Temporal Optical Modulation Within An Optical Waveguide Patents (Class 385/1)
  • Patent number: 7583874
    Abstract: Influence of distance between two coupled strong-confinement photonic devices on optically resonant condition thereof and/or on optical forces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Peter Rakich, Milos Popovic
  • Patent number: 7583329
    Abstract: An electro-optical device substrate includes a substrate, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of scanning lines, pixel electrodes, and transistors. The plurality of data lines and the plurality of scanning lines intersect with each other in a display area formed on the substrate. The pixel electrodes are provided at positions corresponding to intersections of the plurality of data lines and the plurality of scanning lines. Each of the transistors includes a semiconductor layer and a gate electrode. The semiconductor layer has a channel region, a data line side source/drain region, a pixel electrode side source/drain region, a first junction region, and a second junction region. The channel region has a channel length along a first direction in the display area. The data line side source/drain region is electrically connected to a corresponding data line. The pixel electrode side source/drain region is electrically connected to a corresponding pixel electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ishii
  • Patent number: 7583868
    Abstract: A full 3R (re-timing, re-shaping, re-amplifying) recovery system is provided. In the full 3R recovery system, a self-pulsating laser diode (SP-LD) and an electroabsorption modulator (EAM) are integrated and disposed on a semiconductor substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Dae Su Yee, Young Ahn Leem, Dong Churl Kim, Kyung Hyun Park, Sung Bock Kim
  • Patent number: 7580592
    Abstract: A phase shift device of an optical fiber signal includes an actuator for changing the signal phase in at least one fiber portion by inducing the phase change by thermo-optical effect. An antenna system incorporating phase shift devices using the thermo-optical effect find particular utility in automotive and telecommunications fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.R.L.
    Inventors: Guido Chiaretti, Antonio Fincato
  • Patent number: 7577367
    Abstract: Optical techniques, devices and systems for combining duobinary modulation and optical subcarrier multiplexing in optical communication applications. An analog mixer is used to mix a duobinary signal for a data channel and a local oscillator signal to produce a modulation control signal for controlling the subsequent optical subcarrier multiplexing modulation. Various optical subcarrier multiplexing modulation techniques may be used including optical single sideband modulators and optical double sideband modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Op Vista Incorporated
    Inventor: Winston I. Way
  • Patent number: 7577318
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a wavelength conversion layer (1) with a matrix layer (2) comprising embedded rare-earth-ion-doped micro-crystallites (3) and/or rare-earth-ion-doped amorphous particles, wherein said rare-earth-ion-doped micro crystallites and/or rare-earth-ion-doped amorphous particles are doped with at least one of the lanthanides, and wherein said rare-earth-ion-doped micro-crystallites and/or said doped amorphous particles have a mean diameter d50 of 10 nm to 500 müm, and wherein the matrix layer, is transparent, whereby the refractive indices of said rare-earth-ion-doped micro-crystallites and/or said rare-earth-ion-doped amorphous particles match the refractive indices of the matrix layer with an index fifference delta n such as: 0<_delta n<_0.1, for at least one wavelength in the range of 400 nm to 1200 nm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Holger Mönch, Gero Heusler
  • Patent number: 7577319
    Abstract: A low reflective window structure in an existent electro-absorption optical modulator involves a trading off problem between the increase in the parasitic capacitance and the pile-up. This is because the capacitance density of the pn junction in the window structure is higher compared with the pin junction as the optical absorption region, and the application of electric field to the optical absorption region becomes insufficient in a case of receding the electrode structure from the junction between the optical absorption region and the window structure making it difficult to discharge photo-carriers generated in the optical absorption region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Opnext Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Shigeki Makino, Kazunori Shinoda, Takeshi Kitatani
  • Publication number: 20090202189
    Abstract: There is provided an optical control element in which non-guided light is prevented from entering into an optical waveguide and which is excellent in optical properties, such as optical modulation properties. a media processor, such as a CD publisher, having a function as a media library. An optical control element includes: a substrate formed of a material having an electro-optical effect; and an optical waveguide formed on a top or bottom surface of the substrate. The optical waveguide has a modulation region b (s) and non-modulation regions a and c along the propagating direction of a light wave propagating through the optical waveguide. In the case when the modulation region is configured to include a single optical waveguide, propagation constants ?0 to ?3 of optical waveguides in the modulation region and the non-modulation region adjacent to each other are set to different values in the modulation region and the non-modulation region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tohru Sugamata, Satoshi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 7574081
