Patents by Inventor Paul F. Szajowski

Paul F. Szajowski 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: 11990946
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and non-transitory computer readable memory for free-space optical (FSO) communications. For instance, a communications network may include FSO optical transceiver terminals located at remote electrically unpowered locations within the communications network. A remote unpowered FSO terminal located at a far-end location receives necessary optical power from a powered base station location (near-end) required for all optical amplification functions for NRZ or RZ format signals within the spectral range of 900 nm to 1480 nm as well as an Ultra Short Pulsed Laser (USPL) centered at 1560 nm at the far-end location. A transmitting node transmits an optical signal identified as a pump signal to a remote location over a free space medium, such as the atmosphere, where the remote location does not have available electrical power for operation of electro-optic components required for transmission and retransmission functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Assignee: Attochron, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Malcolm Chaffee, Paul F Szajowski
  • Publication number: 20230412275
    Abstract: Free-space optical (FSO) wireless transmission, including optical communications, remote-sensing, power beaming, etc., can be enhanced by replacing conventional laser sources that operate in the infrared portion of the optical spectrum with ultra-short pulsed laser (USPL) sources having peak pulse powers of one kWatt or greater and pulse lengths of less than one picosecond. Specifically, it has been observed that under these conditions the attenuation of an USPL beam having the same average optical power as a conventional laser in a lossy medium, such as the atmosphere, is substantially less than the attenuation of a conventional laser beam having a lower peak pulse power and/or a longer pulse width. The superior system performance when using an USPL can be translated into an increased distance between a laser source in a transmitter and a photodetector in receiver and/or a higher reliability of system operation in inclement weather conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2023
    Publication date: December 21, 2023
    Applicant: Attochron, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Malcolm Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski, Robert P. Fleishauer
  • Patent number: 11777610
    Abstract: Free-space optical (FSO) wireless transmission, including optical communications, remote-sensing, power beaming, etc., can be enhanced by replacing conventional laser sources that operate in the infrared portion of the optical spectrum with ultra-short pulsed laser (USPL) sources having peak pulse powers of one kWatt or greater and pulse lengths of less than one picosecond. Specifically, it has been observed that under these conditions the attenuation of an USPL beam having the same average optical power as a conventional laser in a lossy medium, such as the atmosphere, is substantially less than the attenuation of a conventional laser beam having a lower peak pulse power and/or a longer pulse width. The superior system performance when using an USPL can be translated into an increased distance between a laser source in a transmitter and a photodetector in receiver and/or a higher reliability of system operation in inclement weather conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Attochron, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Malcolm Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski, Robert P. Fleishauer
  • Publication number: 20230246718
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems and non-transitory computer readable memory for free-space optical (FSO) communications. For instance, a communications network may include FSO optical transceiver terminals located at remote electrically unpowered locations within the communications network. A remote unpowered FSO terminal located at a far-end location receives necessary optical power from a powered base station location (near-end) required for all optical amplification functions for NRZ or RZ format signals within the spectral range of 900 nm to 1480 nm as well as an Ultra Short Pulsed Laser (USPL) centered at 1560 nm at the far-end location. A transmitting node transmits an optical signal identified as a pump signal to a remote location over a free space medium, such as the atmosphere, where the remote location does not have available electrical power for operation of electro-optic components required for transmission and retransmission functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Publication date: August 3, 2023
    Applicant: Attochron, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Malcolm Chaffee, Paul F Szajowski
  • Patent number: 11621787
    Abstract: This invention pertains to the field of free-space optical (FSO) communications, and specifically to the realization of functional FSO optical transceiver terminals located at remote electrically unpowered locations within a communications network. A remote unpowered FSO terminal located at a far-end location receives necessary optical power from a powered base station location (near-end) required for all optical amplification functions necessary for NRZ or RZ format signals within the spectral range of 900 nm to 1480 nm as well as an Ultra Short Pulsed Laser (USPL) centered at 1560 nm at the far-end location. A transmitting node identified as the near-end transmits an optical signal identified as a pump signal to a remote location classified as the far-end node over a free space medium, such as the atmosphere, where the far-end node location does not have available electrical power for operation of electro-optic components required for transmission and retransmission functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Attochron, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Malcolm Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski
  • Publication number: 20220416909
