Optical Fiber Patents (Class 359/341.1)
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Patent number: 8792158Abstract: Methods and systems for generating femtosecond fiber laser pulses are disclose, including generating a signal laser pulse from a seed laser oscillator; using a first amplifier stage comprising an input and an output, wherein the signal laser pulse is coupled into the input of the first stage amplifier and the output of the first amplifier stage emits an amplified and stretched signal laser pulse; using an amplifier chain comprising an input and an output, wherein the amplified and stretched signal laser pulse from the output of the first amplifier stage is coupled into the input of the amplifier chain and the output of the amplifier chain emits a further amplified, stretched signal laser pulse. Other embodiments are described and claimed.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: PolarOnyx, Inc.Inventors: Jian Liu, Peng Wan, Lihmei Yang
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Patent number: 8792157Abstract: In a light amplification system, a fiber-based oscillator, amplifier, and cascaded Raman resonator are coupled together in series. The oscillator output is provided as an input into the amplifier, the amplifier output is provided as a pumping input into the cascaded Raman resonator, and the cascaded Raman resonator provides as an output single-mode radiation at a target wavelength. A loss element is connected between the oscillator and amplifier, whereby the oscillator is optically isolated from the amplifier and cascaded Raman resonator. A filter is coupled between the isolator and the amplifier for filtering out backward-propagating Stokes wavelengths generated in the cascaded Raman resonator. The oscillator is operable within a first power level range, and the amplifier and cascaded Raman resonator are operable within a second power level range exceeding the first power level range.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2010Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLCInventor: Jeffrey W. Nicholson
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Patent number: 8785859Abstract: A distributed optical fiber sensor based on Raman and Brillouin scattering is provided. The distributed optical fiber sensor includes a semiconductor FP cavity pulsed wideband optical fiber laser (11), a semiconductor external-cavity continuous narrowband optical fiber laser (12), a wave separator (13), an electro-optic modulator (14), an isolator (15), an Er-doped optical fiber amplifier (16), a bidirectional coupler (17), an integrated wavelength division multiplexer (19), a first photoelectric receiving and amplifying module (20), a second photoelectric receiving and amplifying module (21), a direct detection system (22), a narrowband optical fiber transmission grating (23), a circulator (24) and a coherence detection module (25). The temperature and the strain can be measured simultaneously, and the signal-to-noise ratio of the system is enhanced.Type: GrantFiled: August 20, 2010Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: China Jiliang UniversityInventors: Zaixuan Zhang, Chenxia Li, Shangzhong Jin, Jianfeng Wang, Huaping Gong, Yi Li
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Patent number: 8786942Abstract: A pulsed fiber array laser system that has actively stabilized coherent beam combination (CBC) is disclosed. The active stabilization is accomplished using both piston phase control and intra-pulse phase control, allowing a much greater increase in pulse energy. Further stabilization using intra-pulse amplitude control is also disclosed. A chirp profile can be written on the output pulse to enable specific applications. An amplitude profile of the amplifier array may optionally be tailored to match to a reference electrical pulse. Using the current invention, a much smaller number of amplifier chains will be needed to achieve certain pulse energy, resulting in a system with lower complexity, lower cost, smaller size, less weight, and higher reliability.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 2012Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems CorporationInventors: Stephen P. Palese, Eric C. Cheung, Gregory D. Goodno, Chun-Ching Shih, Mark E. Weber
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Publication number: 20140198377Abstract: A single mode semiconductor laser includes a first optical resonator, which is formed by a total reflection surface and a partial reflection surface. Light emitted from the partial reflection surface of the single mode semiconductor laser enters a fiber Bragg grating, which includes a diffraction grating formed therein. The diffraction grating forms a second optical resonator in combination with the total reflection surface of the single mode semiconductor laser. A fiber amplifier amplifies a laser beam emitted from the fiber Bragg grating.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 9, 2013Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: OMRON CORPORATIONInventors: Masao YOSHIOKA, Takuya TOGAWA
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Publication number: 20140198378Abstract: An optical semiconductor device includes: semiconductor lasers; a wave coupling section multiplexing light output by the semiconductor lasers; first optical waveguides respectively optically connecting respective semiconductor lasers to the wave coupling section; a phase regulator regulating phase of reflected light that is reflected at a reflecting point located in the optical semiconductor device and that returns to the semiconductor lasers; a second optical waveguide optically connecting the wave coupling section to the phase regulator; an optical amplifying section amplifying output light of the phase regulator; and a third optical waveguide optically connecting an output of the phase regulator to the optical amplifying section. The phase regulator adjusts the phase of reflected light that returns to the semiconductor lasers to decrease line width of the light output by the semiconductor lasers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2014Publication date: July 17, 2014Applicant: Mitsubishi Electric CorporationInventors: Takeshi Saito, Masakazu Takabayashi, Eitaro Ishimura, Tohru Takiguchi, Kazuhisa Takagi, Keisuke Matsumoto, Yoshifumi Sasahata
