With Optical Coupler Patents (Class 385/15)
  • Patent number: 7943229
    Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises: a substrate; an optical device, an optical waveguide, or an optical element on the first substrate surface; a reflection-suppressing layer on a second substrate surface opposite the first substrate surface; and an absorbing layer on the reflection-suppressing layer, so that over at least a portion of the second substrate surface the reflection-suppressing layer is between the second substrate surface and the absorbing layer. The absorbing layer absorbs light over at least a portion of an operative wavelength range of the optical apparatus, while the reflection-suppressing layer suppresses reflection from the second substrate surface of light over at least a portion of the operative wavelength range of the optical apparatus to a reflectivity value below that of the second substrate surface with only the absorbing layer present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: HOYA Corporation USA
    Inventors: Henry A. Blauvelt, David W. Vernooy
  • Patent number: 7941019
    Abstract: A method and apparatus use a photonic-crystal fiber having a very large core while maintaining a single transverse mode. In some fiber lasers and amplifiers having large cores problems exist related to energy being generated at multiple-modes (i.e., polygamy), and of mode hopping (i.e., promiscuity) due to limited control of energy levels and fluctuations. The problems of multiple-modes and mode hopping result from the use of large-diameter waveguides, and are addressed by the invention. This is especially true in lasers using large amounts of energy (i.e., lasers in the one-megawatt or more range). By using multiple small waveguides in parallel, large amounts of energy can be passed through a laser, but with better control such that the aforementioned problems can be reduced. An additional advantage is that the polarization of the light can be maintained better than by using a single fiber core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher D. Brooks, Fabio Di Teodoro
  • Patent number: 7936955
    Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy T. Blalock, Howard E. Rhodes, Vishnu K. Agarwal, Gurtej Singh Sandhu, James S. Foresi, Jean-Francois Viens, Dale G. Fried
  • Publication number: 20110091153
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device, system and method for construction of and use in optical fiber networks, such as an Air Blown Fiber (ABF) system. An optical device comprising a housing having arranged therein an optical fiber attachment is provided. Further, an optical transceiver having a port adapted for coupling light to/from an optical fiber attached to the optical fiber attachment, and an electrical interface connected to the optical transceiver are arranged in the housing, and the housing has a form factor adapted for air blown fiber systems. Further a method for constructing a fiber network is provided by blowing an optical device through a duct and connecting the optical device to a docking station.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Inventors: Stefan Dahlfort, Hans Mickelsson
  • Patent number: 7925127
    Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a circuit board formed with an opening, and having a mounting portion defined by the opening for mounting thereon a slider on which a magnetic head is mounted, and an optical waveguide disposed on the circuit board so as to traverse the opening. The optical waveguide is slack in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2011
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Ishii, Hitoki Kanagawa, Toshiki Naito
  • Patent number: 7920796
    Abstract: The present invention utilizes field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) to implement a parallel differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK) precoder and a DQPSK optical transmitter with an automatic realignment process. The present invention can perform DQPSK preceding, modulation, and data stream realignment at any lower rate, and its upper rate is determined by capability in speed and logic resources and external connections of available integrated circuit technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: John Brownlee, Boris Kershteyn
  • Publication number: 20110075132
    Abstract: Optical fibers comprising a plurality of cleaved facets disposed at one end are disclosed. First and second facets of the plurality of cleaved facets are disposed at different angles. The optical fiber with the plurality of cleaved facets splits light from an optical component between an optical fiber core and a detector such that a portion of the light may be tapped off for monitoring. The first cleaved facet is disposed at a first angle such that a first portion of the light from an optical component is totally internally reflected into the fiber core. A second cleaved facet can be disposed at a second angle that is less than the first angle so that a second portion of light from the optical component refracts through the second facet to a detector. Methods of forming and using angle-cleaved optical fibers having a plurality of cleaved facets are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventor: James Scott Sutherland
  • Patent number: 7909958
