Phase Modulation Patents (Class 359/279)
  • Patent number: 8665508
    Abstract: Methods and systems for encoding multi-level pulse amplitude modulated signals using integrated optoelectronics are disclosed and may include generating a multi-level, amplitude-modulated optical signal utilizing an optical modulator driven by two or more electrical input signals. The optical modulator may include optical modulator elements coupled in series and configured into groups. The number of optical modular elements and groups may configure the number of levels in the multi-level amplitude modulated optical signal. Unit drivers may be coupled to each of the groups. The electrical input signals may be synchronized before communicating them to the unit drivers. Phase addition may be synchronized utilizing one or more electrical delay lines. The optical modulator may be integrated on a single substrate, which may include one of: silicon, gallium arsenide, germanium, indium gallium arsenide, polymers, or indium phosphide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kucharski, Brian Welch, Sherif Abdalla
  • Publication number: 20140055838
    Abstract: A photonic device is provided. The photonic device includes: a semiconductor layer including first and second regions; an insulating layer covering the semiconductor layer; and first and second plugs extending to pass through the insulating layer and electrically connected to the corresponding first and second regions. The first plug is in a rectifying contact with the first region, and the second plug is in an ohmic contact with the second region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Inventors: Kwang-hyun LEE, Dong-jae SHIN, Ho-chul JI
  • Patent number: 8649688
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides Radio Frequency (RF) drive level control systems and methods for an Electro-Optic (EO) M-ary Phase-Shift Keying (M-PSK) phase modulator. Specifically, an M-PSK drive waveform is tightly controlled for maximum symmetry in the associated constellation. In an exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure includes an M-PSK transmitter, an M-PSK electro-optic phase modulator, and phase modulation method that each control RF drive level based upon a carrier suppression ratio defined as a measure of ratio of a modulated time-averaged E-field to the magnitude of the E-field. In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier suppression ratio is measured based on a modulation depth measurement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Douglas L. McGhan, Ian B. Betty
  • Patent number: 8625936
    Abstract: A system, e.g. an optical modulator, includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of optical resonators. The optical waveguide is located along a surface of a planar substrate. The plurality of optical resonators is also located along the surface and coupled to the optical waveguide. Each of said optical resonators is configured to resonantly couple to the optical waveguide at a different optical frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Po Dong
  • Publication number: 20130342887
    Abstract: Spatial light modulator configured as a periodic structure of polymer grating layers arranged essentially at equal distances and intermediate spaces to form a periodic grating structure. The surfaces bounding the periodic grating structure have electrodes influencing the refractive index of the active optical medium by an electric field. The electrodes have a pixelated arrangement and can be driven independently of each other with an electrical voltage. The orientation layer thickness and grating period of the periodic grating structure are configured so that they do not correspond to the Bragg condition for the light from at least one light source, and so that for light from the at least one light source incident on the spatial light modulator the light fraction deviated owing to Bragg diffraction is less than the undeviated transmitted light fraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Norbert LEISTER, Gerald FUETTERER
  • Publication number: 20130335795
    Abstract: Provided is a complex spatial light modulator and a holographic 3D image display including the complex spatial light modulator. The complex spatial light modulator includes a spatial light modulator for modulating a phase or an amplitude of light, a pair of lens arrays, and a grating disposed between the pair of lens arrays. Accordingly, the phase and the amplitude of light may be modulated simultaneously.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventors: Hoon SONG, Hong-seok LEE, Gee-young SUNG, Kang-hee WON, Kyu-hwan CHOI
  • Patent number: 8610993
    Abstract: A light control device 1 includes a light source 10, a prism 20, a spatial light modulator 30, a drive unit 31, a control unit 32, a lens 41, an aperture 42, and a lens 43. The spatial light modulator 30 is a phase modulating spatial light modulator, includes a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed pixels, is capable of phase modulation in each of these pixels in a range of 4?, and presents a phase pattern to modulate the phase of light in each of the pixels. This phase pattern is produced by superimposing a blazed grating pattern for light diffraction with a phase modulation range of 2? or less and a phase pattern having a predetermined phase modulation distribution with a phase modulation range of 2? or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Naoya Matsumoto, Taro Ando, Takashi Inoue, Yoshiyuki Ohtake
  • Patent number: 8610994
