Patents Issued in August 31, 2004
  • Patent number: 6785408
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for enrolling at least one fingerprint and determining a match of a new fingerprint thereto uses data related to fingerprint ridge flow for matching a desired area segment of a new fingerprint to a corresponding area segment stored in a database. The apparatus generates and stores enrollment data based upon fingerprint ridge flow over a plurality of area segments for the at least one fingerprint, senses a new fingerprint, and generates sensed data based upon fingerprint ridge flow of the new fingerprint over at least one desired area segment of the plurality of area segments. The method also preferably includes comparing the enrollment data and sensed data to determine whether the new fingerprint matches an enrolled fingerprint. The generating of sensed data preferably comprises identifying and generating sensed data for only a single desired area segment in one embodiment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Authentic, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale R. Setlak, Barbara E. Cornett
  • Patent number: 6785409
    Abstract: A method of digital imaging includes receiving image data and fitting a curve to boundaries within the image data. The curve is fit to the boundaries within the image data by extracting a region of interest from the image data and computing a signed distance transform in a narrow band within the region of interest. Finite difference equations including various variables are solved to determine a rate at which the distance transform changes. The distance transform is then diffused at that rate. The technique is based on region-based diffusion propagation, pixel classification, and mathematical morphology. The method is implemented to run in the narrow band of the region of interest specified by the user and the computations are implemented using a fast marching method in the narrow band. While idealized for distinguishing segments of white matter, gray matter, and cerebral spinal fluid in the brain, the algorithm can applied to find contours in any digital image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventor: Jasjit S. Suri
  • Patent number: 6785410
    Abstract: A method and system are provided to report the findings of an expert's analysis of image data. The method and system are based on a reporting system that forms the basis of an image management system that can efficiently and systematically generate image reports, facilitate data entry into searchable databases for data mining, and expedite billing and collections for the expert's services. The expert identifies a significant finding on an image and attaches a location:description code to the location of that finding in order to create a significant finding and an entry into a database. Further descriptions of that finding, such as dimensional measurements, may be automatically appended to the finding as secondary attributes. After the evaluation, the system sorts the findings in the database and presents the findings by prioritized categories. The expert edits and approves a multimedia report which may be delivered by electronic means to an end-user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Wake Forest University Health Sciences
    Inventors: David J. Vining, Yaorong Ge, David K. Ahn, David R. Stelts
  • Patent number: 6785411
    Abstract: There are provided an image analyzing apparatus and an image analyzing method where, in analyzing a microscopic image of a microbe or a cell tissue, the manpower-independent observation and quantification are executed so as to enhance the analyzing performance. The configuration of the apparatus and the method is as follows: A frequency conversion processing, such as Wavelet transformation, is executed toward the microscopic image of the microbe or the cell tissue and, based on the result obtained, the quantitative analysis is executed. The configuration allows the automatic quantitative judgement to be executed concerning factors such as the position, the number, the magnitude, the degree of activity, the area ratio, the configuration, the direction, and the color. This condition makes it possible to reduce a burden imposed on a person who are in charge of the observation. Also, the noise can be eliminated, which also enhances the analyzing performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoko Kitajima, Hiroshi Shirouzu, Kanji Yahiro, Koji Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 6785412
    Abstract: The coin-type determining device, for determining the presence or absence of inclined notches formed on the circumferential surface of the coin transferred through a coin transfer path, comprises: a plurality of notch detecting devices provided separately from each other with respect to an axis of the coin; a determining device for determining the presence or absence of inclined notches based on the difference between the notch detection results by the notch detecting devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Laurel Bank Machines Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Eiko Hibari
  • Patent number: 6785413
    Abstract: A structure and method for identifying a physical location of a defect in a logic circuit based on a physical location of a logic latch having failing data. The logic circuit includes a plurality of logic latches, each having a predetermined physical location within the logic circuit. The logic latches are connected to devices adjacent the logic latches, such that the failing data in the logic latch indicates a failure of a device adjacent the logic latches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kevin J. Barcomb, Leendert M. Huisman, Kevin C. Quandt
  • Patent number: 6785414
    Abstract: A system and method for establishing an aggregate degree of brightness for each primary color to create a composite color digital image. One of a plurality of primary colors is selected. A color digital image is captured with a color digital camera. The aggregate degree of brightness for the selected primary color is determined. The determined aggregate degree of brightness for the selected primary color is compared with the desired degree of brightness for the selected primary color. If the determined aggregate degree of brightness is not within a tolerance band surrounding the desired degree of brightness, then an adjustment is made to an exposure time controller of the color digital camera. This process is repeated until the determined aggregate degree of brightness is within the tolerance band surrounding the desired degree of brightness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Media Cybernetics, Inc.
