Modulation Of Polarized Light Via Modulating Input Signal Patents (Class 359/246)
  • Patent number: 7375889
    Abstract: A method for resetting a polarization controller includes determining that the phase magnitude is associated with a first range of phase angles and generating a first control signal having a first characteristic if the phase magnitude is increasing, and generating the first control signal having a second characteristic if the phase magnitude is decreasing. The phase magnitude associated with a second range of phase angles is determined. The first control signal having the second characteristic is generated if the phase magnitude is increasing. The first control signal having the first characteristic is generated if the phase magnitude is decreasing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Coadna Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack Robert Kelly, Xuewu Liu
  • Patent number: 7336323
    Abstract: An optical wavelength filter uses birefringence and polarization to discriminate and block a wavelength stop band. Birefringent elements, each having a fixed retarder and a liquid crystal, are placed along the signal path with the fast and slow axes in each pair being aligned and rotationally displaced from other pairs. The birefringence parts are arranged by their thickness, birefringence and progressive rotational orientation so that each pair contributes to achieving a specific polarization state for specific periodic wavelength discrimination bands. A selection polarizer at the output blocks bands that have this polarization state. The birefringence elements are tuned in a coordinated manner and thereby to select one or more wavelengths as the band stop discrimination band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: ChemImage Corporation
    Inventor: Xinghua Wang
  • Patent number: 7324760
    Abstract: An optical RZ transmitter comprises an optical signal source and a pair of electro-optical modulators in tandem, one arranged to receive a NRZ electrical data signal and the other a clock signal at the data rate of the data signal. The phase difference between the data signal and the clock signal is controlled by adding a first dither signal to a bias signal applied to the modulator receiving the data signal, and a second dither signal, having a different frequency, to the phase difference. The amplitude of variations in the power of the optical output signal corresponding to cross-modulation of the first and second dither signals is detected and the phase difference is controlled in response to the detected amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Siegfried Gronbach, Stefan Weisser
  • Patent number: 7324256
    Abstract: A photonic oscillator includes an optical transceiver that serves the dual purpose of detecting a feedback RF lightwave signal carried on a laser beam and electrically filtering the RF lightwave signal to modulate the RF lightwave signal in accordance therewith, to thereby set up steady state oscillations in the modulated RF lightwave signal and thereby generate a multi-tone oscillating lightwave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2008
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventor: Keyvan Sayyah
  • Patent number: 7317845
    Abstract: An optical modulator is overdriven to increase its nonlinearity and therefore improve its response as it pertains to differential phase shift keyed (DPSK) transmission and a method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the MZM includes an MZM drive circuit coupled to the electrodes and configured to deliver to the electrode a DPSK drive signal bearing digital data and having a voltage that exceeds a normal drive voltage of the MZM by at least about 20%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas M. Gill, Xiang Liu
  • Patent number: 7312917
    Abstract: A variable focal length lens includes a plurality of layers of an electro-optic material and alternating stacked substantially transparent conductor layers and substantially transparent resistor layers. Each layer of electro-optic material is sandwiched between a separate conductor layer and a separate resistor layer. The focal length of the lens is varied by varying the voltage applied to the resistor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Steve A. Jacob
  • Patent number: 7312913
    Abstract: The present invention provides a polarized colored light source for a display system in which light of other polarization states and colors are recycled. The color can be scrolled synchronously with a display. In one embodiment, the invention includes a tunnel having an entrance aperture facing a lamp to receive light having multiple polarization states from the lamp and direct the light from the lamp to an exit aperture opposite the entrance aperture, the tunnel having a reflective face about the entrance aperture to reflect light within the tunnel toward the exit aperture, a reflective polarizer to reflect light of one polarization state toward the entrance aperture and transmit light of another polarization state, and a color reflector to transmit light within one color range and reflect light of another color range toward the entrance aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: InFocus Corporation
    Inventor: Serge Bierhuizen
  • Patent number: 7308171
