Electro-optic Patents (Class 359/245)
  • Patent number: 8422110
    Abstract: An optical switch changes the refractive index of an electro-optical crystal according to an electric field applied to the electro-optical crystal so as to switch depending on whether the electro-optical crystal enables incident light to pass through or whether the electro-optical crystal enables incident light to be totally reflected. The optical switch includes an electrode section including a plurality of electrodes and formed in the electro-optical crystal, a principal plane including the largest area of each electrode on a same plane of the electro-optical crystal; an insulator layer on at least one plane of the electro-optical crystal, the plane being parallel with the electrode section, the insulator layer made of an insulator with lower dielectric constant than the electro-optical crystal; and a temperature control device formed on and in contact with the insulator layer and controls a temperature of the electrode section or dissipates heat generated in the electrode section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiko Ohta, Osamu Ishibashi, Fujio Okumura
  • Patent number: 8422111
    Abstract: A leaky travelling wave array of optical elements provide a solar wavelength rectenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: AMI Research & Development, LLC
    Inventors: John T. Apostolos, Judy Feng, William Mouyos
  • Publication number: 20130088766
    Abstract: A rearview mirror assembly for a vehicle includes an electro-optic mirror reflective element having a front glass substrate and a rear glass substrate, with no portion of the rear glass substrate extending beyond any portion of the front glass substrate. The reflective element includes a perimeter band disposed around a perimeter border region of a second surface of the front glass substrate. The perimeter band generally conceals the presence of a perimeter seal from view by the driver of the vehicle. A plastic molding may be circumferentially disposed about the circumferential edge of the front glass substrate without overlapping onto the first surface of the front glass substrate. The outermost part of the plastic molding may lack a sharp edge. The plane of the first surface of the front glass substrate may be generally flush with the outermost part of the plastic molding.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2012
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Applicant: DONNELLY CORPORATION
    Inventor: DONNELLY CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8417076
    Abstract: Photonic devices and techniques based on tunable single sideband (SSB) modulation in whispering gallery mode resonators formed of electro-optic materials to construct RF or microwave receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: OEwaves, Inc.
    Inventors: Lute Maleki, David Seidel, Wei Liang, Anatoliy A. Savchenkov, Andrey B. Matsko, Vladimir S. Ilchenko, Prakash Koonath
  • Patent number: 8416485
    Abstract: A nanostructured optoelectronic device is provided which comprises a nanostructured material and a host material intermingled with the nanostructured material. The host material may have a higher index of refraction than the nanostructured material. The host material's index of refraction may be chosen to maximize the effective active area of the device. In an alternative embodiment, the host material comprises scattering centers or absorption/luminescence centers which absorb light and reemit the light at a different energy or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Bandgap Engineering, Inc.
    Inventors: Marcie R. Black, Brent A. Buchine
  • Publication number: 20130083387
    Abstract: A process for protecting the external face of an electro-optical device, the external face comprising at least one optical film adhesively bonded to a transparent substrate and set back therefrom, comprises encapsulating the optical element between the substrate and a transparent cover that is substantially the same size as the substrate. The process comprises adhesive bonding of the cover, the adhesive bonding being achieved by depositing uncured adhesive in two steps, namely a first step that is used first to take up the step difference between the substrate and the optical element, and a second step that is used to adhesively bond the protective cover. Smaller respective thicknesses of adhesive shrink in each step and thus, in the end, the total shrinkage is limited and the quality of the product is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: THALES
    Inventors: Thierry KRETZ, Bernard MEUNIER
  • Patent number: 8411349
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes an optical modulation substrate, an electrical length adjusting substrate, a package containing the substrates, and a plurality of input ports for inputting high frequency electrical signals. The optical modulation substrate includes a substrate body made of an electro-optic material, a ground electrode and a plurality of signal electrodes provided on the substrate body, optical waveguides propagating lights interacting with the signal electrodes, respectively, and electrode input ports inputting the high frequency electrical signals into the signal electrodes, respectively. The signal electrode includes an interacting part, an input end part provided between the electrode input port and interacting part, and a terminal part. The electrical length adjusting substrate includes conductive lines connected to the input ports for inputting the high frequency electrical signals, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Mitomi, Yasunori Iwasaki, Yuji Hori, Kenji Aoki, Jungo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20130077149