    Abstract: Optical devices, phased array systems and methods of phase-shifting an input signal are provided. An optical device includes a microresonator and a waveguide for receiving an input optical signal. The waveguide includes a segment coupled to the microresonator with a coupling coefficient such that the waveguide is overcoupled to the microresonator. The microresonator receives the input optical signal via the waveguide and phase-shifts the input optical signal to form an output optical signal. The output optical signal is coupled into the waveguide via the microresonator and transmitted by the waveguide. At an operating point of the optical device, the coupling coefficient is selected to reduce a change in an amplitude of the output optical signal and to increase a change in a phase of the output optical signal, relative to the input optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony L. Lentine, Rohan D. Kekatpure, Christopher DeRose, Paul Davids, Michael R. Watts
  • Patent number: 8610995
    Abstract: An occasional calibration waveform is used to, first, make an interferometer sensitive to small changes in Sagnac phase difference due to rotating the gyroscope (this is commonly referred to as biasing the interferometer); second, supply a feedback phase difference to keep the interferometer sensitive to small changes in rotation rate; and third, supply the calibration modulation necessary to keep the digital electronics calibrated with respect to the Sagnac phase difference being measured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Ralph A. Bergh
  • Patent number: 8606114
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for phase aligning two optical signals within an optical transmitter to each other (and, in some embodiments, to a pulse carved optical signal) using integrated complimentary taps and a dither signal. The phase of a first signal may be intentionally offset relative to the phase of a second signal. Based on the offset, a correction factor may be calculated. The correction factor may be used to shift the phase of the first signal and/or the second signal in order to generally align the signals. This procedure may be automatically performed in a feedback loop to cause the signals to come into alignment and maintain the alignment of the signals during operation of the transmitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Oclaro Technology Limited
    Inventors: Amyas Daniel Holroyd, Anthony George Foster, Robert Griffin
  • Patent number: 8593531
    Abstract: An imaging device includes: a first imaging unit which does not include a phase difference detecting pixel on an imaging element; a second imaging unit which includes a phase difference detecting pixel on an imaging element; a pixel comparing unit which compares first obtained image obtained by the first imaging unit with a second obtained image obtained by the second imaging unit; a correcting unit which corrects phase difference information obtained by the second imaging unit based on a comparison result by the image comparing unit; a phase difference applying unit which applies the phase difference information corrected by the correcting unit to the first obtained image; and a recording unit which records image information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Tadashi Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20130308662
    Abstract: Described herein is a tunable optical filter (1). The filter includes a phase manipulation layer in the form of a liquid crystal material (3) and a diffractive layer in the form of a diffraction grating (5) sandwiched between an upper glass layer (7) and lower silicon layer (9). Grating (5) includes a grating structure (11) etched therein for angularly diffracting an input optical signal into a plurality of constituent wavelength components according to wavelength. Material (3) includes a two-dimensional array of independently addressable pixels (13), each pixel configured for receiving a drive signal and, in response to the drive signal, selectively modifying the phase of the wavelength components incident onto each pixel to directionally steer the components along respective angularly separated paths. By suitable steering of the wavelength components, at least one wavelength component is coupled along a predetermined collection path to an optical system such as a laser cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Steven James Frisken
  • Patent number: 8574467
    Abstract: A benzo-fused-heterocyclic elongated dye having a superior molecular hyperpolarizability and yet having an acceptably-low optical absorbance of light near 1550 nm in wavelength, which is an important optical communication band for telecommunication applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Matthew C. Davis, Andrew P. Chafin, William Lai, Geoffrey A. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 8574468
    Abstract: A benzo-fused-heterocyclic elongated dye having a superior molecular hyperpolarizability and yet having an acceptably-low optical absorbance of light near 1550 nm in wavelength, which is an important optical communication band for telecommunication applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Matthew C. Davis, Andrew P. Chafin, Geoffrey A. Lindsay
  • Patent number: 8564872
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a microstructure optical phase shifting film and lens. The optical phase shifting film is an integrated structure which includes a light-phase-shifting-film base and the convex surface positioned thereon. The convex surface has a plurality of semi-cylinder like protrusions which have the same height and are separated from a constant pitch with each other. A lens layer is covered on the surface of the optical phase shifting film to form a microstructure lens. The optical phase shift film exhibits different refractive index because of the light with different polarization angle. Therefore, the microstructure functions as a lenticular lens used in 2D/3D switching display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Futis International Ltd.
