Thin Film Optical Waveguide Patents (Class 385/130)
  • Publication number: 20100260461
    Abstract: There is provided a waveguide type optical device whose parasitic capacitance is reduced to allow an increase in signal transmission speed. Bottom electrode 41 is formed on substrate 2, bottom cladding 51 is formed on bottom electrode 41, and bottom core 62 is formed on bottom cladding 51. Top core 61 is formed on bottom core 62, top cladding 53 is formed on top core 61, and top electrode 42 is formed on top cladding 53. Two sides of top core 61 and bottom core 62 are covered with side cladding layer 52. Vertically overlapping portions of top electrode 42 and bottom electrode 41 are located almost at a same place as a region for a core layer composed of top core 61 and bottom core 62. The width of one from among top core 61 and bottom core 62 is satisfying a single mode condition, and the width of the other is almost equal to or more than the width of a field distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Takanori Shimizu, Masafumi Nakada
  • Patent number: 7811640
    Abstract: This invention describes methods for fabricating polymer optical waveguides, and polymer optical waveguides themselves wherein at least one of the optical layers is deposited by a two-stage deposition process. In particular, the two-stage deposition process comprises spinning as the second step. Preferably, the polymer optical waveguide comprises a three layer structure comprising a lower cladding layer, a light guiding core layer and an upper cladding layer, supported on a substrate. The invention has particular application to the volume production of polymer optical waveguides on large area substrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: RPO Pty Limited
    Inventors: Robert Bruce Charters, Dax Kukulj, Ian Andrew Maxwell, Graham Roy Atkins
  • Publication number: 20100239219
    Abstract: A particle includes: a metal; and a compound containing a hydrogen-bonding forming group, an absorption group different from the hydrogen-bonding forming group, and an aromatic ring, M representing the metal, A representing the absorption group, B representing the hydrogen-bonding forming group, a representing an integer of 0 or greater, b representing an integer of 0 or greater, c representing an integer of 1 or greater, R1 representing an aromatic ring (a planar ring up to a pi-electron number of 24) and a derivative of the aromatic ring, R2 through R5 representing a hydrogen atom, saturated hydrocarbon, unsaturated hydrocarbon, an ether bond, an ester bond, a cyano group, or derivatives of the substances and bonds, and the compound having a structure expressed by the following chemical formula.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicants: KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, INSTITUTE OF NATIONAL COLLEGES OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Ko Yamada, Kenji Todori, Shigeru Machida
  • Publication number: 20100239218
    Abstract: To provide an optical waveguide device which can allow a light-receiving element to be precisely aligned with a diffused waveguide formed in a dielectric substrate to implement an evanescent coupling light-receiving element. An optical waveguide device includes a dielectric substrate 1, a diffused waveguide 2 formed by thermally diffusing a high-refractive material into the dielectric substrate, and a light-receiving element 4 which is disposed above the diffused waveguide and which receives a part of an optical wave propagating in the diffused waveguide. Here, at least a part 3 of a pedestal 3 and 5 supporting the light-receiving element above the dielectric substrate is formed by disposing the high-refractive material in a predetermined pattern in the vicinity of the diffused waveguide and thermally diffusing the high-refractive material at the same time as forming the diffused waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Publication date: September 23, 2010
    Applicant: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sudou, Katsutoshi Kondou, Junichiro Ichikawa
  • Patent number: 7801399
    Abstract: Parallel-aligned core layers are formed by patterning a core sheet laminated on a base plate, and a clad/core bonded body is formed by laminating a cladding sheet. The base plate is peeled from one surface of the clad/core bonded body and a dicing tape is pasted on the other surface of the clad/core bonded body. An inclined surface is formed by bevel-cutting both end portions of the core layers. Clad/core bonded pieces are formed by straight-cutting the cladding sheet between core layers and on an outside of outermost core layers. A mask is disposed on the clad/core bonded pieces, and then a metal film is formed on the inclined surface. The clad/core bonded pieces are separated individually by peeling the pieces from the dicing tape after the mask is removed. The clad/core bonded piece is brought into contact with the liquid adhesive coated on a circuit substrate and aligned thereon. Then, the liquid adhesive is cured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Shinko Electric Industries Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kazunao Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7796855