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical system with waveguides, which comprises first, second and third optical input/output means (12, 14, 16), fourth and fifth multi-mode optical waveguides (20, 22) each capable of propagating light with plural propagation modes, and optical-filter mounting means (26) for mounting an optical filter (24) between the fourth and fifth multi-mode optical waveguides (20, 22) across a traveling direction of light in the fourth and fifth multi-mode optical waveguides (20, 22). The first optical input/output means (12) is connected to an end face of the fourth multi-mode optical waveguide (20) on a side thereof opposite to the optical-filter mounting means (26). Each of the second and third optical input/output means (14, 16) is connected to an end face of the fifth multi-mode optical waveguide (22) on a side opposite to the optical-filter mounting means (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Miyadera, Rei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7567736
    Abstract: A waveguide type wavelength domain optical switch includes an input/output port including at least three waveguide spectrometers stacked in thickness direction, a first lens for collecting light outputted from an input port of the input/output port in one axis direction, a second lens for collecting light outputted from the first lens in a direction orthogonal to the collecting direction of the first lens, and an optical phase modulation cell for reflecting light outputted from the second lens through the second lens and the first lens to an output port of the input/output port. Alternatively, the input/output port may include at least two waveguide spectrometers and a waveguide optical coupler circuit stacked in thickness direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignees: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Toshifumi Hasama, Masahiko Mori, Hisato Uetsuka
  • Patent number: 7565037
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for reducing spreading of a pulse in a transmission line, said spreading being as a result of polarization mode dispersion, comprising inducing predetermined polarization rotations of particle or wave components of the pulse in the transmission line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignees: Universite Libre de Bruxelles, University of Bristol
    Inventors: Sandu Popescu, Serge Alexandre Massar
  • Patent number: 7565038
    Abstract: Apparatus including a waveguide segment having a cladding that surrounds an optically-transmissive core extending along a path; a heater in thermal communication with the waveguide segment along at least a part of the path; a thermally-conductive substrate; a thermally-conductive base in fixed alignment with the waveguide segment and the thermally-conductive substrate, the thermally-conductive base being discontinuously on the waveguide segment along the path; and a rib in fixed alignment with the waveguide segment and the thermally-conductive substrate, the rib transversely extending in a direction away from the waveguide segment at a point along the path. Process utilizing apparatus for generating a phase shift in light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Mark P. Earnshaw
  • Publication number: 20090179798
    Abstract: A phase shift device of an optical fiber signal includes an actuator for changing the signal phase in at least one fiber portion by inducing the phase change by thermo-optical effect. An antenna system incorporating phase shift devices using the thermo-optical effect find particular utility in automotive and telecommunications fields.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Publication date: July 16, 2009
    Applicant: STMICROELECTRONICS S.R.L
    Inventors: Guido CHIARETTI, Antonio Fincato
  • Patent number: 7561806
    Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for making timing alignment for a data transmission system, the method comprising providing a reference clock signal with a first frequency to a multiplexer through a phase shifter, generating a multiplexed signal with a second frequency by the multiplexer, wherein the second frequency follows the first frequency and is higher than the first frequency by a predetermined proportion, sending the multiplexed signal to a modulator, and phase shifting the reference clock signal by the phase shifter before the reference clock signal is provided to the multiplexer, wherein a timing of the multiplexed signal at the second frequency level can be adjusted by adjusting a timing of the reference clock signal at the lower first frequency level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: FutureWei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Yu Sheng Bai
  • Patent number: 7561759
    Abstract: Optical modulator devices exhibiting improved response characteristics are constructed from a ring resonator having a tunable loss element positioned within the ring resonator structure and one or more phase shifters. By tuning and/or controlling the loss within the resonator, desired modulator response characteristics are obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas M. Gill, Mahmoud Rasras, Sanjay Patel
  • Patent number: 7558450
