Movable Coupler Patents (Class 385/25)
  • Patent number: 11780030
    Abstract: A system that uses a scalable array of individually controllable laser beams that are generated by a fiber array system to process materials into an object. The adaptive control of individual beams may include beam power, focal spot width, centroid position, scanning orientation, amplitude and frequency, piston phase and polarization states of individual beams. Laser beam arrays may be arranged in a two dimensional cluster and configured to provide a pre-defined spatiotemporal laser power density distribution, or may be arranged linearly and configured to provide oscillating focal spots along a wide processing line. These systems may also have a set of material sensors that gather information on a material and environment immediately before, during, and immediately after processing, or a set of thermal management modules that pre-heat and post-heat material to control thermal gradient, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Assignee: II-VI DELAWARE, INC.
    Inventor: Mikhail A. Vorontsov
  • Patent number: 11675135
    Abstract: A rotatable connector for rotatable mounting an optical fiber, comprising a hollow shaft for introducing and fixing an optical fiber mechanically to the hollow shaft, furthermore comprising one or more bearings, whereby, in the case of a two bearing construction, the interior of a first bearing is fixed onto the hollow shaft, as well as the interior of a second bearing being fixed onto the hollow shaft, whereby the second bearing is spaced apart from the first bearing, the exterior of at least one bearing is in contact with the interior of a hollow stationary part, the latter having a thread, which can be screwed together with the counter thread of a cap or cap nut, which may apply an axial clamping force onto the bearings, when tightened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: BIOS SrL
    Inventors: Aldo Casalino, Lorenzo Casalino
  • Patent number: 11662585
    Abstract: A display subsystem for a virtual image generation system comprises a planar waveguide apparatus, an optical fiber, at least one light source configured for emitting light from a distal end of the optical fiber, and a mechanical drive assembly to which the optical fiber is mounted as a fixed-free flexible cantilever. The drive assembly is configured for displacing a distal end of the optical fiber about a fulcrum in accordance with a scan pattern, such that the emitted light diverges from a longitudinal axis coincident with the fulcrum. The display subsystem further comprises an optical modulation apparatus configured for converging the light from the optical fiber towards the longitudinal axis, and an optical waveguide input apparatus configured for directing the light from the optical modulation apparatus down the planar waveguide apparatus, such that the planar waveguide apparatus displays one or more image frames to an end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Yeoh, Hui-Chuan Cheng, Lionel Ernest Edwin, David Tinch, William Hudson Welch
  • Patent number: 11644624
    Abstract: An infinite rotation joint that allows members of a suspension arm assembly at the infinite rotation joint to have unlimited rotation relative to one another. The infinite rotation joint is configured to pass at least an optical signal therethrough. At least two portions of the infinite rotation joint are separable and can automatically form a unit when adjacent arms are connected together such that the infinite rotation joint can be separated into the at least two portions. The at least two portions are configured to be automatically connected to allow the optical signal to pass therethrough once the at least two portions are engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Gianni Boccoleri, David Chase, Udo Tockweiler, Frank Reiser
  • Patent number: 11464421
    Abstract: A guidewire system comprises a guidewire supporting a distal ferrule in the proximal end of a guidewire lumen. The distal ferrule has a ferrule opening that is sized to snuggly receive the proximal end of a distal optical fiber with a distal portion of the distal optical fiber extending into the guidewire lumen. However, the proximal end of the distal optical fiber only occupies a distal portion of the opening in the distal ferrule, leaving a proximal portion of that opening unoccupied. That way, the distal end of a proximal optical fiber can be received into the unoccupied proximal portion of the opening in the distal ferrule to optically connect to the distal optical fiber. Having the proximal and distal optical fibers coaxially aligned in a common opening in a ferrule received in a guidewire ensures that the optical fibers are optically connected to each other in a precise manner so that light can be transmitted along them with minimal losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Lake Region Manufacturing, Inc.
