Patents by Inventor Christopher Doerr

Christopher Doerr has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Through transmission path on photonic circuits for optical alignment
    Patent number: 9494748
    Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) may be optically aligned to a plurality of optical components (e.g., an optical fiber array). Optical alignment may be facilitated by the use of an optical impedance element coupled between a first input/output (I/O) optical waveguide and a second I/O optical waveguide of the PIC. The optical impedance element me be configured to be transmissive during optical alignment and to be non-transmissive during the regular operation of the PIC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Long Chen, Christopher Doerr, Diedrik Vermeulen
  • THREE PORT TRANSCEIVER
    Publication number: 20160327738
    Abstract: An optical coherent transceiver comprising a polarization and phase-diversity coherent receiver and a polarization and phase-diversity modulator on the same substrate interfaced by three grating couplers, on grating coupler coupling in a signal, one grating coupler coupling in a laser signal, and a third grating coupler coupling out a modulated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Applicant: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Doerr, Benny Mikkelsen, Eric Swanson
  • Slab-mode and polarization clean-up in silicon photonics
    Patent number: 9477039
    Abstract: Disclosed are structures and methods directed to waveguide structures exhibiting improved device performance including improved attenuation of scattered light and/or transverse magnetic modes. In an illustrative embodiment according to the present disclosure, a rib waveguide structure including a rib overlying a slab waveguide (or superimposed thereon) is constructed wherein the slab waveguide is heavily doped at a distance from the rib which has a very low overlap with rib guided modes. Advantageously, such doping may be of the P-type or of the N-type, and dopants could be any of a number of known ones including—but not limited to—boron, phosphorous, etc.—or others that increase optical propagation loss. As may be appreciated, the doped regions advantageously absorb scattered light which substantially improves the structures' performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Doerr, Long Chen
  • MONOLITHIC SILICON COHERENT TRANSCEIVER WITH INTEGRATED LASER AND GAIN ELEMENTS
    Publication number: 20160308618
    Abstract: Disclosed are structures and methods for a monolithic silicon (Si) coherent transceiver with integrated laser and gain elements wherein an InP chip is bonded to the Si chip in a recess formed in that Si chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: October 20, 2016
    Inventors: Christopher DOERR, Long CHEN
  • Integrated optical coherence tomography systems and methods
    Patent number: 9464883
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are optical integration technologies, designs, systems and methods directed toward Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and other interferometric optical sensor, ranging, and imaging systems wherein such systems, methods and structures employ tunable optical sources, coherent detection and other structures on a single or multichip monolithic integration. In contrast to contemporary, prior-art OCT systems and structures that employ simple, miniature optical bench technology using small optical components positioned on a substrate, systems and methods according to the present disclosure employ one or more photonic integrated circuits (PICs), use swept-source techniques, and employ a widely tunable optical source(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Inventors: Eric Swanson, Christopher Doerr
  • Coupling of fiber optics to planar grating couplers
    Patent number: 9435959
    Abstract: Techniques, methods, structures and apparatus that provide the efficient coupling of light to/from one or more optical fibers to/from planar grating waveguide couplers positioned on photonic integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Doerr, Eric Swanson
  • Fiber assembly for facet optical coupling
    Patent number: 9405073
    Abstract: Disclosed are structures and methods for facet optical coupling of optical fibers to photonic integrated circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Long Chen, Christopher Doerr, Diedrik Vermeulen
  • THROUGH TRANSMISSION PATH ON PHOTONIC CIRCUITS FOR OPTICAL ALIGNMENT
    Publication number: 20160202432
    Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (PIC) may be optically aligned to a plurality of optical components (e.g., an optical fiber array). Optical alignment may be facilitated by the use of an optical impedance element coupled between a first input/output (I/O) optical waveguide and a second I/O optical waveguide of the PIC. The optical impedance element me be configured to be transmissive during optical alignment and to be non-transmissive during the regular operation of the PIC.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 8, 2016
    Publication date: July 14, 2016
    Applicant: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Long Chen, Christopher Doerr, Diedrik Vermeulen
  • Robust modulator circuits using lateral doping junctions
    Patent number: 9372381
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, structures, and devices that compensates for modulator loss and modulation inefficiencies introduced by mask misalignments in opposite oriented pn type junction modulators. More specifically, Mach-Zehnder type optical modulators are disclosed wherein both arms in the MZI modulator are arranged in a push-pull configuration and configured to experience pn type junctions of two orientations wherein both arms further configured to experience the same length of waveguide with a pn type junction of each orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Diedrik Vermeulen, Long Chen, Christopher Doerr
  • OPTOELECTRONIC BALL GRID ARRAY PACKAGE WITH FIBER
    Publication number: 20160124164
    Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit may be coupled to an optical fiber and packaged. The optical fiber may be supported by a fiber holder during a solder reflow process performed to mount the packaged photonic integrated circuit to a circuit board or other substrate. The optical fiber may be decoupled from the fiber holder, and the fiber holder removed, after completion of the solder reflow process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2015