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Publication number: 20140192403Abstract: A laser utilizes a cavity design which allows the stable generation of high peak power pulses from mode-locked multi-mode fiber lasers, greatly extending the peak power limits of conventional mode-locked single-mode fiber lasers. Mode-locking may be induced by insertion of a saturable absorber into the cavity and by inserting one or more mode-filters to ensure the oscillation of the fundamental mode in the multi-mode fiber. The probability of damage of the absorber may be minimized by the insertion of an additional semiconductor optical power limiter into the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 6, 2014Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: IMRA America, Inc.Inventors: Martin E. Fermann, Donald J. Harter
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Patent number: 8774239Abstract: An ultrafast laser generating system comprises a laser signal generator, a laser signal amplifier and a beam splitting element. The laser signal generator is configured to generate a first nanosecond pulse laser. The laser amplifier is configured to amplify the first nanosecond pulse laser from the laser signal generator so as to generate a second nanosecond pulse laser, which includes a picosecond pulse laser. The beam splitting element is configured to receive the second nanosecond pulse laser and split the picosecond pulse laser from the second nanosecond pulse laser.Type: GrantFiled: February 14, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Industrial Technology Research InstituteInventors: Yao Wun Jhang, Hsin Chia Su, Chien Ming Huang, Chieh Hu, Hong Xi Tsau, Shih Ting Lin
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Patent number: 8773754Abstract: An optimized Yb: doped fiber mode-locked oscillator and fiber amplifier system for seeding Nd: or Yb: doped regenerative amplifiers. The pulses are generated in the Yb: or Nd: doped fiber mode-locked oscillator, and may undergo spectral narrowing or broadening, wavelength converting, temporal pulse compression or stretching, pulse attenuation and/or lowering the repetition rate of the pulse train. The conditioned pulses are subsequently coupled into an Yb: or Nd: fiber amplifier. The amplified pulses are stretched before amplification in the regenerative amplifier that is based on an Nd: or Yb: doped solid-state laser material, and then recompressed for output.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2011Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.Inventors: Donald J. Harter, Gyu C. Cho, Martin E. Fermann, Ingmar Hartl
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Patent number: 8773755Abstract: An optical amplifier includes a pump light source that outputs pump light, and a multicore fiber that includes at least one pumping core, the pump light being input to the at least one pumping core by coupler, at least two signal light cores doped with an active substance for optical amplification, at least one signal light being input to at least one of the signal light cores, and a cladding, wherein the pump light propagating the at least one pumping core and exciting the active substance in the signal light cores, so as to amplify the at least one signal light propagating through the at least one of the signal light cores.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2012Date of Patent: July 8, 2014Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Masato Nishihara, Takeshi Hoshida
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Patent number: 8767286Abstract: A method and apparatus for mode-matching double-clad fibers. In some embodiments, a first fiber section that has a first core, wherein the first core has a first core diameter connects to a mode-field adaptor, wherein the mode-field adaptor includes a first portion having a central volume that has a substantially constant index-of-refraction radial profile and a diameter larger than the first core diameter, and a second portion that has a graded-index (GRIN) central volume, wherein the GRIN central volume has a central axis and a graded index-of-refraction radial profile having an index that gradually decreases at larger distances from its central axis and a length selected to focus light into the core of a second fiber wherein the second core has a diameter that is larger than the first core diameter, and wherein the second fiber section is double clad. Some embodiments are polarized.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Matthias P. Savage-Leuchs, Christian E. Dilley
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Patent number: 8767287Abstract: The invention can include an apparatus for producing optical pulses, comprising an oscillator for producing optical pulses at a first optical pulse repetition frequency, the optical pulses having a first wavelength and a first time duration; a pulse picker for receiving optical pulses having the first optical pulse repetition frequency, first wavelength and first time duration and operable to reduce the optical pulse repetition frequency to produce optical pulses having the first wavelength, first time duration and a reduced optical pulse repetition frequency that is less than the first optical pulse repetition frequency; an optical fiber receiving optical pulses at the reduced optical pulse repetition frequency and having the first wavelength and first time duration to produce, at the reduced optical pulse frequency, optical pulses that include one or more nonlinearly produced wavelengths different than the first wavelength.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Fianium Ltd.Inventors: John Redvers Clowes, Anatoly Borisovich Grudinin, Ian Michael Godfrey, Kestutis Vysniauskas
