Electro-optic Patents (Class 385/2)
  • Patent number: 8768121
    Abstract: A filter and a method of filtering a high frequency electrical signal using photonic components is disclosed. The filter has a serially fiber-coupled laser source, a modulator, a filter, and a photodetector. The electrical signal is applied to the modulator. The modulated light propagates through the filter which is constructed to pass not only a modulated sideband, but also at least a fraction of light at the carrier frequency of the laser. The photodetector detects a signal at the beat frequency between the carrier and sideband signals, after both signals have propagated through the filter. As a result, a separate optical branch for light at the carrier frequency is not required, which considerably simplifies the filter construction and makes it more stable and reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, as Represented by the Minister of Industry, Through the Communications Research Centre Canada
    Inventors: Howard Rideout, Joe Seregelyi, Ping Lu, Stéphane Paquet, Jianping Yao, Stephen J. Mihailov, John Oldham, Mario Caron
  • Patent number: 8768110
    Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to an optical isolator in an integrated optical circuit including: a first optical modulator configured to provide a first periodic phase modulation on an input optical signal; a second optical modulator configured to provide a second periodic phase modulation on the modulated optical signal; and an optical waveguide having a length L connecting the first optical modulator to the second optical modulator; wherein the phase difference between the first and second periodic phase modulation is ?/2, and wherein the length L of the optical waveguide causes a phase delay of ?/2 on an optical signal traversing the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Christopher R. Doerr
  • Patent number: 8768109
    Abstract: An electro-optic modulator includes a substrate, a pair of transmission lines, a first strip-shaped electrode, and a pair of second strip-shaped electrodes. The substrate includes a surface and a reversely-polarized portion. The transmission lines are formed in the surface and extend substantially in parallel with each other. One of the transmission lines is formed within the reversely-polarized portion and the other is out of the reversely-polarized portion. The first strip-shaped electrode is formed on the surface and covers the transmission lines. The second strip-shaped electrodes are positioned at two sides of the first strip-shaped electrodes and parallel with the first strip-shaped electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsin-Shun Huang
  • Publication number: 20140177994
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising an optical modulator, wherein the optical modulator comprises a planar substrate, a first III-V semiconductor layer on the substrate, and a silicon layer on the substrate. The optical modulator includes a planar semiconductor optical waveguide having a hybrid optical core, the hybrid optical core including vertically adjacent lateral portions of the first III-V semiconductor layer and the silicon layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: ALCATEL-LUCENT, USA INC.
    Inventor: Long Chen
  • Patent number: 8761548
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes: a modulator including an optical waveguide provided in a semiconductor substrate having an electro-optical effect and an electrode for applying an electric field depending on a bias voltage and a modulation signal to the optical waveguide; a modulation signal generator to generate the modulation signal of a first frequency; a superimposer to superimpose a signal of a second frequency different from the first frequency on the bias voltage; and a bias controller to control the bias voltage in a modulation direction of the modulator and the bias voltage in an orthogonal direction which is orthogonal to the modulation direction based on a phase of the second frequency component extracted from a modulated optical signal generated by the modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Optical Components Limited
    Inventor: Hiroshi Kuwahara
  • Patent number: 8761549
    Abstract: A component, device and improved electro-optical modulation system for increasing compactness, favoring the adaptation of optical and electrical waves, and a method of fabrication. Such a component exhibits a waveguide architecture devised so that the length of the path followed by the luminous flux exhibits, with the length of the path traversed by the electrical control signal, a determined difference for decreasing or compensating for the difference in the speeds of propagation of the luminous flux and of the electrical signal. In particular, the modulation zone includes a path of the luminous flux winding around itself and successively crossing at least two indentations emanating from at least two of these control elements. It thus exhibits a length greater than that traversed by the electrical signal, for example between a first and a second region of interaction between this control signal and this luminous flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignees: Universite Paris Sud 11, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Gilles Rasigade, Laurent Vivien, Delphine Marris-Morini
