With Particular Direction Of The Field In Relation To The Medium, Beam Direction Or Polarization Patents (Class 359/251)
  • Patent number: 11759129
    Abstract: A noninvasive glucometer and a blood glucose detection method are provided. The noninvasive glucometer includes a light source, a spectrometer and detecting space into which an object to be detected intervenes; the detecting space is connected with the light source and the spectrometer respectively, so that a spectrum emitted by the light source can generate incident light entering the spectrometer after passing through the object to be detected. The spectrometer includes: an optical modulation layer configured to perform light modulation on the incident light to obtain a modulated spectrum; a photoelectric detection layer located below the optical modulation layer, and configured to receive the modulated spectrum and provide differential responses with respect to the modulated spectrum; and a signal processing circuit layer located below the photoelectric detection layer and configured to reconstruct the differential responses to obtain an original spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Kaiyu Cui, Xusheng Cai, Hongbo Zhu, Yidong Huang, Xue Feng, Fang Liu, Wei Zhang
  • Patent number: 11733555
    Abstract: An electro-optic modulator for modulating a beam of electro-magnetic radiation having a beam path and a beam axis is of a transverse type and comprises: a modulator element that is positioned in the beam path, a housing for receiving the modulator element, which housing forms a resonant cavity, and a coupling device for inputting modulating energy into the housing such that a resonant standing wave is generated within the housing. The housing comprises at least one sidewall that extends substantially parallel to the beam axis over a length, wherein the at least one sidewall comprises a deformed portion such that in the resonant cavity a distance between the sidewall and the beam axis in a direction perpendicular to the beam axis varies over at least a portion of the length of the sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: QUBIG GMBH
    Inventors: Enrico Vogt, Daniel Pertot
  • Patent number: 11719965
    Abstract: An optical isolator device with minimized polarization mode dispersion includes a first polarization splitter/combiner, a non-reciprocal polarization rotator and a second polarization splitter/combiner. Only forward propagation of light is allowed to propagate in the device, with backward optical signal blocked due to non-reciprocal polarization rotation. The optical paths of o-ray and e-ray are arranged to achieve equal optical path lengths, which makes polarization mode dispersion minimal to nonexistent. When symmetrically configured, both polarization mode dispersion (PMD) and polarization dependent loss (PDL) become zero in principle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: Lightel Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shyh-Chung Lin, Hongyu Hu
  • Patent number: 11595129
    Abstract: Monostatic optical transceivers, systems, and methods of operating the same include a single aperture, a transmitter that provides a modulated and polarized optical transmit beam, a receiver that receives a modulated and polarized optical receive beam at an optical resonator included therein and processes the received optical receive beam to determine information from the received optical receive beam, a polarizing beam splitter that reflects the optical transmit beam, a polarization rotator that rotates the polarization of the reflected optical transmit beam by a fixed number of degrees in a transmit direction in a coordinate system of the monostatic transceiver, and a waveplate that modifies the polarization of the rotated optical transmit beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: Andrew Kowalevicz, Gary M. Graceffo, Benjamin P. Dolgin
  • Patent number: 11106062
    Abstract: A light modulator includes a perovskite-type electro-optic crystal including a first surface to which the input light is input and a second surface which faces the first surface; a first electrode which is disposed on the first surface of the electro-optic crystal and through which the input light is transmitted; a second electrode which is disposed on the second surface of the electro-optic crystal and through which the input light is transmitted; and a drive circuit for applying an electric field between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is disposed alone on the first surface. The second electrode is disposed alone on the second surface. At least one of the first electrode and the second electrode partially covers the first surface or the second surface. A propagation direction of the input light and an applying direction of the electric field are parallel to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
    Inventors: Kuniharu Takizawa, Hiroshi Tanaka, Haruyoshi Toyoda, Yasushi Ohbayashi, Hiroto Sakai
  • Patent number: 11022827