    Inventor: Jung-Tsung Wu
  • Patent number: 8565614
    Abstract: A digital data transmission device is provided comprising optical waveguide architecture, a sideband generator, a modulation controller, an optical filter, a data mapping unit, and a phase controller. The optical waveguide architecture is configured to direct an optical signal through the sideband generator and the optical filter. The sideband generator comprises an electrooptic interferometer comprising first and second waveguide arms. The modulation controller is configured to generate an electrical drive signal to drive the sideband generator at a control voltage that is substantially larger than V? to generate optical frequency sidebands about a carrier frequency of the optical signal. The optical filter is configured to discriminate between the optical frequency sidebands and the optical carrier frequency such that optical sidebands of interest can be directed through the optical waveguide architecture as an optical millimeter wave signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventor: Richard W. Ridgway
  • Publication number: 20130258293
    Abstract: An optical phase modulation module and a projector comprising the same are provided. The optical phase modulation module comprises a transparent thin film with an electro-optic effect, a plurality of first upper electrodes, a plurality of second upper electrodes and a plurality of lower electrodes. The transparent thin film with the electro-optic effect has a top surface and a bottom surface. The first upper electrodes are formed on the top surface. The second upper electrodes are formed on the top surface and arranged alternately with the first upper electrodes. The lower electrodes are formed on the bottom surface. A first voltage difference exists between the first upper electrodes and the bottom electrodes, while a second voltage difference exists between the second upper electrodes and the bottom electrodes. Two different electric fields are produced within the transparent thin film with the electro-optic effect by the first voltage difference and the second voltage difference respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: Touch Micro-System Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Lung-Han Peng, Chih-Ming Lai, Hoang-Yan Lin, Yung-Ming Lin, Po-Chun Yeh, Yan-Shuo Chang, Juei-Hung Hung
  • Publication number: 20130236137
    Abstract: An optical pulse delay generator is provided. The optical pulse delay generator includes a first optical converter which is dispersive and separates the spectral components of the incoming optical pulse in a time domain. The first optical converter generating a converted optical signal. The optical pulse delay generator also includes a modulator to modulate the converted optical signal and to generate a modulated optical signal and a second optical converter connected to the modulator. The second optical converter being dispersive for overlaying the previously separated spectral components in the time domain and generating the delayed optical output pulse. The dispersion imposed by the second optical converter has the same amount of dispersion, but the opposite sign, as the first optical converter. At least one of the first and second optical converter includes at least two waveguide resonator rings which differ in their optical length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventors: Stefan Meister, Aws Al-Saadi, Hans Joachim Eichler, Kambiz Jamshidi, Thomas Schneider
  • Patent number: 8521036
    Abstract: The invention is directed to code labeling in an optical network. The network includes a transmitting station operable to transmit an optical signal. The network also includes an encoder coupled to the transmitting station operable to label the optical signal composed of a group of codes. A receiving station operable to receive the labeled group of optical codes is also provided. The receiving station is operable to read the optical signal if the label of the received group of codes corresponds to the group of codes assigned to the receiving station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: TTI Inventions E LLC
    Inventor: Ronald Charles Menendez
  • Patent number: 8520306
    Abstract: Apparatus for combining laser radiation (1) 5 which apparatus comprises a seed laser (2), a splitter (3), a plurality of amplifier chains (4), a reference amplifier chain (7), detection means (5). demodulator means (6), and phase control means (12), wherein each of the amplifier chains (4) comprises at least one optical amplifier (11), optical radiation (17) emitted from the seed laser (2) is split into the plurality of amplifier chains (4) by the splitter (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: SPI Lasers UK Ltd
    Inventors: Malcolm Paul Varnham, Mikhail Nickolaos Zervas, Fabio Ghiringhelli, Andrew Thomas Harker
  • Publication number: 20130208334
    Abstract: An optical regenerator for regenerating a multi-level phase encoded signal. A first non-linear medium (HNLF1) generates a comb of frequency harmonics from the signal under the action of a coherent pump, each component bearing the phase encoded data. A filter selects the first and (M?1)th order components. The filtered signal is then input to a second non-linear medium (HNLF2) where a further pump is applied, to coherently add the first and (M?1)th order components and regenerate the signal by reducing phase noise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Inventors: Joseph Kakande, Francesca Parmigiani, Periklis Petropoulos, David John Richardson, Raden Slavik