    Abstract: An optical switch includes an optical waveguide to route an input optical beam. At least one polarization switch receives the input optical beam from the optical waveguide. At least one birefringent wedge is associated with the at least one polarization switch. The at least one polarization switch and at least one birefringent wedge operate to direct the input optical beam to two or more output locations through control of the polarization switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Coadna Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Hudson Washburn, Meng Xue
  • Patent number: 7911299
    Abstract: A microactuator has a fixed portion and a movable portion that is provided in such a way as to be movable relative to the fixed portion between a first position at which it is in contact with a predetermined portion of the fixed portion and a second position away from the first position. The fixed portion has a first electrode portion, the movable portion has a second electrode portion that can produce an electrostatic force between it and the first electrode portion by a voltage between it and the first electrode portion, and the first and second electrode portions are arranged in such a way that a first force that biases the movable portion in a direction toward the first position according to the electrostatic force created when the voltage is constant reaches a peak when the movable portion is at a third position between the first position and the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventor: Junji Suzuki
  • Publication number: 20110064357
    Abstract: An optical fiber connector includes a main body and a cover mechanically coupled to the main body. The main body includes a coupling portion and a light guide portion extending from the coupling portion. The light guide portion includes a light incident surface and a light output surface arranged at opposite sides thereof. The coupling portion includes a first groove formed at a top surface thereof, facing the light incident surface and terminating at opposite sides of the coupling portion, and a plurality of recesses. The cover includes a second groove formed at bottom surface thereof, terminating at opposite sides of the cover, and a plurality of protrusions. The first groove and the second groove cooperatively form a receiving channel for receiving an optical fiber therein and allowing the optical fiber to be optically connected to the light guide portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: JEN-TSORNG CHANG
  • Patent number: 7907806
    Abstract: When a waveguide of second signal light outputted from a first optical coupler intersects a waveguide of first local light outputted from a second optical coupler, a waveguide of a first signal light outputted from the first optical coupler and a waveguide of a second local light outputted from the second optical coupler are each provided with a loss compensation intersecting waveguide that compensates for loss that occurs when the waveguide of the second signal light outputted from the first optical coupler intersects the waveguide of the first local light outputted from the second optical coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7903913
    Abstract: An optical apparatus including a 360-degree star coupler with derivative structure(s) and applications to optical imaging, optical communications and optical spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Doerr
  • Patent number: 7899288
    Abstract: An optical fiber structure includes a first fiber array and a second fiber array, which are placed one on the other. For example, the first fiber array includes a substrate having four V-shaped grooves and four first optical fibers, the output ends of which are linearly arranged and fixed to the grooves. The second fiber array includes a substrate having four V-shaped grooves and four second optical fibers, the output ends of which are linearly arranged and fixed to the grooves. The first optical fiber has a taper portion, in which the core diameter decreases along an optical axis, and the core diameter and the outer diameter of the first optical fiber at the tip of the taper portion thereof are 60 ?m and 80 ?m, respectively. The core diameter and the outer diameter of the second optical fiber are 105 ?m and 125 ?m, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Shinichi Shimotsu
  • Patent number: 7899282
    Abstract: The present invention provides a beam homogenizer being equipped with an optical waveguide having a pair of reflection planes provided oppositely, having one end surface into which the laser beam is incident, and having the other end surface from which the laser beam is emitted in the optical system for forming the beam spot. The optical waveguide is a circuit being able to keep radiation light in a certain region and to transmit the radiation light in such a way that the energy flow thereof is guided in parallel with an axis of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7894693
    Abstract: An optical semiconductor device includes a waveguide having one or more first segments having a region that includes a diffractive grating and another region combined to the region, one or more second segments having a region that includes a diffractive grating and another region combined to the region and a plurality of third segments having a region the includes a diffractive grating and another region combined to the region, a length of the second segment being different from that of the first segment, a length of the third segment being shown as L3=L1+(L2?L1)×K1 in which 0.3?K1?0.7, L1 is a length of the first segment, L2 is a length of the second segment and L3 is a length of the third segment; and a refractive index control portion controlling refractive index of the first segment through the third segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eudyna Devices Inc.
