Patents by Inventor Stephen G. Grubb

Stephen G. Grubb 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: 6459529
    Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include at least one optical amplifier in which pump power being provided to an amplifying medium is amplified using a pump amplifier prior to being introduced into the amplifying medium. In various embodiments, a cascaded Raman resonator is used as a pump booster source to provide Raman amplification of the pump power being supplied from one or more pump sources to the signal channel amplifying medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Corvis Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, John J. Veselka, Jr., Donald M. Cornwell, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020109906
    Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical processing nodes in optical communication via a plurality of signal varying devices. A first signal varying device includes an optical fiber configured to produce Raman scattering/gain in a signal wavelength range and a first signal variation profile. A first pump source is configured provides sufficient pump power in a plurality of first pump wavelengths to stimulate Raman scattering/gain in the optical fiber within the signal wavelength range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: August 15, 2002
    Applicant: Corvis Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, Raymond Zanoni, Thomas D. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6433306
    Abstract: A high power laser optical amplifier system for material processing comprises multiple stage fiber amplifiers with rejection of propagating ASE buildup in and between the amplifier stages as well as elimination of SBS noise providing output powers in the range of about 10 &mgr;J to about 100 &mgr;J or more. The system is driven with a time varying drive signal from a modulated semiconductor laser signal source to produce an optical output allowing modification of the material while controlling its thermal sensitivity by varying pulse shapes or pulse widths supplied at a desire repetition rate via modulation of a semiconductor laser signal source to the system to precisely control the applied power application of the beam relative to the thermal sensitivity of the material to be processed. The high power fiber amplifier system has particular utility in high power applications requiring process treatment of surfaces, such as polymeric, organic, ceramic and metal surfaces, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, David F. Welch, Raymond Zanoni
  • Publication number: 20020105703
    Abstract: Optical systems, device, and methods including signal varying devices, such as optical amplifiers, attenuators, and filters that have controllable gain, loss and transparent intensity profiles, and which can include and be responsive to one or more local and remote controllers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2001
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, Raymond Zanoni, Thomas D. Stephens
  • Publication number: 20020067539
    Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include at least one optical amplifier in which pump power being provided to an amplifying medium is amplified using a pump amplifier prior to being introduced into the amplifying medium. In various embodiments, a cascaded Raman resonator is used as a pump booster source to provide Raman amplification of the pump power being supplied from one or more pump sources to the signal channel amplifying medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Applicant: Corvis Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, John J. Veselka, Donald M. Cornwell
  • Publication number: 20020063949
    Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include amplifiers configured to achieve maximum signal channel in a span downstream of the transmitter and amplifier site and to decrease the interaction between the wavelengths at high signal channel powers. In addition, the system can include various types of optical fiber positioned in the network to provide for increased signal channel powers and higher gain efficiencies in the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2002
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: Corvis Corporation
    Inventors: Donald M. Cornwell, John J. Veselka, Stephen G. Grubb, Thomas D. Stephens, Ruxiang Jin, Alistair J. Price, Michael C. Antone
  • Patent number: 6388806
    Abstract: A multistage optical fiber amplifier (OFA) system is designed to be upgraded with the addition of pump power when signal capacity of an optical communication link is correspondingly increased. The system includes a gain flattening filter (GFF) that remains valid when the system is upgraded because of the system design. Also disclosed are ways to enhance the GFF as well as control the channel signal gain tilt as well as adjust the external gain uniformity to be the same for an assembly line of OFA systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2002
    Assignee: SDL, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul N. Freeman, Stephen G. Grubb, Daniel A. Ratoff, David G. Mehuys
  • Patent number: 6377389
    Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical processing nodes in optical communication via at least one signal varying device. The signal varying devices includes an optical fiber suitable for facilitating Raman scattering/gain in a signal wavelength range and a pump energy source for providing pump energy in a plurality of pump wavelengths. The pump source provides sufficient pump energy in each pump wavelength to stimulate Raman scattering/gain in the optical fiber within the signal wavelength range. The pump wavelengths are selected such that the combined Raman gain resulting from the pump energy supplied by each pump wavelength produces a desired signal variation profile in the signal wavelength range. In addition, the pump energy supplied by at least one of the pump wavelengths can be varied to produce a controlled signal intensity variation profile over the signal wavelength range in the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2002
