Patents by Inventor Lee J. Burrows
Lee J. Burrows 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).
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Patent number: 7192480Abstract: A method for fabricating ion exchange waveguides, such as lithium niobate or lithium tantalate waveguides in optical modulators and other optical waveguide devices, utilizes pressurized annealing to further diffuse and limit exchange of the ions and includes ion exchanging the crystalline substrate with a source of ions and annealing the substrate by pressurizing a gas atmosphere containing the lithium niobate or lithium tantalate substrate above normal atmospheric pressure, heating the substrate to a temperature ranging from about 150 degrees Celsius to about 1000 degrees Celsius, maintaining pressure and temperature to effect greater ion diffusion and limit exchange, and cooling the structure to an ambient temperature at an appropriate ramp down rate. In another aspect of the invention a powder of the same chemical composition as the crystalline substrate is introduced into the anneal process chamber to limit the crystalline substrate from outgassing alkaline earth metal oxide during the anneal period.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2004Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventor: Lee J. Burrows
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Patent number: 6898365Abstract: A method for manufacturing an article capable of constraining a propagating wave is disclosed. The method includes contacting a crystalline substrate with a source of deuterium ions to create a region in the crystalline substrate having a crystal structure that includes deuterium ions. The region is capable of constraining a propagating wave to the region.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2002Date of Patent: May 24, 2005Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventor: Lee J. Burrows
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Patent number: 6856746Abstract: A method for fabricating titanium-indiffusion waveguides in optical modulators and other optical waveguide devices includes disposing titanium, strips in a waveguide pattern on the surface of a crystalline substrate, such as lithium niobate or lithium tantalate, and indiffusing the titanium atoms into the crystalline substrate by creating a flowing, wet deuterium oxide (D2O) environment, raising the temperature in the D2O environment to a temperature within the range of 900 degrees Celsius and 1100 degrees Celsius and maintaining the temperature for a period of time that will allow for the necessary indiffusion of titanium to occur within the crystal substrate.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2003Date of Patent: February 15, 2005Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Lee J. Burrows, William B. Bridges
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Patent number: 6786967Abstract: A method for fabricating ion exchange waveguides, such as lithium niobate or lithium tantalate waveguides in optical modulators and other optical waveguide devices, utilizes pressurized annealing to further diffuse and limit exchange of the ions and includes ion exchanging the crystalline substrate with a source of ions and annealing the substrate by pressurizing a gas atmosphere containing the lithium niobate or lithium tantalate substrate above normal atmospheric pressure, heating the substrate to a temperature ranging from about 150 degrees Celsius to about 1000 degrees Celsius, maintaining pressure and temperature to effect greater ion diffusion and limit exchange, and cooling the structure to an ambient temperature at an appropriate ramp down rate. In another aspect of the invention a powder of the same chemical composition as the crystalline substrate is introduced into the anneal process chamber to limit the crystalline substrate from outgassing alkaline earth metal oxide during the anneal period.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1999Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventor: Lee J. Burrows
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Patent number: 6770132Abstract: In one aspect of the invention, a method for pressurized annealing of lithium niobate or lithium tantalate structures, such as optical modulators and optical wave guides, comprises pressurizing an oxygen atmosphere containing a lithium niobate or lithium tantalate structure above normal atmospheric pressure, heating the structure to a temperature ranging from about 150 degrees Celsius to about 1000 degrees Celsius, maintaining pressure and temperature to effect ion exchange or to relieve stress, and cooling the structure to an ambient temperature at an appropriate ramp down rate.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 1999Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventor: Lee J. Burrows
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Publication number: 20030185533Abstract: A method for fabricating titanium-indiffusion waveguides in optical modulators and other optical waveguide devices includes disposing titanium strips in a waveguide pattern on the surface of a crystalline substrate, such as lithium niobate or lithium tantalate, and indiffusing the titanium atoms into the crystalline substrate by creating a flowing, wet deuterium oxide (D2O) environment, raising the temperature in the D2O environment to a temperature within the range of 900 degrees Celsius and 1100 degrees Celsius and maintaining the temperature for a period of time that will allow for the necessary indiffusion of titanium to occur within the crystal substrate.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 28, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicant: California Institute of Technology, a California Non-profit CorporationInventors: Lee J. Burrows, William B. Bridges
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Patent number: 6625368Abstract: A method for fabricating titanium-indiffusion waveguides in optical modulators and other optical waveguide devices includes disposing titanium strips in a waveguide pattern on the surface of a crystalline substrate, such as lithium niobate or lithium tantalate, and indiffusing the titanium atoms into the crystalline substrate by creating a flowing, wet deuterium oxide (D2O) environment, raising the temperature in the D2O environment to a temperature within the range of 900 degrees Celsius and 1100 degrees Celsius and maintaining the temperature for a period of time that will allow for the necessary indiffusion of titanium to occur within the crystal substrate.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1999Date of Patent: September 23, 2003Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventors: Lee J. Burrows, William B. Bridges
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Patent number: 6567598Abstract: A method for fabricating titanium-indiffusion waveguides in optical modulators and other optical waveguide devices includes disposing titanium strips in a waveguide pattern on the surface of a crystalline substrate, such as lithium niobate or lithium tantalate, and indiffusing the titanium atoms into the crystalline substrate by pressurizing above ambient atmospheric pressure an oxygen gas atmosphere enclosing the crystalline substrate, heating in the oxygen gas atmosphere, maintaining temperature and pressure for an indiffusion period, and cooling to ambient temperature. A powder formed of the same chemical composition as the crystalline substrate may be introduced into the indiffusion process to limit the crystalline substrate from outgassing alkaline earth metal oxide during the indiffusion period. An indiffusion container that allows for crystalline substrates to be annealed in the presence of a powder without contaminating the substrate with the powder during the indiffusion process may be used.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 1999Date of Patent: May 20, 2003Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventor: Lee J. Burrows
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Publication number: 20030087465Abstract: A method for manufacturing an article capable of constraining a propagating wave is disclosed. The method includes contacting a crystalline substrate with a source of deuterium ions to create a region in the crystalline substrate having a crystal structure that includes deuterium ions. The region is capable of constraining a propagating wave to the region.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2002Publication date: May 8, 2003Inventor: Lee J. Burrows
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Patent number: 6518078Abstract: A method for manufacturing an article capable of constraining a propagating wave is disclosed. The method includes contacting a crystalline substrate with a source of deuterium ions to create a region in the crystalline substrate having a crystal structure that includes deuterium ions. The region is capable of constraining a propagating wave to the region.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 1998Date of Patent: February 11, 2003Assignee: California Institute of TechnologyInventor: Lee J. Burrows
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Publication number: 20020155633Abstract: A method for manufacturing an article capable of constraining a propagating wave is disclosed. The method includes contacting a crystalline substrate with a source of deuterium ions to create a region in the crystalline substrate having a crystal structure that includes deuterium ions. The region is capable of constraining a propagating wave to the region.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 1998Publication date: October 24, 2002Inventor: LEE J. BURROWS