    Inventor: Takuya Fujii
  • Patent number: 7894692
    Abstract: A laser system includes a multimode fiber (MMF) having a permanent perturbation region which is provided at the predetermined distance from the upstream end of the MMF. The perturbation region is configured so that propagating fundamental and at least one high-order mode (HOM) originated upstream from the perturbation region are split into multiple HOMs which are substantially in counterphase. Hence, the HOMs destructively interfere with and substantially cancel one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: IPG Photonics Corporation
    Inventor: Roman Yagodkin
  • Patent number: 7894699
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to photonic-based interconnects for transmitting data encoded in electromagnetic signals between electronic mosaics. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic-based interconnect comprises a first photonic node coupled to a second photonic node via a waveguide. The first photonic node is coupled to a first electronic mosaic and is configured to transmit electromagnetic signals encoding data generated by the first electronic mosaic to a second electronic mosaic and receive electromagnetic signals encoding data generated by the second electronic mosaic. The second photonic node is coupled to the second electronic mosaic and is configured to transmit electromagnetic signals encoding data generated by the second electronic mosaic to the first electronic mosaic and receive electromagnetic signals encoding data generated by the first electronic mosaic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Raymond G. Beausoleil
  • Patent number: 7889332
    Abstract: A physical quantity measuring apparatus utilizing optical frequency domain reflectometry of the invention includes a tunable laser; a first polarization-maintaining fiber; a polarization-maintaining coupler; a second polarization-maintaining fiber; a third polarization-maintaining fiber; a sensor consists of fiber Bragg gratings formed at a core of the third polarization-maintaining fiber; a fourth polarization-maintaining fiber; a photodiode detects Bragg reflected light from the sensor and reference light from the referential reflecting end; a controller detects a modulation of an interference intensity between the Bragg reflected light and the reference light, based on an intensity change of multiplexed light of the Bragg reflected light and the reference light; an incidence part inputs the measuring light; and an optical path-length adjuster arranged on the third polarization-maintaining fiber; the incidence part provided on the first polarization-maintaining fiber, or on both the second and third polariz
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventors: Koji Omichi, Akira Sakamoto, Shunichirou Hirafune
  • Patent number: 7889956
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to photonic interconnects that can be used for on-chip as well as off-chip communications between computer system components. In one embodiment of the present invention, a photonic interconnect comprises a plurality of on-chip waveguides. Additionally, the photonic interconnect may include a plurality of off-chip waveguides, and at least one optoelectronic converter. The at least one optoelectronic converter can be photonically coupled to a portion of the plurality of on-chip waveguides, can be photonically coupled to a portion of the plurality of off-chip waveguides, and is in electronic communication with at least one computer system component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Raymond G. Beausoleil, Marco Fiorentino, Norman Paul Jouppi, Nathan Lorenzo Binkert, Robert Samuel Schreiber, Qianfan Xu
  • Patent number: 7885506
    Abstract: A display device comprises a light source to provide an input light beam, a substrate having an input surface to form an in-coupled light beam by receiving light of the input light beam, wherein the in-coupled light beam is confined to the substrate by total internal reflections, the substrate further comprising a plurality of out-coupling features to form an illuminating light beam by diffracting light of the in-coupled light beam out of the substrate, a display element having a plurality of reflective polarization-rotating pixels arranged to form reflected light beams by reflecting light of the illuminating light beam, and imaging optics to form an image by focusing or collimating light of the reflected light beams transmitted through the out-coupling features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: Nokia Corporation
    Inventor: Tapani Levola
  • Patent number: 7885493
