Patents Examined by Scott Alan Knauss
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Patent number: 6907165Abstract: A regenerated optical waveguide is fabricated by hydrogenating an optical waveguide (12) and exposing a grating section (28) to a UV laser beam interference fringe pattern (14) to form a Type I grating. The grating section (28) is exposed for a second period to erase the Type I grating, and then a third period to cause a regenerated optical waveguide grating to form. The resonant wavelength increases during the third period from being substantially the same as the final wavelength of the Type I grating.Type: GrantFiled: August 9, 2002Date of Patent: June 14, 2005Assignee: Aston Photonic Technologies Ltd.Inventors: Yu Liu, John A R Williams, Lin Zhang, Ian Bennion
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Patent number: 6904210Abstract: A fiber optic cable is disclosed that buffers against loss, where the cable includes an outer jacket, and an optical fiber ribbon disposed within the outer jacket, wherein the ribbon includes more than one optical fiber, and at least two distinct matrix coatings disposed on the optical fibers, the coatings having distinct characteristics. Preferably, the inner coating is relatively soft, with a lower elastic modulus than the relatively stiff, hard outer coating. Also disclosed is a method of buffering loss in an optical fiber transmission, including providing an optical fiber ribbon, wherein the ribbon includes more than one optical fiber, and at least two distinct matrix coatings disposed on the optical fibers, the coatings having distinct characteristics; and transmitting in at least one of the C-band, L-band and U-band of wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2002Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: Fitel USA Corp.Inventors: Vidyananda Bangalore Chandraiah, Kyoyul Oh, Kenneth Wade Jackson
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Patent number: 6859305Abstract: The present invention relates to prism-nonlinear optical crystal couplers for frequency conversion, including M pieces of nonlinear optical crystal and one coupling prism stuck to the incident surface or/and exit surface of the crystal by optical stick or a matching liquid. The coupling prisms are the same triangle prisms of right triangle prism, equilateral triangle prism, or inequlateral triangle prism, or are different triangle prisms. It is hopeful to obtain frequency 6th harmonic output.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2002Date of Patent: February 22, 2005Assignee: Technical Institute of Physics and ChemistryInventors: Chuangtian Chen, Zuyan Xu, Junhua Lu, Guiling Wang
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Patent number: 6853768Abstract: The invention concerns an optical connector system for data busses, in which optical elements are integrated in the connector and in the connector socket for redirecting the light. With this connector system the light guided along the bus line is decoupled to the optical receiver of a supplemental bus participant and the light transmitted from the supplemental participant is coupled into the bus line. The connector socket is either integrated in the bus line or a bus bridge is subsequently added to the bus line.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2002Date of Patent: February 8, 2005Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AGInventors: Thomas Kibler, Joerg Moisel, Manfred Rode, Eberhard Zeeb
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Patent number: 6850667Abstract: A device uses a convex or concave lens to converge incoming (background) light and project brighter light beams to the end of a light guide device, which then produces from its other end a light reflection in one or multiple directions for text or pattern display.Type: GrantFiled: November 26, 2001Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
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Patent number: 6842550Abstract: An optical switch comprises a light transmission portion, an optical path-changing portion, an actuator portion and light transmission channels; said light transmission portion having a light reflecting plane provided on one part of a plane facing the changing portion to totally reflect light; said optical path-changing portion being provided in proximity to the light reflecting plane and having an optical path-changing member for reflecting or scattering light; said actuator portion having a mechanism being displaced and transmitting displacement to the optical path changing portion; and said light transmission channels having optical wave guiding bodies and being provided in three directions with the light reflecting plane as a starting point. Switching or dividing of an optical path is conducted by contacting or separating the optical path-changing portion to or from the light reflecting plane by displacement of the actuator portion.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Yukihisa Takeuchi, Tsutomu Nanataki, Koji Kimura
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Patent number: 6832025Abstract: In an optical waveguide fabricated to provide spectral filtering by a periodic mode coupling between the core and cladding the spectral profile may be shifted in wavelength if the core or cladding is photosensitive. This is especially useful in the case of long period gratings used as gain flattening filters, as a relatively low dose of radiation, compared with that typically required to fabricate a Reflection Bragg Grating in the same fiber, provides a sufficient shift for filter tuning purposes. Subsequent thermal exposure can stabilize the filter performance over the expected temperature range, while exposure to higher temperature reverses the radiation induced shift.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2002Date of Patent: December 14, 2004Assignee: JDS Uniphase CorporationInventors: Norman Fisher, Julian Jones