    Inventor: John Michael Hayes
  • Patent number: 11442227
    Abstract: A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system includes a motion actuator having longitudinal side members, an internal orifice, a first support region, a central region, and a second support region. The fiber optic element also includes a first fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice and having a first fiber joint as well as a second fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice. The second fiber optic cable has a second fiber joint disposed in the central region and spliced to the first fiber joint, a second coupling region, a light delivery region, and a light emission tip. The light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian T. Schowengerdt, Mathew D. Watson, Charles David Melville
  • Patent number: 11143820
    Abstract: An optical connector module can contribute to a reduction in size while reducing coupling loss. An optical connector module (1) according to the present disclosure includes an optical transmission line (10) including cores (12) and a cladding (11), an optical connector (20) including a first side surface (A1) facing an end face of the cores (12) and configured to optically couple to the optical transmission line (10), and a refractive index matching material (30) configured to adjust the refractive index of a space between the cores (12) and the first side surface (A1). The refractive index matching material (30) is disposed between the first side surface (A1) and the end face. A curved first lens portion (23) is provided on the first side surface (A1) at a position opposite the cores (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tsunoda, Kazumi Nakazuru, Takahiro Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11109177
    Abstract: An exemplary acoustics simulation system selects, from an impulse response library, an impulse response that corresponds to a subspace of an extended reality world. Based on the selected impulse response, the acoustics simulation system generates audio data customized to the subspace of the extended reality world. Additionally, the acoustics simulation system provides the generated audio data for simulating acoustics of the extended reality world as part of a presentation of the extended reality world. Corresponding methods and systems are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2021
    Assignee: Verizon Pstent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel Charles Mindlin, Kunal Jathal
  • Patent number: 11060913
    Abstract: According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optical filter. The optical filter comprises first and second optical elements, and one or more expansion elements. The first and second optical elements are arranged along a common axis, each terminates in a flat surface perpendicular to the axis. The flat surfaces are separated by a gap having a width d, such that the flat surfaces form a Fabry-Perot etalon and light is transmittable along an optical path through the elements and the etalon. The one or more expansion elements are connected to the optical elements, located outside the optical path and extend parallel to the axis with a length greater than the width of the gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Lumentum Technology UK Limited
    Inventor: Adrian Perrin Janssen
  • Patent number: 11006824
    Abstract: Channel separation in ophthalmologic systems is achieved by introducing a small angle between each beam incident on the scanner. The multiple channels are emitted from multiple emitters positioned such that their respective beams reach an X-Y scanner with small angular separations between the beams. This removes the need for dichroic components to combine the multiple channels into a single beam. This also allows the emitters to use the same wavelength if desired, such as in a combined SLO and OCT system in which it may be desirable to use the same light source in order to reduce the cost and complexity of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Inventors: Mark Hathaway, Rishard Weitz
  • Patent number: 10969549
    Abstract: In a device for transmitting optical signals between a first subassembly and a second subassembly, which rotatable about an axis relative to the first subassembly. The first subassembly includes a first optical waveguide, and the second subassembly includes a second optical waveguide. The device includes a first sleeve enclosing the first optical waveguide, a first bushing enclosing the first sleeve, a housing, a second sleeve enclosing the second optical waveguide, a second bushing enclosing the second sleeve. Furthermore, the device includes a bearing arrangement, including at least one first ring and rolling elements, rollingly supported on a conical surface. The housing encloses the first bushing, the second bushing, and the bearing arrangement, the bearing arrangement is axially displaceable relative to the housing, and the second bushing is axially preloaded with respect to the first bushing via the bearing arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: LTN SERVOTECHNIK GMBH
    Inventor: Peter Autenzeller
  • Patent number: 10935792
    Abstract: A display subsystem for a virtual image generation system comprises a planar waveguide apparatus, an optical fiber, at least one light source configured for emitting light from a distal end of the optical fiber, and a mechanical drive assembly to which the optical fiber is mounted as a fixed-free flexible cantilever. The drive assembly is configured for displacing a distal end of the optical fiber about a fulcrum in accordance with a scan pattern, such that the emitted light diverges from a longitudinal axis coincident with the fulcrum. The display subsystem further comprises an optical modulation apparatus configured for converging the light from the optical fiber towards the longitudinal axis, and an optical waveguide input apparatus configured for directing the light from the optical modulation apparatus down the planar waveguide apparatus, such that the planar waveguide apparatus displays one or more image frames to an end user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Ivan Yeoh, Hui-Chuan Cheng, Lionel Ernest Edwin, David Tinch, William Hudson Welch