  • Patent number: 8755641
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes: a substrate made of a material having an electro-optical effect; an optical waveguide formed on the substrate; and a modulation electrode for modulating an optical wave propagating through the optical waveguide, wherein emitted light emitted from the optical waveguide is guided by optical fiber, and polarization of the substrate is reversed in a predetermined pattern along the optical waveguide so as to provide waveform distortion having a characteristic opposite to a wavelength dispersion characteristic of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichiro Ichikawa, Satoshi Oikawa, Hiroshi Murata, Yasuyuki Ozeki
  • Patent number: 8750650
    Abstract: An optical modulator structure can include a core region that comprises an optical transmission path having a refractive index that is modulated via electric charge introduced into the core region. A plurality of first vertical slabs comes into contact with and is spaced along a first side of the core region to provide a first path for the electric charge to/from the core region. A plurality of second vertical slabs come into contact with and is spaced along a second side of the core region, that is opposite to the first side, to provide a second path for the electric charge to/from the core region. Other structures and methods are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Jae Shin, Jung Hyung Pyo, Kwang Hyun Lee, Kyoung Ho Ha, Ho-Chul Ji
  • Publication number: 20140153858
    Abstract: An electro-optic modulator includes a substrate, a Y-shaped waveguide, a pair of first electrodes, and a pair of second electrodes. The substrate includes a top surface. The Y-shaped waveguide is embedded into the top surface, and includes a first branch and a second branch. The first branch is subjected to a transverse electric wave and the second branch is subjected to a transverse magnetic wave. The pair of first electrodes are positioned on the top surface and arranged at two sides of the first branch. The pair of second electrodes are positioned on the top surface. One of the second electrodes covers the second branch, and the other is arranged at a side of the second branch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: HSIN-SHUN HUANG
  • Publication number: 20140153859
    Abstract: The present optical modulator includes an optical waveguide core made of a semiconductor material, an electrode, and a plurality of channels made of a semiconductor material doped in an n type or a p type and electrically connecting the optical waveguide core and the electrode to each other. The plurality of channels are provided in a spaced relationship from each other along a propagation direction of light; the optical waveguide core includes a doped region doped in the n type or the p type and a non-doped region. The doped region and the non-doped region are disposed alternately along the propagation direction of light. Each of the plurality of channels is connected to the doped region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Publication date: June 5, 2014
    Applicant: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Suguru Akiyama, Takeshi Baba
  • Publication number: 20140147072
    Abstract: An electro-optic modulator includes a substrate, a Y-shaped waveguide, a ground electrode, a first modulating electrode, and a second modulating electrode. The substrate includes a top surface. The Y-shaped waveguide is implanted into the top surface, and includes a first branch and a second branch. The first branch is dedicated to the application of a transverse electric wave and the second branch is dedicated to the application of a transverse magnetic wave. The ground electrode, the first modulating electrode, and the third modulating electrode are all strip-shaped and positioned on the top surface. The first modulating electrode and the ground electrode are located at two sides of the first second branch, and the ground electrode covers the second branch. The second modulating electrode is located at a side of the second branch opposite to the first branch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: HSIN-SHUN HUANG
  • Patent number: 8737772
    Abstract: An optical device includes a light-transmitting medium positioned on a base. The light-transmitting medium includes a slab region and a ridge extending upward from the slab region. The ridge defines a portion of an optical waveguide on the device. A modulator is also positioned on the base. The modulator includes a first doped region of the light-transmitting medium and a second doped region of the light-transmitting medium. The first doped region and the second doped region are configured such that a depletion region forms in the waveguide when an electrical bias is not applied to the modulator. At least a portion of the first doped region is positioned in the ridge and at least a portion of the second doped region is positioned in the slab region. The light-transmitting medium includes a first electrical pathway extending from a first location to the first doped region. The first location is on top of the light-transmitting medium and is spaced apart from the ridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Kotura, Inc.