    Inventors: Arnold W. McStravick, III, Louis F. Marek, Jr., Kevin W. Ryan
  • Patent number: 6785415
    Abstract: In an image processing method and in an image processing apparatus, edge and flat zones of an original image are separately recognized, a first nonlinear flattening process effective for the edge zone is executed to obtain first data, and a second nonlinear flattening process effective for the flat zone is executed to obtain second data. An image is rearranged by using the first and second data for the edge and flat zones, respectively. On a computer-readable recording media, there is stored the image processing method in the form of a program code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi Medical Corporation
    Inventors: Jun'ichi Taguchi, Kunihiko Kido
  • Patent number: 6785416
    Abstract: The illustrated embodiment processes scanned image data with a resolution of 600 dpi or higher. Image detection algorithms are used to detect the probable presence of halftone image data, large text image data, small text image data and photographic image data. The image detection algorithms are designed specifically for the amount of data contained in an image with a resolution of 600 dpi or greater. Once an image has been analyzed, the illustrated embodiment provides the correspondingly appropriate image process to the scanned image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Oak Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shenbo Yu, Fred Andree, Steve Pratt, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 6785417
    Abstract: In a computing device that receives handwritten data, a method and system for finding matches for recognized handwritten words, by comparing a given search word (and possibly its alternates) with the words in a document, including recognized ink words and any possible alternates for those recognized words as returned by a recognizer. One described test looks for an exact match between an entered search word (and possibly its alternates) and the recognized words and their alternates stored in a handwritten document. Other tests are possible because of the use of alternates, which also may be returned with a probability ranking. For example, one scheme looks for a percentage of matching characters, with a user-determined threshold percentage. Other variations include giving different weight to certain characters, and/or factoring in the relative number of syllables and/or the relative lengths of the words.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Inventors: Peter H. Williamson, Charlton E. Lui
  • Patent number: 6785418
    Abstract: An image identification apparatus for identifying an image from a hand drawn representation of at least part of the image, the image identification apparatus comprising an image processor arranged in operation to generate a reference identification in response to spatial samples produced from at least part of the hand drawn representation, the reference identification being indicative of a first estimate of which of a plurality of pre-stored images corresponds to the hand drawn representation. and a controller which is arranged in operation to cause the image processor to produce a refined reference identification from the spatial samples and further spatial samples produced from a further part of the hand drawn representation, the refined reference identification being indicative of a refined estimate of which of the plurality of the prestored images corresponds to the hand drawn representation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sony United Kingdom Limited
    Inventors: Mark Barton, Jonathan Thorpe, Anne Cherrington
  • Patent number: 6785419
    Abstract: A system and method to facilitate pattern recognition or matching between patterns are disclosed that is substantially invariant to small transformations. A substantially smooth deformation field is applied to a derivative of a first pattern and a resulting deformation component is added to the first pattern to derive a first deformed pattern. An indication of similarity between the first pattern and a second pattern may be determined by minimizing the distance between the first deformed pattern and the second pattern with respect to deformation coefficients associated with each deformed pattern. The foregoing minimization provides a system (e.g., linear) that may be solved with standard methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Nebojsa Jojic, Patrice Simard
  • Patent number: 6785420
