Patents by Inventor John M Heaton

John M Heaton 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).

  • Publication number: 20250116910
    Abstract: In some implementations, an electro-optic waveguide modulator includes a deep-etched waveguide. A first cladding is disposed on a top surface of the deep-etched waveguide. A second cladding is disposed on a bottom surface of the deep-etched waveguide. The deep-etched waveguide has a length that extends in a first direction and a width that extends in a second direction. The width of the deep-etched waveguide is non-constant along at least a portion of the length of the deep-etched waveguide. For example, a difference between a maximum width of the deep-etched waveguide and a minimum width of the deep-etched waveguide along at least the portion of the length of the deep-etched waveguide satisfies a width difference threshold that is equal to 10% of the maximum width.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2023
    Publication date: April 10, 2025
    Inventors: John M. HEATON, Robert GRIFFIN, Maxime POIRIER, Neil David WHITBREAD
  • Publication number: 20250004309
    Abstract: An electro-optic modulator may include a radio frequency (RF) modulation region including a first optical waveguide, a second optical waveguide, a first set of electrode segments, a second set of electrode segments, and a conductive strap. The first optical waveguide may propagate a first optical signal. The second optical waveguide may propagate a second optical signal. The first set of electrode segments may apply a first RF signal to the first optical waveguide. The second set of electrode segments may apply a second RF signal to the second optical waveguide. The conductive strap may enable photocurrent generated in the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide and flowing through a doped layer below the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide to be extracted from the electro-optic modulator. The conductive strap may be ohmically contacted with the doped layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2023
    Publication date: January 2, 2025
    Inventors: Neil David WHITBREAD, Stephen JONES, Robert GRIFFIN, John M. HEATON, Yuting SHI
  • Publication number: 20240159965
    Abstract: An optical polarization converter includes an optical waveguide. A portion of the optical waveguide has an asymmetric cross-section profile. For example, a cross-section of the portion of the optical waveguide may not have symmetry associated with a horizontal axis and may not have symmetry associated with a vertical axis. The portion of the optical waveguide is tapered. For example, the portion of the optical waveguide may be associated with one or more taper ratios. The portion of the optical waveguide is configured to convert a polarization mode of an optical beam from a first fundamental polarization mode to a second fundamental polarization mode, such as from a fundamental transverse electric (TE) polarization mode to a fundamental transverse magnetic (TM) polarization mode (or vice versa).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2023
    Publication date: May 16, 2024
    Inventor: John M. HEATON
  • Patent number: 11378825
    Abstract: An electrical-optical modulator may include one or more optical waveguides to propagate one or more optical signals in a direction of propagation. An optical waveguide of the one or more optical waveguides may include a time delay section, a first modulation section preceding the time delay section in the direction of propagation, and a second modulation section following the time delay section in the direction of propagation. The first modulation section and the second modulation section may be configured to be associated with opposite modulation polarities, and the time delay section may be configured to delay a phase of the one more optical signals relative to the first modulation section. The electrical-optical modulator may include one or more signal electrodes to propagate one or more signals in the direction of propagation in order to modulate the one or more optical signals through electrical-optical interaction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: Karl Kissa, David Glassner, Stephen Jones, Robert Griffin, John M. Heaton
  • Patent number: 11378826
    Abstract: An electrical-optical modulator may include a first section configured for a first electrical-optical interaction between one or more optical waveguides and one or more signal electrodes. The electrical-optical modulator may include a second section configured to increase or decrease a relative velocity of signals of the one or more signal electrodes to optical signals of the one or more optical waveguides relative to the first section. The electrical-optical modulator may include a third section configured for a second electrical-optical interaction between the one or more optical waveguides and the one or more signal electrodes according to an opposite modulation polarity relative to the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: Karl Kissa, David Glassner, Stephen Jones, Robert Griffin, John M. Heaton
  • Patent number: 11171466
    Abstract: An on-chip wavelength locker may include an optical waveguide splitter to split an input optical signal received from a laser. The on-chip wavelength locker may include a plurality of integrated periodic optical elements, each to receive a respective portion of the input optical signal after splitting of the input optical signal by the optical waveguide splitter, and provide, based on the respective portion of the input optical signal, a respective periodic output optical signal of a plurality of periodic output optical signals. Each periodic output optical signal, of the plurality of periodic output optical signals, may be phase shifted with respect to other periodic output optical signals of the plurality of periodic output optical signals. The on-chip wavelength locker may include a plurality of integrated photodiodes to receive the plurality of periodic output optical signals in association with wavelength locking the laser.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: John M. Heaton, Konstantin Petrovich Petrov
  • Publication number: 20210080797