    Inventors: Po Dong, Dazeng Feng, Shirong Liao, Mehdi Asghari
  • Patent number: 8737773
    Abstract: An optical control element having a substrate 1 having an electro-optic effect, an optical waveguide 2 formed on the substrate, and a control electrode 3 that is provided on the substrate and controls the phase of light that propagates through the optical waveguide, in which the control electrode 3 has a plurality of resonant-type electrodes 31 and 32 that are disposed along the optical waveguide 2 and have different resonance frequencies (f1 and f2), an feeder electrode 30 through which control signals are input and branched signal electrodes that are branched from the feeder electrode are connected to the respective resonant-type electrodes, and the branched signal electrode is configured to match a timing at which the electric control signal is applied to each of the resonant-type electrodes and a timing at which the light that propagates through the optical waveguide passes at the section of each of the resonant-type electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayuki Motoya, Junichiro Ichikawa, Hiroshi Murata
  • Publication number: 20140133794
    Abstract: An integrated optical device includes first, second, third, and fourth edge portions; a plurality of modulators each of which includes an optical waveguide and an electrode portion provided on the optical waveguide, the optical waveguide extending in a direction of a first axis; a plurality of electric signal input sections arrayed along the first edge portion extending in a direction of a second axis intersecting with the first axis, each of the electric signal input sections being connected to one of the electrode portions of the modulators; an optical signal input section; and an optical signal output section provided in the second edge portion extending in the direction of the second axis. The modulators are arrayed in the direction of the second axis. In addition, the optical signal input section is provided in one of the second edge portion, the third edge portion, and the fourth edge portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 15, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Naoya KONO
  • Publication number: 20140126854
    Abstract: An optical waveguide for transmitting an optical signal input to the optical waveguide with a first frequency. The optical waveguide includes a plurality of modulator circuits configured along an optical transmission channel. Each modulator circuit includes at least one resonant structure that resonates at the first frequency when the modulator circuit that includes the at least one resonant structure is at a resonant temperature. Each modulator circuit has a different resonant temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: MICRON TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventors: Roy Meade, Gurtej Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20140126853
    Abstract: A micro-ring resonator includes a bus optical waveguide and a circular optical waveguide positioned adjacent to the bus optical waveguide so as to provide evanescent coupling of light between the waveguides. The cladding of the circular optical waveguide comprises an electro-optic polymer with an index of refraction that can be changed through application of an electric field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Inventors: Zhen Peng, Raymond G. Beausoleil
  • Patent number: 8718413
    Abstract: An optical modulation apparatus includes: a substrate; a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide formed at an interval on the substrate; an electrode provided along at least one of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide; and a power source coupled to the electrode to apply a voltage to at least one of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide, wherein at least one of the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide includes a diffraction grating region where light having a wavelength ? is reflected, and a phase shift region where a phase of the light is shifted by an amount in a range of 0 to ?/2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Suguru Akiyama
  • Publication number: 20140118748
    Abstract: A system includes a waveguide that guides a beam of radiation, a variable delay unit, and a polarization-dependent modulating unit. The variable delay unit modulates the refractive index in a region, and the waveguide makes a plurality of passes through the region. The polarization-dependent element compensates for birefringence associated with the beam of radiation and includes a polarization splitter and a plurality of modulating elements. The polarization splitter has a first arm and a second arm that each include modulation segments. The beam of radiation is split between the first arm and the second arm and recombined after traversing the modulation segments. The recombination of the beam generates a first polarized beam of radiation and a second polarized beam of radiation. The plurality of modulating elements apply a first and second modulation to the first polarized beam of radiation and the second polarized beam of radiation respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: MEDLUMICS S.L.
