Patents by Inventor Lionel C. Kimerling

Lionel C. Kimerling 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: 20030235931
    Abstract: A photodetector device includes a plurality of Ge epilayers that are grown on a substrate and annealed in a defined temperature range. The Ge epilayers form a tensile strained Ge layer that allows the photodetector device to operate efficiently in the C-band and L-band.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2002
    Publication date: December 25, 2003
    Inventors: Kazumi Wada, Lionel C. Kimerling, Yasuhiko Ishikawa, Douglas D. Cannon, Jifeng Liu
  • Patent number: 6661938
    Abstract: An integrated optical sensor using optical waveguide micro-cavity resonators. Using a laser and a detector it is possible to detect changes in the position of the resonance position, in wavelength or frequency, of one or more modes of the resonator. The change in resonance can be made dependent on chemicals, which have been adsorbed by chemically or biologically sensitive material provided in close proximity to the resonator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Desmond R. Lim, Anuradha Agarwal, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Publication number: 20030223699
    Abstract: A photonic bandgap device includes a first mirror region including alternating layers of different materials. A second mirror region includes alternating layers of different materials. An air gap cavity region is positioned between the first mirror region and second region. The air gap cavity changes its thickness when a voltage is applied so that the device is tuned to a particular resonant wavelength.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Lionel C. Kimerling, Kazumi Wada, Yasha Yi
  • Publication number: 20030215203
    Abstract: A waveguide structure includes a substrate. A layer of high index material includes polysilane, which is patterned using a UV light source to form a waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 9, 2003
    Publication date: November 20, 2003
    Inventors: John Lock, Lionel C. Kimerling, Karen K. Gleason
  • Patent number: 6635110
    Abstract: The invention provides processes for producing a very low dislocation density in heterogeneous epitaxial layers with a wide range of thicknesses, including a thickness compatible with conventional silicon CMOS processing. In a process for reducing dislocation density in a semiconductor material formed as an epitaxial layer upon a dissimilar substrate material, the epitaxial layer and the substrate are heated at a heating temperature that is less than about a characteristic temperature of melting of the epitaxial layer but greater than about a temperature above which the epitaxial layer is characterized by plasticity, for a first time duration. Then the epitaxial layer and the substrate are cooled at a cooling temperature that is lower than the about the heating temperature, for a second time duration. These heating and cooling steps are carried out a selected number of cycles to reduce the dislocation density of the epitaxial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2003
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Hsin-Chiao Luan, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Patent number: 6631225
    Abstract: A mode coupler that enables low-loss coupling between optical modes of two waveguides with different index difference. The mode size and the effective index are gradually changed between two waveguides to gradually transform the mode shape, size, and speed with minimum power loss. The mode coupler is useful for coupling the mode of an optical fiber waveguide with low index difference to the mode of a planar high index difference waveguide, and vice versa.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Kevin K. Lee, Kazumi Wada, Desmond Lim, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Patent number: 6627923
    Abstract: A condensed matter structure includes a substrate having a resonant microcavity formed by reflectors, having a reflectivity R, arranged relative to an optically-active material to form a cavity. The optically-active material has a thickness L, an optical emission line centered at a wavelength &lgr;c, and an optical absorption coefficient &agr;0 at &lgr;c. The magnitude of absorption (&agr;0L) at &lgr;c by the optically-active material is greater than the probability (1−R) that an electromagnetic field having an energy of &lgr;c exits microcavity and thereby results in a strong light-matter interaction between the optically-active material and the electromagnetic field confined in the microcavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michal Lipson, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Patent number: 6624945
    Abstract: An electromagnetic wavelength filter that allows the transmission of electromagnetic energy within a narrow range of wavelengths while reflecting incident electromagnetic energy at other wavelengths. The filter includes at least one cavity region; and at least two reflectors surrounding the at least one cavity region, at least one of the reflectors being an omni-directional reflector. The omni-directional reflector includes a structure with a surface and an index of refraction variation perpendicular to the surface, and the omni-directional reflector is specifically configured to exhibit high omni-directional reflection for a predetermined range of frequencies of incident electromagnetic energy for any angle of incidence and any polarization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2003
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Shanhui Fan, John D. Joannopoulos, George B. Kenney, Michal Lipson, Kevin M. Chen, Lionel C Kimerling
  • Patent number: 6621972
    Abstract: Arrangements using air trench cladding enables minimization of the evanescent tail to suppress light coupling to radiation modes, resulting in low-loss bends and splitters. Structures including sharp bends and T-splitters without transmission loss, crossings without crosstalk, and couplers from/to fibers and with out-of-plane waveguides without substantial loss are provided with such air trench claddings. Air trench sidewall cladding of waveguides pushes evanescent tails toward top and bottom claddings to enhance coupling between vertically positioned waveguides. Fabrication processes using wafer bonding technology are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2003
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Lionel C. Kimerling, Kazumi Wada, Hermann A. Haus, Milov Popovic, Shoji Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20030138178