    Abstract: A signal shaping circuit includes an operational circuit that provides weights to a first signal input to a first input element and a second signal input to a second input element, adds or subtracts the second signal to or from the first signal, and outputs a signal obtained by adding or subtracting the second signal to or from the first signal; a divider that divides the signal output from the operational circuit into signals, causes one of the divided signal to be input to the second input element, and outputs the other of the divided signal; a delay element that delays the signal output from the operational circuit and to be input to the divider or the signal output from the divider and to be input to the second input element; and an adjuster that adjusts at least one of the weights provided to the first and second signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Yukito TSUNODA
  • Publication number: 20130077058
    Abstract: A first light-transmissive plate is provided on an opposite surface of a first substrate of an electro-optic panel to a second substrate. The first light-transmissive plate is smaller than the first substrate, and an end portion of the first substrate is exposed from the first light-transmissive plate. In addition, a heat radiation member made of a metal material is provided so as to be overlapped with the exposed portion from the first light-transmissive plate of the first substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 4, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoaki Miyashita
  • Patent number: 8405690
    Abstract: A technique for modulating light by an optically addressed, electric charge accumulating spatial light modulator achieves substantially monotonic gray scale response. Embodiments digitally modulate the voltage across a photoreceptive material included in the spatial light modulator. The digital modulation scheme entails illuminating the photoreceptor with a series of light pulses propagating from an LCoS, in which the durations of the light pulses and their positions in time combine to produce binary-weighted equivalent rms voltages on the photoreceptor. The light pulses originate from a light-emitting diode or other switchable light source, and the timing of the light pulses is controlled such that they are emitted only when the associated LCoS is in a stable state. Emitting light pulses while the LCoS is in a stable state avoids non-monotonic behavior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Compound Photonics Limited
    Inventors: Howard V. Goetz, James L. Sanford, Jonathan A. Sachs
  • Patent number: 8400703
    Abstract: An optical switch for switching between transmission and total reflection of incident light 101 applied to electro-optical crystal 104 by applying an electric field to electro-optical crystal 104 to thereby change the refractive index of electro-optical crystal 104 includes a plurality of electrodes 105 disposed in electro-optical crystal 104 to provide electrode assembly 106 for applying the electric field to electro-optical crystal 104. Electro-optical crystal 104 has a refractive index changing portion (not shown) whose refractive index is changed by the electric field applied by electrode assembly 106, the refractive index changing portion enclosing electrode assembly 106 in its entirety. The refractive index changing portion has a flat refractive index boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Eiji Akiyama, Fujio Okumura, Osamu Ishibashi
  • Patent number: 8400574
    Abstract: A SWIR hyperspectral imaging filter has serial stages along an optical signal path with angularly distributed birefringent retarders and polarizers. The retarders can include active retarders such as tunable liquid crystal birefringent elements, passive retarders such as fixed retarders, and/or combinations thereof. Distinctly different periodic transmission spectra are provided by different filter stages, each having multiple retarders, in particular with some stages having broad bandpass peaks at wide spectral spacing and other stages have very narrow closely spaced peaks. The respective spectra include at least one tunably selectable band at which the transmission spectra of the filter stages coincide, whereby the salutary narrow bandpass and wide spectral spacing ranges of different stages apply together, resulting in a high finesse wavelength filter suitable for spectral imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: ChemImage Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Voigt, Lei Shi, Zili Li, George Ventouris, Michael Fuhrman
  • Patent number: 8395838
    Abstract: A display device includes a driving layer and a displaying layer disposed on the driving layer. The driving layer includes a lower substrate, a number of driving segments and a number of conducting wires. The lower substrate has a first surface. The driving segments and the conducting wires both are disposed on the first surface of the lower substrate. The driving segments are connected to the conducting wires in a one-to-one manner. A line width of each of the conducting wires is less than 50 microns. The display device has a high resolution. A method for manufacturing the display device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: E Ink Holdings Inc.