    Abstract: Two Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer circuits 13a and 13b are accurately point-symmetrically connected to each other to form a first point-symmetrically connected optical interferometer circuit 5 constituting a light input side circuit 1. Optical signals having a plurality of wavelengths are input to a light input terminal 17. A second point-symmetrically connected optical interferometer circuit 7 having the same functional structure as the first point-symmetrically connected optical interferometer circuit 5 is connected to a through port 18, which is an output terminal of the light input side circuit 1, as a first light output side circuit 2. A cross port 19, which is the other output terminal of the light input side circuit 1, is connected to a second light output side circuit 3 having at least one of Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer circuits 13c and 13d whose transmittance characteristics are different from those of the Mach-Zehnder optical interferometer circuits 13a and 13b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazutaka Nara, Haruki Urabe, Tsunetoshi Saitoh, Masahito Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7881572
    Abstract: A system is provided for characterizing optical fibers carrying signal traffic. The system includes a transmitter, a variable optical attenuator (VOA), a receiver, and a computing device. The transmitter propagates an optical test signal along a channel of a fiber pathway. The VOA adjusts the attenuation of the optical test signal from an initial, greater attenuation to a subsequent, lesser attenuation. At the same time, the computing device monitors at least one other channel of the fiber pathway and identifies effects upon the other channel(s) from the optical test signal. The computing device may communicate with the VOA and with other components of the fiber pathway to direct adjustment of the signal strength. A maximum optical test signal strength may thus be achieved that does not negatively affect signal traffic on the other channels, and the fiber pathway may subsequently be tested using the achieved maximum optical test signal strength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventor: Tiejun J. Xia
  • Patent number: 7881568
    Abstract: An interconnect element incorporates a plurality of smaller, substantially identical, interconnect modules. Multiple identical elements can in turn be combined to form larger interconnect networks. Signal paths in the elements can be implemented with optical fibers or electrical conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Tellabs Operations, Inc.
    Inventor: Philip J. Lin
  • Patent number: 7876983
    Abstract: Provided are a method and apparatus directed to hybrid electromagnetic processing devices. The apparatus includes a planar integrated optical device. The planar integrated optical device has at least one input optical waveguide, a free space optical region and a plurality of output optical waveguides. The optical waveguides end connecting to the free space optical region. The at least one input optical waveguide has an offset in a core thereof at joined ends of an input portion and an output portion of the at least one input optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher R. Doerr
  • Patent number: 7877021
    Abstract: In a pulse generator of very high resolution phase and/or intensity profiles, an active mode-locking laser source (1) emits a first train of optical pulses according to a determined period (To), which is intensity-modulated pulse-by-pulse by a modulator (2). The modulated pulses are transmitted to an optical loop (3) via a coupler (4). The optical length of the optical loop is slightly different from the period (To) of the source. The modulated pulses are transmitted to input B of the coupler. The optical loop connects output D to input A of the coupler. This coupler is commanded such that, according to a first command (k=0), it transmits the light received on its two inputs A, B towards output d, and according to a second command (K=1), it transmits the light received on its input (A) towards output (C).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2011
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique
    Inventor: Alain Jolly
  • Publication number: 20110013867
    Abstract: A light guide device for steering an input light may include a PBC lattice having a input surface and a first surface. The input surface may receive the input light to cooperate with the first surface, and the PBC lattice may direct the input light to the first surface to output the light from the PBC lattice by a programmable lattice of defect. The PBC lattice may include a aperture adapted to be filled with fluid, and the PBC lattice may include a fluid valves adapted to cooperate with the aperture. The PBC lattice may include a layer of fluid to cooperate with the fluid valve and the aperture, and the PBC lattice may include a second surface for output of the light by reprogramming the lattice of defect. The PBC lattice may include a third surface for output of the light by reprogramming the lattice of defect, and the first surface may be substantially perpendicular to the input surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Publication date: January 20, 2011
    Inventor: Hector J. De Los Santos
  • Patent number: 7873273
