Patents by Inventor Monica Minden

Monica Minden 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: 11108211
    Abstract: The invention is a Demodulator for an Optical Analog Pulse Position Modulated signal suitable for inclusion in receivers for Free Space Optical communication systems. In one embodiment the Demodulator may use the pulse position modulated optical information signal and the clock signal with different wavelengths. By proper biasing of a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier and selection of wavelengths for the information signal and the clock signal, the performance of the Demodulator is made insensitive to noise in the received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Yap, Monica Minden
  • Patent number: 8569675
    Abstract: The invention is a Demodulator for an Optical Analog Pulse Position Modulated signal suitable for inclusion in receivers for Free Space Optical communication systems. In one embodiment the Demodulator may use the pulse position modulated optical information signal and the clock signal with different wavelengths. By proper biasing of a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier and selection of wavelengths for the information signal and the clock signal, the performance of the Demodulator is made insensitive to noise in the received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Yap, Monica Minden
  • Patent number: 8229304
    Abstract: A coherent laser receiver for receiving encoded light which may have propagated over an aberrated path, situated between a source of the encoded light and the coherent receiver. The coherent laser receiver comprises a bundle of optical fibers arranged in an array to receive light, as encoded from a distant optical transmitter or reflective surface, the encoded light from the distant optical transmitter or reflective surface is received by at least a majority of the fibers in the array. A plurality of light amplifiers is provided for amplifying the received encoded light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: David M. Pepper, Monica Minden
  • Patent number: 7831113
    Abstract: An optical pulse position modulator includes a substrate with parallel first and second sides, the substrate including a first waveguide channel and a parallel second waveguide channel orthogonal to the first and second sides, a linear chirped grating orthogonal to and upon the first and second waveguide channels, and at least a first electrode along the first waveguide channel to apply a voltage modulation thereto. A first optical circulator has a first port coupled to a pulsed optical carrier signal, and a second port coupled to the first waveguide channel on the first side of the substrate, and a second optical circulator has a fourth port coupled to the third port of the first optical circulator, and a fifth port coupled to the second waveguide channel on the second side of the substrate. An output of the second waveguide channel is a position modulated optical pulse signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: Monica Minden
  • Patent number: 7599405
    Abstract: A laser apparatus having multiple laser devices coupled together. The laser devices comprise optical fibers with laser active regions. Each of the fibers has a reflector disposed at one end and is connected to a combiner on the other end. A laser pump device for each fiber provides pump energy to the laser active regions. Light propagating in the fibers interacts so as to form inphase states. The array of fibers may be coupled either in pairs or altogether between the reflector and the laser active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Rogers, Monica Minden, Hans W. Bruesselbach, Cris Jones
  • Patent number: 7460755
    Abstract: A fiber optic apparatus formed by fusing together multiple optical fibers and stretching the fused optical fibers to form a tapered portion. The tapered portion is cleaved or cut and polished to form a facet at which an optical beam is received or transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Hans W. Bruesselbach, Monica Minden, Cris Jones, Dave Hammon
  • Patent number: 7457326
    Abstract: A laser apparatus having multiple laser devices coupled together. The laser devices include optical fibers with laser active regions. Each of the fibers has a reflector disposed at one end and is connected to a combiner on the other end. A laser pump device for each fiber provides pump energy to the laser active regions. Light propagating in the fibers interacts so as to form inphase states. The array of fibers may be coupled either in pairs or altogether between the reflector and the laser active region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey Rogers, Monica Minden, Hans W. Bruesselbach, Cris Jones
  • Patent number: 7342947
    Abstract: A multiple-fiber, stretched, fused and cleaved coupler designed to act as an output window to a fiber laser array or fiber-coupled laser array, in which the stretch, length and/or position of the fibers is chosen facilitate the in-phase oscillation of the lasers in the array. The in-phase oscillation of the lasers is facilitated by making one or more of the fibers interferometrically dark. The other fibers, the interferometrically lit ones, are made to have fairly uniform intensity under the same collimated illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Monica Minden, Hans W. Bruesselbach
  • Publication number: 20080019403
    Abstract: A laser apparatus having multiple laser devices coupled together. The laser devices comprise optical fibers with laser active regions. Each of the fibers has a reflector disposed at one end and is connected to a combiner on the other end. A laser pump device for each fiber provides pump energy to the laser active regions. Light propagating in the fibers interacts so as to form inphase states. The array of fibers may be coupled either in pairs or altogether between the reflector and the laser active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Jeffrey Rogers, Monica Minden, Hans Bruesselbach, Cris Jones
  • Patent number: 7283751
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for phase fluctuations incurred by an optical beam travelling through free space, especially a turbulent atmosphere. A transmitting station transmits a plurality of uniquely tagged optical beams through free space. The plurality of uniquely tagged optical beams are received at a receiving station, where a parameter of each uniquely tagged optical beam is quantified. Information associated with the quantified parameter for each uniquely tagged optical beam is then sent back to the transmitting station via a wireless feedback link. Using the information, the transmitting station adjusts at least one uniquely tagged optical beam to compensate for phase fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Hans W. Bruesselbach, Monica Minden, Metin S. Mangir, Cris Jones, David M. Pepper