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optical isolation in high peak power fiber-optic systems prevent damage to a facet within a fiber-optic isolator caused by back-reflected light from, for example, an optical amplifier. Preventing damage to the facet may include expanding a mode area of the back-reflected light and/or reducing a change in refractive index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Assignee: Raydiance, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Booth, Ismail T. Yilmaz, James F. Brennan, III
  • Publication number: 20070229934
    Abstract: An optical apparatus is disclosed. The optical apparatus includes: a first optical element having a first polarizing layer containing a material having a refractive index that changes in accordance with the magnitude of applied voltage and first and second transparent electrodes sandwiching both sides of the first polarizing layer in the direction of thickness and polarizing light passing through the first polarizing layer in the direction of thickness; and a second optical element having a second polarizing layer containing a material having a refractive index that changes in accordance with the magnitude of applied voltage and third and fourth transparent electrodes sandwiching both sides of the second polarizing layer in the direction of thickness and polarizing light passing through the second polarizing layer in the direction of thickness.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Publication date: October 4, 2007
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuo Makii
  • Patent number: 7272271
    Abstract: An optical device includes, a first Mach-Zehnder modulator that produces a first output, and a second Mach-Zehnder modulator which produces a second output. A splitter couples the first and second Mach-Zehnder modulators. A combiner combines the first and second outputs. A phase shifter is coupled to the first and second Mach-Zehnder modulators. The first Mach-Zehnder modulator, second Mach-Zehnder modulator, splitter, combiner and the phase shifter are each formed as part of a single chip made of electro-optical material. Such two similar optical device integrated together with polarization combiner provide a two-polarization performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Celight, Inc.
    Inventors: Arkady Kaplan, Yaakov Achiam, Arthur Greenblatt, Isaac Shpantzer, Pak Shing Cho, Michael Tseytlin, Aviv Salamon
  • Patent number: 7218435
    Abstract: This invention relates to reconfigurable spatial light modulators (SLM) incorporating a scatter plate. Computer generated diffraction patterns or holograms may be loaded on the (SLM) either as a single frame or as a series of frames for observation by an observer. In a preferred embodiment both an electrically addressable spatial light modulator (EASLM) and an optically addressable spatial light modulator (OASLM) are used. The (OASLM) may be formed of several smaller (OASLMs) arranged in a matrix format. The faster (EASLM) forms a light pattern on sub-areas of the large (OASLM) in turn to give a large display. The scatter plate is arranged at the output of the (SLM) nearest an observer. This scatter plate has a known characteristic and serves to increase the field of view and/or reduce the number of pixels required to give a holographic or two dimensional displays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: F. Poszat Hu, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Christopher William Slinger
  • Patent number: 7218451
    Abstract: Optical multiplexers and demultiplexers are provided. In one implementation an apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a first laser diode pair, a second laser diode pair, a polarization rotator coupled between the first and the second laser diode pairs, and an output port. The first and second laser diode pairs include a first laser diode, a polarization beam splitter, a first quarter waveplate, a filter; a second quarter waveplate, and a second laser diode. The first and second laser diode pairs are coupled to the polarization rotator at the polarization beam splitter of each laser diode pair. In one implementation the apparatus is operable to multiplex distinct light signals emitted from the first and second laser diodes. In another implementation, an apparatus is provided that is operable to demultiplex an input light beam having a plurality of distinct channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Oplink Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Lee, Yang Sheng, Qunwen Leng, Yiqiang Li
  • Patent number: 7196834
    Abstract: This invention relates to a transparent flat body including two transparent cover layers (1, 2) that confine between them an active layer (3) whose transparency varies in an electric field and disposed between two electrode layers (6, 7) optionally subdivided into sections, and a photovoltaic element that is connected to two electrode layers (6, 8), preferably via a control stage (11), and that includes a photoactive layer (4) between the two electrode layers (6, 8) of the photovoltaic element (5), characterized in that the photoactive layer (4) is made of two transparent molecular components in a manner known per se, one of the two electrode layers (6, 7) of the active layer (3) is simultaneously one of the two electrode layers (6, 8) of the photovoltaic element (5), and the two transparent cover layers (1, 2) confine between them both the photovoltaic element (5) and the active layer (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Konarka Austria Forschungs-und Entwicklungs GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Brabec, Erhard Glöetzl, Franz Padinger, Niyazi Serdar Sariciftci