    Abstract: This invention provides a tunable delay of an optical signal having a carrier with an angular frequency ?0 and a single side band having a signal band with a median angular frequency ?r. The delay line comprises at least a first, a second and a third integrated resonators coupled sequentially to a waveguide. The first and the second resonators have angular resonant frequencies ?1=?r??? and ?2=?r+?? respectively, where ?? is a deviation from the median frequency. The third resonator provides a phase delay difference between the phase at the optical carrier ?0 and the phase at the median frequency ?r equal to (?r??0)Td, where Td is the time delay. The device provides an equal group delay to all frequency components in the output signal and also equal phase delay for all frequency components of an RF signal when the optical signal is downconverted at a photodetector. The device may find applications controlling the time delay to antenna elements in a phased array system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Morton Photonics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jacob Khurgin, Paul A. Morton
  • Patent number: 7558445
    Abstract: An electro-optical device includes a semiconductor layer, a gate electrode, and a first insulating film, and a second insulating under the semiconductor layer. The first insulating film overlaps a junction region, but not a channel region, of the semiconductor layer. The gate electrode includes a first extended portion that continuously covers an upper and side face and of the first insulating film at the junction region. The gate electrode includes a second extended portion that overlaps and fills a groove in the second insulating that extends along at least the junction region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Yasukawa
  • Publication number: 20090169147
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for an influencer structure. The apparatus includes a conductive element disposed in one or more radiation-propagating dielectric structures of a waveguide having a guiding region and one or more bounding regions, the conductive element responsive to an influencer signal to influence an amplitude-controlling property of the waveguide; and a coupling system for communicating the influencer signal to the conductive element. A method of operating an influencer includes: a) communicating an influencer signal to a conductive element disposed in one or more radiation-propagating dielectric structures of a waveguide having a guiding region and one or more bounding regions; and b) influencing, responsive to the influencer signal, an amplitude-controlling property of the waveguide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: Sutherland C. Ellwood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7555177
    Abstract: A fiber optic switch based on the magneto-optic effect of magnetic materials is presented. Due to the optical fiber based construction of the switching device it is suitable for optical fiber networks The on-off function of the switch is useful for isolation and connection of node(s) from a fiber optical network without having to turn off a laser. The switch is based on the Faraday Effect exhibited by magneto-optic materials. The all-fiber magneto-optic switch has a beam splitter at the input that splits an incoming signal into orthogonal polarized paths. Each path has at least one magneto-optic Faraday rotator (MOFR) controlled by a field. When the field is present, the polarization of the optical beam changes, thereby turning the switch on or off depending on the initial polarization of the beam. A beam coupler couples the orthogonal polarized paths at the output of the all-fiber magneto-optic switch. The MOFR is a bismuth substituted iron garnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventors: Rashmi Bahuguna, Mani Mina, Robert J. Weber
  • Patent number: 7555226
    Abstract: An automatic bias controller for an optical modulator is provided. The automatic bias controller comprises a driver for providing an electrical data signal to the modulator and a bias voltage source for providing a bias voltage to the modulator. A microprocessor provides a low frequency digital modulation signal, which is converted to an analogue modulation signal by a digital to analogue converter. The analogue modulation signal is applied to the bias voltage source (so as to modulate the bias voltage) or to the driver (so as to modulate the amplitude of the data signal). Intensity detectors for detecting the intensity of light emitted by the modulator are provided, and an analogue to digital converter converts the output of the intensity detectors to a digital intensity signal which is passed to the microprocessor. The digital intensity signal is analysed, and the bias voltage source instructed to adjust the bias voltage on the basis of the analysed signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Bookham Technology plc
    Inventor: Alan Tipper
  • Patent number: 7551808
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical signal noise suppressor and an optical signal noise suppressing method that can decrease noise components to be superimposed on signal light. The optical signal noise suppressor is a device for suppressing noise caused by SBS which is generated when a signal light propagates from a first end side to a second end side of an optical fiber, and comprises a light source section, an optical attenuator, an optical circulator and an optical isolator. A counter light, outputted from the light source section and passing through the optical attenuator, is guided into the optical fiber via the optical circulator. The counter light guided into the optical fiber is interrupted by the optical isolator, and does not reach the signal light source section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7551809