    Abstract: The invention relates to a magneto-optical light modulator (100) for modulating light based on a physical property provided as an input to the modulator (100), the modulator (100) comprising a substrate (114) with a region of material (130) comprising a film of Eu(1-x)Sr(x)MO3 (112), an optical waveguide (106; 108) adapted for directing light through the region of material (130) and a first control unit, the first control unit being adapted to—maintain the region of material (130) at a constant predefined temperature in case the physical property is an input magnetic field subject to the region of material (130) or—maintain the region of material (130) subjected to a constant predefined magnetic field in case the physical property is an input temperature of the region of material (130), the light modulator (100) being adapted to perform the modulation of the light using the birefringence of the region of material (130), the birefringence depending on the physical property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignees: MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FÖRDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN E.V., University of Silesia
    Inventors: Annette Bussmann-Holder, Jürgen Köhler, Gennady Logvenov, Arndt Simon, Krystian Roleder
  • Patent number: 10901245
    Abstract: An electro-optic modulator device includes a first optical waveguide region of a substrate and a second optical waveguide region of the substrate. The first optical waveguide region and the second optical waveguide region have crystalline structures. The electro-optic modulator device also includes a first electrode interface region of the substrate on a first side of the first optical waveguide region, a second electrode interface region of the substrate on a second side of the first optical waveguide region and on a first side of the second optical waveguide region, and a third electrode interface region on a second side of the second optical waveguide region. Each of the first electrode interface region, the second electrode interface region, and the third electrode interface region include material having a defective crystal structure or an amorphous structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2021
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Anguel Nikolov
  • Patent number: 10824033
    Abstract: A mirror cell and a display device are disclosed. The mirror cell includes a lower substrate, which includes a lower alignment film and a lower electrode, an upper substrate, which opposes the lower substrate and includes an upper alignment film and an upper electrode, a liquid crystal layer, which is disposed between the lower alignment film and the upper alignment film and includes a cholesteric liquid crystal and a reactive liquid crystal, and a reactive layer, which is disposed between the upper alignment film and the liquid crystal layer and includes a same kind of reactive liquid crystals as the reactive liquid crystal in the liquid crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignees: LG Display Co., Ltd., Industrial Cooperation Foundation Chonbuk National University
    Inventors: Jihoon Lee, Hyungmin Kim, Jongyoon Kim, Jonghoon Woo, Chiwan Kim, Sungeui Shin, Seongil Kim, Jaebin Song
  • Patent number: 10355448
    Abstract: The invention relates to a tunable laser source, and the reduction in the loss and the size can both be achieved in a tunable laser source having a power monitor and a wavelength locker function. A tunable laser is formed of a semiconductor optical amplifier and a resonator, and one of the two output light beams split from part of the light within the tunable laser by a 2×2 type optical splitter is incident into a light intensity monitor, and the other is incident into a wavelength locker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: FUJITSU OPTICAL COMPONENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 10018788
    Abstract: A silicon photonic (SiPh) packaging assembly includes a SiPh interposer and a wafer. The SiPh interposer has one or more optical gratings disposed thereon to couple an optical signal traversing the wafer. The wafer is bonded to the interposer, with the wafer including one or more microlenses, each microlens aligned with a respective optical grating and designed to direct the optical signal traversing the wafer at a desired angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Sagi Varghese Mathai, Michael Renne Ty Tan, Wayne Victor Sorin
  • Patent number: 10018857
    Abstract: An electro-optic modulator comprising at least one nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal; first and second conductors operatively connected to the nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal adapted to be connected to a voltage source to modulate light passing there through; whereby light is modulated by passing through the nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal. A method for modulating light comprising providing at least one at least one nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal; providing first and second conductors operatively connected to the nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal adapted to be connected to a voltage source to modulate light passing there through; providing an interrogating light beam striking at least one nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal; modulating light passing through the nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal; and receiving a modulated light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Robert C Hoffman, Shizhuo Yin
  • Patent number: 9817253
