Patents by Inventor Richard William Ridgway

Richard William Ridgway 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: 6931192
    Abstract: The present invention provides for polarization independence in electrooptic waveguides. Specifically, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic waveguide for an optical signal is provided. The waveguide comprises a plurality of control electrodes, an optical waveguide core defining a primary axis of propagation, and an electrooptic cladding at least partially surrounding the core. The control electrodes are positioned to generate a contoured electric field across the cladding. The cladding is poled along a poling contour. The contoured electric field and/or the poling contour are asymmetric relative to a plane intersecting the waveguide core and extending along the primary axis of propagation. The electrooptic cladding defines at least two cladding regions on opposite sides of the waveguide core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, Van Earl Wood, David William Nippa
  • Patent number: 6853758
    Abstract: The present invention present a means for addressing PDL, PMD, and other polarization-related performance issues in optical components and systems. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an integrated optical device is provided. The device comprises: (i) first and second optical waveguide arms arranged to define an optical signal splitting region near an input side of the integrated optical device and an optical signal combining region near an output side of the integrated optical device and (ii) a functional region between the optical signal splitting and combining regions. The first and second optical waveguide arms comprise first and second waveguide cores passing through a first electrooptic portion of the functional region. First and second sets of control electrodes are positioned to generate electric fields in the first and second portions of the functional region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Optimer Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, David William Nippa
  • Publication number: 20040234189
    Abstract: The present invention provides for polarization independence in electrooptic waveguides. Specifically, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic waveguide for an optical signal is provided. The waveguide comprises a plurality of control electrodes, an optical waveguide core defining a primary axis of propagation, and an electrooptic cladding at least partially surrounding the core. The control electrodes are positioned to generate a contoured electric field across the cladding. The cladding is poled along a poling contour. The contoured electric field and/or the poling contour are asymmetric relative to a plane intersecting the waveguide core and extending along the primary axis of propagation. The electrooptic cladding defines at least two cladding regions on opposite sides of the waveguide core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, Van Eal Wood, David William Nippa
  • Patent number: 6795597
    Abstract: The present invention provides for polarization independence in electrooptic waveguides. Specifically, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic waveguide for an optical signal is provided. The waveguide comprises a plurality of control electrodes, an optical waveguide core defining a primary axis of propagation, and an electrooptic cladding at least partially surrounding the core. The control electrodes are positioned to generate a contoured electric field across the cladding. The cladding is poled along a poling contour. The contoured electric field and/or the poling contour are asymmetric relative to a plane intersecting the waveguide core and extending along the primary axis of propagation. The electrooptic cladding defines at least two cladding regions on opposite sides of the waveguide core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Optimer Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, David William Nippa, Richard Davis, Van Earl Wood
  • Patent number: 6785435
    Abstract: Waveguides and integrated optical devices incorporating optically functional cladding regions are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic clad waveguide is provided with an optical waveguide core and first and second electrooptic cladding regions. The optical waveguide core is a substantially non-electrooptic material. The cladding regions are electrooptic polymers defining a refractive index that is less than that of the core. The first and second cladding regions may be configured such that their polar axes are oriented in opposite directions, different directions, or along a contour of an electric field. Additional embodiments of the present invention utilize other types of optically functional materials in the cladding regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, Van Earl Wood, David William Nippa
  • Patent number: 6782149
    Abstract: The present invention provides for polarization independence in electrooptic waveguides. Specifically, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic waveguide for an optical signal is provided. The waveguide comprises a plurality of control electrodes, an optical waveguide core defining a primary axis of propagation, and an electrooptic cladding at least partially surrounding the core. The control electrodes are positioned to generate a contoured electric field across the cladding. The cladding is poled along a poling contour. The contoured electric field and/or the poling contour are asymmetric relative to a plane intersecting the waveguide core and extending along the primary axis of propagation. The electrooptic cladding defines at least two cladding regions on opposite sides of the waveguide core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2004
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, Van Earl Wood, David William Nippa
  • Patent number: 6687425
    Abstract: Waveguides and integrated optical devices incorporating optically functional cladding regions are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic clad waveguide is provided with an optical waveguide core and first and second electrooptic cladding regions. The optical waveguide core is a substantially non-electrooptic material. The cladding regions are electrooptic polymers defining a refractive index that is less than that of the core. The first and second cladding regions may be poled in opposite or perpendicular directions or along a contour of an electric field. Additional embodiments of the present invention utilize other types of optically functional materials in the cladding regions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, Van Earl Wood, David William Nippa
  • Publication number: 20040008916
    Abstract: The present invention present a means for addressing PDL, PMD, and other polarization-related performance issues in optical components and systems. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an integrated optical device is provided. The device comprises: (i) first and second optical waveguide arms arranged to define an optical signal splitting region near an input side of the integrated optical device and an optical signal combining region near an output side of the integrated optical device and (ii) a functional region between the optical signal splitting and combining regions. The first and second optical waveguide arms comprise first and second waveguide cores passing through a first electrooptic portion of the functional region. First and second sets of control electrodes are positioned to generate electric fields in the first and second portions of the functional region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, David William Nippa
  • Publication number: 20030174982
    Abstract: The present invention provides for polarization independence in electrooptic waveguides. Specifically, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic waveguide for an optical signal is provided. The waveguide comprises a plurality of control electrodes, an optical waveguide core defining a primary axis of propagation, and an electrooptic cladding at least partially surrounding the core. The control electrodes are positioned to generate a contoured electric field across the cladding. The cladding is poled along a poling contour. The contoured electric field and/or the poling contour are asymmetric relative to a plane intersecting the waveguide core and extending along the primary axis of propagation. The electrooptic cladding defines at least two cladding regions on opposite sides of the waveguide core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: September 18, 2003
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, David William Nippa, Richard Davis, Van Earl Wood
  • Publication number: 20030169958
    Abstract: Waveguides and integrated optical devices incorporating optically functional cladding regions are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic clad waveguide is provided with an optical waveguide core and first and second electrooptic cladding regions. The optical waveguide core is a substantially non-electrooptic material. The cladding regions are electrooptic polymers defining a refractive index that is less than that of the core. The first and second cladding regions may be configured such that their polar axes are oriented in opposite directions, different directions, or along a contour of an electric field. Additional embodiments of the present invention utilize other types of optically functional materials in the cladding regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2003
    Publication date: September 11, 2003
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, Van Earl Wood, David William Nippa
  • Publication number: 20030059189
    Abstract: Waveguides and integrated optical devices incorporating optically functional cladding regions are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic clad waveguide is provided with an optical waveguide core and first and second electrooptic cladding regions. The optical waveguide core is a substantially non-electrooptic material. The cladding regions are electrooptic polymers defining a refractive index that is less than that of the core. The first and second cladding regions may be poled in opposite or perpendicular directions or along a contour of an electric field. Additional embodiments of the present invention utilize other types of optically functional materials in the cladding regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, Van Earl Wood, David William Nippa
  • Publication number: 20030026572
    Abstract: The present invention provides for polarization independence in electrooptic waveguides. Specifically, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic waveguide for an optical signal is provided. The waveguide comprises a plurality of control electrodes, an optical waveguide core defining a primary axis of propagation, and an electrooptic cladding at least partially surrounding the core. The control electrodes are positioned to generate a contoured electric field across the cladding. The cladding is poled along a poling contour. The contoured electric field and/or the poling contour are asymmetric relative to a plane intersecting the waveguide core and extending along the primary axis of propagation. The electrooptic cladding defines at least two cladding regions on opposite sides of the waveguide core.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2002
    Publication date: February 6, 2003
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, Van Earl Wood, David William Nippa