    Abstract: An optical fiber delivery system for delivering ultrashort optical pulses that can efficiently transmit high peak power, ultrashort optical pulses from an optical pulse source to a desired position in an optical apparatus is provided. An optical system including such an optical fiber delivery system is also provided. The optical fiber delivery system includes light waveguide means 20 for receiving high-peak power, ultrashort optical pulses and transmitting the optical pulses, negative group-velocity dispersion generation means 30 for providing negative group-velocity dispersion to the optical pulses transmitted through the light waveguide means 20, and an optical fiber 40 that transmits the optical pulses transmitted through the negative group-velocity dispersion generation means 30 along a desired distance. The incident ultrashort optical pulses that have been injected into the light waveguide means 20 are converted into down-chirped pulses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Taira, Hirokazu Kubo
  • Publication number: 20090148095
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for steering optical frequency beams using nanowire. A method includes providing one or more nanowire waveguide arrays, generating an optical frequency beam, wherein the optical frequency beam is incident on the one or more nanowire waveguide arrays, controlling the one or more nanowire waveguide arrays to produce a phase delay in the optical frequency beam as it traverses the nanowire waveguide array, wherein the phase delay causes the optical frequency beam to deflect upon exiting the one or more nanowire waveguide arrays, and steering the optical frequency beam exiting the one or more nanowire waveguide arrays by increasing or decreasing the phase delay, wherein the angle of deflection of the exiting optical frequency beam is determined by the amount of phase delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 11, 2009
    Inventors: Aaron Anthony Pesetski, S. V. Krishnaswamy
  • Patent number: 7546017
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to modulators that can be operated electronically and used to modulate electromagnetic radiation. In one embodiment of the present invention, a modulator comprises a slot waveguide having a top semiconductor layer, a bottom semiconductor layer, and a transmission layer sandwiched between the top semiconductor layer and the bottom semiconductor layer. The slot waveguide also includes a plurality of holes forming a Bragg grating along the length of the slot waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Mihail Siga, Shih-Yuan Wang
  • Patent number: 7535434
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed for providing a more robust flat panel display by using the Faraday effect to control light emission from a solid state material so as to form two-dimensional or three-dimensional images. Flux tubes can be configured to define a two dimensional array. Each flux tube is somewhat analogous to a single bubble of a magnetic bubble memory and can define a pixel. At least some aspect of light transmitted through a flux tube can be varied thereby, so as to facilitate the formation of an image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Atmur, Jeffrey H. Hunt
  • Publication number: 20090123107
    Abstract: This invention provides a tunable delay of an optical signal having multiple frequency components. The delay comprises at least a first and a second integrated resonators coupled sequentially to a waveguide; the resonators have angular resonant frequencies ?1=?0??? and ?2=?0+?? respectively, ?0 is a median frequency of an input optical signal and ?? is a tunable deviation from the median frequency. The device is providing a nearly equal true time delay to all frequency components in the output signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Inventors: Jacob Khurgin, Paul A. Morton
  • Patent number: 7526146
    Abstract: An electro-optical modulator is provided. The electro-optical modulator has a substrate. A first insulator layer, an optical waveguide, a first doped semiconductor layer, a second insulator layer, a second doped semiconductor layer, and a third insulator layer are sequentially disposed over the substrate. The optical waveguide is adapted for transmitting a light wave. The optical waveguide includes a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, and a third semiconductor layer. The first semiconductor layer is disposed on the first insulator layer. The first doped semiconductor layer is disposed on the first insulator layer, and positioned at two opposite sides of the optical waveguide for electrically connecting the optical waveguide. The second insulator layer is disposed on the substrate for covering the first doped semiconductor layer. The second doped semiconductor layer is disposed on the second insulator layer and electrically connected to the third semiconductor layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventor: Shih-Hsiang Hsu
  • Patent number: 7526209
    Abstract: An optical FSK modulator which can be used for an optical information communication is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: National Institute of Information and Communications Technology
    Inventors: Tetsuya Kawanishi, Masayuki Izutsu
  • Patent number: 7519240
