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).

  • OPTICAL AMPLIFIER FOR MULTI-CORE OPTICAL FIBER
    Publication number: 20150049379
    Abstract: An optical device comprising a first optical coupler located over a surface of a substrate such that the optical coupler is able to end-couple to an optical core of a first optical fiber having an end facing and adjacent to the first optical coupler and the surface. The optical device further comprises a second optical coupler located over the surface such that the second optical coupler is able to end-couple to an optical core having an end facing and adjacent to the second optical coupler. The optical device also comprises a pump coupler being configured to couple pump light to an optical path that connects the first optical coupler and the second optical coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Alcatel-Lucent USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Doerr, Peter Winzer
  • Optical filter or multiplexer/demultiplexer
    Patent number: 8938137
    Abstract: An optical filter or multiplexer/demultiplexer, including a plurality of optical waveguides forming a planar structure. Each optical waveguide has a total length including one or more first segments with a first width and at least one or more second segments with a second width, the first width being larger than the second width. The sum of lengths of the one or more first segments in each optical waveguide is larger than half the total length of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Christopher Doerr
  • INTEGRATED OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEMS AND METHODS
    Publication number: 20140376000
    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: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Eric SWANSON, Christopher DOERR
  • SPARSE FINITE-DIFFERENCE TIME DOMAIN SIMULATION
    Publication number: 20140365188
    Abstract: Disclosed are accurate and fast methods for simulating electromagnetic wave propagation which employ an omnidirectional vectorial simulation and which measure all frequencies at once.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Inventor: Christopher DOERR
  • Low-loss, wide-band grating coupler and method of making same
    Patent number: 8883018
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a grating coupler having a bottom mirror in a semiconductor wafer including etching a trench from a top surface of a wafer and around a grating coupler formed in the wafer; etching a void underneath the grating coupler; etching a via into the void from the backside of the wafer; and depositing a mirror on the bottom of the grating coupler. Alternatively, additional oxide may be deposited on the bottom of the grating coupler prior to the deposition of the mirror such that a desirable oxide thickness on the bottom is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Acacia Communications Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Doerr
  • Endless phase shifting
    Patent number: 8787708
    Abstract: Endless phase shifting apparatus, structures, and methods useful—for example—in MIMO optical demultiplexing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Christopher Doerr
  • SILICON PHOTONICS MULTICARRIER OPTICAL TRANSCEIVER
    Publication number: 20140153931
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques, methods, structures and apparatus that provide a silicon photonics multicarrier optical transceiver wherein both the transmitter and receiver are integrated on a single silicon chip and which generates a plurality of carriers through the effect of an on-chip modulator, amplifies the optical power of the carriers through the effect of an off-chip amplifier, and generates M orthogonal sets of carriers through the effect of an on-chip basis former.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Inventor: Christopher DOERR
  • OPTICAL COMPENSATION USING A SPACE DIVISION MULTIPLEXING ELECTRO-OPTIC RECEIVER
    Publication number: 20140126902
    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: November 4, 2013
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Eric SWANSON, Christopher DOERR, Graeme PENDOCK
  • ROBUST MODULATOR CIRCUITS USING LATERAL DOPING JUNCTIONS
    Publication number: 20140112611
    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: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventors: Diedrik VERMEULEN, Long CHEN, Christopher DOERR
  • High performance optical polarization diversity circuit
    Patent number: 8682119
    Abstract: An optical device includes an input/output optical coupler, a waveguide and a waveguide fragment. The optical coupler is configured to separate a received optical signal into first and second signal components. The waveguide is connected to the optical coupler and configured to propagate the first signal component via a first propagation mode. The waveguide fragment is located adjacent to the first waveguide and is configured to couple light from the first waveguide that propagates therein by a different second propagation mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Christopher Doerr, Long Chen
  • ELECTRONIC AND OPTICAL CO-PACKAGING OF COHERENT TRANSCEIVER
    Publication number: 20140064659
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are co-packaging structures, devices, and methods for integrating a photonic integrated circuit (PIC), an electronic integrated circuit including drivers and transimpedance amplifiers (TIAs) and an ASIC having analog-to-digital converters and a digital signal processor positioned on a common (the same) carrier thereby resulting in a compact coherent transceiver while lowering its cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventors: Christopher DOERR, Eric SWANSON, Jon STAHL, Diedrik VERMEULEN
  • OTDM COHERENT TRANSCEIVER