    Abstract: An electrical-optical modulator may include a first section configured for a first electrical-optical interaction between one or more optical waveguides and one or more signal electrodes. The electrical-optical modulator may include a second section configured to increase or decrease a relative velocity of signals of the one or more signal electrodes to optical signals of the one or more optical waveguides relative to the first section. The electrical-optical modulator may include a third section configured for a second electrical-optical interaction between the one or more optical waveguides and the one or more signal electrodes according to an opposite modulation polarity relative to the first section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Karl KISSA, David GLASSNER, Stephen JONES, Robert GRIFFIN, John M. HEATON
  • Publication number: 20210080796
    Abstract: An electrical-optical modulator may include one or more optical waveguides to propagate one or more optical signals in a direction of propagation. An optical waveguide of the one or more optical waveguides may include a time delay section, a first modulation section preceding the time delay section in the direction of propagation, and a second modulation section following the time delay section in the direction of propagation. The first modulation section and the second modulation section may be configured to be associated with opposite modulation polarities, and the time delay section may be configured to delay a phase of the one more optical signals relative to the first modulation section. The electrical-optical modulator may include one or more signal electrodes to propagate one or more signals in the direction of propagation in order to modulate the one or more optical signals through electrical-optical interaction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Karl KISSA, David GLASSNER, Stephen JONES, Robert GRIFFIN, John M. HEATON
  • Publication number: 20210080798
    Abstract: An electrical-optical modulator may include a first section configured for a first electrical-optical interaction between one or more optical waveguides and one or more signal electrodes. The electrical-optical modulator may include a second section configured to increase or decrease a relative velocity of signals of the one or more signal electrodes to optical signals of the one or more optical waveguides relative to the first section. The electrical-optical modulator may include a third section configured for a second electrical-optical interaction between the one or more optical waveguides and the one or more signal electrodes according to an opposite modulation polarity relative to the first section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2020
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Karl KISSA, John M. HEATON
  • Publication number: 20190221995
    Abstract: An on-chip wavelength locker may include an optical waveguide splitter to split an input optical signal received from a laser. The on-chip wavelength locker may include a plurality of integrated periodic optical elements, each to receive a respective portion of the input optical signal after splitting of the input optical signal by the optical waveguide splitter, and provide, based on the respective portion of the input optical signal, a respective periodic output optical signal of a plurality of periodic output optical signals. Each periodic output optical signal, of the plurality of periodic output optical signals, may be phase shifted with respect to other periodic output optical signals of the plurality of periodic output optical signals. The on-chip wavelength locker may include a plurality of integrated photodiodes to receive the plurality of periodic output optical signals in association with wavelength locking the laser.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Inventors: John M. Heaton, Konstantin Petrovich Petrov
  • Patent number: 9885830
    Abstract: A semiconductor waveguide optical device and a method of manufacturing of a semiconductor optical device are disclosed. The semiconductor waveguide optical device may include a gradient index waveguide for mode conversion and/or vertical translation of optical modes of step-index waveguides, which may be disposed on or over a same substrate as the gradient index waveguide. The gradient index waveguide may be epitaxially grown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: John M. Heaton, Oleg Bouevitch
  • Publication number: 20170235048
    Abstract: A semiconductor waveguide optical device and a method of manufacturing of a semiconductor optical device are disclosed. The semiconductor waveguide optical device may include a gradient index waveguide for mode conversion and/or vertical translation of optical modes of step-index waveguides, which may be disposed on or over a same substrate as the gradient index waveguide. The gradient index waveguide may be epitaxially grown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: John M. HEATON, Oleg BOUEVITCH
  • Patent number: 9588296
    Abstract: A semiconductor waveguide optical device and a method of manufacturing of a semiconductor optical device are disclosed. The semiconductor waveguide optical device may include a gradient index waveguide for mode conversion and/or vertical translation of optical modes of step-index waveguides, which may be disposed on or over a same substrate as the gradient index waveguide. The gradient index waveguide may be epitaxially grown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Lumentum Operations LLC
    Inventors: John M. Heaton, Oleg Bouevitch
  • Publication number: 20170031098
    Abstract: A semiconductor waveguide optical device and a method of manufacturing of a semiconductor optical device are disclosed. The semiconductor waveguide optical device may include a gradient index waveguide for mode conversion and/or vertical translation of optical modes of step-index waveguides, which may be disposed on or over a same substrate as the gradient index waveguide. The gradient index waveguide may be epitaxially grown.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventors: John M. HEATON, Oleg BOUEVITCH
  • Patent number: 8611534