    Abstract: A wavelength independent multi-section optical coupler having at least three optical couplers, and at least two differential phase cells. Each optical coupler has two waveguides forming a coupling region having a net coupling value. The coupling value for each coupling region of the at least three optical couplers is different than the coupling values of the other two coupling regions. Each differential phase cell connects adjacent ones of said optical couplers. Each differential phase cell causes a differential phase shift in light signals traversing between the optical couplers, wherein the differential phase shifts of the differential phase cells, and the coupling value for each coupling region are chosen so as to minimize wavelength, and fabrication sensitivity of said wavelength independent multi-section optical coupler for a designed power splitting ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Brent E. Little, Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 7515833
    Abstract: An all optical network for optical signal traffic has at least a first ring with at least one transmitter and one receiver. The first ring includes a plurality of network nodes. At least a first add/drop broadband coupler is coupled to the first ring. The broadband coupler includes an add port and a drop port to add and drop wavelengths to and or from the first ring, a pass-through direction and an add/drop direction. The first add/drop broadband coupler is configured to minimize a pass-through loss in the first ring and is positioned on the first ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: OpVista Incorporated
    Inventor: Winston I. Way
  • Patent number: 7515774
    Abstract: Single fiber optical telemetry systems and methods are disclosed. The methods and systems facilitate input and output via a single fiber optic interface. The optical telemetry systems and methods also facilitate faster data transmission rates between surface and downhole equipment in oilfield applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Stephane Vannuffelen, Tsutomu Yamate, Bruno Gayral, Soon Seong Chee, Colin Wilson
  • Patent number: 7515779
    Abstract: An optical semiconductor device has a heater, an optical waveguide layer, a first electrode and a second electrode. The heater is provided on a first semiconductor region and has more than one heater segment coupled or separated to each other. The optical waveguide layer is provided in the first semiconductor region and receives heat from the heater. The first electrode is coupled to a connecting point of the heater segments adjacent to each other. The second electrodes are electrically common and are coupled to other ends of the heater segments in opposite side of the connecting point respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Eudyna Devices Inc.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 7515791
    Abstract: The invention relates to phase matched optical gratings for performing signal multiplexing and demultiplexing in optical communications networks. In prior art gratings there is a phase linearity error between the grating line and the outputs on the focal line, comparing the center output to the surrounding outputs. This corresponds to a relative phase difference between each output which limits the passband. In the case of the AWG this degradation comes primarily from field aberrations in the output star coupler. The present invention has found that if the grating line of the optical grating is disposed on a ellipse instead of a circular arc, while the focal line of outputs defines a substantially circular arc, an optimum can be found where the phase linearity error is substantially eliminated, and all outputs have substantially the same phase. As a result, this creates substantially uniform passbands across the WDM spectrum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventor: Barthelemy Fondeur
  • Patent number: 7515775
    Abstract: Various embodiments described herein comprises an optoelectronic device comprising a waveguide structure including a plurality of optical modulator elements each having an optical property that is adjustable upon application of an electrical signal so as to modulate light guided in the waveguide structure. The optoelectronic device also comprises a plurality of amplifiers in distributed fashion. Each amplifier is electrically coupled to one of the optical modulators to apply electrical signals to the optical modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Kucharski, Behnam Analui, Lawrence C. Gunn, III, Roger Koumans, Thierry Pinguet, Thiruvikraman Sadagopan
  • Patent number: 7502530
    Abstract: A device 4 has a substrate 5, an optical waveguide 2 and modulation electrodes 1A, 1B, 1C. The substrate 5 is made of an electro-optic material and has a thickness of ?30 ?m at least in a region where the modulation electrode applies an electric field. The device has a ridge generated when the optical waveguide is formed, and the ridge has a height H (angstrom) and a width “W” (?m) whose product (H×W) is 7150 angstrom·?m or smaller to realize single mode propagation of light in the optical waveguide. The wave guide has branched parts in the region where the modulation electrode applied an electric field. The deviation of positions of peaks and bottoms in the extinction ratio curve can be reduced, by increasing the distance of the branched parts of the optical waveguide to ?46 ?m.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jungo Kondo, Atsuo Kondo, Kenji Aoki, Osamu Mitomi
  • Patent number: 7499603