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the characteristics of an optical fiber is provided. An optical pulse generator generates, from a coherent light, first and second optical pulses having a time interval which is equal to or shorter tan a life time of an acoustic wave in the optical fiber. A detector couples the coherent light with a Brillouin backscattered light which includes first and second Brillouin backscattered lights belonging to the first and second optical pulses respectively, thereby generating an optical signal. The detector further converts the optical signal into an electrical signal. A signal processor takes the sum of the electrical signal and a delay electrical signal which is delayed from the electrical signal by a delay time corresponding to the time interval, thereby generating an interference signal, and finds the characteristics of the optical fiber based on the interference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignees: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Yahei Koyamada
  • Patent number: 7869687
    Abstract: Channel switching system and method of an IPTV service in a passive optical network (PON) are disclosed. To reduce a channel switching time of an IPTV system in the passive optical network, the system and the method use a channel switching control module and a channel list module in the passive optical network. In a case where a passive optical network system receives an IPTV channel switching request transmitted from a terminal user, the channel switching control module checks a recording of a channel list module and a recording of an authentication list module, and then updates a filter recording of an optical network unit to thereby directly transmit an image flow of a new channel in the passive optical network. When such system and method are applied to the passive optical network, high-speed switching of the IPTV service channel by the terminal user can be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Ikeda, Nie Yaling
  • Patent number: 7869672
    Abstract: An optical assembly is formed with a silicon substrate having a first surface and a second surface confronting the first surface. A reflective coating is formed over the first surface. Multiple diffraction gratings are formed integrally within the second surface of the silicon substrate. An optical absorber is formed over the second surface between the diffraction gratings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Andreas Goebel, Lawrence C. West, Gregory L. Wojcik
  • Patent number: 7860359
    Abstract: An optical device for splitting/combining a first and a second continuous optical wavelength bands, each wider than 10 nm, has a first, a second, a third, a fourth and a fifth optical splitting devices optically coupled in cascade and a first, a second, a third and a fourth optical differential delay devices optically coupled to, and interleaved between, the optical splitting devices. A suitable choice of the coupling angles of the splitting devices and of the differential delays of the optical differential delay devices gives to the structure flattened passbands and stopbands and makes the optical device tolerant to fluctuations of the structural parameters. An apparatus includes the optical device for use in fiber-to-the-premises networks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: PGT Photonics S.p.A.
    Inventor: Matteo Cherchi
  • Patent number: 7856163
    Abstract: A planar lightwave circuit is provided which can be easily fabricated by an existing planar-lightwave-circuit fabrication process, which can lower the propagation loss of signal light and which can convert inputted signal light so as to derive desired signal light. A planar lightwave circuit having a core and a clad which are formed on a substrate, has input optical waveguide(s) (111) which inputs signal light, mode coupling part (112) for coupling a fundamental mode of the inputted signal light to a higher-order mode and/or a radiation mode, or mode re-coupling part (113) for re-coupling the higher-order mode and/or the radiation mode to the fundamental mode, and output optical waveguide(s) (114) which outputs signal light. The mode coupling part or the mode re-coupling part is an optical waveguide which has core width and/or height varied continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Saida, Yohei Sakamaki, Toshikazu Hashimoto, Tsutomu Kitoh, Hiroshi Takahashi, Masahiro Yanagisawa, Senichi Suzuki, Yasuhiro Hida, Motohaya Ishii, Munehisa Tamura
  • Patent number: 7853101
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for the transmission of data between an optical bus and an electronic component at a speed independent from a clock speed of the electrical component; the system comprising an optical data storage component communicating with both the optical bus and the electrical component; the optical data storage component being configured to hold data transmitted on the optical bus until said electrical component is available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2010
    Assignee: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel N. Carothers
  • Patent number: 7848602
    Abstract: Provided are a waveguide structure and an arrayed waveguide grating structure. The arrayed waveguide grating structure includes an input star coupler, an output star coupler, and a plurality of arrayed waveguides optically connecting the input star coupler and the output star coupler. Each of the arrayed waveguides includes at least one section having a high confinement factor and at least two sections having a relatively low confinement factor. The sections of the arrayed waveguides having a high confinement factor have the same structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Duk-Jun Kim, Jung-Ho Song, Jong-Moo Lee, Junghyung Pyo, Gyung-Ock Kim