    Abstract: This invention pertains to the field of free-space optical (FSO) communications, and specifically to the realization of functional FSO optical transceiver terminals located at remote electrically unpowered locations within a communications network. A remote unpowered FSO terminal located at a far-end location receives necessary optical power from a powered base station location (near-end) required for all optical amplification functions necessary for NRZ or RZ format signals within the spectral range of 900 nm to 1480 nm as well as an Ultra Short Pulsed Laser (USPL) centered at 1560 nm at the far-end location. A transmitting node identified as the near-end transmits an optical signal identified as a pump signal to a remote location classified as the far-end node over a free space medium, such as the atmosphere, where the far-end node location does not have available electrical power for operation of electro-optic components required for transmission and retransmission functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Applicant: Attochron, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Malcolm Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski
  • Patent number: 11265088
    Abstract: This invention pertains to the field of free-space optical (FSO) communications, and specifically to the realization of functional FSO optical transceiver terminals located at remote electrically unpowered locations within a communications network. A remote unpowered FSO terminal located at a far-end location receives necessary optical power from a powered base station location (near-end) required for all optical amplification functions necessary for NRZ or RZ format signals within the spectral range of 900 nm to 1480 nm as well as an Ultra Short Pulsed Laser (USPL) centered at 1560 nm at the far-end location. A transmitting node identified as the near-end transmits an optical signal identified as a pump signal to a remote location classified as the far-end node over a free space medium, such as the atmosphere, where the far-end node location does not have available electrical power for operation of electro-optic components required for transmission and retransmission functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Attochron, LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Malcolm Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski
  • Publication number: 20210242944
    Abstract: Free-space optical (FSO) wireless transmission, including optical communications, remote-sensing, power beaming, etc., can be enhanced by replacing conventional laser sources that operate in the infrared portion of the optical spectrum with ultra-short pulsed laser (USPL) sources having peak pulse powers of one kWatt or greater and pulse lengths of less than one picosecond. Specifically, it has been observed that under these conditions the attenuation of an USPL beam having the same average optical power as a conventional laser in a lossy medium, such as the atmosphere, is substantially less than the attenuation of a conventional laser beam having a lower peak pulse power and/or a longer pulse width. The superior system performance when using an USPL can be translated into an increased distance between a laser source in a transmitter and a photodetector in receiver and/or a higher reliability of system operation in inclement weather conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2019
    Publication date: August 5, 2021
    Inventors: Thomas Malcolm Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski, Robert P. Fleishauer
  • Patent number: 10644793
    Abstract: Enhancements in optical beam propagation performance can be realized through the utilization of ultra-short pulse laser (USPL) sources for laser transmit platforms, which are can be used throughout the telecommunication network infrastructure fabric. One or more of the described and illustrated features of USPL free space-optical (USPL-FSO) laser communications can be used in improving optical propagation through the atmosphere, for example by mitigating optical attenuation and scintillation effects, thereby enhancing effective system availability as well as link budget considerations, as evidenced through experimental studies and theoretical calculations between USPL and fog related atmospheric events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: ATTOCHRON, LLC.
    Inventors: Thomas Malcolm Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski, Isaac Kim, Alexandre Braga
  • Publication number: 20180269991
    Abstract: This invention pertains to the field of free-space optical (FSO) communications, and specifically to the realization of functional FSO optical transceiver terminals located at remote electrically unpowered locations within a communications network. A remote unpowered FSO terminal located at a far-end location receives necessary optical power from a powered base station location (near-end) required for all optical amplification functions necessary for NRZ or RZ format signals within the spectral range of 900 nm to 1480 nm as well as an Ultra Short Pulsed Laser (USPL) centered at 1560 nm at the far-end location. A transmitting node identified as the near-end transmits an optical signal identified as a pump signal to a remote location classified as the far-end node over a free space medium, such as the atmosphere, where the far-end node location does not have available electrical power for operation of electro-optic components required for transmission and retransmission functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2018
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Thomas Malcolm Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski
  • Publication number: 20170317750
    Abstract: Enhancements in optical beam propagation performance can be realized through the utilization of ultra-short pulse laser (USPL) sources for laser transmit platforms, which are can be used throughout the telecommunication network infrastructure fabric. One or more of the described and illustrated features of USPL free space-optical (USPL-FSO) laser communications can be used in improving optical propagation through the atmosphere, for example by mitigating optical attenuation and scintillation effects, thereby enhancing effective system availability as well as link budget considerations, as evidenced through experimental studies and theoretical calculations between USPL and fog related atmospheric events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2017