    Abstract: The character recognition apparatus incorporates a table recognition section. This table recognition section extracts circumscribing rectangles from connected components of black pixels on a whole surface of the image as an area where read image data are desired to be processed, sorts rectangles of character candidates and rectangles of frame candidates from the extracted circumscribing rectangles, fills the rectangles sorted as the character candidates with white pixels, recognizes and extracts frames as ruled lines from the rectangles which remain as the frame candidates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshifumi Yamaai
  • Patent number: 6785421
    Abstract: A method of analyzing one or more images of a user to determine the likelihood of user interest in materials that can be sent for display to the user includes selecting one or more images by a user; automatically analyzing the one or more user images to determine the likelihood that materials in a set will be of interest to the user; and selecting one or more items of materials based on their likelihood of interest to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Edward B. Gindele, Wei Zhu, Rajiv Mehrotra
  • Patent number: 6785422
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus, and to realize improved lossless compression of images more efficiently. A first predictor 11 generates a prediction signal P out of peripheral pixel values supplied from a pixel sequence generator 2. A second predictor 12 generates a prediction signal Q out of the peripheral pixel values supplied from the pixel sequence generator 2. An adder 4 subtracts the prediction signal P from the current pixel value to thereby calculate a prediction error signal M. When the prediction signal Q is greater than the prediction signal P, an inverter 14 inverts the polarity of the prediction error signal M to consequently generate a prediction error signal N. And an entropy encoder 5 allocates a code word in accordance with the prediction error signal N generated by the inverter 14.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Frank Jan Bossen
  • Patent number: 6785423
    Abstract: A method for producing a compressed digital image from an input digital image is disclosed, wherein the compressed digital image is organized into layers having information that can be extracted in accordance with different desired viewing conditions and resolutions. The input digital image is decomposed to produce a plurality of subbands, each subband having a plurality of subband coefficients. The plurality of subband coefficients of each subband of the decomposed input digital image are quantized to produce a quantized output value for each subband coefficient of each subband. At least one bit-plane is formed from the quantized output values of subband coefficients of each subband. Each bit-plane of each subband in at least one pass is entropy encoded to produce a compressed bit-stream corresponding to each pass, wherein each subband is entropy encoded independently of the other subbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Rajan L. Joshi, Bernard V. Brower, Majid V. Rabbani, Kenneth A. Parulski
  • Patent number: 6785424
    Abstract: On the basis of a bit sequence of a given command code, it is determined to which of repetition, copying and raw-data substitution the bit sequence applies. Based upon the result of the determination made, the data lengths of each of repetition, copying and raw data are calculated. In accordance with the calculations, at least two results from among results of repetition, copying and raw-data substitution of the encoding are combined and encoded as a command of one byte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Sakamoto
  • Patent number: 6785425
    Abstract: A Simple Inter Color Lossless Image Coder (SICLIC) for the compression of colored images is provided. The color image is treated as several interlaced gray level images that correspond to respective distinct color planes. The compression scenario utilizes three main steps, such as selection of the predictor, context forming with bias cancellation and coding. SICLIC implements predictors, context forming and encoder techniques that exploit the intra- and inter-color plane correlations in an effective and relatively computationally inexpensive manner. The predictor is selected on the basis of the right selection of the contribution of each color plane between the intra- and inter-plane predictors obtained as a weight average of contribution from different color planes. SICLIC processes the image in two modes—regular mode and run mode. A special care is taken to ensure a proper treatment of joint runs, which occur simultaneously in all color planes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignees: Ramot At Tel-Aviv University Ltd., Creo Il. Ltd.