  • Patent number: 7842242
    Abstract: A device for optically coupling a first optical element to a second optical element comprises a first optical element with a first radiation penetration surface; a second optical element with a second radiation penetration surface located across from the first radiation penetration surface; and a chamber delimited by the first and second radiation penetration surfaces and a circumferentially closed side wall which connects the first and second radiation penetration surfaces. The circumferentially closed side wall defines a first sector in the first radiation penetration surface and a second sector in the second radiation penetration surface, the area of the first sector being smaller than the area of the first radiation penetration surface, and the area of the second sector being smaller than the area of the second radiation penetration surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: Graffinity Pharmaceuticals AG
    Inventors: Stefan Dickopf, Thomas Perschke, Mladen Nedic, Kristina Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7844144
    Abstract: Optical signals are passed in an optical medium using an approach that facilitates the mitigation of interference. According to an example embodiment, a filtering-type approach is used with an optical signal conveyed in an optical fiber, such as a multimode fiber (MMF) or a multimode waveguide. Adaptive spatial domain signal processing, responsive to a feedback signal indicative of data conveyed in the multimode waveguide, is used to mitigate interference in optical signals conveyed in the multimode waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Joseph M. Kahn, Mark A. Horowitz, Olav Solgaard, Shanhui Fan
  • Patent number: 7844146
    Abstract: An all-fiber optical pulse compression arrangement comprises a concatenated arrangement of a section of input fiber (e.g., a single mode fiber), a graded-index (GRIN) fiber lens and a section of pulse-compressing fiber (e.g., LMA fiber). The GRIN fiber lens is used to provide mode matching between the input fiber (supporting the propagation of chirped optical pulses) and the pulse-compressing fiber, with efficient pulse compression occurring along the length of the LMA fiber. The dispersion and length of the LMA fiber section are selected to provide the desired degree of pulse compression; for example, capable of reconstituting a femtosecond pulse as is used in supercontinuum generation systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Nicholson, Andrew D. Yablon
  • Patent number: 7844149
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electro-optic modulator structure containing an additional set of bias electrodes buried within the device for applying bias to set the operating point. Thus the RF electrodes used to modulate incoming optical signals can be operated with zero DC bias, reducing electrode corrosion by galvanic and other effects that can be present in non-hermetic packages. The bias electrodes are at least partially separated from the substrate with a buffer layer, which in one embodiment has a small amount of conductivity. This conductive buffer layer reduces optical loss from the bias electrodes and also reduces DC drift.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2010
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Karl Kissa, William J. Minford, Glen Drake
  • Patent number: 7840108
    Abstract: Provided is a light branching optical waveguide including: at least one incident light waveguide (A) optically connected to one end of a multi-mode optical waveguide; and output light waveguides (B) larger in number than the incident light waveguide (A) optically connected to the other end thereof, the light branching optical waveguide being characterized in that: an intensity distribution of light incident from at least one optical waveguide (a) out of the incident light waveguide (A) on the multi-mode optical waveguide at a connecting surface of the incident light waveguide (A) and the multi-mode optical waveguide is asymmetric with respect to a geometrical central axis of the optical waveguide (a); and an extended line of the geometrical center axis of the optical waveguide (a) does not coincide with a geometrical central axis of the multi-mode optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Miyadera, Rei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7837634
    Abstract: Devices and methods for evaluating motion of a tissue location, such as cardiac tissue location, e.g., heart wall, are provided. Devices employed in the subject methods are fiberoptic tissue motion sensors that include a light guide having a reflective element at its distal end and a light emitter/detector at its proximal end. In embodiments of the methods, a signal obtained from reflective element stably associated with the tissue location of interest is employed to evaluate movement of the tissue location. The subject methods and devices find use in a variety of different applications, including cardiac resynchronization therapy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Proteus Biomedical, Inc.