  • Patent number: 7142344
    Abstract: To provide an optical apparatus which controls an interface state to change a focal length by using an optical element having a container sealing first liquid that is conductive or polarized and second liquid that does not mutually mix with the first liquid with their interface in a predetermined form and electrodes provided in the container and of which optical characteristics change according to change of interface form due to application of voltage to the electrodes, and in particular an optical apparatus that controls a duty ratio of alternating current voltage applied to said electrodes for changing said interface form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Goro Noto, Eriko Kawanami
  • Patent number: 7102755
    Abstract: A method determines power of a modulated signal that is applied to a wavelength meter by summing bin values within a designated bin range of a frequency transformed interferogram representing the modulated signal and provided by the wavelength meter. In a first embodiment of the method, the bin range within which the bin values are summed is designated by mapping a series of signal characteristics indicative of the types of the modulated signals applied to the wavelength meter, to a series of bin spans within the frequency transformed interferograms that represent the modulated signals. The method then enables a selection of a signal characteristic from the series of signal characteristics to identify the modulated signal that is applied to the wavelength meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: David M Braun, Misty J Mesel
  • Patent number: 7078293
    Abstract: A method for fabricating an optical interference display cell is described. A first electrode and a sacrificial layer are sequentially formed on a transparent substrate and at least two openings are formed in the first electrode and the sacrificial layer to define a position of the optical interference display cell. An insulated heat-resistant inorganic supporter is formed in each of the openings. A second electrode is formed on the sacrificial layer and the supporters. Finally, a remote plasma etching process is used for removing the sacrificial layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Prime View International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Jian Lin, Hsiung-Kuang Tsai
  • Patent number: 7075695
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a bias voltage of a Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM) use a digital pilot signal and a digital correlation technique to produce a feedback signal for adjusting the bias voltage to the quadrature bias point. Embodiments of the invention include apparatuses performing a non-return-to-zero (NRZ), return-to-zero (RZ), or carrier suppressed RZ (CSRZ) high-speed optical modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Siegfried Gronbach
  • Patent number: 7050213
    Abstract: An intensity-dependent light modulating device involves a light successively passing through a polarizer, a first phase retardation plate and a first light modulator. The light then strikes a mirror and passes one again through the light modulator and the phase retardation plate in the opposite direction. The light then strikes an analyzer that is crossed relative to the polarizer. The light modulator and the phase retardation plate are respectively located in an electric field in which the indicatrices of the light modulator and the phase retardation plate are deflected, the deflection of the indicatrix of the light modulator being intensity-dependent. Due to the passage of light through the phase retardation plate and the light modulator, an intensity-dependent rotation of the direction of polarization occurs in such a way that higher intensity light is filtered in the analyzer while lower intensity light is transmitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Dultz, Leonid Beresnev, Galina Patrusheva
  • Patent number: 7046417
    Abstract: A variable optical attenuator including: a birefringent element positioned to separate an input optical signal into two spatially separated, orthogonally polarized beams; a LC modulator positioned to receive the orthogonally polarized beams and selectively alter their polarizations; a reflective element positioned to reflect the beams back through the LC modulator and the birefringent element, wherein the birefringent element recombines orthogonally polarized components of the reflected beams to produce an output optical signal; and a controller coupled to the LC modulator to selectively cause the LC modulator to alter the polarizations of the orthogonally polarized beams, wherein during operation the controller is responsive to a request to variably attenuate the intensity of the output optical signal relative to the intensity of the input optical signal to one of multiple non-zero attenuation settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Cambridge Research and Instrumentation, Inc.