    Abstract: An electro-optic modulator comprising at least one nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal; first and second conductors operatively connected to the nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal adapted to be connected to a voltage source to modulate light passing there through; whereby light is modulated by passing through the nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal. A method for modulating light comprising providing at least one at least one nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal; providing first and second conductors operatively connected to the nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal adapted to be connected to a voltage source to modulate light passing there through; providing an interrogating light beam striking at least one nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal; modulating light passing through the nanodisordered potassium tantalate niobate crystal; and receiving a modulated light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Robert C. Hoffman, Shizhuo Yin
  • Patent number: 9806764
    Abstract: An active electrode and a passive electrode provided in a power transmitting apparatus 10 are connected to an inductor provided on the secondary side of a transformer generating an AC voltage and are respectively coupled to an active electrode and a passive electrode of a power receiving apparatus through electric fields. A ground electrode of the power transmitting apparatus faces the active electrode and the passive electrode and a ground electrode of the power receiving apparatus faces the active electrode and the passive electrode. A plurality of openings are formed in such a manner as to form a lattice in each of the ground electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hironobu Takahashi, Tsutomu Ieki
  • Patent number: 9606416
    Abstract: A differential TWE MZM includes a differential driver, first and second capacitors, and first and second terminations. The differential driver includes a first differential output and a second differential output that collectively form a differential pair. The first differential output is DC coupled to a first arm optical phase shifter of a TWE MZM. The second differential output is DC coupled to a second arm optical phase shifter of the TWE MZM. The first capacitor AC couples the second differential output to the first arm optical phase shifter. The second capacitor AC couples the first differential output to the second arm optical phase shifter. The first and second terminations are coupled to, respectively, the first or second arm optical phase shifter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gilles P. Denoyer
  • Patent number: 9470912
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing Q-switches includes coating a first Z-surface and second Z-surface of an oriented slab of a chemically reducible electro-optic lithium compound crystal (LC slab) with a condensed material including an active chemical operable once activated to chemically reduce the LC. The LC slab with condensed material thereon is heated in a non-oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature above an activating temperature of the condensed material. The LC slab is cooled to a temperature below a quenching temperature below which re-oxidization of the LN slab is inhibited. A finishing process is performed including cutting the LC slab of LC into a plurality of Q-switch devices each having a chemically reduced LC substrate, and forming metal electrodes on opposing sides of the LC substrates that are orthogonal to the Z-surfaces, and coating the Z-surfaces with an antireflective (AR) coating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Gooch and Housego PLC
    Inventor: Dieter Hans Jundt
  • Patent number: 9306362
    Abstract: An optical branching device includes: a Faraday rotator capable of controlling polarized wave of input light based on a change of a magnetic flux density depending on a magnetic field to be provided; a magnet configured to provide the Faraday rotator with the magnetic field; a polarization beam splitter configured to branch, by a polarized wave component, the input light which passes through the Faraday rotator; a bimetal configured to deform depending on a temperature; and a controller configured to have a mechanism to use force accompanying with the deformation of the bimetal so as to control a relative positional relationship between the Faraday rotator and the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Futoshi Izumi
  • Patent number: 9075233
    Abstract: An optical cell may include a first port coupled to a second port by an optical path. The optical cell may also include a compensator disposed in the optical path. The compensator may be rotatable about an axis. Rotating the compensator about the axis may vary a distance that the optical path passes through the compensator thereby changing the optical path length of the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Fan Chen, Huiping Li, Jiangtao Zhang, Fahua Lan
  • Patent number: 8830582
    Abstract: A pair of viewing glasses and an image beam adjustment method are provided, wherein the viewing glasses includes a polarizer. The adjustment method includes the following steps. Detect the transmittance of the image beam from the screen passing through the glasses. Generate an operating signal according to the operating period of the viewing glasses, a corresponding value corresponding to the operating period of the viewing glasses, and the transmittance of the image beam, so as to adjust the polarization direction of the image beam before passing through the polarizer. Maintain the operating signal during the operating period of the viewing glasses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: Acer Incorporated