  • Publication number: 20130208335
    Abstract: An optical network element has a light source which provides an optical signal that is fed to at least two modulators. Each modulator provides an optical carrier signal that is conveyed to a receiving unit. The receiving unit is configured to determine a deviation signal between the optical carrier signal and a carrier conveyed via an incoming signal and to feed the deviation signal to the modulator for adjusting the frequency and/or the phase of the optical carrier signal. Also, a corresponding method for processing data and a communication system with at least one optical network are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: NOKIA SIMENS NETWORKS OY
    Inventors: Erich Gottwald, Harald Rohde
  • Publication number: 20130194651
    Abstract: Full-color phase-only spatial light modulators (SLM) are proposed for modulating phase of the light. Proposed SLMs are low-power electrically actuated surface micromachined MEMS device with high reflectivity, high switching speed, high diffraction efficiency, high fill-factor and low surface adhesion to the substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2013
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Applicant: Light Field Corporation
    Inventor: Light Field Corporation
  • Patent number: 8493647
    Abstract: An optical modulation system has a function to compensate an operating point drift, which occurs in an MZ optical modulator, by carrying out feedback control with use of a low frequency signal. A judgment section judges stability of feedback control. In a case where the feedback control is determined to be unstable, a low frequency signal generating section switches a frequency of the low frequency signal from a first frequency to a second frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshiharu Fujisaku
  • Patent number: 8483576
    Abstract: A driving apparatus supplies a drive signal to an optical modulator corresponding to a phase modulation format, and also, divides a part of an output light from the optical modulator; extracts some optical component of the divided light, which is distant from a carrier frequency by integral multiple of a modulation frequency, to detect a power of the optical component; and feedback controls a duty ratio of the drive signal or a cross-point level thereof so that the detected power approaches a minimum value. Thus, it is possible to stably perform phase modulation with high precision.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shinji Yamashita, Naoki Hashimoto
  • Publication number: 20130155482
    Abstract: In an optical modulation device, a first drive signal and a first bias signal are applied to a phase modulation unit, a second drive signal and a second bias signal are applied to a phase modulation unit, and a third bias signal is applied to a ?/2 phase shift unit. A control unit adjusts the third bias signal in a first adjustment period, adjusts the first drive signal and the first bias signal in a second adjustment period next to the first adjustment period, and adjusts the second drive signal and the second bias signal in a third adjustment period next to the second adjustment period. The control unit starts the second adjustment period before a gap between the current value of an adjustment reference signal and a target value is filled, and starts the third adjustment period before a gap in the second adjustment period is filled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: Fujitsu Optical Components Limited
    Inventor: Fujitsu Optical Components Limited
  • Patent number: 8463081
    Abstract: An optical phase modulator having a reduced time drift of an electro-optical response is disclosed. An optical waveguide exhibiting the electro-optic effect includes two serially coupled portions having opposite time drifts of magnitudes of their respective electro-optical responses. As a result, a time drift of an overall electro-optical response of the optical phase modulator is lessened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventor: Karl Kissa
  • Publication number: 20130141772
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a circuit configured to couple to a nested Mach-Zehnder modulator (MZM), the circuit configured to receive a first signal proportional to a sum of an in-phase (I) component and a quadrature (Q) component, receive a second signal that is proportional to a difference between the I component and the Q component, and generate a difference signal as a difference in intensity between the first signal and the second signal, and a controller configured to provide a bias signal to the nested MZM to control a phase difference between the I component and the Q component, wherein the bias signal is based on the difference signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: FUTUREWEI TECHNOLOGIES, CO.
    Inventor: Futurewei Technologies, Co.