    Publication number: 20140036937
    Abstract: An OTDM coherent transceiver and related methods and apparatus that employ a pulsed source which advantageously allows higher symbol rates without requiring higher speed electronics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventor: Christopher DOERR
  • COMPACT MODE-SIZE TRANSITION USING A FOCUSING REFLECTOR
    Publication number: 20130343704
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques, methods, structures and apparatus for optically coupling optical waveguides and optical structures exhibiting different widths in which In which a focusing reflector is used to optically couple a relatively wide optical waveguide to a relatively narrow optical waveguide. An exemplary method according to the present disclosure comprises the steps of: providing the first waveguide that is 5 or more wavelengths in width; providing the second waveguide that is 3 or less wavelengths in width; coupling light emanating from the first waveguide to the second waveguide through the effect of a slab waveguide having a curved edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Christopher DOERR
  • CLADDING DEFINED TRANSMISSION GRATING
    Publication number: 20130343705
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are techniques, methods, structures and apparatus for providing photonic structures and integrated circuits with optical gratings disposed within cladding layer(s) of those structures and circuits.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Diedrik VERMEULEN, Christopher DOERR
  • ALTERNATING TRAVELING-WAVE MACH-ZEHNDER MODULATOR
    Publication number: 20130343693
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a traveling-wave Mach-Zehnder modulator and method of operating same that advantageously exhibits a reduced optical insertion loss as compared with contemporary Mach-Zehnder structures. Such advantage comes at the modest expense of increased modulator length and increased RF loss.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Christopher DOERR
  • Optical coupler between planar multimode waveguides
    Patent number: 8615148
    Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to an optical waveguide coupler including: a first optical waveguide including a first area and a tapered area having a tapered width; a second optical waveguide including a first area and a tapered area having a tapered width; wherein the first area of the of the second optical waveguide overlaps the tapered area of the first optical wave guide, and wherein the tapered area of the second optical waveguide overlaps the first area of the first optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Long Chen, Christopher Doerr
  • CO-PACKAGING PHOTONIC INTEGRATED CIRCUITS AND APPLICATION SPECIFIC INTEGRATED CIRCUITS
    Publication number: 20130308898
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are designs, structures and techniques for advanced packaging of multi-function photonic integrated circuits that allow such high-performance multi-function photonic integrated circuits to be co-packaged with a high-performance multi-function ASIC thereby significantly reducing strenuous interconnect challenges and lowering costs, power and size of the overall devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Inventors: Christopher DOERR, Eric SWANSON, Diedrik VERMEULEN, Saeid AZEMATI, Jon STAHL
  • Optical amplifier for multi-core optical fiber
    Patent number: 8548291
    Abstract: One aspect provides an optical device. The optical device includes a first and a second array of optical couplers, a plurality of waveguides and a plurality of pump couplers located over a surface of a substrate. The optical couplers of the first array are able to end-couple in a one-to-one manner to the optical cores of a first multi-core fiber having an end facing and adjacent to the first array and the surface. The optical couplers of the second array are able to end-couple in a one-to-one manner to optical cores having ends facing and adjacent to the second array. The plurality of optical waveguides connects in a one-to-one manner the optical couplers of the first array to the optical couplers of the second array. Each optical waveguide has a pump coupler connected thereto between the ends of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Christopher Doerr, Peter Winzer
  • LOW-LOSS, WIDE-BAND GRATING COUPLER AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME
    Publication number: 20130233824
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a grating coupler having a bottom mirror in a semiconductor wafer including etching a trench from a top surface of a wafer and around a grating coupler formed in the wafer; etching a void underneath the grating coupler; etching a via into the void from the backside of the wafer; and depositing a mirror on the bottom of the grating coupler. Alternatively, additional oxide may be deposited on the bottom of the grating coupler prior to the deposition of the mirror such that a desirable oxide thickness on the bottom is achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: ACACIA COMMUNICATIONS INC.
    Inventor: Christopher DOERR
  • OPTICAL FILTER OR MULTIPLEXER/DEMULTIPLEXER
    Publication number: 20130101249
    Abstract: An optical filter or multiplexer/demultiplexer, including a plurality of optical waveguides forming a planar structure. Each optical waveguide has a total length including one or more first segments with a first width and at least one or more second segments with a second width, the first width being larger than the second width. The sum of lengths of the one or more first segments in each optical waveguide is larger than half the total length of the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: ALCATEL LUCENT
    Inventor: Christopher Doerr