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are provided for an electrooptical modulator. One method embodiment includes receiving an optical input signal to an electrooptical modulator. A first voltage input is applied to a first drive electrode associated with a first optical path in the electrooptical modulator. A second voltage input is applied to a second drive electrode associated with a second optical path in the electrooptical modulator at times alternative to applying the first voltage input to the first drive electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: John A. Krawczak, Raymond J. Johnson
  • Patent number: 7496244
    Abstract: A method for generating a linear single-polarization output beam comprises providing an optically active linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic fiber for propagating light and having a single polarization wavelength range and a gain bandwidth; optically pumping the optically active linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic fiber for obtaining fluorescence within the gain bandwidth; and aligning the single-polarization wavelength range to overlap a desired spectral region of the gain profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: George E. Berkey, Ming-Jun Li, Daniel A. Nolan, Donnell T. Walton, Luis A. Zenteno
  • Patent number: 7486897
    Abstract: A polarization duobinary optical transmitter is disclosed. The transmitter includes a precoder for coding an electric signal and a light source for generating continuous light. The transmitter also includes a chirped-free modulator for generating an NRZ signal including first and second polarization light beams orthogonal to each other by modulating the light with the electric signal and a band-pass filter for limiting neighbor frequency bands between the first and second polarization light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hoon Kim, Seong-Taek Hwang
  • Patent number: 7483609
    Abstract: An image wavelength conversion device for converting an infrared light image into a visible light, a method of manufacturing the device, and an image conversion system using the device are provided. The image wavelength conversion device is formed by an optical waveguide array 3 in which one end and the other end of each of a multitude of quasi-phase-matching sum frequency generating optical waveguides are aligned in a two-dimensional plane. One plane of the optical waveguide array 3 forms an incident plane which includes respective waveguides as elements thereof, and the other plane of the optical waveguide array 3 forms an exit plane which includes waveguides corresponding to the waveguides of the incident plane as elements thereof. From an incident light (?1) and an excitation light (?2) incident to an arbitrary element of the incident plane, an output light (?3) having the relationship of (?1)?1+(?2)?1=(?3)?1 is generated in the corresponding waveguide element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Hamamatsu Foundation for Science and Technology Promotion
    Inventor: Makoto Minakata
  • Patent number: 7483597
    Abstract: An optical modulator is formed to include a plurality of separate electrodes disposed along one arm, the electrodes having different lengths and driven with different signals to provide for multi-level signaling (e.g., PAM-4 signaling). By using separate drivers to energize the different sections, the number of sections energized at a given point in time will define the net phase shift introduced to the optical signal. The total length of the combined modulator sections is associated with a ? phase shift (180°). Each section is driven by either a digital “one” or “zero”, so as to create the multi-level modulation. An essentially equal change in power between adjacent transmitted symbols is accomplished by properly adjusting the lengths of each individual section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Lightwire, Inc.
    Inventors: Kalpendu Shastri, Bipin Dama
  • Patent number: 7483642
    Abstract: A receiver for an OTDM/PDM pulse train (10) in which the pulses (12) have alternating polarizations (P1, P2) has a polarization insensitive optical switch (16; 161, 162, 163, 164) for isolating optical pulses (10?) within the pulse train (10), and a polarization selective element (17) for separating from the isolated pulses (10?) at least one component that has a single polarization. This allows to considerable relax the constraints posed on the switch since components in the isolated pulses that result from interchannel interference can, at least to a large extent, be eliminated by the subsequent polarization selective element (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Michael Schmidt, Eugen Lach
  • Publication number: 20090022444
    Abstract: Thermo-optical devices providing heater recirculation in an integrated optical device are described. The thermo-optical devices include at least one waveguide having a non-linear path length in thermal communication with a thermal device. Methods of fabrication and use are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Wenlu Chen
  • Publication number: 20090022443
    Abstract: Thermo-optical devices providing heater recirculation in an integrated optical device are described. The thermo-optical devices include at least one waveguide having a non-linear path length in thermal communication with a thermal device. Methods of fabrication and use are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Inventors: Wei Chen, Wenlu Chen
  • Patent number: 7480423