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes at least one waveguide medium that receives light. An absorption medium absorbs the light under predefined conditions and outputs optically modulated light. The absorption medium is comprised of a Ge-based structure. The Ge-based structure uses the Franz-Keldysh effect to create said optically modulated light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventors: Lionel C. Kimerling, Kazumi Wada, Douglas D. Cannon, Kevin K. Lee
  • Publication number: 20030128927
    Abstract: An array waveguide grating structure includes an input MMI that receives an input optical signal and splits the optical signal into a plurality of signals, each having a defined wavelength. A plurality of input arrayed waveguide structures receive the plurality of signals such that each of the waveguide structures receives one of the plurality of signals. The input MMI, the plurality of arrayed waveguide structures, and the output waveguide are configured using HIC optics.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 1, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Kazumi Wada, Hermann A. Haus, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Publication number: 20030128928
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of AWGs, wherein one of the AWGs receives an input signal. The AWGS are divided amongst a first selective group of the AWGs providing even-numbered channel outputs associated with an even-numbered selection of the input signal, and a second selective group of the AWGs providing odd-numbered channel outputs associated with an odd-numbered selection of the input signal. An interleaver arrangement includes a plurality of ring structures so as to provide appropriate filtering characteristics for the even-numbered channel outputs and odd-numbered channel outputs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Kazumi Wada, Lionel C. Kimerling, Hermann A. Haus
  • Patent number: 6567209
    Abstract: A waveguide for amplifying electromagnetic radiation of a characteristic wavelength includes a first reflector, a second reflector, and a gain medium having a characteristic wavelength of emission disposed between the first and second reflectors. The first and second reflectors are spaced apart from each other to form a microcavity which is off-resonance with respect to the characteristic wavelength of light emitted by the excited gain medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2003
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Michal Lipson, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Publication number: 20030091264
    Abstract: A system of integrating electronic and optical functions includes an electronic chip that also includes monolithic IC electronics for performing electronic functions. Furthermore, the electronic chip includes a plurality of solder bumps for receiving input for processing. An optical chip receives an optical signal and performs optical functions on the signal, and outputs electrical signals indicative of the optical functions performed on the signal. Moreover, the optical chip includes a plurality of solder bumps for sending the electrical signals as input to the electronic chip. The solder bumps of the electronic chip and optical chip are bonded to together so that a hybrid integration is formed that separates the yield of the optical and electrical circuits forming the electronic and optical chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Publication number: 20030048527
    Abstract: An on-chip amplifier includes first element that curtails the velocity of an incoming light to the amplifier. A second element is doped so as to make the frequency of the incoming light equal to the electron frequency in order to allow for electron-photon wave interaction, so that when current flows through the amplifier, electron power is transferred to the incoming light, resulting in amplification of the incoming light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Lionel C. Kimerling, Kazumi Wada, Daniel K. Sparacin, Desmond R. Lim
  • Publication number: 20030035633
    Abstract: An on-chip silicon-based optical coupler used to guide light from an optical fiber to a waveguide. The incoming wave is confined vertically by stacks of graded index materials. In the lateral direction, a linear taper formed by etched holes or trenches confines the wave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Publication date: February 20, 2003
    Inventors: Anuradha M. Agarwal, Lionel C. Kimerling, Hermann A. Haus, Kazumi Wada, Steven G. Johnson, Christina Manolatou, Jurgen Michel, Victor Trinh Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20030031413
    Abstract: A high index difference coupler includes a high index difference waveguide having one or more modes. A plurality of gratings is formed on the high index difference waveguide. The effective index difference between low index regions and high index regions of the waveguide is greater than 0.3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Lionel C. Kimerling, Desmond R. Lim
  • Publication number: 20030029496
    Abstract: A solar cell that has a photoactive region; a Lambertian surface on the topside of the photoactive region; and a photonic crystal on the backside of the photoactive region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Kazumi Wada, Lionel C. Kimerling, Noriaki Toyoda
  • Publication number: 20030030870
    Abstract: A system for dispersion compensation is provided including a plurality of optical cavities with each including a specific resonant frequency and resonant linewidth. At least one coupling element interconnects the optical cavities. The at least one coupling element defines the coupling strength between the cavities. The optical cavities are interconnected with the at least one coupled element that forms a multi-cavity structure. The multi-cavity structure generates appropriate dispersion properties for dispersion compensation purposes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: John D. Joannopoulos, Shanhui Fan, Michal Lispon, Kevin M. Chen, Lionel C. Kimerling
  • Publication number: 20030031399
    Abstract: A chip for integrating functions performed by micro-optics and RF circuits including at least one optical function module that receives an optical signal and performs at least one of a plurality of optical functions. A RF function module that receives a RF signal and perform at least one of a plurality of RF functions. The at least one optical function module and the RF function module provides a monolithic integration of optics and RF circuits on the chip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2002
    Publication date: February 13, 2003
    Inventors: Desmond R. Lim, Lionel C. Kimerling