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Patent number: 8767292Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser apparatus capable of supplying laser beams from each of plural beam emitting ends constituting laser beam output ports, and realizes the overall low power consumption and low non-linearization. The laser apparatus comprises a seed light source, beam emitting ends, an intermediate optical amplifier, an optical branching device, and final-stage optical amplifiers. The number of beam emitting ends is greater than the number of seed light sources, and the final-stage optical amplifiers and the beam emitting ends correspond to each other one-on-one. The optical branching device includes an input port associated to the seed light source and plural output ports associated to the respective beam emitting ends so as to constitute a part of the light paths between the seed light source and the beam emitting ends.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2011Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Megaopto Co., Ltd.Inventors: Shinobu Tamaoki, Motoki Kakui
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Publication number: 20140177038Abstract: Laser machining system (60) comprises a high-power laser (61) for generating a high-power pump laser beam (HP-MM), control signal laser (62) for generating a control signal laser beam (SS), an optical fibre (64) leading from the two lasers to a laser machining head (63). The optical fibre has an SRS amplifier fibre (65) with an inner fibre core (65a) of higher brilliance and with an outer fibre core (65b) of lower brilliance surrounding the inner fibre core. The control signal laser beam (SS) is coupled into the inner fibre core and the pump laser beam (HP-MM) is coupled into the outer fibre core. The radiation component converted from the outer fibre core into the inner fibre core due to the SRS amplification is adjusted by means of the coupled-in power of the control signal laser beam (SS) to adjust the brilliance of the machining laser beam leaving the SRS amplifier fibre.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: TRUMPF LASER GMBH + CO. KGInventors: Thomas Rrataj, Andreas Voss
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Patent number: 8761557Abstract: The present invention provides a compact optical fiber amplifier, which can minimize the size of an optical module and increase the degree of freedom in mounting the module on a board. The compact optical fiber amplifier according to the present invention includes: an optical module including a plurality of optical elements provided therein, an input port for introducing an optical fiber thereinto, and an outlet port for extract the optical fiber to the outside of the module; and a plurality of optical fibers introduced into or extracted from the optical module through the input port or the outlet port of the optical module and disposed above a predetermined radius of curvature on the outside of the optical module.Type: GrantFiled: December 8, 2011Date of Patent: June 24, 2014Assignee: Licomm Co., Ltd.Inventors: Sung Jun Kim, Jeong Mee Kim, Soo Young Yoon, Meong Kyu Choi, Jung Kwon Lee
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Publication number: 20140168755Abstract: A pulsed fiber laser apparatus for outputting picosecond laser pulses can comprise a fiber delivered pulsed seed laser for providing picosecond optical seed pulses, and at least one optical fiber amplifier in optical communication with the fiber delivered pulsed seed laser. The optical fiber amplifier can comprise a gain optical fiber that receives and optically amplifies picosecond optical pulses by operating in a nonlinear regime wherein the picosecond optical pulses can be spectrally broadened by a factor of at least 8 during amplification thereof. The apparatus can further comprise a pulse compressor apparatus in optical communication with the optical fiber amplifier for providing compressed picosecond optical pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 21, 2014Publication date: June 19, 2014Applicant: FIANIUM INC.Inventors: John Redvers Clowes, Paulo Almeida, Anatoly Borisovich Grudinin, Pascal Dupriez, Christophe Codemard
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Patent number: 8755660Abstract: An apparatus and method for compensating for mode-profile distortions caused by bending optical fibers having large mode areas. In various embodiments, the invention micro-structures the index of refraction in the core and surrounding areas of the inner cladding from the inner bend radius to the outer bend radius in a manner that compensates for the index changes that are otherwise induced in the index profile by the geometry and/or stresses to the fiber caused by the bending. Some embodiments of an apparatus and method include a fiber having a plurality of substantially parallel cores, the fiber including a straight section and a curved section; guiding signal light primarily in a second core in the straight section; guiding the signal light from the second core into a first core between the straight section and the curved section; and guiding the signal light primarily in the first core in the curved section.Type: GrantFiled: January 25, 2011Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventor: John D. Minelly