    Inventors: Chueh-Pin Ko, Dong-Hsing Su
  • Patent number: 8786821
    Abstract: A polarization controller includes a first polarization controller, a demultiplexer, a second polarization controller, and a multiplexer. The first polarization controller controls the state of polarization of input light such that a part of the wavelength components of the input light is in a first state of polarization. The demultiplexer demultiplexes the light output from the first polarization controller into a plurality of wavelength components. The second polarization controller controls the plurality of wavelength components in a second state of polarization by using liquid crystal modulation devices. The multiplexer multiplexes the plurality of wavelength components output from the second polarization controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Takashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 8784675
    Abstract: The ferroelectric substrate 11 of ferroelectric crystals, while being supported by the support plate 14 which is thicker than the ferroelectric substrate 11, is integrated with the support plate 14 by letting the junction 13 mediate between one major surface S1A of the ferroelectric substrate 11 and one major surface S1B of the support plate 14, and therefore, it is possible through the flat surface polishing to perform thinning of the ferroelectric substrate 11, namely, the ferroelectric crystals, and as a result, it is possible to obtain the thin periodically poled structure. By the voltage application method, the domain inverted region is formed in the ferroelectric substrate 11 which is made thin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahide Okazaki, Toshiaki Suhara
  • Publication number: 20140055835
    Abstract: An illumination device capable of suppressing formation of a double image in three-dimensional display, and a display unit including the illumination device are provided. In a light modulation device bonded to a light guide plate, a scattering region that scatters light propagating within the light guide plate, and a transmissive region that allows light propagating within the light guide plate to pass therethrough are formed through control of an electric field. The scattering region scatters light to generate linear illumination light. A reflector is provided directly below the light modulation device. The reflector reflects light, which is part of the scattered light generated in the scattering region and is emitted to a reflector side, to generate reflected light to be focused directly below the scattering region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Shogo Shinkai, Akira Ebisui, Harumi Sato, Kentaro Okuyama
  • Patent number: 8558975
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes preparing a first substrate and a second substrate, forming a thin film transistor including a gate electrode, semiconductor layer, source electrode, and a drain electrode on the first substrate, forming a pixel electrode connected to the drain electrode on the first substrate, forming a color filter having a transmissive pattern with a plurality of periodic holes, forming a sealant between the first substrate and the second substrate, and bonding the first and second substrates to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-Young Park, Jeong-Hyeon Kim, Sung-Chol Yi, Chang-Gu Lee
  • Patent number: 8446657
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for producing polarized light, having a modulator crystal, where the modulator crystal incorporates a birefringent electro-optic material. The modulator crystal has an optic axis, a first polarization axis, and a second polarization axis, where the first polarization axis and second polarization axis are each perpendicular to the optic axis and perpendicular to each other. The apparatus can also include an electrode pair, where application of an electric field modulates light passing through the modulator crystal that is polarized along the first polarization axis. Embodiments pertain to a method and apparatus for modulating light. The apparatus incorporates a modulator crystal having an electro-optic material. The device also has at least two electrode pairs, where each electrode pair modulates light passing through the modulator crystal that has a direction of travel that has a component parallel to the optic axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Volker M. Quetschke, Wan Wu, Luke Williams, Muzammil A. Arain, Rodica Martin, David Reitze, David B. Tanner, Guido Mueller
  • Patent number: 8422112
    Abstract: A display system 1 is composed of a ghost image reducing device 100 and an image device 10. The ghost image reducing device 100 comprises an image reflecting element 110 and a polarizing element 120. The image reflecting element 110 includes a substrate 112 and a phase modulating element 114 which is adjacent to the substrate 112 and has a reflecting surface 114a. The image device 10 generates a polarized image light P1 which is received by the reflecting surface 114a. Then, a portion of the polarized image light P1 is reflected by the reflecting surface 114a for producing a first reflecting polarized image light P2, another portion of the polarized light P1 is projected into the phase modulating element 114 and reflected by the substrate 112 for producing a second reflecting polarized image light S2 whose polarizing direction is different from that of the first reflecting polarized image light P2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yu-Tang Li, Wan-Chien Huang, Chun-Chuan Lin, Hsin-Hsiang Lo
