Patents by Inventor Peter Edwin Sportel

Peter Edwin Sportel 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).

  • Variable optical attenuator
    Patent number: 6870998
    Abstract: The invention provides a variable optical attenuator or array with low PDL by using an embedded polymer channel waveguide with a plurality of resistive heaters fabricated on the top cladding of the polymer waveguide. The resistive heaters create a strong thermal gradient in the polymer layer stack which is associated with a strong refractive index gradient with the lowest refractive index under the heater. This refractive index gradient causes the optical mode in the channel to shift towards the buffer layer. Attenuation is induced by transition losses between heated and unheated regions in the polymer waveguide when an optical signal passes through these regions of the polymer waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignees: JDS Uniphase Corporation, JDS Uniphase Inc.
    Inventors: Mart Diemeer, Peter Edwin Sportel
  • Variable optical attenuator
    Publication number: 20020176687
    Abstract: The invention provides a variable optical attenuator or array with low PDL by using an embedded polymer channel waveguide with a plurality of resistive heaters fabricated on the top cladding of the polymer waveguide. The resistive heaters create a strong thermal gradient in the polymer layer stack which is associated with a strong refractive index gradient with the lowest refractive index under the heater. This refractive index gradient causes the optical mode in the channel to shift towards the buffer layer. Attenuation is induced by transition losses between heated and unheated regions in the polymer waveguide when an optical signal passes through these regions of the polymer waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Mart Diemeer, Peter Edwin Sportel