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Patent number: 6823127Abstract: Optical fibers are inserted and bonded in a two dimensional array of feedthroughs provided by an insert having a top plate, a bottom plate and a sandwiched spacer plate. Top and bottom plate feature funnel shaped hole sections that capture the approaching fiber end during its insertion. The funnel sections terminate in narrow hole sections that tightly hold the inserted fiber ends. Having top and bottom plate spaced apart provides for high angular precision of the bonded fiber ends with minimal fabrication effort of the insert. Optical fibers may be combined in linear arrays and simultaneously inserted significantly reducing assembly efforts. The insert is attached to a fiber housing and hermetically sealed within an external housing, which features a glass plate to provide beam propagation to and from the fiber ends. An optical gel fills the gap between the insert's output face and the glass plate.Type: GrantFiled: September 5, 2002Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: Intel CorporationInventors: Steven S. Nasiri, Janusz Liberkowski, Zhenfang Chen, Jeff Jarfa
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Patent number: 6819476Abstract: A first control optics assembly receives an incoming optical image. A template optical element produces a template optical intensity profile. A second control optics assembly receives the template optical intensity profile. A polarization separator receives an output from the second control optics. A quarter wave plate changes the polarization of the polarized output therefrom. A combiner receives an output from the first control optics assembly and an output from the quarter wave plate and provides a combined, co-linear propagation output image having an initial beam size. An SLM provides absorption of a portion of the combined output image which changes the local index of refraction of the SLM so that the local reflection at the template optical intensity profile changes.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: The Boeing CompanyInventor: Jeffrey H. Hunt
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Patent number: 6819848Abstract: A method of winding an optical fiber on a reel, utilizing the optical fiber having the following characteristics: effective area is larger than 50 &mgr;m2, zero dispersion wavelength is outside a range of 1530-1565 nm, absolute value of the dispersion value in the entire wavelength range of 1530-1565 nm is in a range of 2-14 ps/nm/km, and bending loss at a 1550 nm-wavelength is in 1-100 dB/m when wound at a diameter of 20 mm, and the reel with a barrel diameter of 100 to 200 mm; and winding the optical fiber on the reel with satisfying d<p<2d and 0.004≦(2T/D)≦0.007, wherein d is a coating outer diameter of the fiber (mm), D is a barrel diameter (mm), T is a winding tension (N), and p is a winding pitch (mm).Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 2004Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Fumio Takahashi
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Patent number: 6819845Abstract: The invention relates to an optical device. The optical device comprises a waveguide core and a nanocomposite material optically coupled to the waveguide core. The nanocomposite material includes a plurality of quantum dots. The nanocomposite material has a nonlinear index of refraction &ggr; that is at least 10−9 cm2/W when irradiated with an activation light having a wavelength &lgr; between approximately 3×10−5 cm and 2×10−4 cm.Type: GrantFiled: August 2, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Ultradots, Inc.Inventors: Howard Wing Hoon Lee, Alan Hap Chin, William Matthew Pfenninger
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Patent number: 6819830Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for communicating data between network subsystems over optical fibers using a backchannel probe signal. In one embodiment, the present invention includes an optical network having an optical fiber coupled between first and second optical couplers residing in two different subsystems. A first processing unit is coupled to a first tap of the first optical coupler for providing an optical payload signal, and a second processing unit is coupled to a first tap of the second optical coupler for receiving the optical payload signal. A probe signal transmitter is coupled to a second tap of the second optical coupler for providing a probe signal, and a probe signal receiver coupled to a second tap of the first optical coupler for receiving the probe signal. The probe signal may be used to detect erroneous fiber connections or lossy inter-subsystem fibers.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Ciena CorporationInventor: Hon Wah Chin
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Patent number: 6819858Abstract: A molded mount of non-crystalline polymer material is configured to have a channel for retaining a silicon chip having a plurality of juxtaposed V-groove formed in a top surface between right and left side portions, thereof, a recessed area being provided in the channel behind the chip for accommodating fiber buffer coating, and a notch being formed in a top portion of the mount between the channel and one side portion thereof, for retaining strengthening fibers of an optical fiber cable, with the V-groove being configured to receive individual optical fibers therein respectively. Two such molded mounts with silicon chips are securely sandwiched together with V-groove of the chips opposing one another to retain optical fibers therebetween.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2001Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.Inventors: Dan A. Steinberg, David W. Sherrer, Mindaugas F. Daurtartas, Robert G. Schinazi
