Patents by Inventor Martin Zirngibl

Martin Zirngibl 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).

  • Patent number: 6275313
    Abstract: The spectral distortion introduced by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) in an optical fiber transmission system has been determined to always be linear on a dB/nm scale and depend solely on the total input power and not on the input power distribution. By maintaining the total input power to the fiber constant, the resulting Raman gain tilt may be compensated for or canceled by using an optical filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan Myron Denkin, Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 6266172
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining channel signal bit rate and measuring channel signal performance in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) optical network or other optical communication system. A selected channel signal modulated by a pseudorandom non-return-to-zero (NRZ) data stream is detected in a front-end receiver or photodetector and converted to an electrical signal. An autocorrelator receives the detected channel signal, and generates an autocorrelation function for the corresponding electrical signal, from which the channel signal bit rate can be determined. The autocorrelator separates the electrical signal into a first part and a second part, introduces a delay between the first and second parts, multiplies the first and second parts in a multiplier, and integrates the result of the multiplication over a designated time period to provide the autocorrelation function. The bit rate may be determined by measuring the width of a peak in the autocorrelation function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Agere Systems Optoelectronics Guardian Corp.
    Inventor: Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 6243179
    Abstract: A demultiplexer demultiplexes an incoming WDM signal that contains a given number of channels into a given number of bands, each band containing a subset of the number of channels. An add/drop filter capable of handling the subset of channels in each band is coupled to the demultiplexer when a channel within a band requires further processing. A multiplexer multiplexes the processed bands and the passed through bands and outputs a WDM signal into the optical network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Agere Systems Optoelectronics Guardian Corp.
    Inventors: William A. Thompson, Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 6163637
    Abstract: A wavelength-dependent splitter/router is made by chirping a waveguide grating router, such that the path-length difference between pairs of adjacent grating arms is not a constant. With careful design, a device can be fabricated that acts as an optical splitter in one wavelength band and as an optical router in another wavelength band. The invention has applicability in optical networks, because it enables the overlaying of a wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) network (which relies on routers) with a broadcast type of network (which relies on splitters).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 6088152
    Abstract: An optical amplifier is adapted to cancel the Raman gain of an optical transmission path that degrades those optical signals occupying the low end of the bandwidth such that the power is transferred from the latter signals to the optical signals occupying the high end of the bandwidth. More specifically, the optical amplifier adjusts the gain that it applies to the optical signals so that it favors the signal components at the low end of the bandwidth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Matthias Berger, Dirk Bode, Daniel A. Fishman, Gabriela Livescu, Christian Raabe, Fatimah Shehadeh, Jianhui Zhou, Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 6043915
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for stabilizing or otherwise controlling optical signal power levels in a multi-channel optical communication system. A multi-channel optical signal is detected in a single receiver, and the resulting detected signal is supplied to a correlator. The correlator correlates the detected multi-channel signal with a data signal associated with a particular channel to be controlled in order to generate a measure of the optical signal power of the particular channel. The measure is utilized in a feedback control loop to control an optical signal power level of the particular channel. The correlator may generate the measure of optical signal power by mixing the detected signal and the data signal in an RF mixer, by multiplying the detected signal and a data signal in the form of a unique identifier associated with the particular channel, or by using other suitable correlation techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton Randy Giles, Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5913000
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for guiding optical signals in a laser cavity to determine the oscillation frequency or frequencies of a laser by controlling the lengths of waveguide grating arms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 15, 1999
    Inventors: Christopher Richard Doerr, Martin Zirngibl, Charles H. Joyner
  • Patent number: 5809184
    Abstract: A waveguide grating multifrequency receiver (MFR) is described with low polarization sensitivity. Polarization insensitivity is achieved using our polarization diversity scheme in which the TM polarized signal component of the unpolarized received input signal is converted to a second TE polarized signal and both TE polarized signals are made to share a common waveguide grating router and photodetectors. The MFR may be implemented using integrated optical preamplifiers and detectors in indium phosphide (InP).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventors: Christopher Richard Doerr, Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5793507
    Abstract: In a fiber optic communication system, a multifrequency light source generates a signal having a plurality of discrete and temporally spaced wavelengths. The wavelengths can be modulated with data for transmission in an optic medium. The multifrequency light source is cascaded with a power splitter for dividing the generated signal into a plurality of multifrequency signals of substantially equal power. The wavelengths in the plurality of signals may be modulated with data for transmission in an optic medium to a plurality of optic receivers for retrieval of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton Randy Giles, Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5745275
    Abstract: A correlation feedback method and apparatus for multi-channel stabilization of a multi-channel transmitter in which a single external receiver is used to detect the total power output from the multi-channel transmitter and to control each channel by correlating the total power output signal with channel data to measure the channels' signal power and control the output power via a feedback loop. The inventive system is suitable for use with and able to accommodate both integrated lasers and an array of discrete independent lasers; the system is also equally applicable for use with channels comprising random independent data or broadcast data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Clinton Randy Giles, Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5745616
