Patents Examined by Sarah U Song
  • Patent number: 6483966
    Abstract: A singlemode lightwaveguide-coupling element is positioned between an initial waveguide section which there has a basic final width (W0f) and a final waveguide section which there has a basic initial width (Wn+1i) which is bigger than the basic final width (W0f). The lightwave directions of both waveguide sections are inclined at a predetermined total angle (&Dgr;&agr;) towards each other. Starting from the initial waveguide section, the lightwaveguide element comprises intermediate waveguide sections each of which at its end has a lightwave direction which is inclined towards the lightwave direction at its opposite end at an inclination angle (&Dgr;&agr;v), such that the sum of all inclination angles equals the predetermined total angle (&Dgr;&agr;).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2002
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gian-Luca Bona, Roland W. Germann, Bert Jan Offrein, Huub Salemink
  • Patent number: 6480633
    Abstract: An electro-optic device comprising an electro-optic crystal substrate, an optical waveguide path in the crystal adjacent the substrate surface and an electrode spaced from the surface by a buffer layer is provided with enhanced operating stability by forming the buffer layer of a transparent electronically conductive material. Preferred buffer materials are electronically conductive gallium-indium-oxide and electronically conductive zinc-indium-tin-oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Agere Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Robert McLemore Fleming, Rafael Nathan Kleiman, Jueinai Raynien Kwo, John William Osenbach, Gordon Albert Thomas
  • Patent number: 6477289
    Abstract: An optical switch using a refractive optical element (52) to direct a light beam in selected directions upon operation of the switch. In a preferred embodiment, the refractive optical element is an optical wedge having a first portion (67) that transmits a light beam in a selected direction, and a second portion (50) that transmits the light beam in another direction, when the first or second portions of the optical wedge are switched into the path of the light beam. The refractive optical element is less sensitive to misalignment than a reflective element, for example. In a further embodiment, the optical wedge is combined with wavelength-selective filters (118, 128) and other components to provide a channel DROP and/or ADD function with high isolation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc.
    Inventor: Yiqiang Li
  • Patent number: 6477296
    Abstract: This invention provides optical waveguide, transmitting, and receiving devices and methods that enables bidirectional communication. Formed on an optical waveguide near a first end (A-side) to cross a direction of light propagation may be a trench-shaped space having a first boundary surface and a second boundary surface. The first boundary surface may internally reflect the light propagating through the optical waveguide from a second end (B-side) so that the reflected light may exit outward through a side surface of the optical waveguide. The transmitting light entering through an end surface on the A-side of the optical waveguide may pass through the second boundary surface and enter through the first boundary surface. In the optical waveguide formed on a substrate, the optical signal may be bidirectionally transmitted and received by a relatively simple constitution to achieve an increase in density of optical wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6471414
    Abstract: An apparatus having at least one spring clip disposed on a connector adapter housing for releasably mating with an opening in an enclosure, the housing having fiber optic cables connected to opposed ends of the housing. When connected through an opening in an enclosure, the connector adapter housing maintains alignment of the opposed fiber optic cables for optical communication. The spring clip includes at least one clip member disposed upwardly from the surface of the spring clip. The spring clip is slidably inserted through a groove on at least one surface of the aligned connector housings. For release of the aligned connector housings, the spring clip is manipulated to slide along the groove, to compress the at least one clip member, allowing the housing to be removed from the enclosure opening for separation of the fiber optic cables from optical communication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Neptec Optical Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: John Carberry, Michael L. Smith
  • Patent number: 6461053
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical interconnection system capable of connecting a plurality of optical array connectors between assemblies. The optical array connectors are arranged to minimize the board real estate occupied by the assembly. Safety features are provided for preventing light from escaping in both the mated and unmated condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Michael Mayercik, Robert Ney Weber, Edmund Joseph Haley, Lee Andrew Barkus
  • Patent number: 6457877
