Patents by Inventor Shanhui Fan

Shanhui Fan 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).

  • OPTICAL SENSOR HAVING A NON-NEGLIGIBLE SOURCE COHERENCE LENGTH
    Publication number: 20120281225
    Abstract: An optical sensor, a method of configuring an optical sensor, and a method of using an optical sensor are provided. The optical sensor includes an optical waveguide having a length and a laser source optically coupled to the waveguide. The laser source has a coherence length. Light from the source is transmitted to the waveguide as a first signal propagating along the waveguide in a first direction and a second signal propagating along the waveguide in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The optical paths of the first signal and the second signal are substantially reciprocal with one another and the first signal and the second signal are combined together after propagating through the waveguide to generate a third signal. The coherence length is greater than 1 meter or is in a range between 200 microns and 10 centimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Michel J.F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan, Seth Lloyd
  • System and method for using slow light in optical sensors
    Patent number: 8300231
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes at least one optical coupler and an optical waveguide in optical communication with the at least one optical coupler. The optical waveguide is configured to receive a first optical signal from the at least one optical coupler. The first optical signal has a group velocity and a phase velocity while propagating through at least a portion of the optical waveguide, the group velocity less than the phase velocity. An interference between the first optical signal and a second optical signal is affected by relative movement between the optical waveguide and the at least one optical coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Matthew A. Terrel, Michel J. F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan
  • Laser-driven optical gyroscope having a non-negligible source coherence length
    Patent number: 8223340
    Abstract: A fiber-optic sensor, a method of configuring a fiber-optic sensor, and a method of using a fiber-optic sensor are provided. The fiber-optic sensor includes an optical fiber coil having a length and a laser source optically coupled to the coil. The laser source has a coherence length. Light from the source is transmitted to the coil as a first signal propagating along the coil in a first direction and a second signal propagating along the coil in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The optical paths of the first signal and the second signal are substantially reciprocal with one another and the first signal and the second signal are combined together after propagating through the coil to generate a third signal. The coherence length is greater than 1 meter or is in a range between 200 microns and 10 centimeters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Michel J. F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan, Seth Lloyd
  • SLOW-LIGHT FIBER BRAGG GRATING SENSOR
    Publication number: 20120086934
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an optical device and a method of use is provided. The optical device can include a fiber Bragg grating and a narrowband optical source. The narrowband optical source can be configured to generate light. A first portion of light can be transmitted along a first optical path extending along and through the length of the fiber Bragg grating at a group velocity. The light can have a wavelength at or in the vicinity of a wavelength at which one or more of the following quantities is at a maximum value: (a) the product of the group index spectrum and a square root of the power transmission spectrum, (b) the slope of a product of the group index spectrum and one minus the power transmission spectrum, and (c) the slope of a product of the group index spectrum and the power transmission spectrum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Michel J.F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan, He Wen, Matthew Terrel
  • METHOD OF USING A UNIDIRECTIONAL CROW GYROSCOPE
    Publication number: 20120069346
    Abstract: A method for detecting rotation includes providing a plurality of resonant waveguides generally adjacent to one another and optically coupled to one another. Each resonant waveguide of the plurality of resonant waveguides is configured to allow light to propagate along the resonant waveguide in a planar path. The method further includes propagating light along each path in a clockwise direction or along each path in a counterclockwise direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: March 22, 2012
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Matthew A. Terrel, Michel J.F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan
  • Unidirectional crow gyroscope
    Patent number: 8068232
    Abstract: An optical waveguide gyroscope includes at least one optical coupler configured to receive a first optical signal at a first port, to transmit a second optical signal to a second port, and to transmit a third optical signal to a third port. The optical waveguide gyroscope further includes a plurality of resonant waveguides optically coupled to the second port and the third port. The resonant waveguides are generally adjacent to one another and optically coupled to one another. At least a portion of the second optical signal propagates from the second port to the third port by propagating through the plurality of resonant waveguides, and at least a portion of the third optical signal propagates from the third port to the second port by propagating through the plurality of resonant waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Matthew A. Terrel, Michel J. F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan
  • SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR USING SLOW LIGHT IN OPTICAL SENSORS
    Publication number: 20110134432
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes at least one optical coupler and an optical waveguide in optical communication with the at least one optical coupler. The optical waveguide is configured to receive a first optical signal from the at least one optical coupler. The first optical signal has a group velocity and a phase velocity while propagating through at least a portion of the optical waveguide, the group velocity less than the phase velocity. An interference between the first optical signal and a second optical signal is affected by relative movement between the optical waveguide and the at least one optical coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Matthew A. Terrel, Michel J.F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan
  • Substrate Comprising a Nanometer-scale Projection Array
    Publication number: 20110121431
    Abstract: A method for forming a substrate comprising nanometer-scale pillars or cones that project from the surface of the substrate is disclosed. The method enables control over physical characteristics of the projections including diameter, sidewall angle, and tip shape. The method further enables control over the arrangement of the projections including characteristics such as center-to-center spacing and separation distance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Yi Cui, Jia Zhu, Ching-Mei Hsu, Stephen T. Connor, Zongfu Yu, Shanhui Fan, George Burkhard
  • Optoelectronic Semiconductor Device and Method of Fabrication
    Publication number: 20110095389
    Abstract: An optoelectronic device comprising an optically active layer that includes a plurality of domes is presented. The plurality of domes is arrayed in two dimensions having a periodicity in each dimension that is less than or comparable with the shortest wavelength in a spectral range of interest. By virtue of the plurality of domes, the optoelectronic device achieves high performance. A solar cell having high energy-conversion efficiency, improved absorption over the spectral range of interest, and an improved acceptance angle is presented as an exemplary device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Yi Cui, Jia Zhu, Ching-Mei Hsu, Shanhui Fan, Zongfu Yu
  • System and method for using slow light in optical sensors
    Patent number: 7911622
    Abstract: An optical sensor includes at least one optical coupler and an optical waveguide in optical communication with the at least one optical coupler. The optical waveguide is configured to receive a first optical signal from the at least one optical coupler. The first optical signal has a group velocity and a phase velocity while propagating through at least a portion of the optical waveguide, the group velocity less than the phase velocity. An interference between the first optical signal and a second optical signal is affected by perturbations to at least a portion of the optical sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Matthew A. Terrel, Michel J. F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan
  • FIBER BRAGG GRATING DEVICES UTILIZING SLOW LIGHT
    Publication number: 20110001981
    Abstract: In certain embodiments, an optical device and a method of use is provided. The optical device includes a fiber Bragg grating having a substantially periodic refractive index modulation along a length of the fiber Bragg grating. The fiber Bragg grating has a power transmission spectrum with a plurality of local transmission minima, wherein each pair of neighboring local transmission minima has a local transmission maximum therebetween. The local transmission maximum has a maximum power at a transmission peak wavelength. The optical device further includes a narrowband optical source in optical communication with a first optical path and a second optical path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Michel J.F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan, He Wen, Matthew A. Terrel
  • OPTICAL ISOLATION CREATED BY INDIRECT INTERBAND PHOTONIC TRANSITIONS
    Publication number: 20110002573
    Abstract: The refractive index of the at least one photonic structure having two separate photonic bands is modulated, so that light supplied to the at least one photonic structure and initially in one of the two photonic bands of the traveling along a forward direction in the at least one photonic structure is converted to light in a second one of the photonic bands, and light in the one photonic band traveling along a backward direction opposite to the forward direction in the at least one photonic structure is not converted and remains in the one photonic band, achieving non-reciprocity. An interferometer comprises a first and a second photonic structure coupled at two coupler regions. The first photonic structure has two separate photonic bands.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Zongfu Yu, Shanhui Fan
  • LASER-DRIVEN OPTICAL GYROSCOPE HAVING A NON-NEGLIGIBLE SOURCE COHERENCE LENGTH
    Publication number: 20100302548