    Inventors: Hsu-Cheng Yeh, Ming-Chuan Hung
  • Publication number: 20130057937
    Abstract: Automated shade systems may comprise controllers that use algorithms to control operation of the automated shade control system and components thereof, for example window coverings, glass having variable characteristics, and so forth. These algorithms may include information such as: 3-D models of a building and surrounding structures, shadow information, reflectance information, lighting and radiation information, information regarding one or more variable characteristics of glass, clear sky algorithms, log information related to manual overrides, occupant preference information, motion information, real-time sky conditions, solar radiation on a building, a total foot-candle load on a structure, brightness overrides, actual and/or calculated BTU load, time-of-year information, and microclimate analysis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: MechoShade Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: MechoShade Systems, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8390914
    Abstract: A controllable light directional distributor for an illumination apparatus, and a method of manufacture of the same in which multiple elongate optical elements are arranged to provide controllable divergence angle from a light source with low divergence output angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Optovate Limited
    Inventors: Graham John Woodgate, Jonathan Harrold
  • Publication number: 20130050797
    Abstract: A vehicle light control glass device of the present invention includes a light control glass that includes a light control layer in which a transmittance changes according to an applied AC voltage, the light control glass being provided in a car body while being able to be moved up and down; and an inverter that includes a power feeding circuit, the power feeding circuit converting a DC voltage output from a battery mounted on a vehicle into the AC voltage and applying the AC voltage to the light control layer, the inverter being provided in a lower portion of the light control glass. According to the configuration, the inverter is provided in a lower portion of the light control glass, so that a gravity center of the light control glass can be lowered. Accordingly, the light control glass can smoothly be moved up and down.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2010
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Suguru Takahashi, Yasuhiro Shirai
  • Patent number: 8379293
    Abstract: An apparatus for modulating light includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a sealed enclosure. The first electrode includes a frequency selective surface operable to reflect light having a first wavelength, and the second electrode is spaced apart from the first electrode. The sealed enclosure stores electrophoretic fluid and at least a portion of the sealed enclosure is positioned between the first electrode and the second electrode. A plurality of particles are suspended in the electrophoretic fluid. The particles are capable of absorbing light having the first wavelength. In addition, the first electrode is capable of attracting the particles towards the frequency selective surface when an electrical bias is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Gary A. Frazier
  • Patent number: 8380015
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical control device capable of achieving an accurate match of modulation timing and modulation intensity between optical waves propagating through optical waveguides disposed between a plurality of signal electrodes in an optical control device using an anisotropic dielectric substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuhki Kinpara, Masayuki Ichioka, Junichiro Ichikawa, Satoshi Oikawa, Yasuhiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8380085
    Abstract: A method of processing data is provided that includes receiving a plurality of binary electronic signals and generating an optical signal by a number of lasers that is equal to or greater than the number of binary electronic signals. The optical signal is generated at one of a plurality of intensity levels, and each intensity level represents a particular combination of bit values for the plurality of binary electronic signals. The optical signal is converted into an electronic signal having the plurality of intensity levels. An apparatus for processing data is provided that includes a plurality of lasers configured to emit light at a plurality of frequencies, and a plurality of modulators configured to receive a plurality of binary electronic signals and to modulate the light emitted by the lasers. An apparatus for transmitting data is provided that includes a photo receiver and an electronic signal generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Laboratories America, Inc.
    Inventors: Shalabh Gupta, Yue-Kai Huang
  • Patent number: 8379288
    Abstract: The invention relates to a transparent electroactive system that includes two electrodes (2, 3) juxtaposed on the same side of a closed space (12) containing electroactive substances. The two electrodes are separated by a distance of less than 250 ?m, and a barrier (1) extending towards the inside of the closed space is placed between the electrodes. The separation between the electrodes is thus not visible, and a mutual neutralization between the electroactive substances is prevented. Advantageously, the electroactive substances are contained in cells (5) separated from each other within the closed space. The barrier (1) can thus be distinct from separation walls (4) between the cells, or can be assimilated with some intercellular walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Essilor International (compagnie Generale d'optique)
    Inventors: Sandrine Duluard, Jean-Paul Cano, Claudine Biver
  • Patent number: 8373917