  • Patent number: 10850309
    Abstract: Sonotrodes are used when examining substances on the basis of acoustic levitation. In order to obtain a reproducible measurement result or to extend the possible uses of devices of this kind, the respective sonotrode has to meet a whole range of requirements. Exact tuning of the frequency and clean interaction between the sonotrode and a frequency generator are particularly important. The present invention proposes that a sonic horn and a main body of the sonotrode are provided as different parts and, in this case, the sonic horn can be mounted on or in the main body in a specific manner, in particular for operation at low voltage in such a way that the amplitude or operating voltage remains below a comparatively low maximum low-voltage value, in particular 50 Vpp. The formation of heat can be prevented in this way. The present invention further relates to a control or production method for a sonotrode apparatus of this kind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Inventor: Charles Rizk
  • Patent number: 10801831
    Abstract: There is provided a speckle measurement apparatus to improve accuracy of flow velocity measurement or the like of particulates such as erythrocytes, the speckle measurement apparatus including an imager that captures scattered light images returned from an object to be measured when the object to be measured is irradiated with coherent light as speckle images, and a controller that determines a measurement area that is the same site of the object to be measured in a plurality of the speckle images captured continuously in time series by the imager by incorporating a displacement amount of a relative positional relationship between the object to be measured and the imager.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kota Aizawa, Atsushi Okubo, Yoshihiro Wakita
  • Patent number: 10792012
    Abstract: In one aspect, the invention relates to one or more rotatable elements and one or more stationary element such that the elements are arranged along a common axis of rotation co-linear with or substantially parallel to an optical path. The optical path is a portion of a sample arm of an interferometer. Further, the rotatable and stationary elements are configured to couple electrical signals and optical signals between a data collection probe and an interface unit or other component of an imaging system. In one embodiment, the data collection probe is a combination ultrasound and OCT probe. In one aspect, the invention relates to a rotary joint in which the optical fiber and a fiber optic rotary joint lie in the center of one or more conductive elements of an electrical rotary joint which are annularly disposed around one or both of the optical fiber and optical rotary joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: LightLab Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Hutchins, Michael Atlas, Alexander Ship
  • Patent number: 10775611
    Abstract: A fiber scanning system includes an actuator configured to have an actuator natural frequency, and a fiber optic scanning element coupled to the actuator. The fiber optic scanning element is configured to have a fiber natural frequency that is within a threshold of the actuator natural frequency, such that a displacement gain of the fiber optic scanning element as a function of operating frequency exhibits a first peak value at a first resonance frequency less than the fiber natural frequency, and a second peak value at a second resonance frequency greater than the fiber natural frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Mark Dalrymple, Alejandro Lopez, William K. Jones, Jr., Andrew C. Duenner
  • Patent number: 10581130
    Abstract: A rotary joint including a stator intended to be fastened on a first part of the antenna and defining a transmission surface, and a rotor intended to be fastened on a second part of the antenna and defining a transmission surface, wherein one of the transmission surfaces includes primary means for delimiting electromagnetic signals and the other includes complementary means for delimiting electromagnetic signals; the rotor being mounted rotating relative to the stator such that at least part of the transmission surface of the rotor is positioned across from at least part of the transmission surface of the stator, the facing parts forming at least one transmission path between them for the electromagnetic signals delimited by the primary and complementary delimiting means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Nicolas Ferrando, Jérôme Brossier, Pierre Bosshard, Yann Cailloce, Jérôme Lorenzo
  • Patent number: 10488598
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic component including a ferrule having a distal end and a proximal end. The ferrule defines a fiber passage extending though the ferrule along a fiber passage axis in a proximal-to-distal orientation. The fiber optic component also includes an optical fiber structure affixed within the fiber passage. The optical fiber structure includes a beam expansion section optically coupled to a sacrificial section. The beam expansion section has a construction adapted to expand an optical beam from a first beam diameter to an enlarged second beam diameter. The sacrificial section is configured to receive the optical beam having the second beam diameter from the beam expansion section. The sacrificial section is positioned at the distal end of the ferrule and has a polished end face at the distal end of the ferrule. The sacrificial section has a core-less construction or has a core with a core diameter that is larger than the enlarged second beam diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignees: CommScope Technologies LLC, CommScope Asia Holdings B.V.
