present invention provides a bidirectional communication optical waveguide which can adopt a configuration in which light sources having the same wavelengths are used and stray light is not inputted to either a light emitting device or a light receiving device, and the bidirectional communication optical waveguide realizes a bidirectional communication module. The bidirectional communication optical waveguide includes a main waveguide core and a sub-waveguide core. A main inclined plane is provided in a midway of an optical path in the main waveguide core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keishi Shimizu, Shigemi Ohtsu, Kazutoshi Yatsuda, Eiichi Akutsu, Akira Fujii, Toshihiko Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7382947
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for remotely monitoring undersea cable systems. Upon receiving a fault alert message, an optical cross-connect is set up between the subject cable station and a testing platform. Testing is conducted and a determination is made whether the fault is in the undersea portion of the network, or in the terrestrial backhaul. By making that determination early, unnecessary technician travel is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Inventors: Laurence Moskowitz, Alan Toves
  • Patent number: 7382948
    Abstract: An optical switch comprises a prism for changing the direction of travel of incident light to be directed toward a further optical fiber; a switching mirror placed to be insertable and removable into and from between a lens block and the prism; and an actuator for driving the mirror, in which incident and emitting optical fibers are placed in the same facing, i.e. on one surface side, of the device body. This structure makes it possible for components to be used in common and integrated, and for the coupling surfaces between the lens block and the optical fibers to be gathered together in one place, thereby enabling cost reduction and size reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takanori Sugiyama, Yoshihiro Mihara, Tsutomu Shimomura, Mitsuo Ichiya, Yuichi Niimura, Sachiko Mugiuda
  • Patent number: 7379633
    Abstract: The present invention provides methods for fabricating interferometric fiber optic transceivers having integrated components in which a polymer-on-silicon and beam splitter module replaces the conventional LiNbO3 crystal. The polymer-on-silicon waveguides permit the hybridization of the transceiver and its semi-automated production by semi-conductor processing equipment. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of the claims.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Paul R. Ashley, Michael D. Bramson, Geoffrey A. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 7376300
    Abstract: The present invention provides a variable optical dispersion compensating module comprised of (a) an optical dispersion compensating unit having an input optical switch, an optical dispersion compensating fiber, connected to the optical switch, having a predetermined optical dispersion amount, a bypass path for bypassing the optical dispersion compensating fiber, and an output optical switch connected to the optical dispersion compensating fiber and the bypass path, (b) an optical dispersion compensating circuit with at least one of the unit connected in series, and (c) an optical attenuator provided, in the direction of an optical path, after the input optical switch or before the output optical switch of the optical dispersion compensating circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Fuke, Shiro Nakamura, Jun Ishiguro, Hiroshi Raijo, Atsushi Umeda
  • Patent number: 7376327
    Abstract: A device and method for the spectrally-designed and controlled attenuation of a light signal, including an attenuation structure which may be placed in the proximity of a waveguide's core and which comprises a base material system containing non-uniformities having optical properties that are different from those of the host. These non-uniformities may have various natures, geometrical forms and sizes and may be created, doped or otherwise introduced in the base material system to obtain externally controllable optical properties of the whole composite material providing a broadband spectral performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Photintech Inc.
    Inventors: Tigran Galstian, Armen Zohrabyan, Amir Tork, Rouslan Birabassov
  • Patent number: 7373041
    Abstract: An optical rotary joint comprises means for coupling-in or coupling-out light, and an optical derotating system. The derotating system may be a Dove prism or an Abbe-Koenig prism. In order to improve reflection at a reflecting face or faces of the derotating element, the reflecting faces are coated with an optically transparent material having a refractive index that is lower than the refractive index of the derotating element. In an embodiment the derotating optical element comprises a Dove prism. Light entry and light exit faces of the Dove prism are provided with optical supplementary elements that have an optical index of refraction greater than an optical index of refraction of the Dove prism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Schleifring und Apparatebau GmbH
    Inventor: Gregor Popp
  • Patent number: 7373067
    Abstract: A multiple-core optical waveguide comprises: a substrate; lower and upper waveguide core layers; a waveguide core between the upper and lower waveguide core layers; upper and lower cladding; and middle cladding between the upper and lower waveguide core layers substantially surrounding the waveguide core. Each of the lower, middle, and upper claddings has a refractive index less than refractive indices of the lower waveguide core layer, the upper waveguide core layer, and the waveguide core. Along at least a given portion of the optical waveguide, the upper and lower waveguide core layers extend bilaterally substantially beyond the lateral extent of a propagating optical mode supported by the optical waveguide, the lateral extent of the supported optical mode being determined at least in part by the width of the waveguide core along the given portion of the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: HOYA Corporation USA DBA Xponent
    Inventors: Henry A. Blauvelt, David W. Vernooy
  • Patent number: 7373065
    Abstract: It is provided a structure capable of reducing the loss of incident light propagating in a three-dimensional optical waveguide in a optical waveguide substrate having a ridge type optical waveguide. An optical waveguide substrate has a ferroelectric layer 3 made of a ferroelectric material, a ridge portion formed on a surface of the layer 3 and protrusions provided in both sides of the ridge portion. A three-dimensional optical waveguide is provided in the ridge portion. Alternatively, the substrate has a ridge portion 15 formed on a surface of the layer 3 and step portions provided in both sides of the ridge portion 15 and lower than the ridge portion 15. Grooves 16 are formed in the outsides of the step portions, respectively, and a three-dimensional optical waveguide is provided in the ridge portion 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichiro Yamaguchi, Takashi Yoshino
  • Patent number: 7371013
    Abstract: A method for assembling a laser apparatus which condenses a laser beam and couples the laser beam to an optical fiber. After the optical fiber is fixed to a package, the whole or a part of an optical condensing system is fixed to the package through a fixing structure having at least one guide surface extending in at least one of first and second directions respectively parallel and perpendicular to the core axis of the optical fiber, by moving the whole or the part of the optical condensing system along the at least one guide surface to a predetermined position with respect to the core axis, and fixing the whole or the part of the optical condensing system to the fixing structure at the predetermined position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Nagano, Yuichi Teramura, Akihiro Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 7373043
    Abstract: An image detection system includes a multimode fiber amplifier. The multimode fiber amplifier includes a core configured to receive an input image that includes a plurality of input beams spanning a range of incidence angles and to propagate at least some of the input beams as different ones of a plurality of transverse modes along the core. The multimode fiber amplifier provides an amplified image at an output facet thereof corresponding to the input image. A focal plane detector includes an array of detectors arranged to receive different portions of the amplified image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Rex Rice, Sami Ali Shakir
  • Patent number: 7369722
    Abstract: This application describes coupled and non-coupled opto-electronic oscillators with enhanced performance. Coupled OEOs implement a dispersion compensation mechanism to reduce dispersion-induced optical loss, a polarization control mechanism to reduce polarization-dependent optical loss, or a combination of the dispersion compensation mechanism and the polarization control mechanism to enhance the oscillator performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: OEwaves, Inc.
    Inventors: Ismail Tolga Yilmaz, Danny Eliyahu, Dmitri A. Kossakovski, Lutfollah Maleki