    Inventors: Clifford C. Hoyt, Peter J. Miller
  • Patent number: 7046416
    Abstract: A polarization scrambler and associated method for polarization scrambling are provided, wherein light is passed through a retarder whose eigen modes and delay vary with time and which is driven with alternating signals at two harmonic frequencies. One exemplary embodiment with an electrooptical wave plate operates with a horizontal or vertical input polarization and supplies output polarizations which vary with time and have uncorrelated normalized Stokes parameters. The polarization scrambler which is produced can be used in devices for detection of polarization mode dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhold Noe, David Sandel
  • Patent number: 7042629
    Abstract: A linear optical sampling apparatus, temporally samples a modulated optical signal using the amplitude of the interference of its electric field with the electric field of a laser pulse. The apparatus includes a 90° optical hybrid that combines the optical signal and laser pulse in order to generate two quadratures interference samples SA and SB. A processor compensates for optical and electrical signal handling imperfections in the hybrid, balanced detectors, and A/D converters used in the optical sampling apparatus. The processor numerically scales the two quadratures interference samples SA and SB over a large collection of samples by imposing that the average <SA>=<SB>=0 and <SA2>=<SB2> and then minimizes 2<SA·SB>/(<SA2>+<SB2>) =cos(?B??A)). This is done by adjusting the phase between the two quadratures (ideally either ??/2 or +?/2) so that cos(?B??A)) is zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Richard Doerr, Christophe J. Dorrer, Peter J. Winzer
  • Patent number: 7034979
    Abstract: An optical device for processing an optical signal includes a crystal wedge, a polarization modulator, and a reflective element. The crystal wedge spatially separates an input optical signal into a first beam component having a first polarization state and a second beam component having a second polarization state. The crystal wedge has an optical axis arranged at an optical axis angle such that the first beam component and the second beam component converge. The polarization modulator changes the polarization state of the first beam component and the polarization state of the second beam component in response to a control signal. The reflective element reflects the first beam component and the second beam component such that the crystal wedge spatially recombines a portion of the first beam component having the second polarization state with a portion of the second beam component having the first polarization state to form an output optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2006
    Assignee: EZConn Corporation
    Inventors: Wei Feng, Chongchang Mao, Tirun Lin, Shuxin Li, Minchun Li, Ming Xu, Tizhi Huang
  • Patent number: 7027668
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical modulator including an optical waveguide, and at least one CPW-to-CPS transition. The CPW segments include a hot electrode; and a ground plane disposed on each side of the hot electrode, and they share a ground plane. The CPS segment extends along an interaction length of the modulator. In one embodiment, two driving signals are applied so that the modulator operates as a dual-drive modulator. In another embodiment, a domain-inverted region is formed in a substrate of the dual-drive modulator to overlap with one arm of the optical waveguide (MZI) and invert a sign of a phase shift induced in that arm. Finally, a fixed chirp can be introduced into the dual-drive modulator by asymmetrically positioning the interferometer arms into gaps of the CPW segments with respect to the hot electrode, and by employing unequal width gaps in the CPW segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Assignee: Covega Corporation
    Inventors: Robert F. Tavlykaev, Ganesh K. Gopalakrishnan, Scott T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7023601
    Abstract: A method for modulating the E-field of an optical carrier signal utilizes a Mach-Zehnder modulator having a pair of independently controllable branches. A pair of independent branch drive signals VL(t) and VR(t) are derived. Each branch of the MZ modulator is driven with a respective one of the independent branch drive signals. By this means, a low cost conventional MZ modulator (interferometer) can be used to perform complex modulation of the E-field of the optical carrier. In some embodiments, this functionality is used to facilitate precompensation of optical impairments of an optical communications system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited
    Inventors: Douglas McGhan, Maurice O'Sullivan, Yves Beaulieu
  • Patent number: 6999221
    Abstract: A bimorphic polymeric photomechanical actuator, in one embodiment using polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as a photosensitive body, transmitting light over fiber optic cables, and controlling the shape and pulse duration of the light pulse to control movement of the actuator. Multiple light beams are utilized to generate different ranges of motion for the actuator from a single photomechanical body and alternative designs use multiple light beams and multiple photomechanical bodies to provide controlled movement. Actuator movement using one or more ranges of motion is utilized to control motion to position an actuating element in three dimensional space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignees: Alabama A&M University, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Sergey S. Sarkisov, Michael J. Curley, Grigory Adamovsky, Sergey S. Sarkisov, Jr., Aisha B. Fields
  • Patent number: 6988804