    Abstract: An electro-optic waveguide device comprising an electro-optic polymer core and at least one crosslinked polymer clad, wherein the crosslinked polymer clad is comprised of a first constitutional unit derived from a compound having the formula wherein, m=0-6; n=0-1; q=1-3; y=0-3; Ar1 is an aryl or heteroaryl group; and independently at each occurrence p=0-1; R is an alkyl, heteroalkyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group; Ar2 is an aryl or heteroaryl group; and X is a crosslinkable group. The R group may be an alkyl or heteroalkyl group with at least 6 atoms in a straight chain. In some embodiments, the R group is an alkoxy capped oligoalkylene group. Other embodiments include a polymer comprising a first constitutional unit derived from a compound having the formula described above.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Inventors: Lixin Zheng, Danliang Jin
  • Patent number: 7794561
    Abstract: Printed circuit boards that include optical interconnects include a flexible optical waveguide embedded or locally attached to the board having at least one end mechanically decoupled from the board during fabrication that can be fitted with a mechanical connector. Also disclosed are processes for fabricating the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tobias P. Lamprecht, Roger F. Dangel, Folkert Horst
  • Patent number: 7796842
    Abstract: An AC-coupled differential drive circuit for an optical modulator is utilized, where a common “node” is defined between top (or bottom) plates of the modulator arms themselves (the “arms” of a modulator taking the form of MOS capacitors). A low pass filter is disposed between the differential driver output and the modulator's common node to provide the desired AC coupling by filtering out the DC bias voltage of the driver circuit itself without the need for a separate, external AC coupling capacitor. An independent, adjustable DC potential can then be applied to the common node, and will appear in a balanced manner across each arm of the modulator to provide the desired DC bias for the modulator independent of the DC bias of the driver circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Lightwire, Inc.
    Inventor: Paulius Mindaugas Mosinskis
  • Patent number: 7792402
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises an optical waveguide, a grating for coupling light into the waveguide, and an optical element for splitting a light beam into a plurality of beams that strike the grating at different angles of incidence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Chubing Peng
  • Patent number: 7787736
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a semiconductor optoelectronic waveguide having a nin-type hetero structure which is able to stably operate an optical modulator. On the upper and lower surfaces of the core layer determined for the structure so that electro-optical effects are effectively exerted at an operating light wavelength and are provided with intermediate clad layers having a band gap which is greater than that of the core layer 11. Respectively on the upper and the lower surface of the intermediate clad layer are provided the clad layers having the band gap which is greater than those of the intermediate clad layers. On the upper surface of the clad layer are sequentially laminated a p-type layer and an n-type layer. In the applied voltage range used under an operating state, a whole region of the p-type layer and a part or a whole region of the n-type layer are depleted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignees: NTT Electronics Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Tadao Ishibashi, Seigo Ando, Ken Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 7787734
    Abstract: A photonic crystal is configured with wavelength converting material to act as a concentrator for electromagnetic energy. The concentrator may also be configured with energy conversion devices to convert the electromagnetic energy into another form of energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Inventor: Roderick A. Hyde
  • Patent number: 7787718
    Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a metal supporting board including a board trench portion, an insulating base layer formed on a surface of the metal supporting board, a conductive pattern formed on a surface of the insulating base layer, and an optical waveguide provided to overlap the board trench portion when projected in a thickness direction of the metal supporting board. At least a part of the optical waveguide is positioned closer to the conductive pattern than to a back surface of the metal supporting board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Ishii, Toshiki Naito