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Patent number: 8755649Abstract: An optical connector having a plurality of directional taps and connecting between a plurality of optical waveguides (e.g., such as a connector between a waveguide that is part of, or leads from, a seed laser and/or an initial optical-gain-fiber power amplifier, and a waveguide that is part of, or leads to, an output optical-gain-fiber power amplifier and/or a delivery fiber), wherein one of the directional taps extracts a small amount of the forward-traveling optical output signal from the seed laser or initial power amplifier (wherein this forward-tapped signal is optionally monitored using a sensor for the forward-tapped signal), and wherein another of the directional taps extracts at least some of any backward-traveling optical signal that may have been reflected (wherein this backward-tapped signal is optionally monitored using a sensor for the backward-tapped signal).Type: GrantFiled: August 11, 2010Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventors: Tolga Yilmaz, Khush Brar, Charles A. Lemaire
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Patent number: 8755111Abstract: An amplification optical fiber includes a core and a clad which covers the core. The core propagates light having a predetermined wavelength in at least an LP01 mode, an LP02 mode, and LP03 mode and, in the core, when the LP01 mode, the LP02 mode, and the LP03 mode are standardized by a power, in at least a part of a region where an intensity of at least one of the LP02mode and the LP03 mode is stronger than an intensity of the LP01 mode, an active element which stimulates and emits light having a predetermined wavelength is added with a higher concentration than that in at least a part of a region where the intensity of the LP01 mode is stronger than the intensities of the LP02 mode and the LP03 mode.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2013Date of Patent: June 17, 2014Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.Inventor: Masahiro Kashiwagi
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Patent number: 8749877Abstract: An amplifying optical fiber includes a core doped with an active element, a cladding covering the core, and an outer cladding covering the cladding. The cladding meets a relationship of 0.92?r/R?0.97 where the cladding has a polygonal outer shape in cross section, and the outer shape has an inscribed circle of a diameter r and a circumscribed circle of a diameter R.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: June 10, 2014Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.Inventor: Tomohiro Takanashi
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Publication number: 20140153084Abstract: A method and passive device for the coherent combination of two amplified and/or spectrally broadened optical beams using at least one bidirectional optical component (A1, A2), the device includes an amplitude division ring interferometer having optical splitting and recombining elements disposed so as to receive an incident optical beam (S0) and to split it spatially into a first secondary input beam (H1) and a second secondary input beam (H2), optical guiding elements disposed so as to define an optical path in the form of a ring in the interferometer, the at least one bidirectional optical component being disposed on the optical path of the ring interferometer, the splitting and recombining elements being disposed in such a way as to receive and to recombine spatially, temporally and coherently the first secondary output beam (H1?) and the second secondary output beam (H2?), so as to form a coherent output beam.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 11, 2012Publication date: June 5, 2014Applicants: AMPLITUDE SYSTEMES, ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUEInventors: Dimitris Papadopoulos, Marc Hanna, Louis Daniault, Yoann Zaouter, Frederic Druon
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Patent number: 8744224Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring signals in an optical fiber amplifier system are provided. The optical amplifier system includes a tapered fiber bundle which couples optical energy into the cladding of an optical amplifier. A signal passing through the optical amplifier is amplified. To monitor the amplified signal, a single fiber of a tapered fiber bundle may be used as a monitor fiber. Alternatively, a monitor or coupler may be integrated into the tapered fiber bundle during manufacturing. The systems and methods disclosed allow for monitoring the amplified signal without increasing the length of the amplified signal's path, thus minimizing the introduction of additional non-linearities.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 2006Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Alcatel LucentInventor: Paul F. Wysocki
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Patent number: 8736954Abstract: High power parallel fiber arrays for the amplification of high peak power pulses are described. Fiber arrays based on individual fiber amplifiers as well as fiber arrays based on multi-core fibers can be implemented. The optical phase between the individual fiber amplifier elements of the fiber array is measured and controlled using a variety of phase detection and compensation techniques. High power fiber array amplifiers can be used for EUV and X-ray generation as well as pumping of parametric amplifiers.Type: GrantFiled: April 27, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.Inventors: Martin E. Fermann, Ingmar Hartl, Andrius Marcinkevicius, Liang Dong
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Patent number: 8736955Abstract: Multi-clad optical fibers and fiber amplifiers are disclosed. Various embodiments include multi-clad, large core fiber amplifiers. In various implementations mixing of pump modes is enhanced relative to that obtainable with conventional double-clad fibers. In some embodiments end terminations are provided with increased length of end-cap fiber. In at least one embodiment a multi-clad fiber is provided, with a pump cladding formed by stacking a layer of low index rods in the preform. Various embodiments include a multi-clad fiber amplifier system. The system includes a pump source to pump said fiber amplifier. The system also includes an optical fiber having a core and a cladding, wherein the cladding includes a pump cladding having a corrugated boundary. In various embodiments the pump cladding is formed by rods in a preform, which are disposed to mix the pump modes and/or scatter or reflect pump energy into the core.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.Inventors: Liang Dong, Hugh McKay