    Abstract: A compact waveguide grating router is constructed by forming at least first and second free space regions, first and second sets of optical ports, and a grating array, onto a substrate. The grating array is coupled to the first free space region and the second free space region. A first plane defining a first reflective surface is introduced into the first free space region, and a second plane defining a second reflective surface is introduced into the second free space region. The first plane is oriented such that incident optical signals from the first set of optical ports are reflected to the grating array, and the second plane is oriented such that incident optical signals from the grating array are reflected to the second set of optical ports. The first and second planes are provided, for example, by cleaving, cutting, etching, sawing, or any other suitable technique. The first and second planes enable the input and output ports to be folded back into previously unoccupied space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5729369
    Abstract: In a fiber optic communication system, a multifrequency light source generates a signal having a plurality of discrete and temporally spaced wavelengths. The wavelengths can be modulated with data for transmission in an optic medium. The multifrequency light source is cascaded with a power splitter for dividing the generated signal into a plurality of multifrequency signals of substantially equal power. The wavelengths in the plurality of signals may be modulated with data for transmission in an optical medium to a temperature-sensitive router which services a plurality of optic receivers for retrieval of the data. A method is provided for communicating to a host terminal complex (HTC) that a drift in the router has occurred as a result of a change in router temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5684819
    Abstract: A fabrication technique for improved dielectric isolation of adjacent, electronic devices or electrically controllable optical devices provides an inter-device resistance in excess of 1 M.OMEGA.. Strips of a silicon oxide material, such as SiO.sub.2, are formed between the devices after device formation but prior to regrowth of an electrically conductive cap layer and subsequent metallization. The presence of the SiO.sub.2 strips prevents regrowth of the cap layer between the adjacent devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5623571
    Abstract: A polarization compensated waveguide grating router is formed by reducing the thickness of the cladding material deposited over segments of waveguide cores to be on the order of the height of the vertical extension of the optical field of the waveguide. The resulting "air-patch" segments increase the birefringence in the patch segments of the waveguides. By using an air-patch length which is inversely proportional to the length of each waveguide, the correct phase relationship can be maintained between the different waveguides to produce an InP-based router which is polarization independent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Patrick C. Chou, Charles H. Joyner, Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5610095
    Abstract: A fabrication technique for improved dielectric isolation of adjacent, electronic devices or electrically controllable optical devices provides an inter-device resistance in excess of 1 M.OMEGA.. Strips of a silicon oxide material, such as SiO.sub.2, are formed between the devices after device formation but prior to regrowth of an electrically conductive cap layer and subsequent metallization. The presence of the SiO.sub.2 strips prevents regrowth of the cap layer between the adjacent devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5600742
    Abstract: The efficiency of an N.times.N waveguide grating router may be increased in many applications by incorporating at least one output waveguide, such as an (N+1).sup.st waveguide, positioned for capturing second order diffraction optical energy from a free-space region in the router. The second order diffraction optical energy is delivered at a wavelength or at wavelengths corresponding to that wavelength or those wavelengths output on a particular associated one of the original N waveguide outputs for the router.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 4, 1997
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5576881
    Abstract: A multi-frequency optical signal source is adapted to include a plurality of power splitters, each connected to obtain a portion of an electrical data signal used to modulate a different one of the plurality of input optical sources; a plurality of delay means, each connected to an output of a different power splitter, each delay means providing a different predetermined signal delay; and an electrical signal combiner having a plurality of inputs, each input connected to a different output of the respective delay means, for electrically combining a portion of the modulation signal received from the connected delay means to form a combined electrical signal at an output of the electrical signal combiner, the output of the combiner being connected to control biasing of the optical output amplifier. The resulting multi-frequency optical signal source exhibits reduced signal distortion and crosstalk by keeping the carrier density constant in its shared optical output amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1996
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Doerr, Charles H. Joyner, Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5550666
    Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexing multi-frequency optical source is used to provide downstream transmission of information signals at discrete optical wavelengths from a central office to a plurality of optical network units. A passive optical demultiplexer in a remote node routes the downstream information signals to the optical networks according to optical wavelength. Broadband incoherent sources are used to provide upstream information signals at discrete optical wavelengths which are multiplexed and then routed to the central office for demultiplexing by the passive optical demultiplexer. A wavelength selective coupler in the central office and in each optical network unit combines and segregates downstream and upstream signals of different optical wavelengths for routing to a desired destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5524014
    Abstract: An optical frequency translator includes a frequency routing device formed on a semiconductive wafer between two reflective facets forming a laser cavity. Waveguides associated with the device each contain an integrated optical amplifier selectively acting as a gate preventing the flow of optical energy through a respective waveguide or as a gain-providing element which amplifies optical energy flowing through a respective waveguide. When a selective one of the optical amplifiers is activated with bias current the optical energy produced by this current operates in conjunction with the optical energy of the input signal so that lasing action occurs between the reflective facets. The lasing action occurs along a predetermined path determined by the optical amplifier or amplifiers that are activated. The lasing action in this particular path is supported at a particular selected frequency. This particular frequency is the frequency to which the input signal is to be translated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1996
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Ivan P. Kaminow, Martin Zirngibl
  • Patent number: 5450431
    Abstract: A digitally-tuned integrated laser with multi-frequency operation for generating optical signals of various frequencies. The laser includes a wafer (10) having a frequency router (12) defined therein and a first cleaved face (20), a second cleaved face (24) and a third face (11). An active optical amplifier (18) is formed at the first cleaved face and is connected to the frequency router by a waveguide (14). A plurality of individually selectable optical amplifier pairs (22, 22') are formed at the second cleaved face (24) and are connected to the frequency router by pairs of waveguides (16, 16'). The waveguides of each pair are coupled one to the other by an optical coupler (28) that provides a portion of a generated optical signal to a modulator (26) contained in one of the waveguides of each waveguide pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Bernard Glance, Martin Zirngibl