    Abstract: An electrowetting display, a pixel array substrate thereof, and an electrowetting display pixel structure thereof are provided. The electrowetting display pixel structure is disposed on a substrate. The electrowetting display pixel structure includes a pixel electrode, a hydrophobic insulating layer and a wall. The pixel electrode is covered by the hydrophobic insulating layer. The wall is disposed on the hydrophobic insulating layer. The wall has a first side surface, a second side surface and at least one opening penetrating the first side surface and the second side surface. The opening is used for fluid medium to flow therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Wintek Corporation
    Inventors: Cheng-Yi Chen, Chih-Yuan Wang
  • Publication number: 20130032735
    Abstract: A laser apparatus may include: a master oscillator configured to output a pulsed laser beam at a repetition rate; at least one amplifier disposed on a beam path of the pulsed laser beam; at least one optical shutter disposed on the beam path of the pulsed laser beam; and a controller configured to switch the at least one optical shutter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: GIGAPHOTON INC
    Inventors: Krzysztof Nowak, Osamu Wakabayashi, Hideo Hoshino
  • Patent number: 8368998
    Abstract: A method is provided for color tuning a plasmonic device with a color tunable electronic skin. A plasmonic electronic skin is used, including a first substrate, a plasmonic structure, an electrically conductive transparent first electrode layer, an electrically conductive transparent second electrode layer, and a polymer-networked liquid crystal (PNLC) layer interposed between the first and second transparent electrode layers. In response to receiving a color tuning voltage, a full visible spectrum incident light, and a PNLC switch voltage, the plasmonic structure generates a first primary color. A primary color exhibits a single wavelength peak with a spectral full width at half magnitudes (FWHMs) in the visible spectrum of light. In response to receiving the PNLC switch voltage between the first and second electrode layers, the PNLC layer passes incident light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Sharp Laboratories of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Liang Tang, Akinori Hashimura, Apostolos T. Voutsas
  • Publication number: 20130027762
    Abstract: A printed circuit board (PCB) has a connection ground pattern and a wiring ground pattern. The connection ground pattern is a pattern for soldered connection formed on a first wiring layer. The wiring ground pattern is formed to be spaced from the connection ground pattern on the first wiring layer. The connection ground pattern and the wiring ground pattern are electrically coupled via a second wiring layer. When the wiring ground pattern is covered with an insulating layer, such as a solder resist, even if the position of an end of the insulating layer varies among wiring ground patterns, an influence on an exposed area of the connection ground pattern is eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Applicant: Fujitsu Optical Components Limited
    Inventor: Masaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 8363304
    Abstract: In fabrication of an electrophoretic display device, a display defect (blotches or smears on the display screen) caused by the fact that a very small quantity of moisture and/or air bubbles existing near the electrophoretic display element layer enter the inside of the layer, and another display defect (defective driving) caused by the fact that the said moisture and/or air bubbles enter the boundary between the first substrate and the layer, are reliably prevented. The display element layer is fixed on the display region of the TFT substrate, the sealing member is formed on the TFT substrate to surround the display element layer, and the glass substrate is fixed to the sealing member, constituting the closed inner space around the layer. The space is filled with an inert gas having a pressure approximately equal to an atmospheric pressure or set in a predetermined vacuum state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: NLT Technologies, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiromitsu Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8363298
    Abstract: The specification and drawings present a new method, apparatus and software product for modulation of the optical intensity using electro-wetting (EW) diffraction gratings in the electronic devices with an electrical control signal. The EW diffraction gratings can be components of an element (e.g., a display) of the electronic device. Applications may include but are not limited to color displays, projection displays, front illuminating displays, field sequential displays, auto-stereoscopic displays, etc. Also, applications in areas other than displays are possible.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Pasi Ryytty
  • Patent number: 8363299
    Abstract: A first apparatus for displaying a color image comprises an electro-optic display (1002) having a plurality of pixels, each of which can be independently set to a light-transmissive optical state or a substantially opaque optical state, and lighting means (1006) arranged to flash separate pulses of light of at least two differing colors on to one surface of the electro-optic display (1002). A second apparatus for generating pulses of light of differing colors comprising a light source and a filter assembly comprising first (1100) and second (1106) electro-optic layers each having a light-transmissive state and a colored state, the two colored states being different, and electrodes to switch these layers between these states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: E Ink Corporation
    Inventors: Richard J. Paolini, Jr., Thomas H. Whitesides
  • Publication number: 20130021657