    Inventors: Meir Feder, Raz Barequet, Stanley Barkan
  • Patent number: 6785426
    Abstract: An imaging apparatus, a control method adaptable to the imaging apparatus, and a computer program product for providing a control program for the imaging apparatus, includes an imaging apparatus having a deflection correlation unit that corrects a deflection of an object image by displacing the object image. The deflection correction unit is actuated based on a detected correlation between a first object image and a second object image, which are picked up by an imaging unit, so that the first and second object images can be joined to form a continuous image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoshiki Ishii
  • Patent number: 6785427
    Abstract: An image matching method for matching a first image and an overlapping second image includes generating a first set of working layers of the first image and a second set of working layers of the second image. The method determines an overlap between an initial working layer of the first image and an initial working layer of the second image where the initial working layers have a smaller pixel array size and a lower image resolution than the other working layers. The method selects a feature point in the working layer of the first image and determines a position in the working layer of the second image corresponding to the feature point. The method then determines the motion parameters based on the feature point and the position in the first and second images.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: ArcSoft, Inc.
    Inventor: Lingxiang Zhou
  • Patent number: 6785428
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a source raster representation of an image, where the source raster representation of the image has an orientation relative to the source raster. The method includes partitioning the source raster into blocks of pixels based on the orientation, and for each block of pixels, calculating a destination location in a destination raster for the block of pixels and transferring the block of pixels to the calculated destination location in the destination raster, the destination location being calculated from the orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated
    Inventor: Jacob Y. Stolin
  • Patent number: 6785429
    Abstract: The multimedia data retrieval device of this invention includes: a content storage section for storing a plurality of compressed contents; a client terminal for inputting feature data, a feature data storage section for reading feature data extracted from at least one of the compressed contents from the content storage section and storing the feature data of the at least one compressed contents; and a content retrieval section for selecting feature data approximate to the feature data input via the client terminal among the feature data stored in the feature data storage section, and retrieving a content having the selected feature data from the content storage section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takanori Senoh
  • Patent number: 6785430
    Abstract: An optical transmit module. In one aspect of the present invention, an optical beam is generated with a gain medium disposed in a semiconductor substrate. A tunable Bragg grating also disposed in the semiconductor substrate may be optically coupled to the gain medium to tune an output wavelength of the optical beam. The semiconductor substrate further includes an optical modulator optically coupled to receive the optical beam. The optical modulator is coupled to modulate the optical beam in response to a modulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Mario J. Paniccia
  • Patent number: 6785431
    Abstract: Miniature optical devices, including circulator array devices, are fabricated using thin film coating technology. A typical optical device according to the present invention includes a spatial walkoff plate (SWP) coupled on opposite ends to first and second polarization orientation elements. First and second polarization beam splitter (PBS) elements are coupled to the first and second polarization orientation elements, respectively. The PBS elements are formed using thin film coating techniques and each includes an array of port coupling regions for coupling to an array of input/output fiber port assemblies. The SWP may be formed using thin film coating techniques or cut from a birefringent single crystal. Each polarization orientation element includes a Faraday rotator element, and in some embodiments, each also includes a wave plate formed using thin film coating techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Lightwaves 2020, Inc.
    Inventors: Jing-Jong Pan, Ming Zhou, Hong-Xi Zhang, Feng-Qing Zhou
  • Patent number: 6785432
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a photonic silicon filter capable of binding and detecting biological and chemical target molecules in liquid or gas samples. A photonic waveguiding silicon filter with chemical and/or biological anchors covalently attached to the pore walls selectively bind target molecules. The system uses transmission curve engineering principles to allow measurements to be made in situ and in real time to detect the presence of various target molecules and determine the concentration of bound target.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Sonia Letant, Anthony Van Buuren, Louis Terminello