  • Patent number: 7780359
    Abstract: The present invention provides a longer optical transmission line in an photoelectric flexible wiring board to downsize the photoelectric flexible wiring board and obtaining high flexibility and good optical transmission characteristics. In an photoelectric flexible wiring board 30, photonic devices 45 and 55 performing photoelectric conversion and drivers 60 and 70 therefor are excluded. The photonic devices 45 and 55 are mounted in connectors 40 and 50 for connecting the photoelectric flexible wiring board 30 to mounting boards 12 and 22. The drivers 60 and 70 are mounted on the mounting boards 12 and 22 together with the connectors 40 and 50.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Hosiden Corporation
    Inventors: Hayato Kondo, Takayuki Nagata
  • Patent number: 7783142
    Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, a package is provided in which the PLC substrate, for example, is bonded to the underyling carrier though a limited contact area. The rest of the substrate is detached from the carrier so that stresses are applied to a limited portion of the PLC substrate. The PLC itself, however, is provided over that portion of the substrate that is detached from the carrier, and thus experiences reduced stress. Accordingly, high modulus adhesives, as well as solders, may be used to bond the PLC substrate to the carrier, thereby resulting in a more robust mechanical structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph Edward Riska
  • Patent number: 7783151
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a distributed Bragg reflector waveguide is disclosed, which includes forming a first distributed Bragg reflector on a substrate; forming a sacrificial pattern on the first distributed Bragg reflector; forming a second distributed Bragg reflector on the sacrificial pattern and the first distributed Bragg reflector; and removing the sacrificial pattern. A distributed Bragg reflector waveguide is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: National Central University
    Inventors: Chii-Chang Chen, Hua-Kung Chiu
  • Patent number: 7783150
    Abstract: A method for creating a master and for generating an optical waveguide therefrom. The method includes creating a waveguide master having the geometrical form of at least one optical element formed therein; and generating an embossed optical waveguide from the master, the embossed optical waveguide being a negative of the master, the embossed optical waveguide having an optical element formed therein which corresponds to and is a negative of the geometrical form of the optical element formed in the master, the embossed optical waveguide being formed of a polymer material having a first index of refraction, wherein the optical element is formed in the polymer material and creates a local modification of the refractive index of the polymer material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Printpack Illinois, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard A. Steenblik, Mark J. Hurt
  • Patent number: 7777873
    Abstract: An exemplary refractive-index sensor includes a photonic crystal microcavity structure, a light source, and a detector. The photonic crystal microcavity structure includes a photonic crystal layer having first holes and a second hole. The first holes are arranged in a pattern of staggered parallel rows. The second hole is located at an approximate center point of the middle row of the pattern rather than a first hole. A diameter of the second hole is less than that of each of the first holes. Some of the first holes disposed at each of opposite ends of a diagonal row having the second hole are omitted to define an input waveguide and an output waveguide. The light source is adjacent to the input waveguide. The detector is adjacent to the output waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiao-Ling Wang, Guo-Fan Jin, Jun Zhu
  • Patent number: 7773849
    Abstract: A backlight assembly for feeding illuminating light to a passive display panel is disclosed. The backlight assembly comprises a plurality of waveguides being formed and/or embedded in at least one substrate and arranged to feed illuminating light to each sub-pixel position of the passive display panel in a manner such that each pixel region is illuminated by at least two waveguides, wherein each waveguide of the at least two waveguides is disposed to illuminate one sub-pixel position of the pixel region by a respective color channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: OMS Displays Ltd.