  • Publication number: 20120314271
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for producing polarized light, having a modulator crystal, where the modulator crystal incorporates a birefringent electro-optic material. The modulator crystal has an optic axis, a first polarization axis, and a second polarization axis, where the first polarization axis and second polarization axis are each perpendicular to the optic axis and perpendicular to each other. The apparatus can also include an electrode pair, where application of an electric field modulates light passing through the modulator crystal that is polarized along the first polarization axis. Embodiments pertain to a method and apparatus for modulating light. The apparatus incorporates a modulator crystal having an electro-optic material. The device also has at least two electrode pairs, where each electrode pair modulates light passing through the modulator crystal that has a direction of travel that has a component parallel to the optic axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: VOLKER QUETSCHKE, WAN WU, LUKE WILLIAMS, MUZAMMIL A. ARAIN, RODICA MARTIN, DAVID REITZE, DAVID B. TANNER, GUIDO MUELLER
  • Patent number: 8305676
    Abstract: An optical deflector includes multiple voltage-dependent refractive boundaries. Light passes through the refractive boundaries and accumulates a deflection angle. An electrode placed to apply a voltage to the boundaries may be non-uniform to modulate a wavefront as it passes. A scanning laser projector includes the optical deflector to modulate laser light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventor: Bin Xue
  • Patent number: 8132917
    Abstract: A projection type display device includes: a light emitting unit that includes at least one light source for emitting a coherent light. An image light generating unit modulates the light emitted by the light emitting unit to generate an image light. A projecting unit projects the image light. A phase modulating unit is arranged either between the light emitting unit and the image light generating unit or between the image light generating unit and the projecting unit and has an area where at least one of a retardation value and an azimuth direction of a slow axis is distributed respectively in different directions or values in a plane orthogonal to an optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Mitsuo Osawa, Atsushi Kawamori
  • Patent number: 8100535
    Abstract: An optical system is provided. The optical system comprises a first polarizing beamsplitter (PBS), a first reflecting image-forming device, and a first quarter-wave retarding element. An optical system is also provided that comprises an image-forming device, a reflective polarizing layer, at least a first birefringent element disposed on an optical path between the image-forming device and the polarizing layer, and a quarter-wave retarding element. Further provided is an optical system comprising a color combiner unit, at least two polarizing beamsplitters (PBSs), and a first quarter-wave retarding element. The present application also provides methods of compensating for birefringence in an image projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David J. W. Aastuen, Charles L. Bruzzone, Jiaying Ma
  • Patent number: 8058608
    Abstract: A device for imaging scenes with a very large range of intensity having a pair of polarizers, a primary lens, an attenuating mask, and an imaging device optically connected along an optical axis. Preferably, a secondary lens, positioned between the attenuating mask and the imaging device is used to focus light on the imaging device. The angle between the first polarization direction and the second polarization direction is adjustable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Department of Energy
    Inventor: Vance Albert Deason
  • Publication number: 20110164302
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a method and apparatus for producing polarized light, having a modulator crystal, where the modulator crystal incorporates a birefringent electro-optic material. The modulator crystal has an optic axis, a first polarization axis, and a second polarization axis, where the first polarization axis and second polarization axis are each perpendicular to the optic axis and perpendicular to each other. The apparatus can also include an electrode pair, where application of an electric field modulates light passing through the modulator crystal that is polarized along the first polarization axis. Embodiments pertain to a method and apparatus for modulating light. The apparatus incorporates a modulator crystal having a electro-optic material. The device also has at least two electrode pairs, where each electrode pair that modulates light passing through the modulator crystal that has a direction of travel that has a component parallel to the optic axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2009
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC.