    Abstract: An electro-optic waveguide polarization modulator (20) comprising a waveguide core (4) having first and second faces defining a waveguide core plane, a plurality of primary electrodes (22, 24) arranged at a first side of the waveguide core plane and out of said plane, and at least one secondary electrode (26) arranged at a second side of the waveguide core plane and out of said plane, wherein the electrodes (22, 24, 26) are adapted in use to provide an electric field having field components (13, 15) in two substantially perpendicular directions within the waveguide core (4) so as modulate the refractive index thereof such that electromagnetic radiation propagating through the core (4) is converted from a first polarization state to a second polarization state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: QinetiQ Limited
    Inventors: Ewan D Finlayson, Philip M Gorman, John M Heaton, Michael J Kane, Brian S Lowans
  • Publication number: 20100111303
    Abstract: An electro-optic waveguide polarisation modulator (20) comprising a waveguide core (4) having first and second faces defining a waveguide core plane, a plurality of primary electrodes (22, 24) arranged at a first side of the waveguide core plane and out of said plane, and at least one secondary electrode (26) arranged at a second side of the waveguide core plane and out of said plane, wherein the electrodes (22, 24, 26) are adapted in use to provide an electric field having field components (13, 15) in two substantially perpendicular directions within the waveguide core (4) so as modulate the refractive index thereof such that electromagnetic radiation propagating through the core (4) is converted from a first polarisation state to a second polarisation state.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2007
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Ewan David Finlayson, Philip Michael Gorman, John M. Heaton, Michael J. Kane, Brian S. Lowans
  • Patent number: 6978067
    Abstract: A horizontal access semiconductor photo detector (2) comprises a horizontal light absorbing layer (8) for converting light into photo-current which layer is configured to confine light within it in whispering gallery modes of propagation. The detector is configured to have a first waveguide portion (18) and a second light confining portion (20, 21) arranged such that the waveguide portion couples light into the detector and transfers light into the light confining portion so as to excite whispering gallery modes of propagation around the light confining portion. The light absorbing layer may be part of the light confining portion or alternatively light can be coupled into the light confining portion or alternatively light can be coupled into the light absorbing layer from the light confining portion by evanescent coupling. The excitation of whispering gallery modes within the light absorbing layer significantly increases the effective absorption coefficient of the light absorbing layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: QinetiQ Limited
    Inventors: David C W Herbert, Edward T R Chidley, Roger T Carline, Weng Y Leong, David R Wight, David J Robbins, John M Heaton
  • Publication number: 20040013367
    Abstract: A horizontal access semiconductor photo detector (2) comprises a horizontal light absorbing layer (8) for converting light into photo-current which layer is configured to confine light within it in whispering gallery modes of propagation. The detector is configured to have a first waveguide portion (18) and a second light confining portion (20, 21) arranged such that the waveguide portion couples light into the detector and transfers light into the light confining portion so as to excite whispering gallery modes of propagation around the light confining portion. The light absorbing layer may be part of the light confining portion or alternatively light can be coupled into the light confining portion or alternatively light can be coupled into the light absorbing layer from the light confining portion by evanescent coupling. The excitation of whispering gallery modes within the light absorbing layer significantly increases the effective absorption coefficient of the light absorbing layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventors: David C W Herbert, Edward T R Chidley, Roger T Carline, Weng Y Leong, David R Wight, Davis J Robbins, John M Heaton
  • Patent number: 6385353
    Abstract: A device for spatially separating components of frequency in a primary radiation beam comprising means for separating the primary radiation beam into a plurality of secondary radiation beams, a plurality of electrically biasable waveguides forming a waveguide array, each for transmitting a secondary radiation beam to an output, wherein each waveguide has an associated optical delay line having a corresponding optical delay time, wherein each of the optical delay times is different. The device also comprises means for applying a variable electric field across each of the waveguides such that the phase of the secondary radiation beams transmitted through each may be varied by varying the electric field. The secondary radiation beams output from each of the waveguides interfere in a propagation region with a secondary radiation beam output from at least one of the other waveguides so as to form an interference pattern comprising one or more maximum at various positions in the propagation region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Qinetiq Limited
    Inventors: Colin M Boyne, John M Heaton, David R Wight
  • Patent number: 5475776
    Abstract: An optical mixing device (10) incorporates a rectangular multimode waveguide (14), with an input region (22) and an output region (24), two square section input waveguides (26, 28), and a detector (34). The input waveguides (26, 28) are arranged to provide first and second input radiation beams respectively to the input region (22), each beam being in the form of a square waveguide fundamental mode beam. Modal dispersion along the multimode waveguide (14) produces a single maximum incident on the detector (34) when the input beams are in phase with one another, and two maxima of like magnitude located on opposite sides of the detector (34) when the input beams are in antiphase. Intermediate these two situations three maxima are produced, the amplitudes depending on phase difference. The first and second input beams may be of like frequency producing a time-independent device output. The input beams may alternatively have different frequencies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: The Secretary of State for Defence in Her Britannic Majesty's Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
    Inventors: Richard M. Jenkins, John M. Heaton, Robert W. Devereux