    Abstract: A fiber-optic sensor, a method of configuring a fiber-optic sensor, and a method of using a fiber-optic sensor are provided. The fiber-optic sensor includes an optical fiber coil having a length and a laser source optically coupled to the coil. The laser source has a coherence length. Light from the source is transmitted to the coil as a first signal propagating along the coil in a first direction and a second signal propagating along the coil in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The optical paths of the first signal and the second signal are substantially reciprocal with one another and the first signal and the second signal are combined together after propagating through the coil to generate a third signal. The coherence length is greater than 1 meter or is in a range between 200 microns and 10 centimeters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: December 2, 2010
    Inventors: Michel J.F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan, Seth Lloyd
  • Adaptive optical signal processing with multimode waveguides
    Patent number: 7844144
    Abstract: Optical signals are passed in an optical medium using an approach that facilitates the mitigation of interference. According to an example embodiment, a filtering-type approach is used with an optical signal conveyed in an optical fiber, such as a multimode fiber (MMF) or a multimode waveguide. Adaptive spatial domain signal processing, responsive to a feedback signal indicative of data conveyed in the multimode waveguide, is used to mitigate interference in optical signals conveyed in the multimode waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Joseph M. Kahn, Mark A. Horowitz, Olav Solgaard, Shanhui Fan
  • OPTICAL DEVICE USING A HOLLOW-CORE PHOTONIC-BANDGAP FIBER
    Publication number: 20100021115
    Abstract: An optical device includes a hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber, wherein at least a portion of the hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber is adjustably axially twisted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Matthew A. Terrel, Michel J.F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan
  • Optical device using a hollow-core photonic bandgap fiber
    Patent number: 7620283
    Abstract: An optical device includes a hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber, wherein at least a portion of the hollow-core photonic-bandgap fiber has a longitudinal axis and is twisted about the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Matthew A. Terrel, Michel J. F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan
  • UNIDIRECTIONAL CROW GYROSCOPE
    Publication number: 20090244544
    Abstract: An optical waveguide gyroscope includes at least one optical coupler configured to receive a first optical signal at a first port, to transmit a second optical signal to a second port, and to transmit a third optical signal to a third port. The optical waveguide gyroscope further includes a plurality of resonant waveguides optically coupled to the second port and the third port. The resonant waveguides are generally adjacent to one another and optically coupled to one another. At least a portion of the second optical signal propagates from the second port to the third port by propagating through the plurality of resonant waveguides, and at least a portion of the third optical signal propagates from the third port to the second port by propagating through the plurality of resonant waveguides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Matthew A. Terrel, Michel J.F. Digonnet, Shanhui Fan
  • OPTICAL FIBER WITH A CORE RING
    Publication number: 20090175584
    Abstract: An optical fiber includes a cladding with a material having a first refractive index and a pattern of regions formed therein. Each of the regions has a second refractive index lower than the first refractive index. The optical fiber further includes a core region and a core ring having an inner perimeter, an outer perimeter, and a thickness between the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter. The thickness is sized to reduce the number of ring surface modes supported by the core ring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Hyang Kyun Kim, Shanhui Fan, Gordon S. Kino, Jonghwa Shin, Michel J.F. Digonnet, Vinayak Dangui
  • ADAPTIVE OPTICAL SIGNAL PROCESSING WITH MULTIMODE WAVEGUIDES
    Publication number: 20090169220
    Abstract: Optical signals are passed in an optical medium using an approach that facilitates the mitigation of interference. According to an example embodiment, a filtering-type approach is used with an optical signal conveyed in an optical fiber, such as a multimode fiber (MMF) or a multimode waveguide. Adaptive spatial domain signal processing, responsive to a feedback signal indicative of data conveyed in the multimode waveguide, is used to mitigate interference in optical signals conveyed in the multimode waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Joseph M. Kahn, Mark A. Horowitz, Olav Solgaard, Shanhui Fan
  • Adaptive optical signal processing with multimode waveguides
    Patent number: 7509002
    Abstract: Optical signals are passed in an optical medium using an approach that facilitates the mitigation of interference. According to an example embodiment, a filtering-type approach is used with an optical signal conveyed in an optical fiber, such as a multimode fiber (MMF) or a multimode waveguide. Adaptive spatial domain signal processing, responsive to a feedback signal indicative of data conveyed in the multimode waveguide, is used to mitigate interference in optical signals conveyed in the multimode waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Joseph M. Kahn, Mark A. Horowitz, Olav Solgaard, Shanhui Fan