  • Patent number: 6785433
    Abstract: A (bio)chemo-functional waveguide grating structure consisting of at least one (bio)chemo-functional waveguide grating structure unit or at least one (bio)chemo-functional sensor location with beam guidance permitting light beam separation, as well as detection methods for parallel analysis that are marking-free or based on marking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Artificial Sensing Instruments Asi AG
    Inventor: Kurt Tiefenthaler
  • Patent number: 6785434
    Abstract: An optical device integrated on a planar substrate is disclosed, comprising a Y-branch attenuator optically coupled to a Mach-Zehnder modulator. The device also comprises means for reducing a crosstalk caused by unguided radiation between the Y-branch attenuator and the Mach-Zehnder modulator. In one embodiment, the reduction of the crosstalk is obtained by connecting the Mach-Zehnder modulator to one arm of the Y-branch attenuator. The invention also comprises a transmitting module including the integrated device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Avanex Corporation
    Inventors: Andrea Castoldi, Flavio Dell'orto, Davide Sciancalepore
  • 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: 6785436
    Abstract: A method of and operating architectural enhancement for combining photonic and data packet-based networks to be unified or integrated as a single device and with a common software control plane, enabling increased utilization of such combined networks and in particular of optical path data flow capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Axiowave Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Rayadurgam Ravikanth, Kenneth J. Schroder, Mukesh Chatter, Peter Marconi, Jeffrey Parker, Dimitry Haskin, Zbigniew Opalka
  • Patent number: 6785437
    Abstract: The systems and methods described herein are directed to motion transformers as well as their integration and/or assembly, for use in directing optical beams and positioning of small optical elements for creating a variety of tunable optical components. More particularly, the systems and methods can be applied to a free-space optical cross-connect switching apparatus with piezoelectric actuation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Continuum Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Nesbitt W. Hagood, Kamyar Ghandi, Bob Cloutier, Mike Borgen
  • Patent number: 6785438
    Abstract: A switch core is set forth that comprises a plurality of duplex switches that are interconnected with a interconnection fabric to implement, for example, strictly non-blocking operation of the switch core for reciprocal traffic. In one embodiment, an N-way reciprocal switch is implemented. The N-way reciprocal switch comprises a plurality of duplex switches numbering N of at least a 1×(N−1) switch type (e.g., the duplex switches have at least N−1 ports available for connection to implement the interconnection fabric). The interconnection fabric interconnects the plurality of duplex switches so that each duplex switch is connected to every other duplex switch used in the interconnection fabric by a single connection. A similar architecture using switches numbering N of at least a 1×N switch type are also set forth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip J. Lin, Paul E. Green, Jr., Ornan A. Gerstel
  • Patent number: 6785439
    Abstract: A three-dimensional optical switch using three-dimensional rewritable waveguides in a photosensitive substrate. At least two light beams are used to illuminate the substrate in the region where the waveguide is to be written. The refractive index of the substrate changes at the points where the beams intersect. Therefore, the light beams can be directed to create a three-dimensional waveguide in the photosensitive substrate. A plurality of inlet ports in one surface of the substrate are thereby connected to a plurality of outlet ports on another surface of the substrate. Alternatively, the inlet ports and the outlet ports may be on the same surface of the substrate. The invention also provides methods of creating waveguides in photosensitive media using the device described herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Charles D. Hoke, Brian E. Lemoff
  • Patent number: 6785440
    Abstract: An assembly for focusing and coupling radiation produced by a semiconductor laser into an optical fiber, in particular a multimode optical fiber, including a radiation-focusing element in the form of cylinder lens disposed in the area between the radiating surface of the semiconductor laser and light entrance side of the optical fiber, the length of the cylinder lens being at least equal to a width of a beam exit window defining the radiation surface of the semiconductor laser, and the diameter of the cylinder lens being substantially on the order of magnitude of the core diameter of the optical fiber. The cylinder lens is in the form of glass fiber lens directly glued onto, fused with, or melted onto the light entrance side of the optical fiber which extends substantially at right angles to the orientation of the cylinder lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventor: Jƶrg Lawrenz-Stolz