    Abstract: An optical module for an optical device and an optical fiber is constituted by a pre-molded plastic package. In forming the plastic package, the main flowing direction of the molding resin is substantially parallel with the optical axis of the optical fiber. The optical module is formed by molding the resin by an injection method using pressure and then solidifying the resin. When the plastic package is formed by comprehensive molding, the flowing direction of the resin is parallel with the optical axis direction of the optical fiber to be installed in the optical module. As a result, for comprehensive molding, the molding pressure applied to the optical fiber is reduced. By using the resin case that is formed, the resulting package exhibits high rigidity and low thermal expansion properties in connection with the flowing direction of the resin, thus reducing the external stress and thermal stress applied to the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshil Kato, Koji Yoshida, Toshinori Hirataka, Toshiaki Ishii, Kazuyuki Fukuda, Tadaaki Ishikawa, Toshimasa Miura, Tsutomu Kono, Kimio Tatsuno
  • Patent number: 6456754
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement and to a method for wavelength selecting transmission, said arrangement comprising two N×N MMI waveguides (10 and 20), where N≧2, 2 (N−1) number of lasers (1 and 2) and N-number of Mach-Zehnder waveguides (31, 32, 33, 34 and 35). A first N×N MMI waveguide (10) is coupled with N−1 number of lasers (1) and a free access waveguide (15) on a first side, and N-number of Mach-Zehnder waveguides (31, 32, 33, 34 and 35) of mutually different lengths on a second side. The free access waveguide (15) is coupled with a last port (a15) on the first side of the first MMI waveguide (10). A second N×N MMI waveguide (20) is coupled with said N-number of Mach-Zehnder waveguides (31, 32, 33, 34 and 35) on a second side and N−1 number of lasers 82) and a free access waveguide (21) on a first side, where N−1 number of Mach-Zehnder waveguides (31, 32, 33 and 34) include a trimming section (41, 42, 43 and 44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
    Inventor: Torsten Augustsson
  • Patent number: 6449408
    Abstract: A soliton pulse generator is formed by providing an input continuous wave, stimulating Brillouin scattering of an input wave having a frequency determined by the frequency of the input continuous wave to generate a backscattered wave, coupling a continuous wave having a frequency determined by the input continuous wave with the backscattered wave to generate a sinusoidal output signal, and then compressing the sinusoidal output to form a soliton pulse train. Because the wavelength shift of the backscattered wave is essentially independent of the input wavelength and power, coupling of the second wave and the backscatterred wave results in a highly stable and controllable sinusoidal output signal. A highly stable and controllable soliton pulse train is provided by compressing the sinusoidal signal with use of a dispersion decreasing fiber or with use of an alternative pulse compressing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignees: Corning Incorporated, University of Rochester
    Inventors: Alan F. Evans, Andrew J. Stentz
  • Patent number: 6445839
    Abstract: A semiconductor device for modulating an optical power light beam with an optical signal light beam contains a detector diode for absorbing the signal beam and a quantum well modulator diode for absorbing the power beam. Both diodes are reverse biased, allowing for absorption of the power beam at photon energies below the band gap energy of the quantum well layer. Absorption of the signal beam creates carriers that screen the field in the detector diode, lowering the bias voltage. Because top and bottom layers of the entire structure are made to be highly conductive, overall voltage is fixed, leading to a simultaneous change of voltage in the modulator diode, altering absorption by electroabsorption mechanisms. In a first embodiment, the diodes are oriented such that decreased voltage in the detector diode leads to decreased voltage in the modulator diode; the device is used as an optically controlled optical switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventor: David A. B. Miller
  • Patent number: 6430347
    Abstract: Disclosed is a dispersion compensating waveguide fiber suitable for use in high data rate, high light power telecommunications systems of intermediate length. The refractive index profile of the compensation fiber is segmented. The segment relative refractive indexes and radii are chosen to provide negative total dispersion and negative total dispersion slope over an extended wavelength range. The index profile design is flexible enough to provide compensated links having total dispersion that is positive, negative, or zero, while maintaining appropriate total dispersion slope compensation. In addition, the waveguide fiber of the invention may be cabled or otherwise buffered prior to its use in a communications system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael B. Cain, V. Srikant
  • Patent number: 6427037
    Abstract: An optical switch circuit network includes r input optical switches 102a each having n input ports, m 1×r optical switches 125a, and an n×m optical switch for switching a path connecting the input ports and the 1×r optical switches, and r output optical switches 125 each having r×1 optical switches, n output ports, and an m×n optical switch for switching a path connecting the output ports and 1×r optical switches. The i-th 1×r optical switch of each input optical switch is connected to the i-th r×1 optical switch of each output optical switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Okayama
  • Patent number: 6422764
    Abstract: A termination clamp for the optical fiber of a fiber optic cable is disclosed. The clamp includes a crimpable housing, adapted to receive first and second clamp members. The fiber extends between the clamp members and crimping of the housing secures the fiber within the termination. One clamp member includes an exit chamfer to avoid bending of the fiber during crimping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Panduit Corp.