  • Patent number: 8456730
    Abstract: A directly modulated spatial light modulator (DM-SLM) may be formed using a semiconductor optical amplifier. The directly modulated spatial light modulator may also be formed with a vertical cavity surface emitting laser having an output side; and an anti-reflection coating located on the output side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Access Optical Networks, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Prucnal, Glenn A. Gladney
  • Publication number: 20130135704
    Abstract: An optical modulation system has a function to compensate an operating point drift, which occurs in an MZ optical modulator, by carrying out feedback control with use of a low frequency signal. A judgment section judges stability of feedback control. In a case where the feedback control is determined to be unstable, a low frequency signal generating section switches a frequency of the low frequency signal from a first frequency to a second frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Applicant: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Fujikura Ltd.
  • Publication number: 20130128334
    Abstract: An electrically variable lens comprising a variable Fresnel lens and a variable phase corrector plate. A liquid crystal variable Fresnel lens and liquid crystal phase corrector plate are varied in concert to compensate for wavefront discontinuities that would otherwise be produced by the Fresnel lens. The same principle is also used to provide a device capable of imposing an arbitrary spatial and temporal phase modulation on a wavefront.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2012
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: VUZIX CORPORATION
    Inventor: VUZIX CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8441709
    Abstract: A light control device 1 includes a light source 10, a prism 20, a spatial light modulator 30, a drive unit 31, a control unit 32, a lens 41, an aperture 42, and a lens 43. The spatial light modulator 30 is a phase modulating spatial light modulator, includes a plurality of two-dimensionally arrayed pixels, is capable of phase modulation in each of these pixels in a range of 4? or more, and presents a phase pattern to modulate the phase of light in each of the pixels. This phase pattern is produced by superimposing a blazed grating pattern for light diffraction and a phase pattern having a predetermined phase modulation distribution, and with a phase modulation range of 2? or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Photonics K.K.
    Inventors: Naoya Matsumoto, Taro Ando, Takashi Inoue, Yoshiyuki Ohtake
  • Patent number: 8437068
    Abstract: The optical modulator includes an optical waveguide element in which a first waveguide is formed obliquely to an outgoing end surface, and a second waveguide is formed obliquely to both the first waveguide and the outgoing end surface, a lens which makes parallel optical paths of first and second modulated light beams outgoing from the first and second waveguides, a phase delay element which applies a phase delay to at least one of the first and second modulated light beams, a polarization beam rotating unit which rotates at least one polarized wave of the first and second modulated light beams to make the polarized waves orthogonal to each other between the two modulated light beams, and a polarization beam combining element which combines the first and second modulated light beams whose polarized waves are made orthogonal to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takuji Maie, Tokutaka Hara
  • Patent number: 8427725
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a light modulating device, comprising a SLM and a pixelated optical element, in which a group of at least two adjacent pixels of the SLM in combination with a corresponding group of pixels in the pixelated optical element form a macropixel, the pixelated optical element being of a type such that its pixels comprise a fixed content, each macropixel being used to represent a numerical value which is manifested physically by the states of the pixels of the SLM and the content of the pixels of the pixelated optical element which form the macropixel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Seereal Technologies S.A.
    Inventors: Gerald Futterer, Bo Kroll, Steffen Buschbeck
  • 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: 20130088767
    Abstract: An optical-path conversion device includes: a plate-shaped phase modulation mask in which a plurality of phase modulation parts are discretely formed for providing phase modulation to light passing through, and a first light-transmission part is formed for transmitting the light; and a plate-shaped light-shielding member in which a plurality of light-shielding parts are discretely formed for blocking the light, and a second light-transmission part is formed for transmitting the light, in which the phase modulation mask and the light-shielding member overlap each other at least in part, when viewed in an incident direction of the light, and at least one of the phase modulation mask and the light-shielding member is movable in an intersection direction which intersects with the incident direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Publication date: April 11, 2013
    Inventor: Shinji Uchida
  • Patent number: 8411349