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Patent number: 8736953Abstract: An apparatus and method that provide optical isolation by permitting substantially all forward-propagating light into a delivery fiber from an optical amplifier and substantially preventing backward-traveling light from the delivery fiber entering the optical amplifier without the use of a conventional optical isolator. Eliminating the isolator improves efficiency and reduces cost. Some embodiments use a delivery fiber having a non-circular core in order to spread a single-mode signal into multiple modes such that any backward-propagating reflection is inhibited from reentering the single-mode amplifier.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2011Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventor: Matthias P. Savage-Leuchs
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Publication number: 20140140361Abstract: An optical fiber which includes a core region embedded within a cladding. The core region of the optical fiber further comprises multiple sections, each doped with rare earth ions.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2014Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: AdValue Photonics, Inc.Inventor: Shibin Jiang
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Publication number: 20140139907Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are generally related to embodiments of the present invention relate to a fiber stretchers module for use in the 1550 nm wavelength range. In one embodiment of the present invention, a fiber stretcher module for use in the 1550 nm wavelength range comprises a first fiber comprising a relative dispersion curve value of greater than about 0.0002 nm?2 and a dispersion value of less than about ?60 ps/(nm·km) at about 1550 nm, and a second fiber comprising a relative dispersion curve value of about zero and a relative dispersion slope value of about 0.003 nm?1 at about 1550 nm, wherein the fiber stretcher module comprises a collective relative dispersion slope of about 0.0413 nm?1 and a relative dispersion curve of about 0.00286 nm?2 at 1550 nm.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 28, 2011Publication date: May 22, 2014Applicant: OFS Fitel, LLCInventor: Lars Gruner-Nielsen
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Patent number: 8730570Abstract: Techniques and devices for using a chirped fiber Bragg grating to compress amplified laser pulses.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2010Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: Calmar Optcom, Inc.Inventor: Anthony Hong Lin
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Patent number: 8724222Abstract: A Compact Interdependent Optical Laser System and Method is designed for use with wavelength beam combining (WBC) systems that utilize both slow-axis and fast-axis WBC. Multiple optical elements having individual and interdependent functionality allow for the system to compact reducing the overall footprint of the system. Additional, configurations incorporating the compact system described herein allow for high-power and brightness scaling.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2011Date of Patent: May 13, 2014Assignee: Teradiode, Inc.Inventors: Bien Chann, Robin Huang
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Patent number: 8717670Abstract: A fiber-MOPA includes a seed-pulse source followed by fiber amplifier stages. The seed pulse source delivers signal pulses for performing a laser operation and delivers radiation between the seed pulses to maintain the collective average of the seed pulse power and intermediate radiation power constant. Keeping this average power constant keeps the instantaneous available gain of the fiber amplifier stages constant. This provides that the seed pulse delivery can be changed from one regime to a next without a period of instability between the regimes.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: Andrei Starodoumov, Ronald Lambert, Michael Snadden, Andreas Diening
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Patent number: 8717669Abstract: A first optical fiber (12) having a first end and a second end is connected to a multimode second optical fiber (14) at the second end. The first optical fiber (12) outputs a substantially single mode optical beam at its second end. The multimode second optical fiber (14) converts light in the optical beam of single mode from the first optical fiber to light of multiple modes, and provides an output beam that has less diffractive spreading than that of a Gaussian beam.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2009Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: The Arizona Board of RegentsInventors: Xiushan Zhu, Axel Schulzgen, Nasser Peyghambarian
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Patent number: 8705166Abstract: Apparatus and method for amplifying laser signals using segments of fibers of differing core diameters and/or differing cladding diameters to suppress amplified spontaneous emission and non-linear effects such as four-wave mixing (FWM), self-phase modulation, and stimulated Brillouin and/or Raman scattering (SBS/SRS). In some embodiments, different core sizes have different sideband spacings (spacing between the desired signal and wavelength-shifted lobes). Changing core sizes and providing phase mismatches prevent buildup of non-linear effects. Some embodiments further include a bandpass filter to remove signal other than the desired signal wavelength and/or a time gate to remove signal at times other than during the desired signal pulse. Some embodiments include photonic-crystal structures to define the core for the signal and/or the inner cladding for the pump.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: April 22, 2014Assignee: Lockheed Martin CorporationInventor: Matthias P. Savage-Leuchs