    Inventor: Yosi Shani
  • Patent number: 7773833
    Abstract: Light having components of frequencies f0, f+1 and f?1 outputted from an optical modulator (10) is monitored, a second light detection means (14b) measures the power P2 of all the components, and a first light detection means (14a) measures the power P1 with frequency f0 component cut out by a filter means (13). Based on these light receiving powers (P1) and (P2), phase differences imparted by the respective DC electrodes of Mach-Zehnder optical waveguides (MZ-A, MZ-B, MZ-C) of the optical modulator (10) are controlled. The control is performed to minimize the light receiving power (P1) and to maximize the light receiving power (P2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Higuma, Toshio Sakane
  • Patent number: 7773841
    Abstract: Fiber optic sensors commonly require a 180 degree turnaround to form a continuous optical circuit. Methods and apparatus for providing 180 degree turnarounds in a fiber optic system that include a shorter radius turnaround then provided by micro-bending the optic fiber are desired. An embodiment of a turnaround apparatus includes a first optic fiber pigtail, a second optic fiber pigtail, and an optical waveguide forming a U-shaped path having an input end optically connected to a first end of the first pigtail and an output end optically connected to a first end of the second pigtail.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Harini Varadarajan, Ramaswamy Meyyappan
  • Patent number: 7769264
    Abstract: An optical waveguide includes: a core portion through which light propagates; a cladding portion enclosing the core portion along a direction of light propagation, and a colored resin for position recognition marking, the optical waveguide having substantially planar outer surfaces including principal surfaces thereof, and the colored resin being embedded in the optical waveguide at a position that does not substantially overlap the core portion when viewed from a direction perpendicular to a principal surface of the optical waveguide and does not substantially contact the core portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiko Suzuki, Keishi Shimizu, Akira Fujii, Kazutoshi Yatsuda, Masahiro Igusa, Shigemi Ohtsu
  • Patent number: 7764861
    Abstract: A photonic crystal device according to the present invention includes: a first dielectric substrate 104 having a first lattice structure, of which the dielectric constant changes periodically within a first plane; a second dielectric substrate 105 having a second lattice structure, of which the dielectric constant changes periodically within a second plane; and an adjustment device (pivot 303) for changing a photonic band structure, defined by the first and second lattice structures, by varying relative arrangement of the first and second lattice structures. The first and second dielectric substrates 104 and 105 are stacked one upon the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Ushio Sangawa, Tomoyasu Fujishima, Hiroshi Kanno, Kazuyuki Sakiyama
  • Patent number: 7759129
    Abstract: The invention provides an optical sensor for detecting chemical reaction activity, including, e.g., enzyme activity and catalytic or reactive molecule activity. An optical sensor of the invention includes a porous photonic film that produces a predetermined spectral reflectance response. In preferred embodiments, the film has a chemical coating (such as a hydrophobic layer) within its pores with an affinity for the reaction product(s) of the catalytic or otherwise reactive analyte A coating can also act as a protective layer in preferred embodiment. A thin substrate susceptible to reaction by at least one analyte of interest is on the surface of the thin film to block pores of the thin film. A method of detecting chemical reaction activity of the invention exposes the optical sensor to an analyte of interest, such as an enzyme or otherwise catalytic or reactive molecule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Michael J. Sailor, Manuel M. Orosco, Claudia Pacholski, Gordon M. Miskelly
  • Patent number: 7760973
    Abstract: In a light emitting device, efficiency and stability are improved. A light emitting device 10 includes a three-dimensional photonic crystal 20. The three-dimensional photonic crystal includes a first defect part 70 forming a resonator including an active medium, a second defect part 80 forming a waveguide for taking out light generated by the resonator, a P clad part 40 formed of a P-type semiconductor, and a N clad part 50 formed of a first N-type semiconductor. The second defect part is provided only in the N clad part among the P clad part and the N clad part. At least a part of the second defect part is formed of a second N-type semiconductor and constitutes a heat radiation unit which radiates a heat to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Aihiko Numata
  • Patent number: 7756377
    Abstract: The invention provides a waveguide comprising a channel 12 on an optical substrate 11, the refractive index of the channel being higher than that of the substrate. The waveguide includes at least one guide layer 13 arranged on the channel, the index of said guide layer being higher than that of the substrate. In addition, the channel 12 is integrated in the substrate 11. advantageously, the waveguide further includes a covering layer 14 deposited on the guide layer 13, the index of said covering layer being lower than that of the guide layer and lower than that of the channel. The invention also provides a method of fabricating the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Inventors: Stéphane Tisserand, Laurent Roux, Frank Torregrossa, François Flory, Ludovic Escoubas, Emmanuel Drouard