    Abstract: A projector apparatus includes a color separation optical system which separates illumination light into color light components, image forming panels illuminated with the color light components, respectively, a color synthesis optical system which synthesizes the light components from the illuminated image forming panels, and a projecting optical system which projects light from the color synthesis optical system. Transparent substrates are arranged on at least one of incident and exit surface side of the image forming panels. Each of the transparent substrates holds a polarizer. A surface area of at least one of the transparent substrates is larger than those of the remaining transparent substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2006
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidefumi Notagashira
  • Patent number: 6977763
    Abstract: The present invention provides low cost methods and apparatuses for filtering out polarized light reflections in a free-space optical isolator. In one embodiment, a laser directs a non-polarized optical signal through a series of polarizers and rotators in order to isolate an optical signal having a specific polarization. The present invention also includes a quarter-wave plate placed in series with the rotators and polarizers, to help filter away reflections occurring while the signal passes through free space. The inclusion of the quarter-wave plate helps filter away a greater amount of near-end reflections from going back to the laser, even with the use of low cost polarizers. Accordingly, the present invention can polarize an optical signal more efficiently than with prior methods, and at a much lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Steve Wang, Mingkun Shi, Frank H. Levinson, Tengda Du
  • Patent number: 6978055
    Abstract: An optical modulator with lowered chirping without deterioration of extinction characteristic. An intermediate layer is interposed between a well layer and an n-side barrier layer and tensile strain is produced in the well layer. A relationship Ew<Em<Eb is established between a band gap energy Eb (eV) of the barrier layer, the band gap energy Ew (eV) of the well layer, and the band gap energy Em (eV) of the intermediate layer. Another type of tensile strain quantum well structure having four kinds of layers may be employed by adding another layer to the tensile strain quantum well structure having three layers. The band gap energy of an additional layer is between the band gap energies of the well layer and the intermediate layer or between the band gap energies of the intermediate layer and the barrier layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2005
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasunori Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 6970278
    Abstract: A system and method for exploiting the dependance of a photoelastic modulator's (PEM's) resonance frequency on temperature (attributable to driving amplitude and to ambient temperature) to generally improve the performance of PEMs. In one embodiment there is provided a method and system for efficiently driving a series of multiple PEMs. To this end, each of the PEMs in a stack are separately tuned, as by controlling the power dissipated in each PEM, so that the resonance frequencies of all of the PEMs converge to a common frequency. Thus, all of the PEMs are simultaneously at resonance to ensure maximum efficiency and to maintain a selected total retardation amplitude. In another embodiment of the present invention, a single-element PEM is controlled in a manner to account for the subtle changes in the PEM's resonance frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Hinds Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Tudor N. Buican
  • Patent number: 6961165
    Abstract: The invention provides a panel fixing plate as an optical modulation device retainer having a substantially c-shaped fixing section body viewed from the top, an arm section formed at a tip side of the fixing section body, a pin protruding from the arm section, and a spring member biasing an emission-side polarization plate as an optical conversion element with respect to the fixing section body. Liquid crystal panels, each as light modulators, are securely fixed to a panel fixing plate with the pin inserted into each corresponding hole. The emission-side polarization plate can be inserted into the substantially c-shaped fixing section body when viewed from the top so as to be biased and fixed to the fixing section body by the spring member. An optical modulation device retainer, an optical device, and a projector of this invention, light modulators and/or optical conversion elements can be exchanged with ease, and the reworkability can be improved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Taisuke Uehara
  • Patent number: 6956698
    Abstract: The present invention provides fan optical polarized light source device. The polarized light source device includes at least one carbon nanotube bundle (204) and two gold electrodes (206) respectively connected to ends of the bundle. The bundle has a length of approximately 600 microns, and includes a number of carbon nanotubes bundled together and substantially parallel to each other. Each electrode includes at least one gold wire, which is bonded to an inside of an end of the bundle by an ultrasonic wire bonder. When the polarized light source device is connected to an electrical source, a polarized incandescent light beam emits from the bundle of the polarized light source device. A direction of polarization of the light beam is parallel to an axis of the bundle. The present invention further provides a method of fabricating the polarized light source device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Ind. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Peng Li, KaiLi Jiang, QunQing Li, ShouShan Fan