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes an optical modulation substrate, an electrical length adjusting substrate, a package containing the substrates, and a plurality of input ports for inputting high frequency electrical signals. The optical modulation substrate includes a substrate body made of an electro-optic material, a ground electrode and a plurality of signal electrodes provided on the substrate body, optical waveguides propagating lights interacting with the signal electrodes, respectively, and electrode input ports inputting the high frequency electrical signals into the signal electrodes, respectively. The signal electrode includes an interacting part, an input end part provided between the electrode input port and interacting part, and a terminal part. The electrical length adjusting substrate includes conductive lines connected to the input ports for inputting the high frequency electrical signals, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Osamu Mitomi, Yasunori Iwasaki, Yuji Hori, Kenji Aoki, Jungo Kondo
  • Publication number: 20130070326
    Abstract: Described herein is an optical phase modulator (20) including a liquid crystal element (22), disposed between a pair of opposing electrodes (24) and (26). The electrodes (24, 26) are electrically driven for supplying an electric potential V across the liquid crystal element (22) to drive the liquid crystals within element (22) in a predetermined configuration. Electrode (26) includes a grid of individually drivable pixel regions (28), at least some of which include a sub-wavelength grating structure that provides an anisotropic refractive index profile in orthogonal lateral dimensions, thereby creating an effective material form birefringence. Light incident through liquid crystal element (22) and onto electrode (26) is reflected and experiences a relative phase difference of 180° between its constituent orthogonal polarization components, thereby rotating each polarization component into the orthogonal orientation upon reflection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: March 21, 2013
    Applicant: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven James Frisken, Glenn Wayne Baxter, Qihong Wu
  • Patent number: 8400702
    Abstract: According to an aspect of an embodiment, an optical modulation device includes a Mach-Zehnder modulator and a controller. The Mach-Zehnder modulator is supplied a drive signal and a bias voltage. The Mach-Zehnder modulator modulates inputted light on the bases of the drive signal and the bias voltage. The drive signal selectively is superimposes a predetermined frequency signal. The bias voltage selectively is superimposes the predetermined frequency signal. The controller selects a superimposing target which is the drive signal or the bias voltage so as to change modulation formats.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Toshiki Tanaka, Hideyuki Miyata, Yuichi Akiyama, Takeshi Hoshida
  • Patent number: 8392199
    Abstract: A clipping detection device calculates an amplitude distribution of an input signal for each predetermined period, calculates a deflection degree of the distribution on the basis of the calculated amplitude distribution, and then detects clipping of a communication signal on the basis of the calculated deflection degree of the distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takeshi Otani, Masakiyo Tanaka, Yasuji Ota, Shusaku Ito
  • Patent number: 8391724
    Abstract: Included are a first modulator, a second modulator, a first optical amplifier that amplifies an output of the first modulator at an amplification factor based on a first bias signal, a second optical amplifier that amplifies an output of the second modulator at an amplification factor based on a second bias signal, an optical phase adjuster that phase-rotates an output of the second optical amplifier, an optical multiplexer that multiplexes an output of the first optical amplifier with an output of the optical phase adjuster, and a second bias corrector that generates a first pulse signal and a second pulse signal, which are complementary to each other, and obtains a first bias value and a second bias value based on a change of strength of an output signal of the optical multiplexer. The first and second pulse signals are superimposed on the first and second bias signals, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Aruga, Keita Mochizuki, Atsushi Sugitatsu
  • Patent number: 8378465
    Abstract: The present invention is a method and an apparatus for optical modulation, for example for use in optical communications links. In one embodiment, an apparatus for optical modulation includes a first silicon layer having one or more trenches formed therein, a dielectric layer lining the first silicon layer, and a second silicon layer disposed on the dielectric layer and filling the trenches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Yurii A. Vlasov, Fengnian Xia
  • Patent number: 8373921
    Abstract: A system comprises an optical processor comprising a sideband generator, an optical filter, and a phase-shift-keying (PSK) modulator, wherein: the sideband generator generates optical frequency sidebands about a carrier frequency of an optical signal; the optical filter discriminates between the optical frequency sidebands and the optical carrier frequency such that optical sidebands of interest can be used to generate an optical millimeter-wave signal; the PSK modulator comprises an optical splitter, an optical phase delay unit, two or more optical gates, and an optical combiner; the optical splitter divides the optical millimeter-wave signal into two or more intermediate signals; the optical phase delay unit delays one or more of the intermediate signals to create distinct phase relationship between them; the optical gates modulate each intermediate signal individually, based on a control input; and the optical combiner combines the gated intermediate signals into a single, PSK-modulated optical millimeter-
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventor: Richard W. Ridgway
  • Publication number: 20130033737