    Inventors: Jeroen Antonius Maria Duis, Sander Johannes Floris, Michael Aaron Kadar-Kallen, Dwight Andrew Bretz, Rutger Wilhelmus Smink
  • Patent number: 10466077
    Abstract: An optical connection device includes a light source section configured to emit light, a light guide section configured to guide the light emitted from the light source section and including an emitting section configured to emit the guided light to the outside, and a light receiving section configured to receive the light emitted from the emitting section. At least one of the light source section and the light receiving section turns around a turning axis. Therefore, a transmission distance of the light from the light source section to the light receiving section changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Junichi Okamoto
  • Patent number: 10407653
    Abstract: A photobioreactor system includes vessel for containing a biomass and a plurality of illuminators which may have solid state devices embedded therein or coupled thereto. The light energy is distributed in the vessel volume by the illuminators so as to reach substantially all of the biomass being circulated in the vessel. Biomass may exit the top of the vessel and be refreshed with nutrients and liquid before being reintroduced at the bottom of the vessel. Carbon dioxide is introduced at the bottom of the vessel. The biomass may be agitated either ultrasonically or by motion of the illuminators. A source of energy for the light sources may be solar panels with battery storage and the carbon dioxide may be a byproduct of thermal power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: Wayne State University
    Inventors: Gregory Auner, Michelle A. Brusatori, Joseph M. Smolinski, David J. Sant
  • Patent number: 10359625
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for setting driving conditions applied in an optical scanning apparatus. The method for setting driving conditions includes attaching a scanning pattern detector and adjusting a scanning pattern detected by the scanning pattern detector by changing a drive signal applied to an actuator (steps S03 to S06). The step of adjusting includes setting a first drive signal value of the drive signal applied to the actuator and a target amplitude of the scanning pattern (step S03) and determining a frequency of the drive signal applied to the actuator by comparing an amplitude of the scanning pattern detected by changing the frequency of the drive signal applied to the actuator with the target amplitude while vibrating the actuator at the first drive signal value (step S04).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Atsuyoshi Shimamoto
  • Patent number: 10345592
    Abstract: Configurations are disclosed for a health system to be used in various healthcare applications, e.g., for patient diagnostics, monitoring, and/or therapy. The health system may comprise a light generation module to transmit light or an image to a user, one or more sensors to detect a physiological parameter of the user's body, including their eyes, and processing circuitry to analyze an input received in response to the presented images to determine one or more health conditions or defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2019
    Assignee: Magic Leap, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicole Elizabeth Samec, John Graham Macnamara, Christopher M. Harrises, Brian T. Schowengerdt, Rony Abovitz, Mark Baerenrodt
  • Patent number: 10299661
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a medical optical connector for reversibly connecting two associated optical fibers (12, 14) for use in medical interventions, comprising a fiber carrying unit (16, 18) for inserting an end portion of at least one of the associated optical fibers (12, 14), and an optical arrangement (20) for interacting with a light beam from one of the associated optical fibers (12, 14) and conducting the light beam to the other one of the associated optical fibers (12, 14) in a connected state of the medical optical connector, the optical arrangement (20) comprising at least two gradient index elements (22a, 22b) and an additional optical element (23, 25) arranged between the at least two gradient index elements, wherein the additional optical element provides for a sterility barrier between the associated fibers (12, 14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Eibert Gerjan Van Putten, Johannes Joseph Hubertina Barbara Schleipen, Martinus Bernardus Van Der Mark
  • Patent number: 10254483
    Abstract: A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system includes a motion actuator having longitudinal side members, an internal orifice, a first support region, a central region, and a second support region. The fiber optic element also includes a first fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice and having a first fiber joint as well as a second fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice. The second fiber optic cable has a second fiber joint disposed in the central region and spliced to the first fiber joint, a second coupling region, a light delivery region, and a light emission tip. The light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: MAGIC LEAP, INC.