    Inventors: José Luis Rubio Guivernau, Eduardo Margallo Balbás
  • Publication number: 20140119686
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes a package 2 that accommodates therein a first substrate and a second substrate different from the first substrate, and outside the package, a flexible circuit board. The first substrate has plural optical modulating units disposed thereon in parallel and each including a Mach-Zehnder optical waveguide. Plural first signal line paths corresponding to the optical modulating units are disposed on the second substrate. Plural second signal line paths corresponding to the optical modulating units are disposed on the flexible circuit board. Electrical lengths of the second signal line paths are different from one another. Electrical lengths of signal paths that span from input ends of the second signal line paths corresponding to the optical modulating units to base points on signal electrodes, via the first signal line paths, are equal to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: FUJITSU OPTICAL COMPONENTS LIMITED
    Inventor: Masaki SUGIYAMA
  • Publication number: 20140112610
    Abstract: A semiconductor optical modulator includes a substrate, which has a first conductivity type, and a first electrode on a first main surface of the substrate. A first cladding layer having the first conductivity type, a transparent waveguide layer, a second cladding layer having the first conductivity type, an optical-absorption layer, and a third cladding layer having a second conductivity type, are sequentially laminated on a second main surface of the substrate. A ridge part is formed by removing a part of the third cladding layer and a part of the second cladding layer in a laminated direction. A second electrode on the ridge part is electrically connected to the third cladding layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Inventor: Kazuhisa Takagi
  • Patent number: 8705901
    Abstract: A method for making a polarization rotator includes the steps of forming a structure including a semiconductor substrate and a mesa part, forming a first semiconductor layer on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate and around the mesa part, forming a second semiconductor layer on the first semiconductor layer, forming a semiconductor laminate by forming a third semiconductor layer on the second semiconductor layer, forming a mask layer on the third semiconductor layer, forming a mesa including a first semiconductor core by etching the semiconductor laminate, and forming a first semiconductor cladding by forming a fourth semiconductor layer around the mesa. The first semiconductor core and the first semiconductor cladding form a polarization rotating unit. An inclined surface of a mesa-part-adjacent portion extends in a second direction forming an acute angle with the main surface. An inclined portion of the second semiconductor layer extends in the second direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Chie Fukuda
  • Patent number: 8705900
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical modulator which substantially lowers loss and has little attenuation in the intensity of an optical signal after modulation. The optical modulator includes a 1×2 RZ pulse carver wherein optical phase shifters used for modulation are arranged along two arm waveguides held between a 1×2 coupler and a 2×2 coupler, two interferometric modulators connected respectively to two output ports of the 2×2 coupler, and a 2×1 coupler for combining the outputs of the interferometric modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Goh, Takashi Yamada, Hiroshi Yamazaki, Yoshiyuki Doi
  • Publication number: 20140099052
    Abstract: A light modulator (101) includes a waveguide (112) through which guided light propagates, a metal layer (113) formed adjacent to the waveguide (112), a conductive oxide layer (114) having electrical conductivity and formed on a surface of the metal layer (113) which is not adjacent to the waveguide (112), an insulating layer (115) formed adjacent to the conductive oxide layer (114), and a modulation circuit (102) that applies a voltage between the metal layer (113) and one of the conductive oxide layer (114) and the insulating layer (115). An interface (11) at which the conductive oxide layer (114) and the insulating layer (115) are adjacent to each other is formed at a distance shorter than a wavelength of the guided light in vacuum, from the surface of the metal layer (113) which is not adjacent to the waveguide (112).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsuya Takaoka, Kousei Sano, Hidenori Wada
  • Patent number: 8693817
    Abstract: The present invention describes a microresonator that can be used as a 1:f variable coupler in a unit cell. It is described how a cascade of unit cells can be used to form a tunable, higher-order RF-filter with reconfigurable passbands. The disclosed filter structure can be utilized for the narrowband channelization of RF signals that have been modulated onto optical carriers. It is also disclosed how to utilize add/drop capabilities of the contemplated microdisks to confer connectivity and cascading in two dimensions. The present invention can conveniently provide a wavelength division multiplexing router, where an array of unit cells as provided herein can form a programmable optical switching matrix, through electronic programming of filter parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Willie N. Ng, Brian N. Limketkai, Robert R. Hayes, Daniel Yap, Peter Petre
  • Patent number: 8693810