  • Patent number: 7756376
    Abstract: An optical functional waveguide having a small size, used with stored energy, controlling the phase of light at high speed, and adjusting the optical path length. The optical functional waveguide includes a substrate (11), a quartz waveguide clad (12), a quartz waveguide core (13), groove structures (14), a filling material (15), and heater electrode (16). The filling material (15) placed in the groove structures (14) is, e.g., a resin transparent to the wavelength region of the guided light, and the refractive index temperature coefficient is about 10 to 100 times that of quartz. The heater electrode (16) is interposed between the groove structures (14) provided along the optical path. Therefore, the temperature of the filling material (15) can be varied sharply and quickly with little energy expended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Keio University
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Tsuda
  • Patent number: 7756366
    Abstract: An optical waveguide film includes: an optical waveguide film main body including an optical waveguide core through which light travels and a cladding portion that surrounds the optical waveguide core and has a lower refractive index than that of the optical waveguide core; an electric wiring portion including silver or a silver alloy and formed on at least a part of a principal surface of the optical waveguide film main body; and a protective layer including a titanium layer or a titanium alloy layer and disposed to cover the electric wiring portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemi Ohtsu, Akira Fujii, Kazutoshi Yatsuda, Masahiro Igusa, Toshihiko Suzuki, Keishi Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7747121
    Abstract: A bending waveguide is provided including a core having an input end and an output end, wherein the output end has a near field enhanced aperture structure, and a metal cladding enclosing the core. The core is bent in a curve and a radius of curvature of the curve is a resonance radius at which an intensity of transmitted light with respect to a wavelength of incident light is a maximum. Thus, the direction of the incident light can be changed by a predetermined angle while maintaining the field enhancement characteristic of the conventional near field enhanced aperture without an additional optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun-hyoung Cho, Sung-dong Suh, Jin-seung Sohn
  • Patent number: 7747122
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for high speed silicon optical modulation is described using a PN diode. In one example, an optical waveguide has adjoining first and second doped semiconductor regions. The first and second regions have opposite doping types and the first doped region extends in two perpendicular directions through the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Yoel Shetrit, Ling Liao, Ansheng Liu
  • Publication number: 20100158445
    Abstract: Provided are a flexible waveguide structure and an optical interconnection assembly. The flexible waveguide structure includes a thin film strip core, an inner cladding layer, and an outer cladding layer. The thin film strip core has opposed first and second surfaces and is formed of a metal. The inner cladding layer covers at least one of the first and second surfaces of the thin film strip core. The outer cladding layer covers the inner cladding layer. The inner cladding layer has a refractive index higher than that of the outer cladding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Min-Su Kim, Jong-Moo Lee, Suntak Park, Jung Jin Ju, Jin Tae Kim, Seung Koo Park, Joong-Seon Choe
  • Patent number: 7740387
    Abstract: A backlight may include a light guide and a light input. The light guide may have a light reflection surface and a light emission surface. The light input may include a diverging wedge having a narrow end and opposing side surfaces extending to the narrow end. A light source may be disposed adjacent to one of the opposing side surfaces and may emit light into the light input portion. A multilayer polymeric mirror film may be disposed adjacent to the opposing side surfaces but not in intimate contact therewith and may reflect more than 95% of visible light incident on the multilayer polymeric mirror film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: John C. Schultz, Jacob Moskovich, William J. Bryan, Michael A. Meis
  • Patent number: 7742662
    Abstract: Photonic crystal (PC) sensors, and sensor arrays and sensing systems incorporating PC sensors are described which have integrated fluid containment and/or fluid handling structures. Sensors and sensing systems of the present disclosure are capable of high throughput sensing of analytes in fluid samples, bulk refractive index detection, and label-free detection of a range of molecules, including biomolecules and therapeutic candidates. The present disclosure also provides a commercially attractive fabrication platform for making photonic crystal sensors and systems wherein an integrated fluid containment structure and a photonic crystal structure are fabricated in a single molding or imprinting processing step amendable to high throughput processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois
    Inventor: Brian T. Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20100150511
    Abstract: A compressible photonic crystal comprising a polymer with an ordered array of voids, the photonic crystal having a reflectance in a first wavelength range for light incident to its incident surface and its opposing incident surface; wherein compression against at least a portion of at least one of the surfaces shifts the reflectance to a second wavelength range in at least that portion of that surface. The crystal may be used in authentication devices of various types.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 16, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: THE GOVERNING COUNCIL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO
    Inventors: Andre Arsenault, Geoffrey Alan Ozin, Georg Von Freymann
  • Publication number: 20100150512
    Abstract: A low-loss waveguide that can be curved aggressively, that is, curved with a radius of curvature that is substantially zero, in the plane of propagation, without radiating, is formed by a slab of dielectric material having four metal plates, two on each opposite surface of the slab and mutually spaced to define in the dielectric slab between the four metal plates a confinement zone. In use, electromagnetic radiation injected in one end of the zone by suitable input means will propagate throughout the zone to an extraction means. Lower loss and better confinement of the radiation may be obtained by providing plugs of dielectric material adjacent the inwardly-facing edge of each of the metal plates. Embodiments of the invention can be used to implement integrated optical devices and circuits for routing or processing light signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Pierre Simon Joseph Berini, Robin Andrew Buckley
  • Publication number: 20100150510
    Abstract: The present invention provides a flexible optical waveguide in which at least one of a lower cladding layer, a core layer, and an upper cladding layer is composed of an epoxy film formed using an epoxy resin composition containing a polyglycidyl compound having a polyalkylene glycol chain(s) and at least two glycidyl groups or an epoxy film having a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 100° C. or lower, a process for its production, and an epoxy resin composition for flexible optical waveguides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: Shimpei Sato, Kozo Tajiri, Yoko Matsui, Tomomi Makino
  • Patent number: 7738755
    Abstract: An optical waveguide film and an electrical and optical hybrid circuit film having a high durability for folding while keeping the core size of the optical waveguide at a desired level are provided. The optical waveguide film is flexible, having a core made of a resin that composes an optical waveguide, a clad made of a resin, and a hollow groove extending in the same direction in which the core extends wherein at least at a portion of the optical waveguide film is folded so that the folding axis intersects with the core-extending direction at the portion. The films can contribute to the miniaturization of electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsui Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Shioda
  • Patent number: 7738752
    Abstract: It is made possible to provide an optical waveguide system that has a coupling mechanism capable of selecting a wavelength and has the highest possible conversion efficiency, and that is capable of providing directivity in the light propagation direction. An optical waveguide system includes: a three-dimensional photonic crystalline structure including crystal pillars and having a hollow structure inside thereof; an optical waveguide in which a plurality of metal nanoparticles are dispersed in a dielectric material, the optical waveguide having an end portion inserted between the crystal pillars of the three-dimensional photonic crystalline structure, and containing semiconductor quantum dots that are located adjacent to the metal nanoparticles and emit near-field light when receiving excitation light, the metal nanoparticles exciting surface plasmon when receiving the near-field light; and an excitation light source that emits the excitation light for exciting the semiconductor quantum dots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masakazu Yamagiwa, Kenji Todori, Reiko Yoshimura, Miho Maruyama, Kou Yamada, Yasuyuki Hotta, Tsukasa Tada
  • Patent number: 7738161
    Abstract: A wavelength converting device has a substrate made of an electro-optic material and converts a wavelength of a fundamental light to oscillate a converted light. A wavelength converting portion is provided in the substrate and has a cross sectional area of 0.0001 mm2 or larger and 0.01 mm2 or smaller. A pair of thinner portions are provided in both sides of the wavelength converting portion, respectively, and thinner than the wavelength converting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Yoshino, Shoichiro Yamaguchi
  • Publication number: 20100140069