    Inventors: Brian T. Schowengerdt, Mathew D. Watson, Charles David Melville
  • Patent number: 10073222
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure include an optical fiber sensing system and apparatus that provide for free rotation of fiber optic cables containing multiple cores. For example, the disclosure presents a fiber optic rotary joint, comprising a stator housing a non-rotating portion of a dual-core fiber optic cable and a rotor housing a rotating portion of the dual-core fiber optic cable. In such an example, the rotor is mounted to the stator to allow rotation of at least a portion of the rotor about at least a portion of the stator. Further provided is an optical fiber sensing system, comprising one or more multiplexor/demultiplexors configured to multiplex and demultiplex one or more signals, a dual-core fiber optic cable communicatively coupled to the multiplexor/demultiplexor and configured to carry one or more signals on an inner core and an outer core disposed about the inner core, and a dual-core fiber optic rotary joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Mikko Jaaskelainen, Ian Bradford Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9979469
    Abstract: Disclosed are interposer including an interposer coupling assemblies for communicating optical signals to an integrated circuit and other interposer structures having an optical interface for optical connections. In one embodiment, the interposer coupling assembly includes a connector attachment saddle having an optical alignment structure, an optical pathway that includes a GRIN lens, and an optical signal turning element adjacent to the GRIN lens. The interposer coupling assembly may be optically attached to an integrated circuit or a base that is attached to an integrated circuit to form an interposer structure that allows high-speed data transfer. Also disclosed are complimentary optical assemblies that may be optically connected to the interposer coupling assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Llewellyn Butler, Ying Geng, Micah Colen Isenhour, James Phillip Luther, Robert Adam Modavis
  • Patent number: 9927579
    Abstract: The current invention is to disclose a de-rotating mechanism for off-axis fiber optic rotary joints. Dove prism is a de-rotating mechanism and is widely used for on-axis fiber optic rotary joints. But optic de-rotating mechanism is not available when there is a through bore along the rotational axis and optical light paths would not be allowed to path through the central area along the rotational axis. The hollow de-rotating mechanism in the current invention mainly includes a plural of fiber optic collimator patch cords, which are elaborately arranged on the circumference of said de-rotating mechanism following a special rule. The current invention eliminates the photodiodes in most prior published patents and make it possible to build a true passive, bi-directional fiber optic rotary joint without the limitation to the through bore diameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: PRINCETEL, INC.
    Inventors: Hong Zhang, Boying B. Zhang
  • Patent number: 9904017
    Abstract: In an optical coupler in which optical fibers with GRIN lenses, each having an optical fiber and a GRIN lens joined coaxially, are disposed to face each other coaxially, with a preset inter-lens distance WD being provided, and to couple transmission light of one of the optical fibers with GRIN lenses to the other one of the optical fibers with GRIN lens, an intermediate position of the inter-lens distance WD is set to match a beam waist position of light with a shortest wavelength ?m out of the transmission light, and a lens length z along an optical axis direction of the GRIN lens is set in accordance with a bottom of a coupling loss due to a distance-shift D of a beam waist position of light with a wavelength ?i different from the ?m out of the transmission light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: TOYO SEIKAN GROUP HOLDINGS, LTD.
    Inventors: Taro Suzuki, Naofumi Maruyama, Gou Endo
  • Patent number: 9551840
    Abstract: An optical rotating joint installation; comprising: a drive shaft for a rotating interface, the drive shaft comprising a hollow central bore; and an optical rotating joint located in the hollow central bore. The proportion of the cross-sectional area of the material retained in the annular section of the drive shaft is preferably greater than or equal to 50%, more preferably 60%, yet more preferably 75%. The diameter of the hollow central bore is preferably less than or equal to 20 mm, more preferably 16 mm. The optical rotating joint installation may be provided as a retro-fit to replace an existing solid drive shaft that does not have an optical rotating joint, for example by hollowing out the existing solid drive shaft or by replacing the existing solid drive shaft with a drive shaft with a hollow central bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Christopher Ralph Pescod, Mohammed Nawaz
  • Patent number: 9507091
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for splitting and controlling optical powers provided by an input fiber and received by a plurality of output fibers comprises: (a) providing a first collimated beam from the input fiber using a first lens; (b) splitting the first collimated beam into a plurality of separated collimated beams having different directions using a collimated beam splitting device; (c) controlling area of each separated collimated beam by moving the collimated beam splitting device on a plane perpendicular to the first collimated beam; and (d) focusing the plurality of separated collimated beams using a second lens and coupling the focused beams into the plurality of output fibers, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optic Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Yao Li, Xiaoxu Li, Xinzhong Wang
  • Patent number: 9435956
    Abstract: In part, the invention relates to a single clad fiber to multi-clad optical fiber connector for use in applying excitation light to a sample and obtaining reflected light from the sample. The connector can include a dual clad optical fiber portion and a single clad optical fiber portion in optical communication with the dual clad optical fiber portion. In one embodiment, a core of the dual clad optical fiber portion and a core of the single clad optical fiber portion have substantially similar indices of refraction. In one embodiment, excitation light is propagated by the core of the dual clad optical fiber. Further, in one embodiment, light reflected by the sample is propagated by the first cladding layer of the dual clad optical fiber portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: LightLab Imaging, Inc.