    Assignee: Corvis Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, Raymond Zanoni, Thomas D. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6356383
    Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include amplifiers configured to achieve maximum signal channel in a span downstream of the transmitter and amplifier site and to decrease the interaction between the wavelengths at high signal channel powers. In addition, the system can include various types of optical fiber positioned in the network to provide for increased signal channel powers and higher gain efficiencies in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Corvis Corporation
    Inventors: Donald M. Cornwell, Jr., John J. Veselka, Jr., Stephen G. Grubb, Thomas D. Stephens, Ruxiang Jin, Alistair J. Price, Michael C. Antone
  • Patent number: 6347007
    Abstract: A high power laser optical amplifier system for material processing comprises multiple stage fiber amplifiers with rejection of propagating ASE buildup in and between the amplifier stages as well as elimination of SBS noise providing output powers in the range of about 10 &mgr;J to about 100 &mgr;J or more. The system is driven with a time varying drive signal from a modulated semiconductor laser signal source to produce an optical output allowing modification of the material while controlling its thermal sensitivity by varying pulse shapes or pulse widths supplied at a desire repetition rate via modulation of a semiconductor laser signal source to the system to precisely control the applied power application of the beam relative to the thermal sensitivity of the material to be processed. The high power fiber amplifier system has particular utility in high power applications requiring process treatment of surfaces, such as polymeric, organic, ceramic and metal surfaces, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2002
    Assignee: SDL, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, David F. Welch, Raymond Zanoni
  • Patent number: 6344922
    Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical processing nodes in optical communication via at least one signal varying device. The signal varying devices includes an optical fiber suitable for facilitating Raman scattering/gain in a signal wavelength range and a pump energy source for providing pump energy in a plurality of pump wavelengths. The pump source provides sufficient pump energy in each pump wavelength to stimulate Raman scattering/gain in the optical fiber within the signal wavelength range. The pump wavelengths are selected such that the combined Raman gain resulting from the pump energy supplied by each pump wavelength produces a desired signal variation profile in the signal wavelength range. In addition, the pump energy supplied by at least one of the pump wavelengths can be varied to produce a controlled signal intensity variation profile over the signal wavelength range in the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Corvis Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, Raymond Zanoni, Thomas D. Stephens, Deepak Boggavarapu, Ruxiang Jin
  • Patent number: 6345141
    Abstract: A double-clad optical fiber has an inner cladding that has a torsional stress induced within it during manufacture. By rotating the fiber preform before curing of the inner cladding layer, a physical stress may be permanently imparted to the inner cladding that interacts with pump energy within the inner cladding layer to encourage mode mixing. As the cladding modes are disturbed by the stresses in the fiber, they are redirected so that the light in them intersects the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: SDL, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, David F. Welch
  • Patent number: 6344925
    Abstract: Optical transmission systems of the present invention include at least one optical amplifier in which pump power being provided to an amplifying medium is amplified using a pump amplifier prior to being introduced into the amplifying medium. In various embodiments, a cascaded Raman resonator is used as a pump booster source to provide Raman amplification of the pump power being supplied from one or more pump sources to the signal channel amplifying medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2002
    Assignee: Corvis Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, John J. Veselka, Jr., Donald M. Cornwell, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6335941
    Abstract: A high power laser optical amplifier system for material processing comprises multiple stage fiber amplifiers with rejection of propagating ASE buildup in and between the amplifier stages as well as elimination of SBS noise providing output powers in the range of about 10 &mgr;J to about 100 &mgr;J or more. The system is driven with a time varying drive signal from a modulated semiconductor laser signal source to produce an optical output allowing modification of the material while controlling its thermal sensitivity by varying pulse shapes or pulse widths supplied at a desire repetition rate via modulation of a semiconductor laser signal source to the system to precisely control the applied power application of the beam relative to the thermal sensitivity of the material to be processed. The high power fiber amplifier system has particular utility in high power applications requiring process treatment of surfaces, such as polymeric, organic, ceramic and metal surfaces, e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2002