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Patent number: 6816659Abstract: Unit (100) comprising a portion of holey optical fibre (12) having a length Lc comprising a core region (13) and a cladding region (14), said cladding region (14) comprising, in turn, a plurality of holes passing through it longitudinally, said holes having a respective diameter and being spaced, two by two, according to a respective pitch, said unit comprising also a temperature adjusting device (16) for bringing and maintaining the holey optical fibre (12) at temperature values T selectable in a predetermined interval of temperatures Tx-Ty.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2002Date of Patent: November 9, 2004Assignee: Pirelli Cavi E Sistemi S.p.A.Inventors: Giacomo Gorni, Luciano Socci, Marco Romagnoli
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Patent number: 6810162Abstract: An optical switch and method for assembling are described. Optical arrays are mounted on a flex plate with an interface between them. The direction of certain forces on the flex plate allows coupling/decoupling of the optical arrays. The flex plate includes an area which exhibits a different flex profile than the remainder of the flex plate and that is located beneath the optical arrays interface. Flexing of the flex plate optically couples the optical arrays. A tool with grooves is used to align the optical arrays relative to each other. The tool uses grooves and spheres to mate with the optical arrays in such a way as to provide an appropriate interface between the optical arrays.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2001Date of Patent: October 26, 2004Assignee: Shipley Company, L.L.C.Inventors: David W. Sherrer, John Fisher
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Patent number: 6807357Abstract: A saturable optical absorber component is made of an inhomogeneous absorption material including a plurality of sets of quantum boxes formed in stacked layers. The sizes of the quantum boxes of each set define an absorption wavelength associated with the set.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2002Date of Patent: October 19, 2004Assignee: Avanex CorporationInventor: Alexandre Shen
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Patent number: 6804432Abstract: An optical add-drop multiplexer (OADM) apparatus (10) includes an input/output channel (100), a drop channel (200), an add channel (300) and an optical filter (500). Light signals having a specific wavelength are transmitted from an input fiber (101) and pass through the input/output channel, the specific wavelength of the light signals passes through the filter and the drop channel and goes into a drop fiber (201). Another light signal having the specific wavelength is transmitted from an add fiber (302), passes through the add channel and the filter, and combines with the reflected wavelengths of the light signals, and the combined wavelengths pass through the input/output channel and go into an output fiber (102).Type: GrantFiled: October 16, 2002Date of Patent: October 12, 2004Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.Inventor: Shu-Lin Tai
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Patent number: 6795232Abstract: A wavelength converter implements high speed, high efficiency, low noise wavelength conversion without performing high voltage poling of a crystal, and enables switching and modulation of converted light in response to an electric field. A KLTN crystal, includes a deposited-gold electrode within its incidence plane, and is connected to a DC power supply via a copper wire. The crystal material is composed of KTa1-xNbxO3 and/or K1-yLiyTa1-xNbxO3. A polarizer controls the polarization of the fundamental wave in the direction parallel to the electric field, and launches it into the electrode of the KLTN crystal. The KLTN crystal, rotating on an axis in the direction of the electric field, launches only part of the generated SHG light with the same polarization direction as that of the incident light into a photo multiplier tube through a polarizer.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2002Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone CorporationInventors: Kazuo Fujiura, Shogo Yagi, Tadayuki Imai, Koji Enbutsu, Masahiro Sasaura, Takashi Kurihara, Makoto Abe, Seiji Toyoda, Eishi Kubota
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Patent number: 6785457Abstract: The present invention aims to simplify a mass production process of an optical waveguide device and to reduce cost as well as noise. The optical waveguide device includes an optical waveguide whose entrance end face and exit end face are substantially parallel to each other. A SHG device is mass-produced by optically polishing an optical material substrate with a large area and then cutting the substrate. This method can mass-produce the optical waveguide devices having a uniform device length. The angle between the exit end face of the optical waveguide and the direction of an optical axis of the optical waveguide at the exit end face is not 90°, thereby reducing return light from the exit end face.Type: GrantFiled: August 1, 2002Date of Patent: August 31, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kiminori Mizuuchi, Kazuhisa Yamamoto, Ken'ichi Kasazumi, Yasuo Kitaoka
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Patent number: 6782152Abstract: The present invention introduces a novel and simple method to adjust the MZ filter channels to those of the ITU grid. This is done through inducing an optical path length difference by using a UV light source to create a change in the index of refraction of the fiber arms after the device is packaged. The UV light is launched into the MZI filter through one of its input ports in order to achieve the phase adjustment. Since the exposure length is the entire length of one of the arms of the MZI, the required refractive index change is much smaller than the localized UV tuning of the previous methods. This allows for a weaker UV source power and shorter treatment times, thus reducing the chances of localized fiber damage.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: August 24, 2004Assignee: Peleton Photonic Systems Inc.Inventors: Nadereh Mohtat, Hanwu Hu, Nima Ahmadvand