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Publication number: 20140105232Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises a waveguide substrate and an optical reference cavity. The optical reference cavity comprises an optical waveguide formed on the waveguide substrate and arranged to form a closed loop greater than or about equal to 10 cm in length. The RMS resonance frequency fluctuation is less than or about equal to 100 Hz. The Q-factor can be greater than or about equal to 108. The optical waveguide can exhibit optical loss less than or about equal to 0.2 dB/m for propagation of an optical signal along the optical waveguide. The closed loop path can comprise two or more linked spirals greater than or about equal to 1 meter in length and can occupy an area on the waveguide substrate less than or about equal to 5 cm2.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2013Publication date: April 17, 2014Inventor: California Institute of Technology
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Patent number: 8693889Abstract: An apparatus comprising an optical power splitter, an optical delay line coupled to the optical power splitter, an optical amplifier (OA) coupled to the optical delay line, and an adaptive injection current (AIC) controller coupled to the optical power splitter and the OA. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising converting an optical signal into a voltage signal, calculating an amplitude correction value for the voltage signal, inverting an amplitude of the voltage signal, adjusting the amplitude of the inverted voltage signal according to the amplitude correction value, and converting the adjusted voltage signal into a current signal. Included is a network comprising an optical line terminal (OLT) comprising an optical receiver and an AIC controlled OA coupled to the optical receiver, wherein the AIC controlled OA provides optical power equalization for any upstream optical signals.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2011Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Yuxin Dai
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Patent number: 8681420Abstract: An optical transmission system includes an optical transmitter that sends signal light to a transmission path, an optical receiver that receives the signal light from the transmission path, and an optical amplifier that is provided on the transmission path and that amplifies the signal light, the optical amplifier being configured to control a gain characteristic of the optical amplifier such that a power of signal light having a wavelength included within a wavelength range in which polarization hole burning occurs is higher than a power of another signal light having a wavelength outside the wavelength range.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2011Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: Fujitsu LimitedInventors: Yasushi Sugaya, Takehiro Fujita
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Patent number: 8681421Abstract: An IR laser source providing light in the IR spectrum, the laser source comprising a pump laser operating at a frequency equivalent to wavelength shorter than 2 ?m and at a predetermined power, and an optic fiber coupled to the pump laser. The optic fiber has at least a section of a hollow core photonic crystal fiber, the at least a section of hollow core photonic crystal fiber being designed to have at least a passband in the IR spectrum and being filled with a molecular gas for triggering at least one Stoke's shift in the light entering the at least a section of hollow core photonic crystal fiber for the particular power of the pump laser, the at least one Stoke's shift be selected to cause the light entering the at least a section of hollow core photonic crystal fiber to shift in frequency into the passband in the IR spectrum of the hollow core photonic crystal fiber.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2010Date of Patent: March 25, 2014Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLCInventors: David M. Pepper, Hans Bruesselbach, Bryan Fong
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Patent number: 8675275Abstract: The present invention embraces an amplifying optical fiber having a central core adapted to convey and amplify an optical signal and a cladding that surrounds the central core to confine the optical signal conveyed in the central core. The central core is formed of a core matrix in which nanoparticles are present. The nanoparticles themselves include a nanoparticle matrix and rare-earth-dopant elements. The core matrix may also include one or more additional dopants (i.e., in addition to nanoparticles). The amplifying optical fiber possesses a small numerical aperture and is suitable for use in high-pump-power applications without a degraded gain shape.Type: GrantFiled: November 11, 2010Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Draka Comteq, B.V.Inventors: David Boivin, Alain Pastouret, Ekaterina Burov, Cedric Gonnet
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Publication number: 20140063593Abstract: A circuit apparatus for driving short current pulses through a laser diode is disclosed. The circuit allow fast recovery time, comparable to the pulse duration. This enables high duty cycle pulse trains and bursts. The fast recovery is achieved by a passively self gated charging of the pulse circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2012Publication date: March 6, 2014Inventor: Martin Ole Berendt
