Patents by Inventor Martin Fermann
Martin Fermann 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: 8787410Abstract: Compact high brightness light sources for the mid and far IR spectral region, and exemplary applications are disclosed based on passively mode locked Tm fiber comb lasers. In at least one embodiment the coherence of the comb sources is increased in a system utilizing an amplified single-frequency laser to pump the Tm fiber comb laser. The optical bandwidth generated by the passively mode locked Tm fiber comb laser is further decreased by using simultaneous 2nd and 3rd order dispersion compensation using either appropriate chirped fiber Bragg gratings for dispersion compensation, or fibers with appropriately selected values of 2nd and 3rd order dispersion. Fibers with large anomalous values of third order dispersion, or fibers with large numerical apertures, for example fibers having air-holes formed in the fiber cladding may be utilized.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Imra America, Inc.Inventor: Martin Fermann
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Publication number: 20140036350Abstract: High power parallel fiber arrays for the amplification of high peak power pulses are described. Fiber arrays based on individual fiber amplifiers as well as fiber arrays based on multi-core fibers can be implemented. The optical phase between the individual fiber amplifier elements of the fiber array is measured and controlled using a variety of phase detection and compensation techniques. High power fiber array amplifiers can be used for EUV and X-ray generation as well as pumping of parametric amplifiers.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 8, 2013Publication date: February 6, 2014Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Martin Fermann, Ingmar Hartl, Andrius Marcinkevicius, Liang Dong
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Publication number: 20140022533Abstract: A frequency comb laser providing large comb spacing is disclosed. At least one embodiment includes a mode locked waveguide laser system. The mode locked waveguide laser includes a laser cavity having a waveguide, and a dispersion control unit (DCU) in the cavity. The DCU imparts an angular dispersion, group-velocity dispersion (GVD) and a spatial chirp to a beam propagating in the cavity. The DCU is capable of producing net GVD in a range from a positive value to a negative value. In some embodiments a tunable fiber frequency comb system configured as an optical frequency synthesizer is provided. In at least one embodiment a low phase noise micro-wave source may be implemented with a fiber comb laser having a comb spacing greater than about 1 GHz. The laser system is suitable for mass-producible fiber comb sources with large comb spacing and low noise. Applications include high-resolution spectroscopy.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2013Publication date: January 23, 2014Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, Inc.Inventors: Martin FERMANN, Ingmar HARTL
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Patent number: 8571075Abstract: A frequency comb laser providing large comb spacing is disclosed. At least one embodiment includes a mode locked waveguide laser system. The mode locked waveguide laser includes a laser cavity having a waveguide, and a dispersion control unit (DCU) in the cavity. The DCU imparts an angular dispersion, group-velocity dispersion (GVD) and a spatial chirp to a beam propagating in the cavity. The DCU is capable of producing net GVD in a range from a positive value to a negative value. In some embodiments a tunable fiber frequency comb system configured as an optical frequency synthesizer is provided. In at least one embodiment a low phase noise micro-wave source may be implemented with a fiber comb laser having a comb spacing greater than about 1 GHz. The laser system is suitable for mass-producible fiber comb sources with large comb spacing and low noise. Applications include high-resolution spectroscopy.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2010Date of Patent: October 29, 2013Assignee: Imra America, Inc.Inventors: Martin Fermann, Ingmar Hartl
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Publication number: 20130250978Abstract: Frequency standards based on mode-locked fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and fiber-based ultra-broad bandwidth light sources, and applications of the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 30, 2013Publication date: September 26, 2013Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Ingmar HARTL, Martin FERMANN
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Publication number: 20120205352Abstract: Compact high brightness light sources for the mid and far IR spectral region, and exemplary applications are disclosed based on passively mode locked Tm fiber comb lasers. In at least one embodiment the coherence of the comb sources is increased in a system utilizing an amplified single-frequency laser to pump the Tm fiber comb laser. The optical bandwidth generated by the passively mode locked Tm fiber comb laser is further decreased by using simultaneous 2nd and 3rd order dispersion compensation using either appropriate chirped fiber Bragg gratings for dispersion compensation, or fibers with appropriately selected values of 2nd and 3rd order dispersion. Fibers with large anomalous values of third order dispersion, or fibers with large numerical apertures, for example fibers having air-holes formed in the fiber cladding may be utilized.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 14, 2011Publication date: August 16, 2012Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.Inventor: Martin FERMANN