  • Patent number: 6952306
    Abstract: A temporal optical correlator is disclosed. The example optical correlator includes a light source, a set of White cells and a micro-mirror array. The micro-mirror array and set of White cells cooperate to produce a correlated summed output signal. A method for processing signals using the example optical correlator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: The Ohio State University
    Inventor: Betty Lise Anderson
  • Patent number: 6950219
    Abstract: To provide an optical apparatus which controls an interface state to change a focal length by using an optical element having a container sealing first liquid that is conductive or polarized and second liquid that does not mutually mix with the first liquid with their interface in a predetermined form and electrodes provided in the container and of which optical characteristics change according to change of interface form due to application of voltage to the electrodes, and in particular an optical apparatus that controls a duty ratio of alternating current voltage applied to said electrodes for changing said interface form.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Ichiro Onuki, Goro Noto, Eriko Kawanami
  • Patent number: 6937377
    Abstract: An illumination system is disclosed, which includes a first light source and a second light source configured to emit light when the first light source is not emitting light. A polarizing element accepts light from the first and second light sources. The polarizing element emits, along a light path, light from the first light source with a first polarization orientation. The polarizing element emits, along the light path, light from the second light source with a second polarization orientation. A homogenizing element receives and homogenizes polarized light from the polarizing element. A polarization rotator receives light from the homogenizing element. The polarization rotator selectively rotates one of the first and second polarization orientations to ensure light emitted therefrom maintains a constant polarization orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins
    Inventors: Robert D. Brown, David H. Modro
  • Patent number: 6934066
    Abstract: A compensated higher order waveplate is constructed of substrates. In one embodiment, a first substrate is a n? waveplate and the second substrate is a (n+?)? waveplate. The substrates are oriented so that their principle axes of retardation are orthogonal. n? is a base retardation of a waveplate and ?? is an incremental retardation. The incremental retardation produces a desired amount of retardation of a lightwave passing through the compensated higher order waveplate. Retarder material used to produce the base retardation is approximately ½ a desired thickness of the waveplate. Multiple waveplates are combined to produce any of wavelength band specific retarders and multiple non contiguous wavelength band specific retarders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2005
    Assignee: LightMaster Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Berman, Ying-Moh Liu
  • Patent number: 6914707
    Abstract: A polarization scrambler, and associated method for polarization scrambling, is provided wherein light is passed through a time-variant retarder. At least after upstream connection or downstream connection of a time-invariant retarder, this time-variant retarder may be represented as a retarder with eigen modes which are uniformly distributed on the Poincaré sphere and with a delay of 5?/6. An exemplary embodiment contains only two electro-optical wave plates, which are actuated by alternating signals containing harmonics. The polarization scrambler which is produced is independent of the input polarization of the light and can be used in devices for detection of polarization mode dispersion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhold Noe, David Sandel
  • Patent number: 6897992
    Abstract: Disclosed is an illuminating optical unit in an image display unit for displaying an image by irradiating a GLV (spatial modulation device) with a laser beam and modulating the laser beam based on an image signal inputted to the GLV, which includes a polarized light rotation means for equally dividing a polarized light component of the laser beam into a P polarized light component and an S polarized light component, a polarized light beam splitter for separating from each other the P polarized light component and the S polarized light component equally divided by the polarized light rotation means, and an optical path difference generation means for generating an optical path difference not less than the coherence length of the laser beam between the laser beam of the P polarized light component and the laser beam of the S polarized light component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 6894821
    Abstract: Display apparatuses are shown capable of displaying information in a reflective mode using only ambient light and in a transmissive mode using a light source. In one embodiment, the display apparatus includes a reflecting polarizer disposed between a light modulating layer and an isotropic light cavity. The light cavity reflects incident light with a first degree of depolarization. The reflecting polarizer reflects light with a second degree of depolarization for at least one polarization that is greater than the first degree of depolarization. In another embodiment of the display apparatus, a microstructured film is included above a light cavity and below a light modulating system where the microstructured film includes sawtooth formations having at least a tilted surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2005
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventor: Keith M. Kotchick