    Inventor: Benedict James Costello
  • Patent number: 7840104
    Abstract: A multiplexing AWG device capable of producing an ultra-wideband, low ripple, flat-top signal is presented. The AWG device includes an AWG unit and a two-section waveguide coupled to the AWG unit. The two-section waveguide has a first section and a second section. The first section produces a signal having a double-peak field profile and has a first input end and a first output end. The second section reduces the phase variation of the signal having the double-peak field profile exiting the first section. The second section has a second input end that is coupled to the first output end. For example, the first section may be a parabolic tapered waveguide and the second section may be a rectangular waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Enablence USA Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Saurav Das, Boris Grek, Wenhua Lin
  • Patent number: 7835598
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring one or more environmental parameters using interferometric sensor(s), a cross-correlator, a two-dimensional photosensitive array and optical focusing means are described. The method and apparatus allows for near simultaneous monitoring of the parameter(s) of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard L. Lopushansky, Larry A. Jeffers, John W. Berthold
  • Patent number: 7834867
    Abstract: An integrated photonics module includes at least one light source and a MEMS scanner coupled to and held in alignment by an optical frame configured for mounting to a host system. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module may include a plurality of light sources and a beam combiner coupled to the optical frame. According to some embodiments, the integrated photonics module includes a selective fold mirror configured to direct at least a portion of emitted light toward the MEMS scanner in a normal direction and pass scanned light through to a field of view. The selective fold mirror may use beam polarization to select beam passing and reflection. The integrated photonics module may include a beam rotator such as a quarter-wave plate to convert the polarization of the emitted light to a different polarization adapted for passage through the fold mirror. The integrated photonics module may include one or more light detectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall B. Sprague, Joshua O. Miller, Margaret K. Brown, Mark O. Freeman, Maarten Niesten, Bin Xue, Christopher A. Wiklof
  • Patent number: 7831116
    Abstract: An optical waveguide, an optical printed circuit board equipped with the optical waveguide, and methods of manufacturing the optical waveguide and the optical printed circuit board are disclosed. The optical waveguide can include: a first cladding layer; a core formed on the first cladding layer; an alignment pattern, having a predefined positional relationship to the core, formed on the first cladding layer; a target mark formed on the alignment pattern to indicate a position of the alignment pattern; and a second cladding layer formed on the first cladding layer to cover the core, the alignment pattern, and the target mark. In such an optical waveguide, circuit patterns, etc., formed over the second cladding layer may be precisely and efficiently aligned with the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Joon-Sung Kim, Jae-Hyun Jung, Han-Seo Cho, Sang-Hoon Kim
  • Patent number: 7826693
    Abstract: A reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer comprises a first waveguide layer having formed therein a first multiplexer-demultiplexer, a second multiplexer-demultiplexer, and a plurality of optical switches. The reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer further comprises a second waveguide layer optically coupled to the first waveguide and having a second effective index of refraction, said second waveguide layer having an optical amplifier formed therein. An input signal is amplified by the optical amplifier and communicated to the first optical multiplexer-demultiplexer where the signal is demultiplexed into a plurality individual wavelength signals. The second optical multiplexer-demultiplexer is adapted to receive a multiplexed add signal and to demultiplex the add signal into component wavelength signals. The individual wavelength signals are received at the optical switches and selectively routed to either an optical detector or toward the first multiplexer-demultiplexer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventors: Shashank S. Agashe, Kuen-Ting R. Shiu, Stephen R. Forrest
  • Patent number: 7822300