  • Patent number: 7274717
    Abstract: A multiple-fiber, stretched, fused and cleaved coupler designed to act as an output window to a fiber laser array or fiber-coupled laser array, in which the stretch, length and/or position of the fibers is chosen facilitate the in-phase oscillation of the lasers in the array. The in-phase oscillation of the lasers is facilitated by making one or more of the fibers interferometrically dark and having a different propagation constant than the other fibers. The other fibers, the interferometrically lit ones, are made to have fairly uniform intensity under the same collimated illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Monica Minden, Hans W. Bruesselbach, Shuoqin Wang, Eric Mies, Anthony Paul Carra, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7233726
    Abstract: A phase-conjugate mirror has a length of hollow core photonic crystal multi-spatial mode, polarization-maintaining fiber disposed in a vessel, with a compressible and preferably gaseous medium, such as Xe or CH4, occupying the hollow core of the of hollow core photonic crystal fiber and surrounding the exterior of the hollow core photonic crystal fiber. At least one sealed window is provided in the vessel, the at least one sealed window being optically coupled to at least one end of the length of hollow core photonic crystal fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: David M. Pepper, Hans W. Bruesselbach, Monica Minden
  • Patent number: 7119906
    Abstract: A system and a method for remotely sensing global motion of an ensemble of dynamically moving scattering sites. The system comprising a scattering medium under inspection, an optical transceiver and a detector in a double-pass geometry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2006
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: David M. Pepper, Monica Minden, Gilmore J. Dunning
  • Patent number: 7006537
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating single polarization fiber laser output are disclosed. A Bragg grating is non-destructively fabricated within the fiber to introduce differential loss between the two polarizations of the laser output. Curvature at the grating site into a tight loop further increases the differential loss between the available polarizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Monica Minden, Dmitry Starodubov
  • Publication number: 20050190373
    Abstract: A system and a method for remotely sensing global motion of an ensemble of dynamically moving scattering sites. The system comprising a scattering medium under inspection, an optical transceiver and a detector in a double-pass geometry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2004
    Publication date: September 1, 2005
    Inventors: David Pepper, Monica Minden, Gilmore Dunning
  • Publication number: 20040165827
    Abstract: A fiber optic apparatus formed by fusing together multiple optical fibers and stretching the fused optical fibers to form a tapered portion. The tapered portion is cleaved or cut and polished to form a facet at which an optical beam is received or transmitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Hans W. Bruesselbach, Monica Minden, Cris Jones, Dave Hammon
  • Publication number: 20040165620
    Abstract: A laser apparatus having multiple laser devices coupled together. The laser devices comprise optical fibers with laser active regions. Each of the fibers has a reflector disposed at one end and is connected to a combiner on the other end. A laser pump device for each fiber provides pump energy to the laser active regions. Light propagating in the fibers interacts so as to form inphase states. The array of fibers may be coupled either in pairs or altogether between the reflector and the laser active region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 26, 2004
    Inventors: Jeffrey Rogers, Monica Minden, Hans W. Bruesselbach, Cris Jones
  • Publication number: 20040161239
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for compensating for phase fluctuations incurred by an optical beam travelling through free space, especially a turbulent atmosphere. A transmitting station transmits a plurality of uniquely tagged optical beams through free space. The plurality of uniquely tagged optical beams are received at a receiving station, where a parameter of each uniquely tagged optical beam is quantified. Information associated with the quantified parameter for each uniquely tagged optical beam is then sent back to the transmitting station via a wireless feedback link. Using the information, the transmitting station adjusts at least one uniquely tagged optical beam to compensate for phase fluctuations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 19, 2004
    Inventors: Hans W. Bruesselbach, Monica Minden, Metin S. Mangir, Cris Jones, David M. Pepper
  • Patent number: 6707832
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the coupling of laser diodes into electromagnetic radiation transmitting fibers wherein coupling efficiency is improved by improving the spatial brightness of multi-mode diode lasers as they are coupled into double-clad fibers. A Bragg grating 100 is fabricated into the core 102 of a double-clad fiber 104 coupled to a multi-mode diode laser 106. The output 108 from the multi-mode diode laser 106 is coupled into the core 102 and inner cladding 110 of the double-clad fiber by proximity or by one or more focusing objectives 112. The Bragg grating 100 in the core 102 of the double-clad fiber 104 is written at the wavelength of the multi-mode diode laser 106. The original output 108 from the multi-mode diode laser 106 strikes the Bragg grating 100 which reflects feedback 114 back to the diode laser 106.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: Monica Minden
  • Publication number: 20030165176
    Abstract: The present invention provides for the coupling of laser diodes into electromagnetic radiation transmitting fibers wherein coupling efficiency is improved by improving the spatial brightness of multi-mode diode lasers as they are coupled into double-clad fibers. A Bragg grating 100 is fabricated into the core 102 of a double-clad fiber 104 coupled to a multi-mode diode laser 106. The output 108 from the multi-mode diode laser 106 is coupled into the core 102 and inner cladding 110 of the double-clad fiber by proximity or by one or more focusing objectives 112. The Bragg grating 100 in the core 102 of the double-clad fiber 104 is written at the wavelength of the multi-mode diode laser 106. The original output 108 from the multi-mode diode laser 106 strikes the Bragg grating 100 which reflects feedback 114 back to the diode laser 106.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Publication date: September 4, 2003
    Inventor: Monica Minden