    Abstract: An electrooptic device includes first and second substrates that are disposed opposing each other with an electrooptic material layer therebetween, a sealing material that bonds the first and second substrates, a pixel area, and an ion trap portion between the pixel area and the sealing material. The ion trap portion includes first and second electrodes that are formed in a comb-tooth shape and are disposed so that branch electrodes of the first electrode and branch electrodes of the second electrode are engaged with each other. A direction of the branch electrodes intersects with an orientation direction of the electrooptic material at an interface between the electrooptic material layer and the first substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Applicant: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Tomikawa, Hiroyuki Hara, Tomoki Yokota
  • Patent number: 8355193
    Abstract: An electrophoretic display device, which includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and an electrophoretic element disposed between the first substrate and second substrate, includes a plurality of pixel electrodes provided on the first substrate and arranged in a row direction and in a column direction, and a counter electrode provided on the second substrate. In conjunction with the pixel electrodes, the counter electrode applies a voltage to the electrophoretic element. The counter electrode includes an opening portion extending in at least one of the row direction and the column direction at a location opposite an area between the pixel electrodes that are adjacent to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Katsunori Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8355199
    Abstract: An optical filter is disclosed, including a first optical filter adapted to receive a first optical signal including an optical carrier frequency and a plurality of interference signal components. The first filter produces an output signal at the optical carrier frequency and a reflection signal. The output signal is split into a peak detection path signal and a re-insertion path signal. An optical power detector converts the peak detection path signal into an electrical control signal and aligns the optical carrier frequency to a resonance frequency of the first filter to maximize the power of the optical carrier frequency. A second optical filter receives the reflection signal and selects at least one spectral component while rejecting other spectral components and outputs a filtered signal that carries the selected spectral component. A signal combiner receives and combines the filtered signal and the re-insertion path signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen Robertson, Thomas W. Karras
  • Patent number: 8351208
    Abstract: An electro-optical device may include: an electro-optical panel, a holding member that includes a main body part arranged to surround the periphery of the electro-optical panel, and a holding part protruded from the main body part and holding the electro-optical panel, and a heat radiating member that is disposed opposing the electro-optical panel through an opening of the holding member from the opposite side of the light incident plane of the electro-optical panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Hidekazu Hirabayashi, Yoshitaka Hama
  • Patent number: 8349222
    Abstract: Unconventional twisted ?-electron system electro-optic (EO) chromophores/compounds, compositions and related device structures. Crystallographic analysis of several non-limiting chromophores reveals, for instance, large ring-ring dihedral twist angles and a highly charge-separated zwitterionic structure in the ground state, in both solution phase and solid-state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Tobin J. Marks, Hu Kang
  • Patent number: 8331009
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for mixing colors in a display unit with pixels that are arranged like a raster. According to said method, each pixel is provided with at least three color mirrors which are disposed behind or next to each other and are formed by transparent receptacles whose interiors are connected to reservoirs via ducts, while a colored liquid, e.g. a red liquid, as well as a fully transparent medium that is immiscible with colored liquid can be moved into the color mirrors and the reservoirs thereof, the fully transparent medium having the effect of making the color of the background in the color mirror appear white, for example. According to the invention, color is mixed by alternately moving the colored liquid and the fully transparent medium into the color mirrors in a rapid sequence, the time fraction during which the colored liquid or the fully transparent medium is located in the color mirror being controllable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: ASPRE AG
    Inventor: Friedrich-Josef Sacher
  • Patent number: 8331007
    Abstract: A transparent optical component comprises two sets of cells (1) disposed in respective superposed layers (10, 20). Each cell (1) contains an optically active material, and the cells in each set are isolated from one another by separating portions (2) within the corresponding layer. The cells (1) of one layer are offset relative to the cells of the other layer so as to be located in line with the separating portions (2) pertaining to the other layer. Such optical component exhibits transparency that is improved compared with components having a single layer of cells or cells that are superposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignees: Essilor International (compagnie Generale d'optique), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique-CNRS
    Inventors: Pierre Chavel, Jerome Ballet, Christian Bovet, Jean-Paul Cano, Paul Lefillastre
  • Patent number: 8331008
    Abstract: Whispering gallery mode resonator based devices as photonic RF or microwave receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: OEwaves, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrey B. Matsko, Anatoliy Savchenkov, David Seidel, Lute Maleki, Vladimir Ilchenko
  • Publication number: 20120307338