    Abstract: A concavo-convex light emitting section provided on an under surface of a base material is formed of a synthetic resin with inorganic oxide dispersed therein. A larger amount of light is reflected by inorganic oxide having a large refractive index and dispersed inside the synthetic resin, to cause a plurality of light emitting sections to emit bright light with a small number of light emitting elements. A light guiding sheet capable of making bright and uniform illumination and a movable contact body using the same are realized with a simple configuration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: PANASONIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naoki TATEHATA, Tsutomu AISAKA, Hirotoshi WATANABE, Yousuke CHIKAHISA
  • Patent number: 7731430
    Abstract: A sub-mount for mounting optical components includes a recess for mounting whose side wall is tapered. A light transmission and reception module includes the sub-mount for mounting optical component. The sub-mount is manufactured by forming a master mold of the sub-mount formed with projections and recesses including the recess for mounting of the sub-mount, applying liquid silicone rubber to the mater mold, curing the liquid silicone rubber to produce a mold for duplication, filling the curable material into the mold for duplication, curing the curable material, and separating the cured curable material from the mold for duplication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigemi Ohtsu, Toshihiko Suzuki, Keishi Shimizu, Kazutoshi Yatsuda, Akira Fujii, Eiichi Akutsu
  • Patent number: 7729568
    Abstract: The application relates to an optical device for enhancing the stress to be generated in a substrate in comparison with a conventional technique. To this end, the optical device includes a substrate having a photoelastic effect, a first stress layer formed on a first face of the substrate and having a pattern for generating stress which induces refraction index variation by the photoelastic effect in a partial region in the substrate, and a second stress layer formed on a second face which is a reverse face to the first face of the substrate and configured to generate stress for restoring the shape from the deformation caused by the stress generated in the substrate by the first stress layer in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Takashi Shiraishi, Kazuhiro Tanaka, Tetsuya Miyatake
  • Patent number: 7729587
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing a planar multimode optical waveguide by direct photo-patterning and, more particularly, to an optical waveguide material and a method of producing the same. It is possible to control the refractive index of the optical waveguide, and the optical waveguide has a desirable refractive index distribution throughout different dielectric regions. In the method, it is unnecessary to conduct processes of forming a clad layer and of etching a core layer, thus a production process is simplified. The method comprises coating a photosensitive hybrid material having a refractive index or a volume changed by light radiation, in a thickness of 10 microns or more, and radiating light having a predetermined wavelength onto the coated photosensitive hybrid material to form the multimode optical waveguide due to a change in refractive index of a portion onto which light is radiated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Assignee: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Byeong-Soo Bae, Dong-Jun Kang, Jin-Ki Kim, Woo-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7729748
    Abstract: Systems for highly efficient, in-vivo collection of modulated infra-red light are presented. Specifically, these devices are arranged in an important format with a view to integration with a wristwatch or other wearable device. An optical aperture of large surface area, specially distributed in an annular ring, receives radiation having been modulated in a tissue test site by blood flow. Radiation received about the annular aperture is redirected by a blazed grating or similar optical element at near perpendicular angles, into a radially distributed, condensing light pipe array and further toward a common axis. Radiation converges on the axis, thus increasing the energy density of the collected signal, before it is further directed via a conic element to a detector such as a photodiode. In some versions, these highly specialized optical paths may be formed into a single element of inexpensive plastic or other rigid substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2010
    Inventor: Joseph Florian
  • Patent number: 7724999
    Abstract: An electro-optical device having a non-volatile programmable refractive index. The device includes: a waveguiding structure with waveguiding material, the waveguiding structure defining an optical beam path, where the waveguiding structure includes a transition metal oxide with oxygen vacancies that migrate when exposed to an electric field; and a plurality of electrodes for applying an electric field to a region including the transition metal oxide with oxygen vacancies; where the transition metal oxide and the electrodes are arranged such that under the applied electric field the oxygen vacancies migrate in a direction that has a component which is radial relative to a center of the beam path. Further, there is provided a method for making the electro-optical device, including: fabricating the waveguiding structure; positioning a plurality of electrodes for application of an electric field; and arranging the transition metal oxide and the electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Ingmar Meijer, Thilo Eermann Curt Stöferle