    Inventor: Samuel M. Marrs
  • Patent number: 6424778
    Abstract: A single mode optical waveguide fiber having large effective area and low dispersion slope has a core having segments. The mode power distribution in the fiber is determined by the refractive index profile of the respective segments. The refractive index profile of each segment is characterized by a relative refractive index percent, and an inner and outer radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Ming-Jun Li
  • Patent number: 6416235
    Abstract: The specification describes processes for the manufacture of glass ferrules for optical fiber connectors wherein the glass ferrules have a composition comprising silicon oxide, alkali metal oxide, and aluminum oxide to which is added 1-35% of lead oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Assignee: Fitel USA Corp.
    Inventor: Eliezer M. Rabinovich
  • Patent number: 6411763
    Abstract: An integrated optical component having a first section (S1) including a wave guide (10) perpendicular to an output facet (P) of the component, a termination (T) of the wave guide being coupled to this facet, and including a second section (S2) upstream from the first section and capable of being interfered with by the signal reflected by the said facet and guided by the wave guide. The guide termination (T) includes an inclined guiding section (13) and a laterally non-guiding section (14) leading to this facet (P).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Helene Sillard, Francois Brillouet, Pierre Doussiere
  • Patent number: 6406195
    Abstract: An interface system includes separate optical and mechanical interfaces between opto-electronic devices and fibers. This allows each of these components to be optimized for there particular function. This also allows two surfaces to be provided for the optical interface, allowing the opto-electronic elements to be spaced further apart than the fibers. The interface system can be integrated together, used in conjunction with a conventional fiber housing, and can be surface mounted with an electrical interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Digital Optics Corporation
    Inventors: Barney Hammond, Hongtao Han, Michael R. Feldman
  • Patent number: 6408116
    Abstract: The light beam emitted by the light source is irradiated on the information storage medium via the optical system. The reflected light beam is irradiated by the light guide path element. Then by the grating, a part of the light beam is input-coupled with the waveguide layer while the remaining part is transmitted and received by the light receiving portion below. An adjustment is made such that the coupling efficiency to the waveguide layer by the first grating pattern is maximized when the relative distance between the information storage medium and the optical system increases, and the coupling efficiency to the waveguide layer by the second grating pattern is maximized when the relative distance between the information storage medium and the optical system decreases. In the light receiving portion, divided according to the respective grating patterns, the received light quantity becomes minimum when the respective coupling efficiencies are maximum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Pioneer Corporation
    Inventor: Masataka Izawa
  • Patent number: 6404941
    Abstract: This invention relates to an optical multiple circuit breaker with (N) first optical inputs (E1) (n)), whereby these inputs can be switched optionally to (N) first or (N) second optical outputs (A1(n)) and/or (A2(n)). Light rays (LS1(n)) and LS2(n)) are reflected or transmitted from two surfaces (27, 28), to which end the at most two recesses (25) of a transparent base body (1) that form these surfaces are filled optionally with an optically thinner or denser material (26). In accordance with a first embodiment, both surfaces (27, 28) are so arranged that, in the reflecting switching state, the first inputs (E1(n)) are optically connected to the first outputs (A1(n)), and the second inputs (E2(n)) are connected to the second outputs (A2(n)), and that in the transmission switching state, the first input (E1(n)) are optically connected to the second outputs (A2(n)).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Institut fur Mikrotechnik Mainz GmbH
    Inventors: Antoni Picard, Jens Schulze, Michel Neumeier
  • Patent number: 6404942
    Abstract: A fluid encapsulated MEMS optical switch includes an optical waveguide matrix with MEMS mirrors situated in trenches located at waveguide cross-points. The trenches are filled with collimation-maintaining fluid and the mirrors are immersed therein. The collimation maintaining fluid prevents the light beam from spreading when it enters the switch cross-points. This feature enables the use of much smaller MEMS mirrors and prevents some of the typical MEMS mirror problems found in the related art. In particular, the MEMS mirror disclosed in the present invention is reduced to approximately 15 &mgr;m wide and 2 &mgr;m thick, resulting in shorter actuation distances of approximately 15 &mgr;m. This feature results in an optical switch having faster switching times.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Victoria Ann Edwards, Bernard Eid, Christopher Philip Brophy, Darol Chamberlain