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Publication number: 20120162748Abstract: Compact laser systems are disclosed which include ultrafast laser sources in combination with nonlinear crystals or waveguides. In some implementations fiber based mid-IR sources producing very short pulses and/or mid-IR sources based on a mode locked fiber lasers are utilized. Some embodiments may include an infrared source with an amplifier system comprising, in combination, a Tm fiber amplifier and an Er fiber amplifier. A difference frequency generator receives outputs from the Er and/or Tm amplifier system, and generates an output comprising a difference frequency. Exemplary applications of the compact, high brightness mid-IR light sources include medical applications, spectroscopy, ranging, sensing and metrology.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2011Publication date: June 28, 2012Applicants: THE TRUSTEES OF LELAND STANFORD UNIVERSITYInventors: Martin FERMANN, Jie JIANG, Christopher PHILLIPS, Martin M. FEJER
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Publication number: 20120133931Abstract: A frequency comb laser providing large comb spacing is disclosed. At least one embodiment includes a mode locked waveguide laser system. The mode locked waveguide laser includes a laser cavity having a waveguide, and a dispersion control unit (DCU) in the cavity. The DCU imparts an angular dispersion, group-velocity dispersion (GVD) and a spatial chirp to a beam propagating in the cavity. The DCU is capable of producing net GVD in a range from a positive value to a negative value. In some embodiments a tunable fiber frequency comb system configured as an optical frequency synthesizer is provided. In at least one embodiment a low phase noise micro-wave source may be implemented with a fiber comb laser having a comb spacing greater than about 1 GHz. The laser system is suitable for mass-producible fiber comb sources with large comb spacing and low noise. Applications include high-resolution spectroscopy.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2010Publication date: May 31, 2012Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Martin FERMANN, Ingmar HARTL
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Publication number: 20120120971Abstract: The invention describes classes of robust fiber laser systems usable as pulse sources for Nd: or Yb: based regenerative amplifiers intended for industrial settings. The invention modifies adapts and incorporates several recent advances in FCPA systems to use as the input source for this new class of regenerative amplifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2011Publication date: May 17, 2012Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Donald HARTER, Gyu CHO, Zhenlin LIU, Martin FERMANN, Xinhu GU, Salvatore NATI, Lawrence SHAH, Ingmar HARTL, Mark BENDETT
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Patent number: 8165440Abstract: Frequency standards based on mode-locked fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and fiber-based ultra-broad bandwidth light sources, and applications of the same.Type: GrantFiled: February 16, 2011Date of Patent: April 24, 2012Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.Inventors: Ingmar Hartl, Martin Fermann
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Publication number: 20120062983Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a system for producing ultrashort tunable pulses based on ultra broadband OPA or OPG in nonlinear materials. The system parameters such as the nonlinear material, pump wavelengths, quasi-phase matching periods, and temperatures can be selected to utilize the intrinsic dispersion relations for such material to produce bandwidth limited or nearly bandwidth limited pulse compression. Compact high average power sources of short optical pulses tunable in the wavelength range of 1800-2100 nm and after frequency doubling in the wavelength range of 900-1050 nm can be used as a pump for the ultra broadband OPA or OPG. In certain embodiments, these short pump pulses are obtained from an Er fiber oscillator at about 1550 nm, amplified in Er fiber, Raman-shifted to 1800-2100 nm, stretched in a fiber stretcher, and amplified in Tm-doped fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2011Publication date: March 15, 2012Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Gennady Imeshev, Martin Fermann
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Patent number: 8135048Abstract: A novel polarization maintaining optical fiber, which can be used as a high-power polarization maintaining fiber laser or amplifier, is described. Insensitivity of the polarization state to external fiber bending and temperature changes is accomplished by minimizing polarization mode-coupling via reducing stresses inside the fiber core via increasing the fiber diameter. Alternatively, polarization mode-coupling can be minimized by an optimization of the fiber coating to minimize stresses at the interface between the fiber and the coating. As a result insensitivity to polarization mode-coupling is obtained at greatly reduced values of birefringence compared to small-diameter fibers. The fiber is of significant use in any application where polarization stability is important, and will be useful in telecommunications applications in particular for reducing polarization mode dispersion. An implementation in a parabolic pulse-producing fiber laser is also described as one specific high power example.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: March 13, 2012Assignee: IMRA America, IncInventors: Martin Fermann, Donald J. Harter
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Patent number: 8094691Abstract: The invention describes classes of robust fiber laser systems usable as pulse sources for Nd: or Yb: based regenerative amplifiers intended for industrial settings. The invention modifies adapts and incorporates several recent advances in FCPA systems to use as the input source for this new class of regenerative amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: June 15, 2010Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: Imra America, Inc.Inventors: Donald Harter, Gyu Cho, Zhenlin Liu, Martin Fermann, Xinhua Gu, Salvatore Nati, Lawrence Shah, Ingmar Hartl, Mark Bendett