    Inventors: Chenyang Xu, Joseph M. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 9360626
    Abstract: Optical filters comprising one or more optically-coupled Fabry-Perot resonators are disclosed. In some embodiments, the one or more optically coupled Fabry-Perot resonators include a graded index fiber. In some embodiments, the one or more optically coupled Fabry-Perot resonators are coupled end-to-end, whereas in other embodiments the one or more optically coupled Fabry-Perot resonators are side-coupled through evanescence. One or more implementations of an optical filter allow a spectral response of an input light beam to be controlled, through various approaches, e.g., by exposing a component fiber to ultra-violet radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Inventors: Anatoliy Savchenkov, David Seidel, Vladimir Ilchenko, Andrey B. Matsko
  • Patent number: 9324767
    Abstract: Provided are superconducting tunnel junctions, such as Josephson tunnel junctions, and a method of fabricating thereof. A junction includes an insulator disposed between two superconductors. The junction may also include one or two interface layers, with each interface layer disposed between the insulator and one of the superconductors. The interface layer is configured to prevent oxygen from entering the adjacent superconductor during fabrication and operation of the junction. Furthermore, the interface layer may protect the insulator from the environment during handling and processing of the junction, thereby allowing vacuum breaks after the interface layer is formed as well as new integration schemes, such as depositing a dielectric layer and forming a trench in the dielectric layer for the second superconductor. In some embodiments, the junction may be annealed during its fabrication to move oxygen from the superconductors and/or from the insulator into the one or two interface layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: Intermolecular, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew Steinbach, Tony Bonetti, Frank Greer, Kurt Pang, Yun Wang
  • Patent number: 9215969
    Abstract: A scanning endoscope system includes: a fiber that guides illuminating light from a light source; a first actuator provided on a side of the fiber and expands/contracts according to an applied voltage, thereby swinging the fiber; a second actuator disposed at a position facing the first actuator across the fiber and expands/contracts according to an applied voltage, thereby swinging the fiber; a drive signal output section applying a first voltage for setting a reference position of the fiber where the first actuator is in a contracted state, to the first actuator, and applying a second voltage for setting the reference position of the fiber where the second actuator is in a contracted state, to the second actuator; and a controller that in order to change the reference position of the fiber, controls the drive signal output section to change at least one of the first voltage and the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuji Sakai, Yoshinari Okita
  • Patent number: 9196238
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform determining a change in position and/or orientation of an apparatus, and processing at least two audio signals dependent on the change in position and/or orientation to generate at least one output signal wherein the processing of the two audio signals dependent on the change in position and/or orientation produces the output signal comprising a representation of acoustic energy from a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Kai Inha, Peter Sladen
  • Patent number: 9113775
    Abstract: An endoscope system includes: a light transmitting section for transmitting illuminating light and emit the light from a light exit surface; a light receiving section for receiving return light of the light emitted from the light exit surface; a light guiding section for allowing the light to be incident on the light receiving section by totally reflecting return light from a subject or the emitted light at least one or more times; a driving section for allowing an end portion having the light exit surface of the light transmitting section to be swung; a light detecting section for detecting the light received through the light guiding section, as a signal; and a control section for, if the pattern of fluctuations in the signal level by the light detected by the light detected section does not correspond to the predetermined pattern of fluctuations, performing control for lowering a quantity of the illuminating light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masahiro Yoshino, Yoshinari Okita, Mitsuhiro Ito
  • Publication number: 20150146133