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Inventors: Tomas Malcolm Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski, Isaac Kim, Alexandre Braga
  • Patent number: 9673901
    Abstract: Enhancements in optical beam propagation performance can be realized through the utilization of ultra-short pulse laser (USPL) sources for laser transmit platforms, which are can be used throughout the telecommunication network infrastructure fabric. One or more of the described and illustrated features of USPL free space-optical (USPL-FSO) laser communications can be used in improving optical propagation through the atmosphere, for example by mitigating optical attenuation and scintillation effects, thereby enhancing effective system availability as well as link budget considerations, as evidenced through experimental studies and theoretical calculations between USPL and fog related atmospheric events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Attochron, LLC
    Inventors: Tom Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski, Isaac Kim, Alexandre Braga
  • Publication number: 20160277109
    Abstract: Enhancements in optical beam propagation performance can be realized through the utilization of ultra-short pulse laser (USPL) sources for laser transmit platforms, which are can be used throughout the telecommunication network infrastructure fabric. One or more of the described and illustrated features of USPL free space-optical (USPL-FSO) laser communications can be used in improving optical propagation through the atmosphere, for example by mitigating optical attenuation and scintillation effects, thereby enhancing effective system availability as well as link budget considerations, as evidenced through experimental studies and theoretical calculations between USPL and fog related atmospheric events.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Publication date: September 22, 2016
    Inventors: Tom Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski, Isaac Kim, Alexandre Braga
  • Patent number: 9300398
    Abstract: Enhancements in optical beam propagation performance can be realized through the utilization of ultra-short pulse laser (USPL) sources for laser transmit platforms, which are can be used throughout the telecommunication network infrastructure fabric. One or more of the described and illustrated features of USPL free space-optical (USPL-FSO) laser communications can be used in improving optical propagation through the atmosphere, for example by mitigating optical attenuation and scintillation effects, thereby enhancing effective system availability as well as link budget considerations, as evidenced through experimental studies and theoretical calculations between USPL and fog related atmospheric events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: ATTOCHRON, LLC
    Inventors: Tom Chaffee, Paul F. Szajowski, Isaac Kim, Alexandre Braga
  • Patent number: 6734411
    Abstract: In the method and apparatus for providing an optical fiber interconnect, a transmitter transmits an optical signal through an optical fiber. The transmitter does not transmit to a controller, information about the power of the transmitted optical signal near the input end of the fiber. The controller receives an indication of the power of a returned portion of the transmitted optical signal. The controller causes the lowering of the power of the transmitted optical signal to a predetermined level based the received indication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Dominick J. Imbsei, Steven R. Johnson, Gerald Nykolak, Bruce D. Paulson, Paul F. Szajowski, Gerald E. Tourgee
  • Patent number: 6643466
    Abstract: In the method and apparatus for controlling the power level of a laser signal in free space communication, a communication terminal transmits an output laser beam into free space and also receives information, through a channel that is not free space laser based, about the power of the output laser beam measured at a distance and at different times. The terminal determines whether a drop in the power of the output laser beam measured at the distance is due to atmospheric effects based on the received information. The terminal increases the power level of the output laser beam to a desired level if the power drop is determined to be due to atmospheric effects. On the other hand, the terminal lowers the power of the output laser beam to a predetermined level if the power drop is determined to be due to blockage thus avoiding harm to accidental observers that might intrude into the path of the laser beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Howard D. Helms, Dominick J. Imbesi, Steven R. Johnson, Gerald Nykolak, Dennis M. Romain, Paul F. Szajowski
  • Patent number: 6411414
    Abstract: An optical wireless link using wavelength division multiplexing. A transmitter transmits an optical signal to a receiver over a free space medium, such as the atmosphere. The transmitter uses single mode optical structures between the lasers and the transmitting telescope, including one or more erbium-doped single mode fiber amplifiers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Anthony Abate, James John Auborn, Gerald Nykolak, Herman Melvin Presby, Gerald E. Tourgee, Paul F. Szajowski
  • Patent number: 6348684
    Abstract: An optical receiving system includes a Fresnel lens optically coupled to a detector via a tapered concentrator. The Fresnel lens is adapted to receive an electromagnetic signal and has a Fresnel focal point. The tapered concentrator has a first end surface area larger than a second end surface area. The detector has a sensing surface area oriented to receive the electromagnetic signal emerging from the tapered concentrator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald Nykolak, Herman Melvin Presby, Paul F. Szajowski