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Doerr
  • THREE PORT TRANSCEIVER
    Publication number: 20160041336
    Abstract: An optical coherent transceiver comprising a polarization and phase-diversity coherent receiver and a polarization and phase-diversity modulator on the same substrate interfaced by three grating couplers, on grating coupler coupling in a signal, one grating coupler coupling in a laser signal, and a third grating coupler coupling out a modulated signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2015
    Publication date: February 11, 2016
    Applicant: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Doerr, Benny Mikkelsen, Eric Swanson
  • MULTICHANNEL COHERENT TRANSCEIVER AND RELATED APPARATUS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20160013866
    Abstract: A multi-channel optical transceiver is disclosed. The optical transceiver has a multi-package structure. A laser array is disposed in one package. An application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) and photonic integrated circuit (PIC) are disposed in another package. An optical fiber array may couple the first package and second package together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Doerr
  • INTEGRATED HIGH-POWER TUNABLE LASER WITH ADJUSTABLE OUTPUTS
    Publication number: 20160013609
    Abstract: A tunable laser that includes an array of parallel optical amplifiers is described. The laser may also include an intracavity N×M coupler that couples power between a cavity mirror and the array of parallel optical amplifiers. Phase adjusters in optical paths between the N×M coupler and the optical amplifiers can be used to adjust an amount of power output from M?1 ports of the N×M coupler. A tunable wavelength filter is incorporated in the laser cavity to select a lasing wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Doerr
  • OPTICAL COMPENSATION USING A SPACE DIVISION MULTIPLEXING ELECTRO-OPTIC RECEIVER
    Publication number: 20160013880
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, structures, and devices for optical communications systems operating through turbulent media. More specifically, a spatial division multiplexing photonic integrated circuit is used in conjunction with digital signal processing systems to mitigate the effects of the turbulent media.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2015
    Publication date: January 14, 2016
    Applicant: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Swanson, Christopher Doerr, Graeme Pendock
  • MONOLITHIC SILICON COHERENT TRANSCEIVER WITH INTEGRATED LASER AND GAIN ELEMENTS
    Publication number: 20150358083
    Abstract: Disclosed are structures and methods for a monolithic silicon (Si) coherent transceiver with integrated laser and gain elements wherein an InP chip is bonded to the Si chip in a recess formed in that Si chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 10, 2015
    Inventors: Christopher DOERR, Long CHEN
  • Three port transceiver
    Patent number: 9195079
    Abstract: An optical coherent transceiver comprising a polarization and phase-diversity coherent receiver and a polarization and phase-diversity modulator on the same substrate interfaced by three grating couplers, on grating coupler coupling in a signal, one grating coupler coupling in a laser signal, and a third grating coupler coupling out a modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Doerr, Benny Mikkelsen, Eric Swanson
  • INTEGRATED POLARIZATION FILTER AND TAP COUPLER
    Publication number: 20150301280
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, structures, apparatus and devices to integrate polarization filters and power tap couplers on planar photonic circuits that advantageously provide a lower insertion loss to an optical signal and improved optical bandwidth as compared with contemporary designs wherein these two functions are implemented separately.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Long CHEN, Christopher DOERR
  • Form-Fitting Switching Unit for a Motor Vehicle Drive Train
    Publication number: 20150300417
    Abstract: An interlocking gearshift unit for a motor vehicle drive train has a first clutch half and a second clutch half which are arranged so that they can slide relative to one another along an actuating direction in order to produce a connection with a fixed rotational relationship. At least the first clutch half has at least one first engagement element and a second engagement element, which can move with respect to the first engagement element. The first and second engagement elements are arranged so that they can move with respect to one another in a circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Inventors: Nils TONIUS, Tobias HAERTER, Christoph DOERR
  • Radial optical coupler
    Patent number: 9162404
    Abstract: An optical device includes an optical grating coupler and a plurality of optical waveguides coupled thereto. The optical grating coupler is formed along a planar surface of a substrate, and includes a pattern formed by ridges concentrically located on the surface about a center thereon. Each adjacent pair of ridges is separated by a groove. Each waveguide of the plurality of waveguides is oriented about radially with respect to the center, and has a first end that terminates near an outermost one of the ridges. The first ends are about uniformly spaced along the outermost one of the ridges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Christopher Doerr
  • Optical compensation using a space division multiplexing electro-optic receiver
    Patent number: 9154253
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, structures, and devices for optical communications systems operating through turbulent media. More specifically, a spatial division multiplexing photonic integrated circuit is used in conjunction with digital signal processing systems to mitigate the effects of the turbulent media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Assignee: Acacia Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Swanson, Christopher Doerr, Graeme Pendock