    Abstract: An electroactive material, in the form of a self-supported layer, comprising: a matrix, which maintains the mechanical strength of the electroactive material; and an electroactive system, which is inserted in the matrix and comprises an electroactive organic compound (ea1+), an electroactive organic compound (ea2), a solubilization liquid (L), and ionic charges present as ionic salt or acid, wherein the electroactive compounds (ea1+ & ea2) and the ionic charges are in the solubilization liquid (L), wherein the matrix comprises a textile sheet (TS) or on a stack of sheets comprising the textile sheet (TS), and wherein the mineral fibers of the matrix and the solubilization liquid (L) have indices that are substantially equal, with a difference of at most 0.1. In addition, an electrically controllable device having variable optical properties, comprising the electroactive material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2011
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Samuel Solarski, Fabienne Piroux, Gilles Bokobza
  • Publication number: 20120307337
    Abstract: A window glazing (10) suitable for use in automotive applications wherein a switchable film (18) is protected from UV exposure and over-temperature exposure by a coating (14) that reflects IR and UV light in combination with an interlayer (16) that absorbs UV light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: Pittsburgh Glass Works, LLC
    Inventors: Bruce A. Bartug, Peter T. Dishart, Steven M. Parsons
  • Patent number: 8320036
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus that includes a waveguide and one or more pixels deployed adjacent the top surface of the waveguide which contains TIR light therein. Each pixel includes a deformable active layer having a first conductor and a driver electronics layer having a second conductor. The driver electronics layer is deployed in spaced-apart relation to the active layer and opposite the waveguide. In a quiescent state of a pixel, the active layer is in contact or near contact with the top surface of the waveguide so as to optically couple light out via FTIR (i.e., pixel's ON state). To actuate the pixel, the electronics layer is configured to selectively apply an electrical potential difference to the second conductor thereby causing the active layer to move away from the top surface so as to prevent the optical coupling of light out of the waveguide (i.e., pixel's OFF state).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Rambus Inc.
    Inventors: Kevin J. Derichs, Carey King, Daniel K. Van Ostrand, Berry Tod Cox, Reed J. Killion
  • Patent number: 8314985
    Abstract: A high-speed optical modulator based on Surface Plasmon-Polariton (SPP) at the hetero-junction of a metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) tunneling diode and including a phase-matching optical element, such as a prism or gold-lattice structure, is described. An investigation using the coupled mode theory shows that the applied bias across the hetero-junction changes the optical reflectance of an optically coupled MIS tunneling diode, such as a prism-coupled MIS tunneling diode or a gold lattice-coupled MIS tunneling diode, while the modulation efficiency achievable of the device depends on the thickness of the metal film used to construct the tunneling diode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Boise State University
    Inventor: Wan Kuang
  • Publication number: 20120286163
    Abstract: A device (100) is described for actively or passively modulating incident radiation, the device comprising at least one diffraction means (10) adapted for evanescent wave excitation upon irradiation with the incident radiation, and an absorption layer (40) adjacent the at least one diffraction means (10) so that the evanescent waves can interact with the absorption layer (40). The absorption layer (40) has alterable absorption properties so as to alter the absorption of the evanescent waves resulting in modulating of the incident radiation. The device (100) may be for actively modulating incident radiation thus being e.g. a modulator for laser radiation. Alternatively, the device may be for passively modulating incident radiation, thus acting as a sensing device for sensing environmental parameters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Johan Stiens, Werner Vandermeiren, Gennady Shkerdin, Roger Vounckx
  • Patent number: 8310747
    Abstract: There is provided an electronic paper display device, and a method of manufacturing the same. The electronic paper display device includes a display side electrode formed of a transparent material, a rear electrode opposing the display side electrode, a substrate disposed between the display side electrode and the rear electrode, and including a plurality of partition walls separating a space between the display side electrode and the rear electrode and a plurality of cell spaces formed by the plurality of partition walls, and two or more types of rotary bodies disposed in the plurality of cell spaces and displaying different respective colors. The same type of rotary bodies displaying the same color among the rotary bodies includes a plurality of rotary bodies having different respective shades. The electronic paper display device has high image stability and uniformity and enables the expression of various shades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sang Moon Lee, Jong Su Yi, Young Woo Lee, Hwan-Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 8305670
    Abstract: A MOEMS apparatus for scanning an optical beam is formed from a double active layer silicon on insulator (DSOI) substrate that includes two active layers separated by an insulating layer. The apparatus includes an electro-static comb drive having a stator formed in a first of the two active layers and a rotor formed in a second of the two active layers. The electro-static comb drive is operative to impart a tilting motion to a micro-mirror formed in the second active layer. The MOEMS apparatus is designed such that: a) at least one of the distances created between a tooth belonging to the rotor and an adjacent tooth belonging to the stator is less than 7 ?m; and the aspect ratio of the apparatus is higher than 1:20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics International N.V.