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Patent number: 8665515Abstract: A method of operating a fiber amplifier characterized by a spectral gain curve includes providing an input signal at a signal wavelength. The signal wavelength lies within an in-band portion of the spectral gain curve extending from a first in-band wavelength to a second in-band wavelength, the in-band portion being characterized by a first amplitude range. The method also includes providing pump radiation at a pump wavelength. The pump wavelength is less than the signal wavelength. The method further includes coupling the pump radiation to the fiber amplifier and amplifying the input signal to generate an output signal. All portions of the spectral gain curve at wavelengths less than the first in-band wavelength and greater than the pump wavelength are characterized by a second amplitude less than or equal to 10 dB greater than the first amplitude range.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2011Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: ESI-PyroPhotonics Lasers, Inc.Inventors: Richard Murison, Tullio Panarello, Benoit Reid, Reynald Boula-Picard
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Publication number: 20140055842Abstract: A semiconductor optical element includes an optical waveguide formed on a semiconductor substrate, which includes: a single mode guide portion which guides input light in a single mode; a curved portion disposed at a downstream side of the single mode guide portion in a waveguide direction of the light and guiding the light in a single mode; and a flared portion disposed at a downstream side of the curved portion in the waveguide direction and of which waveguide width is widened toward the waveguide direction, so that the flared portion can guide the light in a single mode at an light-input side and the flared portion can guide the light in a multi-mode at a light-output side. The input light is optically-amplified by each of the active layers in the single mode guide portion, the curved portion and the flared portion by an optically-amplifying effect of the active layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 7, 2013Publication date: February 27, 2014Applicant: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kazuaki KIYOTA
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Publication number: 20140055843Abstract: An apparatus includes a multi-core optical fiber and first, second, and third optical couplers. The multi-core optical fiber is rare-earth doped to provide optical amplification in response to optical pumping thereof. The first optical coupler is configured to end-couple a first multi-mode optical fiber to an end of the multi-core optical fiber. The second optical coupler is configured to end-couple a second multi-mode optical fiber to an end of the multi-core optical fiber. The third optical coupler is configured to optically couple a pump light source to the multi-core optical fiber.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2012Publication date: February 27, 2014Inventors: Ryf Roland, Nicolas K. Fontaine
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Publication number: 20140049810Abstract: A system for generating a shaped optical pulse is disclosed. The system includes a master oscillator for generating an initial optical pulse, which is then directed to a semiconductor optical amplifier to amplify a portion of the initial optical pulse. The amplified pulse is reflected from a fiber Bragg grating to spectrally clean the amplified pulse and the reflected portion is returned back through the semiconductor optical amplifier. The semiconductor optical amplifier is activated a second time to amplify the reflected portion of the pulse. The time delay between the two activations of the semiconductor optical amplifier is selected to generate an output pulse with desired duration and/or amplitude profile over time.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 15, 2012Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp.Inventors: Timothy McComb, Fabio Di Teodoro
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Publication number: 20140049811Abstract: The present invention relates to a pulse laser device, and more particularly, to a pulse laser device which can be operated in a burst mode, in which the output of a low-output laser generator is adjusted so as to enable the uniform control of the profile of the peak output of a final output optical pulse train, and in a variable burst mode, in which the profile of the final output optical pulse train can be controlled into an arbitrary waveform.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2011Publication date: February 20, 2014Applicant: GWANGJU INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGYInventors: Young-Chul Noh, Woojin Shin, Bong-Ahn Yu, Yeung Lak Lee, Changsoo Jung
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Patent number: 8655184Abstract: The present invention relates to a higher-order dispersion compensation device (210), the device being adapted to cooperate with a pair of optical components (P1, P2), e.g. a pair of prisms, being arranged to compensate first-order dispersion by separating different wavelengths spatially. The compensation device (210) has the form of a phase plate, wherein the phase change for each wavelength is adjusted by designing the height (h) at the corresponding position (x) of the plate so as to substantially compensate for higher-order dispersion. The invention is advantageous for obtaining a higher-order dispersion compensation device which is relatively simple to construct and use making it a quite cost-effective device. The invention also relates to a corresponding optical system and method for compensating dispersion where this is important, e.g. in a multiple-photon imaging system.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2009Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.Inventors: Gert Het Hooft, Bernardus Hendrikus Wilhelmus Hendriks, Mischa Megens