    Abstract: A system and method for cancellation of RF interference in the optical domain. The system and method utilize two Mach-Zehnder electrooptic modulators biased for parallel counter-phase modulation. The method of signal subtraction is referred to as incoherent optical subtraction, since two independent laser sources serve as the optical carrier waves. The system has produced the broadband cancellation result while simultaneously recovering a 50 dBm signal which was initially “buried” under the broadband interference. The cancellation depths achieved by the system are due to the accurate channel tracking and precise time delays attainable with modern optical devices—unattainable with state-of-the-art electronic devices at the time of this writing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: The Trustees of Princeton University
    Inventors: John Suarez, Konstantin Kravtsov, Paul R. Prucnal
  • Publication number: 20140093202
    Abstract: An optical modulator comprises a substrate 4 having a thickness of 20 ?m or less and an electro-optic effect, a reinforcing substrate 6 holding the substrate 4 thereon and a resin layer 5 disposed between the substrate and the reinforcing substrate, in which the substrate 4 includes optical waveguides 1 and 2 and control electrodes 3 and 31 which control light waves propagating through the optical waveguide, in which the optical waveguides include at least two optical waveguides 1 separated from each other, and in which the control electrodes 31 disposed between the two optical waveguides are configured to include two electrodes 31 disposed along each optical waveguide, and a thin line 8 conducting the two electrodes 31 at a same potential.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Norikazu Miyazaki, Motohiro Takemura, Youichi Hosokawa
  • Publication number: 20140086524
    Abstract: An optical modulator that includes a substrate 1 composed of a material having an electro-optical effect, an optical waveguide 2 formed in the substrate, and a modulation electrode 3 for modulating light waves propagating through the optical waveguide, in which output light L2 that is output from the optical waveguide is guided with an optical fiber, wavelength dispersion characteristics of the optical fiber transition line are compensated for by performing polarization reversal 10 of the substrate along the optical waveguide with a predetermined pattern so that the substrate along the optical waveguide has waveform distortion with characteristics that are inverse to the wavelength dispersion characteristics of the optical fiber transition line, and the compensation for the wavelength dispersion characteristics is adjusted to a predetermined level by disposing an adjustment member made of a dielectric material or a metal material in the vicinity of the modulation electrode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Applicant: SUMITOMO OSAKA CEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: JUNICHIRO ICHIKAWA, SATOSHI OIKAWA, HIROSHI MURATA
  • Publication number: 20140086523
    Abstract: EOP-based photonic devices employing coplanar electrodes and in-plane poled chromophores and methods of their manufacture. In an individual EOP-based photonic device, enhanced performance is achieved through in-plane poled chromophores having opposing polarities, enabling, for example, a push-pull optical modulator with reduced operational voltage and switching power relative to a conventional MZ modulator. For a plurality of EOP-based photonic devices, enhanced manufacturability is achieved through a sacrificial interconnect enabling concurrent in-plane poling of many EOP regions disposed on a substrate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventors: Bruce A. BLOCK, Mauro J. KOBRINSKY, Miriam R. RESHOTKO, Shawna M. Liff
  • Patent number: 8682113
    Abstract: An electro-optic waveguide polarization modulator includes cladding layers, and a waveguide core sandwiched between the cladding layers, wherein the waveguide core has a higher refractive index than the cladding layers. The modulator further includes primary electrodes arranged on the opposite side of one cladding layer to the core and a secondary electrode arranged on the opposite side of another cladding layer to the core. The electrodes are arranged to provide an electric field having field components in perpendicular directions within the waveguide core so as to modulate the refractive index such that electromagnetic radiation propagating through the core is converted from a first polarization state to a second polarization state. The modulator further includes a grading layer sandwiched between the cladding layers and the core, the grading layer having an effective refractive index intermediate between that of the waveguide core and the cladding layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: U2T Photonics UK Limited
    Inventor: John Heaton
  • Patent number: 8682161
    Abstract: An optical data transmission system for transmitting optical data in a flight vehicle, including a head end, optical splitter, N units of terminals that process optical data received from the optical splitter to display such as video, plural optical cables connected between the head end and the optical splitter and between the optical splitter and the terminals, and a seat group including N sets of passenger seats that transmit two-way optical data and are placed close to one another. The N units of terminals are placed in association with the respective N sets of seats. The optical splitter is placed in association with the seat group; sends optical data from the head end to the N units of terminals; and reversely unifies N-series optical data, different from one another, from the N units of terminals into one series and sends it to the head end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Higashida, Satoshi Ohyama
  • Publication number: 20140064653