  • Patent number: 6785441
    Abstract: An optical fiber collimator having a lens (10), and an optical fiber chip (14) disposed at a distance from the lens, the optical fiber chip holding an end portion of an optical fiber (12) and having an end surface treated to be inclined. The optical axis of the optical fiber is made eccentric with respect to the center of the lens to set the eccentric quantity of the optical fiber so that the center of the lens substantially coincides with the center of a light beam incident on the lens. The kind of the lens is optional. The lens may be an inexpensive spherical lens or may be a gradient index rod lens. When a gradient index rod lens is used, a lens in which a surface facing to the optical fiber chip is treated to be inclined is used as the gradient index rod lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ikuto Ooyama, Takashi Fukuzawa, Seiji Kai
  • Patent number: 6785442
    Abstract: A selective routing cross-connect device comprises a switch array, together with a phasar. The phasar comprises an array of channel waveguides, and first and second slab waveguides. A main input feeds a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) signal into the first slab waveguide so that demultiplexed outputs corresponding to an mth diffraction order exit the second slab waveguide. First and second further waveguides feed respective sets of demultiplexed signals back into the second slab waveguide at positions offset from said mth diffraction order (preferably at locations slightly offset from the adjacent diffraction orders). The first further waveguide supplies those demultiplexed signals which are to remain in the main channel, together with any added signals, whereas the third waveguide supplies those demultiplexed signals which are to be dropped. Selection of component signals for maintenance, adding or dropping is performed by control of the switch array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Christophe Nicolas
  • Patent number: 6785443
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for tuning an optical fiber Bragg grating by using a circular mechanism which uniformly stretches the fiber along its length while at the same time preserving the minimal size for stretching.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Teraxion Inc.
    Inventors: Alexis Mendez, Mario Pacheco, Steve Montesanto, Gershon Perelman, William Wang, Jason Zweiback
  • Patent number: 6785444
    Abstract: An optical fiber grating device 1 is a device in which a long period grating 14 is formed in a core region 11 of an optical fiber 10 consisting of the core region 11 having a refractive index n1 and an outside diameter 2a, a first cladding region 12 surrounding the core region 11 and having a refractive index n2 and an outside diameter 2b, and a second cladding region 13 surrounding the first cladding region 12 and having a refractive index n3 and an outside diameter 2c. There is a magnitude relation of n1>n2>n3 among the refractive index n1 of the core region 11, the refractive index n2 of the first cladding region 12, and the refractive index n3 of the second cladding region 13, a relative refractive index difference &Dgr;n2 of the first cladding region 12 to the second cladding region 13 is not less than 0.5%, and a thickness (c−b) of the second cladding region 13 with respect to a transmission loss peak wavelength &lgr; is in a range of not less than &lgr; nor more than 10&lgr;.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinji Ishikawa, Masakazu Shigehara, Michiko Takushima, Tadashi Enomoto
  • Patent number: 6785445
    Abstract: A near field light probe is capable of emanating a near field light having a sufficient intensity while allowing reduction of aperture size to improve resolution. The near field light probe can be incorporated in a near-field optical microscope, a near field light lithography apparatus, and a near field light storage apparatus. A near field light probe has a configuration in which a light-blocking film is formed with an aperture having slits surrounding the major opening. Light emitted from a light source is coupled into the probe from one side of the light-blocking film, the light being polarized in a predetermined direction with respect to the slits so that a near field light emanates from the major opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ryo Kuroda, Takako Yamaguchi, Yasuhisa Inao, Tomohiro Yamada
  • Patent number: 6785446
    Abstract: An improved multi-channel optical equalizer method and apparatus for intersymbol interference mitigation compensates many wavelength channels simultaneously and requires few adjustable parameters. The equalizer unit has only two control signals, one to control signal magnitude and one to control signal phase, yet it can still compensate many wavelength channels simultaneously. The equalizer includes a coupler with a controllable coupling ratio for splitting the light into two portions and a controllable interferometer means having two arms, one arm having an additional delay which is equal to an integer multiple of 1/&Dgr;f, where &Dgr;f is the channel spacing of the multiwavelength system. The controllable interferometer unit also has a controllable delay in a first or second arm for adjusting the relative phase of the light passing therethrough. A coupler combines the two signal portions from the first and second arms to form the equalized output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Sethumadhavan Chandrasekhar, Andrew Roman Chraplyvy, Christopher Richard Doerr, Peter J. Winzer