  • Patent number: 6891652
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel (441) has an optical modulator body (500), an accommodating portion (511) for accommodating the optical modulator body (500), a holding frame (510) for pressing and holding the optical modulator body (500) against the accommodating portion (511), and a frame member (512C) made of heat-conductive material and interposed between the optical modulator body (500) and a fixing plate (512), the frame member (512C) being provided on an outer periphery of a first substrate (501A) of a pair of substrates (501A, 501B) disposed on the side of the fixing plate (512), the fixing plate (512) and the frame member (512C) being integrally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2005
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Fujimori, Yoshiyuki Yanagisawa
  • Patent number: 6886943
    Abstract: An image display system uses a polarizing beam splitter to direct light from a lamp to multiple spatial modulators. The spatial light modulators (“SLM”) each generate an image portion, which are stitched together on a display screen to obtain a high resolution image. In particular embodiment, image portions from two conventional SLMs, each controlling about two million pixels, are stitched together to form an image having about four million pixels. In another embodiment, two lamps are used with four SLMs to produce a resultant image having about eight million pixels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Michael R. Greenberg, Matthew W. Bellis
  • Patent number: 6888659
    Abstract: A polarization controller comprising means for generating linearly polarized light and at least one liquid crystal cell. A preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a linear polarizer and two liquid crystal cells. In the preferred embodiment, the polarization direction of the polarizer and the orientation of the fast axis of the first and second liquid crystal cells are oriented in a manner that allows the linearly polarized light provided by the polarizer to be transformed into any state of polarization at the output of the second liquid crystal cell. The present invention provides full coverage of the Poincaré sphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Inc.
    Inventor: Louis B. Allard
  • Patent number: 6877858
    Abstract: Disclosed is a projector apparatus including a color separation optical system which separates illumination light into a plurality of color light components, a plurality of image forming panels illuminated with the plurality of color light components, respectively, a color synthesis optical system which synthesizes the light components from the plurality of image forming panels illuminated, a projecting optical system which projects light from the color synthesis optical system, and transparent substrates each arranged on at least one of incident and exit surface sides of the plurality of image forming panels, each of the transparent substrates holding a polarizer, wherein a surface area of at least one of the plurality of transparent substrates is larger than those of the remaining transparent substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidefumi Notagashira
  • Patent number: 6871023
    Abstract: A spread polarization transmitter for transmitting at least one light signal comprises a spread-spectrum communication apparatus and a polarization modulator. The spread-spectrum communication apparatus modulates the at least one light signal according to a spread-spectrum modulation technique. The polarization modulator comprises a polarizer and a magnetic bubble waveguide. The polarizer is capable of polarizing the at least one spread-spectrum modulated light signal in a polarized direction. And the magnetic bubble waveguide, which is configured in accordance with a pseudo-random polarization code sequence such that the plurality of magnetic bubble domains assume a time varying position representative of the pseudo-random polarization code sequence, is capable of receiving at least one polarized, spread-spectrum modulated light signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, Jeffrey H. Hunt
  • Patent number: 6870654
    Abstract: A structure of a structure release and a manufacturing method are provided. The structure and manufacturing method are adapted for an interference display cell. The structure of the interference display cell includes a first electrode, a second electrode and at least one supporter. The second electrode has at least one hole and is arranged about parallel with the first electrode. The supporter is located between the first electrode and the second electrode and a cavity is formed. In the release etch process of manufacturing the structure, an etchant can pass through the hole to etch a sacrificial layer between the first and the second electrodes to form the cavity; therefore, the time needed for the process becomes shorter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Prime View International Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Jian Lin, Hsiung-Kuang Tsai
  • Patent number: 6859573
    Abstract: An optical device for rerouting and modifying an optical signal that uses a double pass through a liquid crystal modulator is disclosed. The optical device includes a first polarizer for providing polarized light, a liquid crystal modulator for selectively modifying the polarized light, a second polarizer for analyzing the light passed through the liquid crystal modulator, and a reflector for reflecting the analyzed light back through the second polarizer, the liquid crystal modulator, and the first polarizer. This arrangement provides a double pass through the liquid crystal modulator, thus significantly improving the attainable extinction ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Inc.