    Abstract: An electro-optical modulator device includes an optical signal path partially defined by a waveguide portion, a radio frequency (RF) signal path partially defined by a conductive line portion, an interaction region where an RF signal propagating in the RF signal path interacts with an optical signal propagating in the optical signal path to modulate the optical signal, and a first tuning portion arranged proximate to the conductive line portion, the first tuning portion including a conductive portion and a switch portion operative to connect the conductive portion to ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas M. Gill, William M. Green, Alberto Valdes Garcia
  • Patent number: 8666200
    Abstract: When phases of lights passing through arms are adjusted, a first DC bias and a first modulation signal are applied to one arm from one modulating electrode, and a second DC bias and a second modulation signal are applied to the other arm from the other modulating electrode. The first and second DC biases are applied to the modulating electrodes such that a rate of a product of a length of one modulating electrode and the first DC bias and a product of a length of the other modulating electrode and the second DC bias is kept at a constant value. According to this constitution, it is possible to enable an optimum control of a phase difference between the arms and a precise control of wavelength chirp characteristics with a simple element constitution, and an optical modulation of which device size is small and having fine characteristics is enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kazumasa Takabayashi, Akinori Hayakawa
  • Publication number: 20140056551
    Abstract: The present invention provides for a one or more layer graphene optical modulator. In a first exemplary embodiment the optical modulator includes an optical waveguide, a nanoscale oxide spacer adjacent to a working region of the waveguide, and a monolayer graphene sheet adjacent to the spacer. In a second exemplary embodiment, the optical modulator includes at least one pair of active media, where the pair includes an oxide spacer, a first monolayer graphene sheet adjacent to a first side of the spacer, and a second monolayer graphene sheet adjacent to a second side of the spacer, and at least one optical waveguide adjacent to the pair.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Ming Liu, Xiaobo Yin, Xiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 8660387
    Abstract: An athermal ring optical modulator includes a first clad layer, a ring optical resonator, a second clad layer, an input-output optical waveguide, a first conduction type region, and a second conduction type region. The ring optical resonator has a rib optical waveguide with a convex portion formed on a semiconductor slab layer. The semiconductor slab layer is formed on the first clad layer. The second clad layer covers an upper side of the rib optical waveguide. The input-output optical waveguide couples optically with the ring optical resonator. The first and second conduction type regions are formed in the semiconductor slab layer inside and outside the ring optical resonator, respectively. In addition, the second clad layer includes a material having a negative thermo-optical coefficient. The semiconductor slab layer outside the convex portion is thinner than the semiconductor slab layer inside the convex portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Nobuo Suzuki, Mizunori Ezaki
  • Publication number: 20140050436
    Abstract: A method and structure for a modulator which includes a forward-biased diode optimized for power and area to perform a tuning function, and a reverse-biased diode optimized for speed to perform a modulation function.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 20, 2014
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Benjamin G. Lee, Jeffrey A. Kash, Alexander V. Rylyakov, Clint L. Schow
  • Patent number: 8654800
    Abstract: A high power fiber laser is configured with a multimode active fiber and input and output single mode passive fibers butt-spliced to respective opposite ends of the active fiber. If the input passive and active fibers do not have substantially matched diameters, a SM radiation coupled into the active fiber may excite fundamental and high order modes which, while interfering with one another, create a non-uniform distribution of refractive index in each of forward and backward light propagation directions along the resonator of the laser. The variable longitudinal perturbation components of the refractive index in respective forward and backward directions along an optical path in the active fiber are distributed in accordance with respective cosine functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: IPG Photonics Corporation
    Inventors: Roman Yagodkin, Nikolai Platanov, Mikhail Meleshkevich
  • Patent number: 8655116
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes: a semiconductor chip; a waveguide in the semiconductor chip; a traveling wave electrode including an input portion and an output portion, to which a signal is applied for modulating light passing through the waveguide; a power supply line connected to the input portion via a first wire; and a termination resistor connected to the output portion via a second wire. Capacitance between the output portion and a grounding point is larger than capacitance between the input portion and the grounding point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Eitaro Ishimura, Kazuhisa Takagi, Keisuke Matsumoto, Takeshi Saito
  • Patent number: 8644648
    Abstract: Electro-optic (EO) modulator and related device structures which can be used in conjunction with high EO materials to lower switching voltage and improve related performance parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Northwestern University
    Inventors: Seng-Tiong Ho, Fei Yi, Tobin J. Marks
  • Patent number: 8644647