    Assignee: SDL, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, David F. Welch, Raymond Zanoni
  • Patent number: 6297903
    Abstract: An optical amplifier makes use of a co-propagating fiber amplifier stage and a counter propagating fiber amplifier stage. One of the stages is preferably a low noise stage, while the other is a high gain stage, typically the output stage. The low noise stage may have a small core fiber while the high gain stage has a large core fiber. Pumping energy is introduced into the amplifier by coupling a plurality of laser sources in the same wavelength range using a narrow channel wavelength division multiplexer coupler. In each stage of the amplifier, some portion of the pump energy is transferred from the pumping wavelength to the signal wavelength. In a single polarization optical signal generator embodiment, the optical signal is developed in a distributed Bragg reflector oscillator having an output Bragg grating embedded in a polarization perserving fiber. A polarization controller is used at the amplifier output to restore the single polarization which is developed in the oscillator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: SDL, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, Bernard G. Fidric
  • Patent number: 6298187
    Abstract: Power scaling by multiplexing multiple fiber gain sources with different wavelengths, pulsing or polarization modes of operation is achieved through multiplex combining of the multiple fiber gain sources to provide high power outputs, such as ranging from tens of watts to hundreds of watts, provided on a single mode or multimode fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Assignee: SDL, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Waarts, David F. Welch, Stephen G. Grubb, Jean-Luc Archambault, Donald R. Scifres
  • Patent number: 6295304
    Abstract: A fiber laser or fiber amplifier uses resonant pumping of the gain medium by providing a pump resonator that establishes a resonator cavity at the pump wavelength which includes the pumped gain medium. The pump resonator may be of a distributed feedback (DFB) or a distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) type construction, and may be combined with signal reflection apparatus of either DFB or DBR type construction that provides oscillation of the desired laser output wavelength. If used without a signal reflection apparatus, the invention may be operated as a resonant pumped fiber amplifier. Multiple resonators may also be pumped by a single pump source by locating each in a different branch of a multiple branch directional coupler. If the resonators are constructed to couple their outputs away from the coupler, a plurality of different laser outputs each having a different wavelength and equal output powers is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: SDL, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas L. Koch, Stephen G. Grubb
  • Patent number: 6282016
    Abstract: A number of variations are provided of a device that provides an amplified single polarization optical signal. Each of these relies on the use of a non-polarization maintaining gain medium through which the signal is directed, and a polarization shifter and reflector that direct the signal back through the same gain medium with a shifted polarization state. An input polarization beamsplitter directs the returning optical signal away to an output, based on its shifted polarization state. The embodiments of the invention include the use of double-clad fiber. Multiple stages may be used to provide specific amplification parameters. In particular, a fiber with a relatively large mode field diameter may be used to enable high pulse power applications. Wavelength selective components are used in certain embodiments of the invention, to allow for wavelength selectivity, as well as a single polarization state, in amplifiers, lasers and amplified spontaneous emission (ASE).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: SDL, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart MacCormack, Robert G. Waarts, Paul Freeman, Stephen G. Grubb
  • Patent number: 6282002
    Abstract: Optical systems of the present invention include a plurality of optical processing nodes in optical communication via at least one signal varying device. The signal varying devices includes an optical fiber suitable for facilitating Raman scattering/gain in a signal wavelength range and a pump energy source for providing pump energy in a plurality of pump wavelengths. The pump source provides sufficient pump energy in each pump wavelength to stimulate Raman scattering/gain in the optical fiber within the signal wavelength range. The pump wavelengths are selected such that the combined Raman gain resulting from the pump energy supplied by each pump wavelength produces a desired signal variation profile in the signal wavelength range. In addition, the pump energy supplied by at least one of the pump wavelengths can be varied to produce a controlled signal intensity variation profile over the signal wavelength range in the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Corvis Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen G. Grubb, Raymond Zanoni, Thomas D. Stephens
  • Patent number: 6275632
    Abstract: Power scaling by multiplexing multiple fiber gain sources with different wavelengths, pulsing or polarization modes of operation is achieved through multiplex combining of the multiple fiber gain sources to provide high power outputs, such as ranging from tens of watts to hundreds of watts, provided on a single mode or multimode fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: SDL, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Waarts, David F. Welch, Stephen G. Grubb, Jean-Luc Archambault, Steven Sanders, Raymond Zanoni, Donald R. Scifres