  • Patent number: 6785447
    Abstract: An optoreflective structure for reflecting an optical signal following a path defined by an optical waveguide comprising a first cladding layer having a first planar cladding surface; a waveguide disposed on the first cladding layer; and a second cladding layer disposed on the waveguide and having a second planar cladding surface. The first cladding layer, the second cladding layer and the waveguide terminate in a generally dove-tailed structure having a beveled planar surface. An optoreflector is disposed on the beveled planar surface for a changing direction of an optical signal passing through the waveguide. Methods of producing the optoreflective structure are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuzo Yoshimura, Yasuhito Takahashi, James Roman, Solomon I. Beilin, Wen-chou Vincent Wang, Masaaki Inao
  • Patent number: 6785448
    Abstract: A coupling method of a coupler includes the following steps: (1) making a pair of optical fibers with different photosensitivity fused and drawn, (2) irradiating specific portions of the pair of optical fibers by intense ultraviolet light at the same time for making refractive index of the pair of optical fibers markedly different, (3) supervising coupling light energy loss spectrum and gradually adjusting the intense ultraviolet light for decreasing maximum coupling ratio and achieving an optical fiber coupler of optimum flat spectrum, thereby improving fabricating process and reducing deficient products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: U-Conn Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Chih-Liang Pan, Chih-Yu Cheng, Winyann Jang
  • Patent number: 6785449
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multi-layer optical planar waveguide which is vertically coupled using multimode-interference couplers and to the method of manufacturing the same. The purpose of this invention is to increase the degree of integration on the multi-layer optical planar waveguide by applying the concept of via holes of the multi-layer printed circuit board (MLPCB) used in electronic circuits to the optical waveguide devices. According to the present invention, particularly, a multimode interference coupler of a stepped structure has the higher coupling ratio at relatively short length of interference than the usual multimode interference coupler. The present invention can implement a multimode interference coupler at a specialized spot while reducing evanescent field interference between the upper and lower optical waveguides out of the spot by separating the layers enough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jong Moo Lee, Doo Hee Cho, Joon Tae Ahn, Myung Hyun Lee, Kyong Hon Kim
  • Patent number: 6785450
    Abstract: A self-supporting fiber optic cable includes a messenger section having at least one strength and anti-buckling member enclosed within a jacket and a carrier section enclosed within a jacket that is joined to the jacket of the messenger section by a web. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, carrier section does not include strength members and the optical fibers are set with a high EFL. The greater EFL accommodates elongation of carrier section without transmission of stress to optical fibers. In addition, the preferably generally cylindrical internal surface of a tube or jacket curves the optical fibers creating EFL, for example, the fibers are guided by the internal surface in a helical path. Resistance to carrier section elongation and contraction can be controlled by varying the length of the web connecting the carrier and messenger sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: Richard S. Wagman, Larry W Field, Michael J. Ott
  • Patent number: 6785452
    Abstract: An optical fiber cable that has a cable core formed by covering an external circumference of a coated optical fiber or a collective coated optical fiber with a cushioning member, a tension member, and a thermoplastic resin sheath for collectively covering the cable core and the tension member, wherein the cushioning member contains a blended fiber composed of a non-water absorbent fiber and a water absorbent fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tetsuya Yasutomi
  • Patent number: 6785453
    Abstract: A dispersion shifted optical fiber comprising a core and cladding provided at an outer periphery of the core, and having a refractive index profile in which the core is provided with a central core portion and a peripheral core portion having a higher refractive index than the central core portion provided at an outer periphery of the central core portion, and the cladding has a lower refractive index than the peripheral core portion, wherein, by appropriately setting the structural parameters, it is possible to provide a dispersion shifted optical fiber that is essentially single mode and is capable of fulfilling the condition of a bending loss of 100 dB/m or less, and that also provides a sufficient increase in the effective core area and a reduction in the dispersion slope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoichiro Matsuo, Shoji Tanigawa