    Inventors: Volker M. Quetschke, Wan Wu, Luke Williams, Muzammil A. Arain, Rodica Martin, David Reitze, David B. Tanner, Guido Mueller
  • Patent number: 7864396
    Abstract: A vertical cavity modulator/detector (VCMD) device and a method for modulating and detecting light are disclosed. The VCMD device contains an n-type contact layer, a transparent tuning layer, a multiple quantum well structure, a p-type contact layer, a low reflectance mirror arranged to be an input for a light that is to be modulated and a light that is to be detected, and a high reflectance mirror, wherein said n-type contact layer, said transparent tuning layer, said multiple quantum well structure and said p-type contact layer are arranged in a stack between said low reflectance mirror and said high reflectance back mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Keyvan Sayyah, Daniel Yap
  • Patent number: 7856155
    Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a light modulator using a thin plate having a thickness of 20 ?m or less and capable of stably holding a conductive film suppressing troubles such as resonance phenomenon of microwaves in a substrate and pyro-electric phenomenon and to provide a method of fabricating the light modulator. The light modulator includes: a thin plate (10) formed of a material having an electro-optic effect and having a thickness of 20 ?m or less; a light waveguide (11) formed on the front or rear surface of the thin plate; and modulation electrodes (13, 14) formed on the front surface of the thin plate to modulate light passing through the light waveguide. The light modulator further includes a reinforcing plate (16) bonded to the rear surface of the thin plate and a conductive film (17) continuously formed in the range from the side surface of the thin plate to the side surface of the reinforcing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Shinriki, Katsutoshi Kondou, Tsutomu Saitou
  • Patent number: 7817325
    Abstract: An electro-optic element includes an electro-optic crystal having a birefringent property, and in which a refractive index distribution is generated in accordance with an intensity of an electric field caused inside, a pair of intensity modulating electrodes for applying a voltage for varying the birefringent property of the electro-optic crystal, a pair of scanning electrodes for applying a voltage for varying the refractive index distribution of the electro-optic crystal, and a polarization selection member provided at least on a side of a laser beam emission end face out of a laser beam entrance end face and the laser beam emission end face of the electro-optic crystal, and for selectively transmitting a part with a specific vibration direction out of a light beam emitted from the electro-optic crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Uchikawa, Shigeo Nojima
  • Patent number: 7777931
    Abstract: An electro-optic element includes an electro-optic crystal having a birefringent property, and in which a refractive index distribution is generated in accordance with an intensity of an electric field caused inside, a pair of intensity modulating electrodes for applying a voltage for varying the birefringent property of the electro-optic crystal, a pair of scanning electrodes for applying a voltage for varying the refractive index distribution of the electro-optic crystal, and a polarization selection member provided at least on a side of a laser beam emission end face out of a laser beam entrance end face and the laser beam emission end face of the electro-optic crystal, and for selectively transmitting a part with a specific vibration direction out of a light beam emitted from the electro-optic crystal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Uchikawa, Shigeo Nojima
  • Patent number: 7772615
    Abstract: Semiconductor electrooptic medium shows behavior different from a medium based on quantum confined Stark Effect. A preferred embodiment has a type-II heterojunction, selected such, that, in zero electric field, an electron and a hole are localized on the opposite sides of the heterojunction having a negligible or very small overlap of the wave functions, and correspondingly, a zero or a very small exciton oscillator strength. Applying an electric field results in squeezing of the wave functions to the heterojunction which strongly increases the overlap of the electron and the hole wave functions, resulting in a strong increase of the exciton oscillator strength. Another embodiment of the novel electrooptic medium includes a heterojunction between a layer and a superlattice, wherein an electron and a hole in the zero electric field are localized on the opposite sides of the heterojunction, the latter being effectively a type-II heterojunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Connector Optics
    Inventors: Nikolai Ledentsov, Vitaly Shchukin
  • Patent number: 7764415