    Abstract: It is an object to provide an optical control device capable of realizing speed matching between a microwave and a light wave or impedance matching of microwaves and of reducing a driving voltage. An optical control device including a thin plate 1 (11) which has an electro-optical effect and has a thickness of 10 ?m or less, an optical waveguide 2 formed in the thin plate, and control electrodes for controlling light passing through the optical waveguide is characterized in that the control electrodes are configured to include a first electrode and a second electrode disposed to interpose the thin plate therebetween, the first electrode has a coplanar type electrode including at least a signal electrode 4 and a ground electrode 5, and the second electrode has at least a ground electrode 54 (55, 56) and is configured to apply an electric field to the optical waveguide in cooperation with the signal electrode of the first electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichiro Ichikawa, Futoshi Yamamoto, Yuhki Kinpara, Katsutoshi Kondou, Satoshi Oikawa
  • Patent number: 8644649
    Abstract: A silicon optical waveguide for transmitting an optical signal input to the optical waveguide with a first frequency. The optical waveguide includes a plurality of modulator circuits configured along a silicon optical transmission channel. Each modulator circuit includes at least one resonant structure that resonates at the first frequency when the modulator circuit that includes the at least one resonant structure is at a resonant temperature. Each modulator circuit has a different resonant temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Roy Meade, Gurtej Sandhu
  • Publication number: 20140029888
    Abstract: An electro-optical device and method of assembly is disclosed. A first unit of the electro-optical device is positioned with respect to a second unit of the electro-optical device to pre-align an optical communication pathway between the first unit and the second unit. The first unit is positioned with respect to the second unit to pre-align an electrical communication pathway between the first unit and the second unit. The first unit is bonded to the second unit to assemble the electro-optical device to establish optical communication and electrical communication between the first unit and the second unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Antonio La Porta, Bert J. Offrein, Ibrahim M. Soganci
  • Patent number: 8639064
    Abstract: The refractive index of the at least one photonic structure having two separate photonic bands is modulated, so that light supplied to the at least one photonic structure and initially in one of the two photonic bands of the traveling along a forward direction in the at least one photonic structure is converted to light in a second one of the photonic bands, and light in the one photonic band traveling along a backward direction opposite to the forward direction in the at least one photonic structure is not converted and remains in the one photonic band, achieving non-reciprocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
    Inventors: Zongfu Yu, Shanhui Fan
  • Publication number: 20140023309
    Abstract: An apparatus, resonator and method for modulating light including a mechanism to compensate for parameter deviations. The apparatus may be capable of phase shift keying and quadrature amplitude modulation, and includes a waveguide, a plurality of micro-resonators, and an electronic structure. The plurality of micro-resonators are positioned adjacent to the waveguide and have a parameter deviation in at least one resonator characteristic. The electronic structure is electrically biased so as to cause electro-optic modulation of amplitude and a phase of the light output by the apparatus, each bias voltage comprising a numerical offset that is determined based upon the parameter deviation, thereby reducing any overall effect caused by the material or manufacturing imperfections. An electronic encoder may provide driving voltage levels for phase shift keying or quadrature amplitude modulation. The number of output amplitude and phase states of light depends on the number of output voltage levels of the encoder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 23, 2014
    Applicant: Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
    Inventor: Wei Jiang
  • Publication number: 20140016946
    Abstract: A chassis includes a plurality of continuous wave lasers each operable to emit a continuous wave optical beam at the same power as the other lasers, and a plurality of optical couplers operable to input the continuous wave optical beams of the same power and output a plurality of continuous wave optical beams at different powers. The chassis further includes a plurality of optical assemblies operable to modulate the continuous wave optical beams of different powers into a plurality of modulated optical signals at different powers and couple the modulated optical signals onto different length optical mediums so that lower power ones of the modulated optical signals are coupled to shorter ones of the optical mediums and higher power ones of the modulated optical signals are coupled to longer ones of the optical mediums.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Qing Xu, Robert Brunner, Stephane Lessard
  • Publication number: 20140016894
    Abstract: A device may include a number of optical waveguides, each of which being spaced from one another. The optical waveguides may each include at least one curved section and widths of the curved sections of the optical waveguides may be selected to reduce polarization conversion of light traversing the birefringent optical waveguides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: Peter W. Evans, Scott Corzine, Pavel V. Studenkov, Mehrdad Ziari, Fred A. Kish, JR.