    Abstract: A sunlight collecting device provided in the present invention includes a lens substrate, a plurality of Fresnel lens, a connector substrate, a plurality of optical fiber connectors, and a light-tracking substrate. The lens substrate has a plurality of circular openings. The Fresnel lenses correspond to the circular opening and are disposed on the lens substrate. The connector substrate is disposed parallel to the lens substrate and away from the lens substrate with a focal length. The optical fiber connectors are adjustably disposed on the connector substrate. The light-tracking substrate is disposed between the lens substrate and the connector substrate for simultaneously rotating the lens substrate and the connector substrate such that the Fresnel lenses are directly opposite to the sunlight. An LCD using the sunlight as a backlight source is further provided in the present invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventors: Chao Ning, Sheng-Jer Chang Chien, Qian Cao, Dehua Li, Guofu Tang
  • Patent number: 9030723
    Abstract: Systems, apparatuses and methods are provided for increasing the aperture ratio of a display by increasing the total travel distance of respective light modulating bodies in a display while maintaining fast switching speeds. Increasing the total travel distance allows for a larger aperture ratio in a display, which provides greater power savings and increased display brightness. The total travel distance of a light modulating body includes the distance the body travels from an open position to a closed position, and vice-versa. In one example, the travel distance of a light modulating body (e.g., any of the light modulators as described above) is asymmetric: from a neutral position, the body travels a greater distance in a first direction than in a second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Pixtronix, Inc.
    Inventors: Joyce H. Wu, Jianru Shi
  • Patent number: 8909008
    Abstract: Optical signals are transmitted across a rotary junction using an active optical rotary coupler. A rotary optical joint assembly includes a rotatable optical coupler and an optical signal processing system. The rotatable optical coupler aligns two optical fibers for optical communication across a rotary optical junction. The optical signal processing system includes a local optical transceiver that receives the signals and compensates for at least a portion of signal loss or other signal imperfections incurred from transmitting the signal across the rotary optical junction. The local optical transceiver also processes the signals for longer distance transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Owlink Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Shing-Wu P. Tzeng, Ding-Wei Cheng, Chien-Jen Lin, Chih-Hao Liu
  • Patent number: 8873903
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a slider structure having a waveguide and a cavity configured to align a laser to the waveguide. The cavity includes a plurality of solder bumps on a bottom of the cavity configured to electrically and thermally couple the laser to the slider. At least one mechanical stopper is disposed in the cavity to facilitate vertical alignment between an output of the laser and an input of the waveguide. At least one solder bump is disposed on the mechanical stopper to facilitate lateral alignment between the output of the laser and the input of the waveguide in response to a reflow of the solder bumps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: James Gary Wessel
  • Patent number: 8861905
    Abstract: A light collecting module includes a tapered light baffle. An optical fiber is coupled to a shortened base of the tapered light baffle, and a window is coupled to a lengthened base of the tapered light baffle. The optical fiber receives light flowing through the window, wherein the light can be sunlight. The optical fiber can provide the light to a light emitting fixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Inventor: Wesley Calvin Moyer
  • Patent number: 8805155
    Abstract: This invention discloses scalable and modular automated optical cross-connect devices which exhibit low loss and scalability to high port counts. In particular, a device for the programmable interconnection of large numbers of optical fibers is provided, whereby a two-dimensional array of fiber optic connections is mapped in an ordered and rule based fashion into a one-dimensional array with tensioned fiber optic elements tracing substantially straight lines there between. Fiber optic elements are terminated in a stacked arrangement of flexible fiber optic elements with a capacity to retain excess fiber lengths while maintaining an adequate bend radius. The combination of these elements partitions the switch volume into multiple independent, non-interfering zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Telescent Inc.