  • Patent number: 6785454
    Abstract: In a conventional optical waveguide using a photonic crystal, loss of light occurs in the substrate therebelow. The invention provides an optical waveguide comprising a substrate, a core portion formed on the substrate, and clad portions arranged on the substrate so that the core portion is sandwiched therebetween. The clad portions each have a periodic structure which exhibits a periodic variation in refractive index in a direction perpendicular to a light propagation direction, and at least one of the periodic structures is inclined with respect to a surface of the substrate so that an interval between the periodic structures is gradually reduced toward the substrate. The slim, compact optical waveguide can be fabricated in a relatively simple and easy process, incurs lower loss, offers satisfactory light propagation characteristics, and has adequate mechanical strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Abe
  • Patent number: 6785455
    Abstract: A dispersion compensating fiber 1 is placed in the form of a coil or bundle within a housing 2, and a filling material 3 having a viscosity of 0.01 Pa·s to 0.6 Pa·s at normal temperature before curing is filled in a space around the dispersion compensating fiber 1 within the housing 2 and then the filling material is cured. As a result, a change of transmission loss caused by a temperature variation due to heat cycles of the dispersion compensator can be reduced. A difference in transmission loss can be further reduced by employing a method of placing the dispersion compensating fiber in the housing in the form of a loosely wound bundle and then pouring the filling material, or a method of applying vibration to the housing, in which the dispersion compensating fiber is placed, when pouring the filling material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Fujii, Toshifumi Hosoya
  • Patent number: 6785456
    Abstract: Optical fibers of different physical characteristics are combined to produce a hybrid fiber which, at the operating wavelength, has a relatively large effective area and desirable net dispersion and attenuation characteristics over the combined length of the hybrid system. Hybrid fibers are constructed in accordance with the principles of the invention by optically connecting a first fiber having a large effective area (greater than 85 &mgr;m2), an attenuation less than 0.19 dB/km and a dispersion greater than 10 ps/nm/km at 1550 nm, to a second fiber having an effective area which is smaller than the first fiber, a dispersion which is less than 10 ps/nm/km, and an attenuation which is less than 0.23 dB/km at 1550 nm. Both the first and second fibers preferably have a positive dispersion slope at 1550 nm. The first and second fibers are preferably spliced directly together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Scott R. Bickham, William D. Cornwell, Nigel H. Taylor, Thomas J. Atwood
  • Patent number: 6785457
    Abstract: The present invention aims to simplify a mass production process of an optical waveguide device and to reduce cost as well as noise. The optical waveguide device includes an optical waveguide whose entrance end face and exit end face are substantially parallel to each other. A SHG device is mass-produced by optically polishing an optical material substrate with a large area and then cutting the substrate. This method can mass-produce the optical waveguide devices having a uniform device length. The angle between the exit end face of the optical waveguide and the direction of an optical axis of the optical waveguide at the exit end face is not 90°, thereby reducing return light from the exit end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiminori Mizuuchi, Kazuhisa Yamamoto, Ken'ichi Kasazumi, Yasuo Kitaoka
  • Patent number: 6785458
    Abstract: Wafer-level electronic packages having waveguides and methods of fabricating chip-level electronic packages having waveguides are disclosed. A representative chip-level electronic package includes at least one waveguide having a waveguide core. In addition, another representative chip-level electronic package includes a waveguide having an air-gap cladding layer around a portion of the waveguide core. A representative method for fabricating a chip-level electronic package includes: providing a substrate having a passivation layer disposed on the substrate; disposing a waveguide core on a portion of the passivation layer; disposing a first sacrificial layer onto at least one portion of the passivation layer and the waveguide core; disposing an overcoat layer onto the passivation layer and the first sacrificial layer; and removing the first sacrificial layer to define an air-gap cladding layer within the overcoat polymer layer and around a portion of the waveguide core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2004
    Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation
    Inventors: Tony Mule′, Chirag Patel, James D. Meindl, Thomas K. Gaylord, Elias N. Glytsis, Kevin P. Martin, Stephen M. Schultz, Muhannad Bakir, Hollie Reed, Paul Kohl