  • Publication number: 20140010493
    Abstract: An optical modulation device 1 includes a supporting body 2 including a pair of grooves 2b, 2c and a protrusion 2d between the grooves, a ridge par 6 including a channel type optical wave guide capable of multi mode propagation, a first side plate part 3A formed in a first side of the ridge part 6, a second side plate part 3B formed in a second side of the ridge part, a first adhesive layer 4A adhering the first side plate part 3A and the supporting body 2, a second adhesive layer 4B adhering the second side plate part 3B and the supporting body 2, and a third adhesive layer 4C adhering the ridge part 6 and the protrusion 2d. The device 1 further includes a first electrode 7A provided on a side face 6b of the ridge part on the first groove side, and a side face 3b and an upper face 3c of the first side plate part, and a second electrode 7B provided on a side face 6c of the ridge part 6 in the second groove side, the second groove 2c and a side face 3b and an upper face 3c of the second side plate part 3B.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: NGK INSULATORS, LTD.
    Inventors: Jungo Kondo, Yuichi Iwata, Tetsuya Ejiri
  • Patent number: 8625935
    Abstract: A system for integrated power combiners is disclosed and may include receiving optical signals in input optical waveguides and phase-modulating the signals to configure a phase offset between signals received at a first optical coupler, where the first optical coupler may generate output signals having substantially equal optical powers. Output signals of the first optical coupler may be phase-modulated to configure a phase offset between signals received at a second optical coupler, which may generate an output signal having an optical power of essentially zero and a second output signal having a maximized optical power. Optical signals received by the input optical waveguides may be generated utilizing a polarization-splitting grating coupler to enable polarization-insensitive combining of optical signals. Optical power may be monitored using optical detectors. The monitoring of optical power may be used to determine a desired phase offset between the signals received at the first optical coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Attila Mekis, Adithyaram Narasimha, Jeremy Witzens
  • Publication number: 20140003761
    Abstract: A system, e.g. an optical modulator, includes an optical waveguide and a plurality of optical resonators. The optical waveguide is located along a surface of a planar substrate. The plurality of optical resonators is also located along the surface and coupled to the optical waveguide. Each of said optical resonators is configured to resonantly couple to the optical waveguide at a different optical frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Inventor: Po Dong
  • Publication number: 20140003759
    Abstract: An optical system may include an optical multiplexer or demultiplexer circuit having a slab with a propagation region. The propagation region may have a first propagation section and a second propagation section, such that a portion of the first propagation section and a portion of the second propagation section overlap each other to form a shared propagation section. The shared propagation section may include both the portion of the first propagation section and the portion of the second propagation section. The first propagation section and the second propagation section may each have a first end and a second end. The optical system may further include multiple waveguides directly connected to the second end of the first propagation section and directly connected to the second end of the second propagation section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Radhakrishnan L. NAGARAJAN, Masaki Kato
  • Publication number: 20140003760
    Abstract: A system, e.g. a reconfigurable electro-optical network, includes input and output waveguides. The input waveguide is configured to receive a first input optical signal including a first modulated input wavelength channel. The output waveguide is configured to receive a carrier signal including an unmodulated output wavelength channel. An input microcavity resonator is configured to derive a modulated electrical control signal from the modulated input wavelength channel. A first output microcavity resonator is configured to modulate the output wavelength channel in response to the control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2013
    Publication date: January 2, 2014
    Applicant: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Pietro Bernasconi, Po Dong, David T. Neilson, Young-Kai Chen