  • Patent number: 7724988
    Abstract: An opto-electronic board including a printed wiring board with an optical waveguide, a metallic area, and a hole, wherein an abutting face of the optical waveguide and an abutting face of the metallic area form a part of the side face of the hole. The opto-electronic board further comprises an opto-electronic circuit with a bonding pad, wherein the opto-electronic circuit is arranged in the hole and soldered with its bonding pad to the abutting face of the metallic area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Laurent A. Dellmann, Michel Despont, Bert J. Offrein, David J. Webb
  • Patent number: 7720334
    Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises a first and second cladding layers and first and second core layers between the cladding layers. The second core has a set of diffractive elements. The first core and the claddings are arranged to form a slab waveguide supporting slab waveguide modes and confining in one transverse dimension optical signals propagating in two dimensions in the slab waveguide modes. The second core and the claddings are arranged to from a channel waveguide supporting one or more channel waveguide optical modes and confining in two transverse dimensions optical signals propagating in one dimension in the channel waveguide modes. The diffractive elements are arranged to couple at least one slab waveguide mode and at least one channel waveguide mode to enable transfer of an optical signal between the slab and channel waveguide optical modes thus coupled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Inventors: Thomas W. Mossberg, Christoph M. Greiner, Dmitri Iazikov
  • Patent number: 7718422
    Abstract: The invention concerns a device for enhancing fluorescence comprising a support (10) carrying fluorescence enhancement means (11), the fluorescence enhancement means offering a reception surface for chemical or biological elements intended to be read by detection of a fluorescence signal emitted by a fluorophore, associated with the chemical or biological elements, under the effect of an excitation light beam. The fluorescence enhancement means (11) is made up of a thin, transparent, dielectric layer or a stack of thin, transparent, dielectric layers (12 to 16) ensuring a mirror function for the fluorescence signal and excitation light beam, the material of the thin layer or of each thin layer of the stack being chosen from among the following materials: TiO2, Ta2O5, HfO2, ZrO2, MgO, SiO2, Si3N4, MgF2 and YF3. The fluorescence enhancement device may be used for a biological or chemical optic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventors: Patrick Chaton, Françoise Vinet, Pierre Barritault, Stéphane Getin
  • Patent number: 7720335
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a hybrid planar lightwave circuit in which a silicon reflective diffraction grating etched with a highly accurate deep reactive ion etching process is mounted in a trench formed in a high optical performance silica on silicon waveguide device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Enablence Inc.
    Inventors: Matt Pearson, Ashok Balakrishnan, Serge Bidnyk
  • Patent number: 7713767
    Abstract: A method of making a circuitized substrate (e.g., PCB) including at least one and possibly several internal optical pathways as part thereof such that the resulting substrate will be capable of transmitting and/or receiving both electrical and optical signals. The method involves forming at least one opening between a side of the optical core and an adjacent upstanding member such that the opening is defined by at least one angular sidewall. Light passing through the optical core material (or into the core from above) is reflected off this angular sidewall. The medium (e.g., air) within the opening thus also serves as a reflecting medium due to its own reflective index in comparison to that of the adjacent optical core material. The method utilizes many processes used in conventional PCB manufacturing, thereby keeping costs to a minimum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Endicott Interconnect Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Benson Chan, How T. Lin, Roy H. Magnuson, Voya R. Markovich, Mark D. Poliks
  • Patent number: 7715667
    Abstract: Disclosed is a metal waveguide device, and nano plasmonic integrated circuits and an optical integrated circuit module using the same. The nano plasmonic integrated circuit module includes an input coupling unit, an input focusing unit, a surface plasmon polariton waveguide for guiding surface plasmon polaritons, a signal sensing/processing unit, an output defocusing unit, and an output coupling unit for converting surface plasmon polariton signals into optical signals. The optical integrated circuit module includes the nano plasmonic integrated circuit module, thus realizing highly integrated photonic circuits having a micro structure, low power consumption and low price.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Sungkyunkwan University Foundation for Corporate Collaboration
    Inventors: Myung Hyun Lee, Hae Ryeong Park