    Abstract: An anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguide structure for reducing optical crosstalk in an image sensor and method of forming the same. The method includes forming a trench within a plurality of material layers and over a photo-conversion device. The trench is vertically aligned with the photo-conversion device and is filled with materials of varying refractive indices to form an anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguide structure. The anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguide structure has a core and at least two cladding structures. The cladding structure in contact with the core has a refractive index that is higher than the refractive index of the core and the refractive index of the other cladding structure. The cladding structures act as Fabry-Perot cavities for light propagating in the transverse direction, such that light entering the anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguide structure remains confined to the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Aptina Imaging Corporation
    Inventor: Hong-Wei Lee
  • Patent number: 7817882
    Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises: a semiconductor substrate; a semiconductor optical device integrally formed on the substrate and having an off-normal device end face; and a low-index planar optical waveguide integrally formed on the semiconductor substrate at the device end face. The device and waveguide are non-collinear, and the waveguide is end-coupled at its proximal end to the optical device by refraction at the device end face. The apparatus further includes a reflective coating between the waveguide and substrate, an etched end face curved in the horizontal dimension, or an etched end face with a lower portion that protrudes beneath a proximal portion of the waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: HOYA Corporation USA
    Inventors: Henry A. Blauvlet, David W. Vernooy, Joel S. Paslaski, Charles I. Grosjean, Hao Lee, Franklin G. Monzon, Katrina H. Nguyen
  • Publication number: 20100258784
    Abstract: A cavity free, broadband approach for engineering photon emitter interactions via sub-wavelength confinement of optical fields near metallic nanostructures. When a single CdSe quantum dot (QD) is optically excited in close proximity to a silver nanowire (NW), emission from the QD couples directly to guided surface plasmons in the NW, causing the wire's ends to light up. Nonclassical photon correlations between the emission from the QD and the ends of the NW demonstrate that the latter stems from the generation of single, quantized plasmons. Results from a large number of devices show that the efficient coupling is accompanied by more than 2.5-fold enhancement of the QD spontaneous emission, in a good agreement with theoretical predictions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Inventors: Mikhail D. Lukin, Alexander S. Zibrov, Alexey V. Akimov, Philip R. Hemmer, Hongkun Park, Aryesh Mukherjee, Darrick E. Chang, Chun Liang Yu
  • Patent number: 7808621
    Abstract: A system is provided including a unique marker configured to engage an unknown optical fiber and an identification device configured to selectively engage the unknown optical fiber and detect the unique marker. A method is further provided including the steps of attaching a unique identifier to an unknown optical fiber, engaging an identification device to the unknown optical fiber, and identifying the unique identifier via the unknown optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Verizon New England Inc.
    Inventor: Todd H. Russell
  • Patent number: 7809237
    Abstract: A lens for reforming radiation from a light-emitting diode having a first convex surface for admitting radiation path from the light-emitting diode that is close to the axis of the diode and a cylindrical surface for admitting radiation that makes a wider angle with the axis of the diode, a conical surface disposed to receive and totally internally reflect radiation admitted by said convex surface and re-radiate it at an angle substantially normal to the axis of the diode and a curved surface for receiving and re-radiating at an angle substantially normal to the axis of the diode radiation admitted by the cylindrical surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Vadim Viktorovich Pozdnyakov, Maxim Evgein'evich Frolov, Alexey Mikhailovich Khorokhorov, Alexander Fedorovich Shirankov, Ju-Young Yoon, Gi-Cherl Kim
  • Patent number: RE41954
    Abstract: An optical time delay apparatus comprises: a multi-wavelength optical source; a diffractive element set imparting a wavelength-dependent delay on signals routed from the source to a 1×N optical switch; and N diffractive element sets routing signals from the 1×N switch to an output port. The optical propagation delay between the source and the output port varies according to the operational state of the source and the 1×N switch. A photodetector may receive the time-delayed signal at the output port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Inventors: Christoph M. Greiner, Thomas W. Mossberg, Dimitri Iazikov