    Inventor: Anthony Stephen Kewitsch
  • Patent number: 8786385
    Abstract: One embodiment of an axial rotary joint having rotary transmission lines for the bi-directional propagation of radio frequency electromagnetic waves and light waves across a rotary interface. Each section is capable of fully independent rotation about a common longitudinal axis. The radio frequency rotary transmission line comprises waveguide tubing at each end that transitions to a coax transmission line at the rotary interface. The waveguide tubing also functions as the axial support structure. The second transmission line for light wave propagation is fully integrated into the waveguide-to-coax transition and the inner coaxial conductor, and uses optical coupling devices to form an optical coupling path across the rotary interface. This embodiment of the rotary joint can be sealed and pressurized to minimize contamination of the optics and to increase the electromagnetic wave power handling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventor: Curtis D Lorenc
  • Patent number: 8774580
    Abstract: An optical device comprising a substrate having a planar surface and an optical waveguide located on and parallel to the planar surface and having an end located and oriented to emit or receive light propagating substantially parallel to the planar surface. The device also comprises a crystalline turning mirror bound to the planar surface, the crystalline turning mirror having a bottom surface along the planar surface and having a reflecting surface that is slanted relative to said planar surface. The crystalline turning mirror and the substrate are formed of different materials.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Christian Bolle
  • Publication number: 20140147077
    Abstract: A hybrid rotary joint provides both optical and fluid channels for applications such as optogenetic research. The rotary joint has a stationary component and a rotating component. The optical channel and fluid channel permit simultaneous and rotation-insensitive passage of light and fluid from the stationary to the rotating side of the hybrid rotary joint. The input to the optical channel is provided via an input optical fiber and the input to the fluid channel is fluid from a fluid source. The outputs are an optical fiber output and a fluid channel output. As light passes from the stationary side to the rotating side of the hybrid rotary joint, it is deflected off a beam deflector having an angular orientation that is passively aligned and made independent of the angular orientation of the rotating component via the interaction between magnets attached to each of the beam deflector and the stationary component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: OPTOMAK, INC.
    Inventor: Sead Doric
  • Patent number: 8721190
    Abstract: An optoelectrical connector is composed of a plug to which a wire and an optical fiber are assembled and a receptacle to which the plug is inserted and connected. A receptacle includes insulation sleeves and conductive contacts in openings of receptacle housings, and plugs include a ferrule assembled bodies which are composed of an insulation ferrule which holds an optical fiber and a conductive cylindrical member which holds the ferrule and to which a wire is assembled, in an opening of the plug housing. When the plugs are inserted into the receptacle, the contacts and the cylindrical member contact with each other and the ferrules are inserted into the sleeves. Parts which serve electrical connection are not exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Limited
    Inventors: Yuichi Koreeda, Osamu Hashiguchi
  • Patent number: 8712506
    Abstract: The present invention provides minimally invasive imaging probe having an optical encoder integrated therewith for accurately measuring or estimating the rotational velocity near the distal end of the medical device, such as an imaging probe which undergoes rotational movement during scanning of surrounding tissue in bodily lumens and cavities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
    Inventors: Brian Courtney, Nigel Robert Munce, Amandeep Singh Thind, Victor Xiao Dong Yang, Francis Stuart Foster
  • Patent number: 8705976
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to optical rotary joints (35) for enabling optical communication between a rotor and a stator, and to improved optical reflector assemblies for use in such optical rotary joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: K. Peter Lo, Norris E. Lewis, Heath E. Kouns, Martin J. Oosterhuis
  • Publication number: 20140101953
    Abstract: A portable articulated arm coordinate measurement machine (AACMM) having opposed first and second ends and a plurality of connected arm segments each having at least one position transducer for producing a position signal; an electronic circuit configured to receive the position signals; a first bus for communication with the electronic circuit, wherein at least a portion of the first bus is an optical communication bus configured to transmit light; and a rotary coupler having a first portion and a second portion, the second portion configured to rotate relative to the first portion, the first portion affixed to the first arm segment, the rotary coupler configured to transfer signals on the optical communication bus between the first portion and the second portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Publication date: April 17, 2014
    Applicant: FARO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: FARO Technologies, Inc.
  • Patent number: 8693873
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer. The reconfigurable optical add-drop multiplexer includes a first optical equalizer to precompensate a received optical signal for optical filtering effects to produce a first compensated optical signal. A first interleaver, coupled to the first optical equalizer, separates the first compensated optical signal into an odd optical signal and an even optical signal. A plurality of wavelength selective switches processes the odd optical signal and the even optical signal. A second interleaver, combines the odd optical signal and the even optical signal to produce a combined optical signal. A second optical equalizer, coupled to the second interleaver, postcompensates the combined optical signal for optical filtering effects to produce an output optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventor: Xiang Zhou