    Abstract: A photoelastic modulator excited by a plurality of piezoelectric transducers affixed to the surface of a photoelastic bar for generating elastic waves in a plurality of cells each bounded by piezoelectric node drivers between which an antinode driver is disposed, is described. The standing elastic wave in each cell can be made independent of those in the neighboring cells by controlling the phase and amplitude of the drivers. The resulting elastic waves generate birefringence along the optical axis of the bar such that a linearly polarized optical wave propagating along the axis and having an initial phase, experiences a retardation of the phase as it passes through each cell. The cells may be controlled such that the phase of each standing wave does not change between cells and the phase retardation of the optical wave increases monotonically as the optical wave propagates through the bar, thereby, in theory, permitting an arbitrarily large retardation to be generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Inventor: Tudor N. Buican
  • Patent number: 7751656
    Abstract: An optical modulator comprising; an optical waveguide in which input light propagates; a signal electrode having an end portion in which signal microwave is input and having an interaction area in which the signal microwave interacts with the light propagating in the optical waveguide; and, a ground electrode forming a coaxial structure with the signal electrode, wherein, width of the end portion is greater than width of the interaction area and thickness of the end portion is less than thickness of the interaction area. Also disclosed is an optical modulator, further comprising a substrate having an electro-optic effect; and, a buffer layer on the substrate, wherein, the signal electrode and ground electrode are formed on the buffer layer, and thickness of the buffer layer near the end portion of the signal electrode is greater than thickness of the buffer layer near the interaction area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7742217
    Abstract: An image generation unit with an illumination unit for generating a plurality of coherent sub-beams and for illuminating an image modulator, including a light source, and a projection lens for superimposing each of the coherent sub-beams onto a projection screen plane. An optical set-up introduces angles between each two of the sub-beams, which are chosen to produce uncorrelated speckle patterns in the projection screen plane, resulting in an interference speckle pattern. A phase modulator including a liquid crystal cell changes its directory profile in a lateral manner, thereby being able to change the phase of light of each sub-beam individually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Kamm, Olivier Ripoll
  • Patent number: 7731366
    Abstract: An optical system is provided. The optical system comprises a first polarizing beamsplitter (PBS), a first reflecting image-forming device, and a first quarter-wave retarding element. An optical system is also provided that comprises an image-forming device, a reflective polarizing layer, at least a first birefringent element disposed on an optical path between the image-forming device and the polarizing layer, and a quarter-wave retarding element. Further provided is an optical system comprising a color combiner unit, at least two polarizing beamsplitters (PBSs), and a first quarter-wave retarding element. The present application also provides methods of compensating for birefringence in an image projection system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: David J. W. Aastuen, Charles L. Bruzzone, Jiaying Ma
  • Patent number: 7723670
    Abstract: Differential group delay (DGD) devices and techniques based on folded optical paths. An in-line polarization monitor can be provided as a feedback for worst-case alignment without using an in-line polarizer. Polarization maintaining retro reflectors can minimize the introduced higher-order polarization effects caused by reflections between folding mirrors or prisms in conventional schemes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: General Photonics Corporation
    Inventors: Lianshan Yan, Xiaojun Chen, Xiaotian Steve Yao
  • Patent number: 7604877
    Abstract: A ferroelectric film includes a plurality of ferroelectric nanodomains configured in a regularly staggered fashion. The ferroelectric film has a quasi 2-dimensional configuration and is comprised of a ferroelectric material. A method for forming a ferroelectric film is also provided. A ferroelectric film comprised of a ferroelectric material is prepared. The ferroelectric film has a quasi 2-dimensional configuration and defines a direction that is normal to the quasi 2-dimensional configuration. An electric field along the normal direction is applied to the ferroelectric film, thereby the ferroelectric film having an array of ferroelectric nanodomains configured in a regularly staggered fashion is obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Wen-Hui Duan, Zhong-Qing Wu, Jian Wu, Bing-Lin Gu
  • Patent number: 7589881
    Abstract: An electro-optic device includes first and second pixels that form first and second images, respectively. The first and second pixels are arranged alternately in a first direction. A light blocking element overlaps the pixels in plan view. The pixels are divided into pixel groups, each corresponding to every two pixels, which are one of the first pixels and one of the second pixels adjacent to each other in the first direction. The light blocking element has openings, each corresponding to one of the pixel groups and located in a region that overlaps the two pixels of the pixel group in plan view. Each first pixel has a light blocking region that partially intercepts light emitted from the first pixel. Each second pixel has a light blocking region that partially intercepts light emitted from the second pixel. The light blocking regions are positioned symmetrically to each other in plan view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Nobuo Sugiyama