    Abstract: An all-fiber, phase controlled interferometer device is disclosed as well as its method of manufacture. This device is suitable for use in an optical DPSK demodulation system. It is comprised of two optical fiber couplers, each having two input and two output ports and two branches between the couplers of unequal length. The couplers have a splicing ratio of 50% over the wavelength operating range of the device. The two branches between the couplers are shaped to provide one bit of delay between the branches and are also shaped to make a compact device. Also, the two branches are formed in such a manner as to minimize birefringence in the device. In addition, a fiber heater is provided to heat the longer branch so as to obtain phase control of the interferometer. The method of producing such a device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: ITF Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: François Seguin, Denis-Alexandre Brulotte, Julien Tremblay, Claude Deslisle, Alexandre Wetter, Denis Bouchard, François Gonthier
  • Patent number: 7480091
    Abstract: In a method of phase adjustment for the demodulator 1 of the present invention, the phase adjustment is performed by driving any one of the heaters on the two waveguides 10 and 11 in the Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) 6 and on the two waveguides 14 and 15 in the MZI 7. In case that an initial phase difference between the MZIs 6 and 7 smaller than a required phase difference as ?/2 therebetween, the heaters C and D are driven, that are formed on the first waveguide 10 in the MZI 6, and the heaters G and H are driven, that are formed on the second waveguide 15 in the MZI 7. In case that the initial phase difference is larger than the required phase difference (?/2) therebetween, the heaters A and B formed on the second waveguide 11 in the MZI 6, and the heaters E and F formed on the first waveguide 14 in the MZI 7 are driven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Hasegawa, Kazutaka Nara
  • Patent number: 7474810
    Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for modulating electromagnetic radiation are disclosed. A plasmon waveguide including an array of metallic nanoparticles disposed on a dielectric substrate is provided. The plasmon waveguide is disposed on a MEMS structure. An electromagnetic radiation signal is applied to a tapered fiber disposed proximate the MEMS structure. The intensity of the electromagnetic radiation signal passing through the tapered fiber is modified by displacing a deformable member of the MEMS structure to modify a distance between the plasmon waveguide and the tapered fiber such that an evanescent field of the tapered fiber causes a plasmon resonance in the plasmon waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Alexandre M. Bratkovski, Shih-Yuan Wang
  • Publication number: 20090003754
    Abstract: A silicon structure includes a silicon substrate; and an on-substrate structure including a silicon compound film and formed on said silicon substrate. At least one removal section removed through anisotropic etching and at least one supporting column left through the anisotropic etching to support said on-substrate structure are provided for a direct lower portion of said silicon substrate directly beneath said on-substrate structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventor: Shinya WATANABE
  • Publication number: 20090003753
    Abstract: A method for generating a linear single-polarization output beam comprises providing an optically active linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic fiber for propagating light and having a single polarization wavelength range and a gain bandwidth; optically pumping the optically active linearly birefringent and linearly dichroic fiber for obtaining fluorescence within the gain bandwidth; and aligning the single-polarization wavelength range to overlap a desired spectral region of the gain profile.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Inventors: George E. Berkey, Ming-Jun Li, Daniel A. Nolan, Donnell T. Walton, Luis A. Zenteno
  • Patent number: 7471859
    Abstract: An optical waveguide has a surface. An array of separately actuated bodies is disposed proximal to the exposed surface, and an actuator separately actuates at least some of the bodies to change a spectral characteristic of a wave propagating through the waveguide. Preferably, the bodies are metal striplines, an electro-optical material is disposed between the striplines and the exposed surface, and the actuator is a CMOS chip that imposes a voltage to some or all of the lines. The voltage changes the refractive index at the interface with the surface, changing an index of refraction profile of the waveguide and effectively imposing a grating. Alternatively, the bodies are micro-beams and the actuator, also controlled by a CMOS chip, separately moves each micro-beam into and out of proximity to the surface. The grating is programmable via the CMOS chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Brown University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Daniel Levner, Martin F. Fay, Jonathan C. Bloch, Jeffrey Weiss
  • Patent number: 7466923
    Abstract: Methods and systems for PMD compensation in an optical communication system are implemented by transmitting multiple optical signals through a common optical conduit to an optical compensator that adjustably rotates the polarization states of the multiple optical signals and transmits the rotated optical signals to an optical receiver. The receiver, upon sensing an excessive error condition, commands the optical compensator to change the polarization state of rotation, which changes the PMD profile of the received optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: AT&T Corp.
    Inventors: Michael Herbert Eiselt, Jonathan A. Nagel