    Inventors: Oleg Bouevitch, Paul Colbourne
  • Patent number: 6853758
    Abstract: The present invention present a means for addressing PDL, PMD, and other polarization-related performance issues in optical components and systems. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an integrated optical device is provided. The device comprises: (i) first and second optical waveguide arms arranged to define an optical signal splitting region near an input side of the integrated optical device and an optical signal combining region near an output side of the integrated optical device and (ii) a functional region between the optical signal splitting and combining regions. The first and second optical waveguide arms comprise first and second waveguide cores passing through a first electrooptic portion of the functional region. First and second sets of control electrodes are positioned to generate electric fields in the first and second portions of the functional region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Optimer Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard William Ridgway, David William Nippa
  • Patent number: 6847476
    Abstract: Removal of unnecessary reflected light in an image display apparatus employing reflective spatial light modulators to enable display of a high-quality image, having good contrast and no occurrence of the ghosting phenomena. Modulated light of each color synthesized by a fourth modulated light beam splitter 16 is injected into a projection lens 19 as circularly polarized light by a ?/4 plate 18, reflected light (R?, G?, B?) reflected from the projection lens 19 does not return to the respective spatial light modulating elements 7, 11 and 12 for each color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2005
    Assignee: Victor Company of Japan, Limited
    Inventor: Tsutou Asakura
  • Patent number: 6836350
    Abstract: Drive circuitry to provide a DC bias voltage and a high frequency modulation current to an electroabsorption modulator (EAM), including a high frequency modulation current source, a coupling capacitor, and a first DC lead. The drive circuitry may include termination circuitry. One lead of the high frequency modulation current source is electrically coupled to the first semiconductor type contact of the EAM and the other lead of the high frequency modulation current source is electrically coupled to an AC ground. The coupling capacitor includes a first electrode electrically coupled to the second semiconductor type contact of the EAM, a second electrode electrically coupled to the AC ground, and a dielectric layer between the electrodes. The first DC lead is electrically coupled to the EAM-side capacitor electrode and configured to be coupled to a first DC potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2004
    Assignees: T-Networks, Inc., AMCC
    Inventors: Prashant Singh, Helga Foulk, Scott Redinger, Todd Tanji, Keith Maile, John Stronczer
  • Patent number: 6823145
    Abstract: In order to obtain an optical transmitter module for converting an input electric signal to a light signal with fidelity and outputting it therefrom, a terminal resistor Rt and an optical modulator MD are connected in parallel within a package including a laser diode with a monolithically integrated optical modulator for obtaining the light signal according to the electric signal. One thereof is grounded and the other thereof is connected to a wire inductance (L1) and an impedance matching resistor Rd in series with this parallel connection. Further, a high frequency transmission line (micro-strip line) MSL for the transmission of the electric signal is connected to the other end of the impedance matching resistor Rd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masataka Shirai, Minoru Fujita
  • Patent number: 6819464
    Abstract: A liquid crystal panel (441) has an optical modulator body (500), an accommodating portion (511) for accommodating the optical modulator body (500), a holding frame (510) for pressing and holding the optical modulator body (500) against the accommodating portion (511), and a frame member (512C) made of heat-conductive material and interposed between the optical modulator body (500) and a fixing plate (512), the frame member (512C) being provided on an outer periphery of a first substrate (501A) of a pair of substrates (501A, 501B) disposed on the side of the fixing plate (512), the fixing plate (512) and the frame member (512C) being integrally formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Motoyuki Fujimori, Yoshiyuki Yanagisawa