    Abstract: Methods of attaching an optical line to a phase modulator in a fiber optic gyroscope. The methods include positioning at least one end of the optical line relative to a side of the phase modulator. The end of the optical line may have a first non-perpendicular angle and the side of the phase modulator may have a second non-perpendicular angle. The end of the optical line may be attached to the side of the phase modulator with the end of the optical line being non-parallel to the side of the phase modulator. The optical line may be an optical coil or a light path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: Emcore Corporation
    Inventors: Ronald T. Logan, JR., Ka Kha Wong
  • Patent number: 8368994
    Abstract: A scanned, one-dimensional, phased-array display system combines imaging optics on one axis with Fourier transform optics on another. The display offers the energy efficiency and fault tolerance of phase modulator-based displays, and the compactness, flexibility and speed of optical MEMS. Also described is a mechanism to introduce amplitude variations on the Fourier axis if needed to compensate for image artifacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Alces Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: David M. Bloom
  • Patent number: 8368995
    Abstract: An opto-electronic integrated circuit (OEIC) includes an SOI substrate, a set of composite optical transmitters, a set of composite optical receivers, and control electronics disposed in the substrate and electrically coupled to the set of composite optical transmitters and receivers. Each of the composite optical transmitters includes a gain medium including a compound semiconductor material and an optical modulator. Each of the composite optical receivers includes a waveguide disposed in the SOI substrate, an optical detector bonded to the SOI substrate, and a bonding region disposed between the SOI substrate and the optical detector. The bonding region includes a metal-assisted bond at a first portion of the bonding region and a direct semiconductor-semiconductor bond at a second portion of the bonding region. The OEIC also includes control electronics disposed in the SOI substrate and electrically coupled to the set of composite optical transmitters and the set of composite optical receivers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Skorpios Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: John Dallesasse, Stephen B. Krasulick, William Kozlovsky
  • Publication number: 20130020473
    Abstract: Microscope and method for detecting sample light, having at least one illuminating beam which is partially phase-modulated with a modulation frequency along the cross section thereof and a microscope objective for intensity-modulated focusing of the illuminating beam into a sample. The microscope has a detection beam path that has at least one demodulator. At least one electro-optical modulator (EOM) is used for phase modulation of at least a part, preferably half, of the illuminating beam, or different portions or halves of the illuminating beam are modulated differently, preferably anti-phase, by anti-phase control of piezoelectric elements, or acousto-optical modulators for splitting into a plurality of partial beam paths. Optic elements are provided for partial phase modulation of the excitation beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas Kalkbrenner, Ralf Wolleschensky
  • Publication number: 20130016418
    Abstract: The disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for determining a bias point of a modulator, wherein the method includes: adding pilot signals to the bias voltages of the modulator; adjusting the bias point of the modulator at a predetermined step and acquiring a first harmonic amplitude value corresponding to each bias point in a backlight detection current signal output by the modulator; and determining a bias point corresponding to the maximum value of the first harmonic amplitude values associated with multiple bias points as the bias point of the modulator. By virtue of the disclosure, the detection of a difference frequency signal can be eliminated, thereby reducing the complexity and cost of a periphery control circuit while ensuring the control accuracy, effectively improving the stability and reliability of the control process, and improving the modulation and transmission performance of optical signals in the whole system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: ZTE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jianhua Chen, Hong Yi
  • Patent number: 8335033
    Abstract: A modular routing node includes a single input port and a plurality of output ports. The modular routing node is arranged to produce a plurality of different deflections and uses small adjustments to compensate for wavelength differences and alignment tolerances in an optical system. An optical device is arranged to receive a multiplex of many optical signals at different wavelengths, to separate the optical signals into at least two groups, and to process at least one of the groups adaptively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Melanie Holmes
  • Patent number: 8331798
    Abstract: An optical m-ary modulator includes an optical loop forming a polarization maintaining closed optical path. A loop input-output unit splits linearly polarized input signal light into a first component and a second component and feeds the first and second components into the optical loop in opposite directions. A pair of phase modulators modulate the first and second components according to respective control signals. The loop input-output unit recombines the modulated first and second components. The optical phase bias unit creates a phase difference between the first and second components so that they combine to form an m-ary modulated optical signal. Since the first and second components travel around the same optical path, when they recombine their phases are correctly aligned, making the modulator immune to environmental effects and permitting the use of high-speed optical modulation techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin Arahira