  • Patent number: 7557979
    Abstract: A beam-steering element made of a more optically-active material, potassium tantalate niobate, with an improved diffraction efficiency, having a plurality of electrode layers and one electro-optic crystal layer interposed between every two adjacent electrode layers. Each electro-optic crystal layer and the electrode layer adjacent thereto have an aspect ratio of about 1:1. The electrode layers and the electro-optic crystal layers are interposed between two substrates. Preferably, the substrates are transparent to an incoming beam to be modulated by the electro-optic crystal layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: James M. Cicchiello, Curtis J. Harkrider, Kenneth E. Kreischer, David A. Gallagher
  • Patent number: 7534990
    Abstract: Optical devices and techniques for using optical polarization of light to transmit through an optical path four times to quadruple a total delay in the light through the optical path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: General Photonics Corporation
    Inventor: Xiaotian Steve Yao
  • Patent number: 7511093
    Abstract: A polyvinyl alcohol polymer film includes a polyvinyl alcohol polymer and a plasticizer selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol, glycerin, propylene glycol, diethylene glycol, diglycerin, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, and trimethylolpropane. The amount of the polyvinyl alcohol polymer eluted when a 10 cm square of the polyvinyl alcohol polymer film is left in 1 liter of water of 50° C. for 4 hours is from 1 to 100 ppm. The film has only a small number of defects and is useful as raw material for producing a polarization film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeyuki Harita, Takanori Isozaki, Naoki Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 7499603
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided for an electrooptical modulator. One method embodiment includes receiving an optical input signal to an electrooptical modulator. A first voltage input is applied to a first drive electrode associated with a first optical path in the electrooptical modulator. A second voltage input is applied to a second drive electrode associated with a second optical path in the electrooptical modulator at times alternative to applying the first voltage input to the first drive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Krawczak, Raymond J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7466878
    Abstract: A polarization controller includes a phase retarder having a rotation about an {1,0,0} axis that receives an optical signal from a waveguide structure. At least one nanoelectromechanical dielectric perturber produces ±45° birefringent axes by placing the at least one nanoelectromechanical dielectric perturber at selective positions around the phase retarder to produce dynamic change in the effective index in one of the modes existent in an extraordinary axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Poh-Boon Phua, Chee Wei Wong, Erich P. Ippen
  • Patent number: 7443440
    Abstract: A color separator includes a polarization converting section for converting an incoming light ray into a linearly polarized light ray such that the polarization direction of the linearly polarized light ray is selectable from a number of predetermined directions, and a diffracting section, which is arranged so as to receive the linearly polarized light ray that has gone out of the polarization converting section and which produces a zero-order light ray in which one of multiple different wavelength components is selectively weakened according to the polarization direction at least.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Seiji Nishiwaki, Michiyoshi Nagashima
  • Publication number: 20080246897
    Abstract: There is provided a polarized display, comprising: an intensity modulating matrix display having a front surface; and a polarizing matrix display panel in front of said intensity modulating matrix display, the polarizing matrix display panel having a front surface; wherein the display is one of: a linear polarization display, each pixel of the polarizing matrix display panel being controllable and a rotation of a generated polarized light being varied over a range including 90 degrees and below; and: an elliptical polarization display, each pixel of the polarizing matrix display panel being controllable and a phase between a fast and a slow axes of a polarized light coming from a corresponding pixel of the intensity modulating matrix display in a range including 180 degrees and below.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Publication date: October 9, 2008
    Inventor: Jean-Etienne Gaudreau
  • Patent number: 7426069
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuo Makii