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Patent number: 8040929Abstract: Embodiments described herein include a system for producing ultrashort tunable pulses based on ultra broadband OPA or OPG in nonlinear materials. The system parameters such as the nonlinear material, pump wavelengths, quasi-phase matching periods, and temperatures can be selected to utilize the intrinsic dispersion relations for such material to produce bandwidth limited or nearly bandwidth limited pulse compression. Compact high average power sources of short optical pulses tunable in the wavelength range of 1800-2100 nm and after frequency doubling in the wavelength range of 900-1050 nm can be used as a pump for the ultra broadband OPA or OPG. In certain embodiments, these short pump pulses are obtained from an Er fiber oscillator at about 1550 nm, amplified in Er fiber, Raman-shifted to 1800-2100 nm, stretched in a fiber stretcher, and amplified in Tm-doped fiber.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2005Date of Patent: October 18, 2011Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.Inventors: Gennady Imeshev, Martin Fermann
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Publication number: 20110134943Abstract: Frequency standards based on mode-locked fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and fiber-based ultra-broad bandwidth light sources, and applications of the same.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 16, 2011Publication date: June 9, 2011Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Ingmar HARTL, Martin FERMANN
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Publication number: 20110080580Abstract: The invention relates to scanning pulsed laser systems for optical imaging. Coherent dual scanning laser systems (CDSL) are disclosed and some applications thereof. Various alternatives for implementation are illustrated. In at least one embodiment a coherent dual scanning laser system (CDSL) includes two passively modelocked fiber oscillators. In some embodiments an effective CDSL is constructed with only one laser. At least one embodiment includes a coherent scanning laser system (CSL) for generating pulse pairs with a time varying time delay. A CDSL, effective CDSL, or CSL may be arranged in an imaging system for one or more of optical imaging, microscopy, micro-spectroscopy and/or THz imaging.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2010Publication date: April 7, 2011Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Martin FERMANN, Ingmar HARTL, Axel Ruehl
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Publication number: 20100272129Abstract: The invention describes classes of robust fiber laser systems usable as pulse sources for Nd: or Yb: based regenerative amplifiers intended for industrial settings. The invention modifies adapts and incorporates several recent advances in FCPA systems to use as the input source for this new class of regenerative amplifier.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2010Publication date: October 28, 2010Applicant: IMRA America, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. HARTER, Gyu CHO, Zhenlin LIU, Martin FERMANN, Xinhua GU, Salvatore F. NATI, Lawrence SHAH, Ingmar HARTL, Mark Bendett
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Publication number: 20100260214Abstract: A novel polarization maintaining optical fiber, which can be used as a high-power polarization maintaining fiber laser or amplifier, is described. Insensitivity of the polarization state to external fiber bending and temperature changes is accomplished by minimizing polarization mode-coupling via reducing stresses inside the fiber core via increasing the fiber diameter. Alternatively, polarization mode-coupling can be minimized by an optimization of the fiber coating to minimize stresses at the interface between the fiber and the coating. As a result insensitivity to polarization mode-coupling is obtained at greatly reduced values of birefringence compared to small-diameter fibers. The fiber is of significant use in any application where polarization stability is important, and will be useful in telecommunications applications in particular for reducing polarization mode dispersion. An implementation in a parabolic pulse-producing fiber laser is also described as one specific high power example.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 15, 2010Publication date: October 14, 2010Applicant: IMRA AMERICA, INC.Inventors: Martin FERMANN, Donald J. HARTER
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Patent number: 7809222Abstract: Frequency standards based on mode-locked fiber lasers, fiber amplifiers and fiber-based ultra-broad bandwidth light sources, and applications of the same.Type: GrantFiled: October 13, 2006Date of Patent: October 5, 2010Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.Inventors: Ingmar Hartl, Martin Fermann
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Patent number: 7782910Abstract: A novel polarization maintaining optical fiber, which can be used as a high-power polarization maintaining fiber laser or amplifier, is described. Insensitivity of the polarization state to external fiber bending and temperature changes is accomplished by minimizing polarization mode-coupling via reducing stresses inside the fiber core via increasing the fiber diameter. Alternatively, polarization mode-coupling can be minimized by an optimization of the fiber coating to minimize stresses at the interface between the fiber and the coating. As a result insensitivity to polarization mode-coupling is obtained at greatly reduced values of birefringence compared to small-diameter fibers. The fiber is of significant use in any application where polarization stability is important, and will be useful in telecommunications applications in particular for reducing polarization mode dispersion. An implementation in a parabolic pulse-producing fiber laser is also described as one specific high power example.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2005Date of Patent: August 24, 2010Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.Inventors: Martin Fermann, Donald J. Harter