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Patent number: 8654800Abstract: A high power fiber laser is configured with a multimode active fiber and input and output single mode passive fibers butt-spliced to respective opposite ends of the active fiber. If the input passive and active fibers do not have substantially matched diameters, a SM radiation coupled into the active fiber may excite fundamental and high order modes which, while interfering with one another, create a non-uniform distribution of refractive index in each of forward and backward light propagation directions along the resonator of the laser. The variable longitudinal perturbation components of the refractive index in respective forward and backward directions along an optical path in the active fiber are distributed in accordance with respective cosine functions.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2011Date of Patent: February 18, 2014Assignee: IPG Photonics CorporationInventors: Roman Yagodkin, Nikolai Platanov, Mikhail Meleshkevich
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Patent number: 8643942Abstract: In various embodiments, an optical element, e.g., an optical fiber, may be configured to compensate for thermal lensing. For example, thermal lensing may be caused by light power dissipation within an optical fiber, which may include a fiber core that guides amplified light along the longitudinal dimension of the fiber core. Thermal lensing from a thermally induced change in material refractive index as a function of position along dimensions perpendicular to the fiber's longitudinal dimension may be at least partially compensated or offset when light is guided by the fiber core by a designed-in effective refractive index profile selected such that the designed-in material refractive index of the fiber core changes as a function of transverse position within the fiber core, or by selection of a favorable cross-sectional core shape in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the fiber core.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2010Date of Patent: February 4, 2014Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Friedrich P. Strohkendl, Vladimir V. Shkunov, David A. Rockwell
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Publication number: 20140029084Abstract: An amplification optical fiber includes a core and a clad which covers the core. The core propagates light having a predetermined wavelength in at least an LP01 mode, an LP02 mode, and LP03 mode and, in the core, when the LP01 mode, the LP02 mode, and the LP03 mode are standardized by a power, in at least a part of a region where an intensity of at least one of the LP02 mode and the LP03 mode is stronger than an intensity of the LP01 mode, an active element which stimulates and emits light having a predetermined wavelength is added with a higher concentration than that in at least a part of a region where the intensity of the LP01 mode is stronger than the intensities of the LP02 mode and the LP03 mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2013Publication date: January 30, 2014Applicant: FUJIKURA LTD.Inventor: Masahiro Kashiwagi
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Publication number: 20140002893Abstract: The invention relates to a fiber amplifier system for amplifying and emitting pulsed radiation, having a master source (1) which emits pulsed output radiation, and at least one amplifier stage (4), which is arranged after the master source (1) in the direction of radiation, and which amplifies the output radiation. The aim of the invention is to provide a fiber amplifier system for amplifying and emitting pulsed radiation which avoids stimulated Brillouin scattering as effectively as possible and at the same time can be produced simply and inexpensively. To this end, the output radiation emitted by the master source (1) is broadband and is generated substantially by means of spontaneous emission.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 2011Publication date: January 2, 2014Applicants: FRIEDRICH-SCHILLER-UNIVERSITAET JENA, FRAUNHOFER-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FOERDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG E.V.Inventors: Dirk Nodop, Jens Limpert, Andreas Tuennermann
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Patent number: 8614850Abstract: An embodiment of the invention comprises determining a gain tilt based on power measurements from a power measurement block, determining a noise figure penalty based on the gain tilt, determining a gain tilt compensation to compensate for the gain tilt taking into account the noise figure penalty, and communicating the gain tilt compensation to an amplifier block to apply the gain tilt compensation to subsequently received wavelengths.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 2011Date of Patent: December 24, 2013Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.Inventors: Larry Michael Wolfrum, Julia Y. Larikova, Richard Cleveland Younce
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Publication number: 20130336343Abstract: An optical fiber has: a core made of silica glass in which a rare earth element and aluminum have been added; an inner cladding layer that is formed around the core, is made of silica glass in which at least any one of an alkali metal and an alkali earth metal has been added, and has a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the core; and an outer cladding layer that is formed around the inner cladding layer and has a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the inner cladding layer.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 22, 2013Publication date: December 19, 2013Applicant: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Ryo MIYABE, Keiichi Aiso