    Inventors: Moshe Medina, Pinchas Chaviv, Yaron Fein
  • Patent number: 8300990
    Abstract: An optical waveguide is described. This optical waveguide may be defined in a semiconductor layer, and may include a vertical slot that includes an electro-optic material having an electric-field-dependent index of refraction, and the electro-optic material may be other than a semiconductor in the semiconductor layer. Alternatively, the optical waveguide may include a vertical stack with two semiconductor layers that surround and partially overlap an intermediate layer, which includes the electro-optic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Oracle America, Inc.
    Inventors: Guoliang Li, Jin Yao, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 8295710
    Abstract: The invention describes a modulator for the quadrature modulation of an optical carrier signal with an I- and a Q-portion, where a first optical multimode interferometer (MMI) splits the optical carrier signal into four branches and that in pairs of branches the I-portion and the Q-portion respectively is modulated with a Mach-Zehnder-Structure and a second optical multimode interferometer (MMI) combines the modulated I-portion and Q-portion again to one quadrature modulated optical output signal (OS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks Oy
    Inventor: Winter Marcus
  • Patent number: 8294972
    Abstract: A display device may include a substrate, a thin film layer formed on the substrate and/or having a light absorptance that varies according to an electric field applied to the thin film layer, and/or electrodes disposed to apply the electric field to the thin film layer and/or configured to change the electric field applied to the thin film layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co, Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyun-jong Chung
  • Patent number: 8289606
    Abstract: An optical image shutter having a transparent electro-optical crystal formed on a transparent amorphous substrate and a method of manufacturing the optical image shutter. The light image shutter is created by forming a buffer layer using a material having a similar crystalline structure to an electro-optical crystal, on a transparent amorphous substrate such as glass, and forming an electro-optical thin film layer such as the electro-optical crystal on the buffer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporate Collaboration
    Inventors: Yong-hwa Park, Chul-ho Jung, Dae-ho Yoon
  • Publication number: 20120250711
    Abstract: An optical module providing higher reliability during high-speed light modulation and a lower bit error rate when built into a transmitter (transceiver). An optical module contains a taper mirror for surface emission of output light, an optical modulator device, and an optical modulation drive circuit, and the optical modulator device and the optical modulation drive circuit are mounted at positions so as to enclose the taper mirror.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeki MAKINO, Yasunobu MATSUOKA, Kenji KOGO, Toshiki SUGAWARA, Tatemi IDO
  • Patent number: 8280054
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to scrambling-descrambling systems for encrypting and decrypting electromagnetic signals transmitted in optical and wireless networks. In one aspect, a system (1302) for scrambling electromagnetic signals comprises a first electronically reconfigurable electro-optical material (1402) positioned to receive a beam of electromagnetic radiation including one or more electromagnetic signals encoding data. The beam is transmitted through the electro-optical material (1402) and a two-dimensional speckled pattern (1410) is introduced into the cross-section of the beam such that data encoded in the one or more electromagnetic signals is scrambled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Alexandre M. Bratkovski
  • Patent number: 8274729
    Abstract: Electro-optic elements are becoming commonplace in a number of vehicular and architectural applications. Various electro-optic element configurations provide variable transmittance and or variable reflectance for windows and mirrors. The present invention relates to various thin-film coatings, electro-optic elements and assemblies incorporating these elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Gentex Corporation
    Inventors: Henry A. Luten, John S. Anderson, Jeffrey A. Forgette, George A. Neuman
  • Patent number: 8274728
    Abstract: A modulator in an imaging apparatus includes a metamaterial shell surrounding an opaque core. The metamaterial is tunable, so that the metamaterial acts as a waveguide for light at a given wavelength. This property of the metamaterial is used to modulate the light beam in an imaging apparatus. The light beam can be guided around the opaque core under a first voltage condition, or the light beam can be blocked by the opaque core under a second voltage condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Xerox Corporation
    Inventor: Aillil I. Halsema