Abstract: This disclosure describes a device that belongs to the field of optical devices. More specifically it is a novel way of achieving light splitting or combining using a spherical reflector with a single input and multiple outputs, or multiple inputs and a single output.

Abstract: An arrangement includes a photonic band-gap assembly comprising at least one input wave guide and at least one output wave guides, and at least one routing element responsive to signals to selectively route a signal from the input wave guide to one or more of the output wave guides.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods for encoding and decoding data are disclosed. The method for transmitting and receiving data allows for coding and decoding each bit of data with a different code. The transmitter and receiver devices allow encoding and decoding, respectively, each bit of data with different a code.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a beam homogenizer, a laser irradiation apparatus, and a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, which can suppress the loss of a laser beam and form a beam spot having homogeneous energy distribution constantly on an irradiation surface without being affected by beam parameters of a laser beam. A deflector is provided at an entrance of an optical waveguide or a light pipe used for homogenizing a laser beam emitted from a laser oscillator. A pair of reflection planes of the deflector is provided so as to have a tilt angle to an optical axis of the laser beam, whereby the entrance of the optical waveguide or the light pipe is expanded. Accordingly, the loss of the laser beam can be suppressed. Moreover, by providing an angle adjusting mechanism to the deflector, a beam spot having homogeneous energy distribution can be formed at an exit of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: A system and method for compensating for non-uniform illumination from a light guide for a display in an electronics device is provided. The system comprises: a memory device storing a data representing a first compensation pattern for generation on the display to block light from a first portion of the light guide relative to light from a second portion of the light guide; a first module to incorporate the stored representation into an image to be displayed on the display; and a second module to generate the image with the stored representation for display on the display. In the system, when the first module generates the first compensation pattern on the display, the first compensation pattern aligns with the first and second portions to reduce an intensity of light from a light source passing through the first compensation pattern from the first portion relative to an intensity of light passing through the first compensation pattern from the second portion from the light source.

Abstract: A device for emitting a first and a second electromagnetic radiation (13, 23, 53) via a radiation coupling-out surface (5) along a device beam path. A first radiation-emitting arrangement (1) has at least one first radiation-emitting component (10) which emits the first electromagnetic radiation (13). A second radiation-emitting arrangement (2) has at least one second radiation-emitting component (20) which emits the second electromagnetic radiation (23). Furthermore, the device has a radiation-directing element (3), wherein the radiation coupling-out surface (5) is arranged in the beam path of the second radiation-emitting arrangement (2) and the radiation-directing element (3) directs the first electromagnetic radiation (13) to the radiation coupling-out surface (5).

Abstract: A multi-layer structure and a method for manufacturing the multi-layer structure are provided. The multi-layer structure includes: a waveguide including one or more light coupling regions having a refractive index gradient; at least one organic material based active optical element disposed above the waveguide; wherein the one or more light coupling regions is configured to change characteristics of light propagating in the waveguide; wherein at least one of the one or more light coupling regions is configured to enhance light coupling between the waveguide and the active optical element.

Abstract: Embodiments of optical collimators are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises an optical waveguide having a first end, a second end opposing the first end, a viewing surface extending at least partially between the first end and the second end, and a back surface opposing the viewing surface. The viewing surface comprises a first critical angle of internal reflection, and the back surface is configured to be reflective at the first critical angle of internal reflection. Further, a collimating end reflector comprising a faceted lens structure having a plurality of facets is disposed at the second end of the optical waveguide.

Abstract: An optical interconnect includes a set of splitters. Each splitter includes a source waveguide, a reflection waveguide, an output waveguide, and a partially reflective mirror element with a reflective coating. The source waveguide and the reflection waveguide are optically coupled to the partially reflective element. A photonic signal from the source waveguide is partially reflected off the reflective coating as a reflected signal into the reflection waveguide. The output waveguide is optically coupled to the opposite surface and configured such that a non-reflected portion of the photonic signal propagates into the output waveguide. The reflective coating includes a reflected surface area interfacing with the photonic signal form the source waveguide, and power of the non-reflected portion is a function of the reflective surface area interfacing with source waveguide.

Abstract: A transceiver on a CMOS chip including optical and optoelectronic devices, and electronic circuitry may be operable to communicate optical signals between the CMOS chip and optical fibers coupled to the CMOS chip via a semiconductor laser and one or more photodetectors. The optical and optoelectronic devices may include waveguides, modulators, multiplexers, switches, and couplers. The photodetector may be integrated in the CMOS chip. The photodetector and the semiconductor laser may be mounted on the CMOS chip. The optical signals may be communicated out of and in to a top surface of the CMOS chip. A transceiver on a CMOS chip including optical and optoelectronic devices, and electronic circuitry, may be operable to communicate optical signals between the CMOS chip and optical fibers coupled to the CMOS chip via grating couplers. The optical signals may be communicated out of and in to a top surface of the CMOS chip.

Abstract: An electrically modulated plasmonic junction generates surface plasmons from an electrical signal from an electrical source, with the tunnel junction having a contact with a tapered end forming the junction in a gap between the contact and a substrate, with the gap serving to translate electrical signals into surface plasmons that are in turn translated into emitted photons communicated externally through a transmissive oxide, so that the junction can function as an electrically controlled light emitter preferably built as a nano-scale broadband optical emitter whose output wavelength can be electrically tuned over hundreds of nanometers, can be directly modulated at high speeds, and can have improved efficiencies compared to standard silicon optical sources, and the junction can also operate in a reserve mode for light detection.

Abstract: Optical waveguide and coupler devices and methods include a trench formed in a bulk semiconductor substrate, for example, a bulk silicon substrate. A bottom cladding layer is formed in the trench, and a core region is formed on the bottom cladding layer. A reflective element, such as a distributed Bragg reflector can be formed under the coupler device and/or the waveguide device. Because the optical devices are integrated in a bulk substrate, they can be readily integrated with other devices on a chip or die in accordance with silicon photonics technology. Specifically, for example, the optical devices can be integrated in a DRAM memory circuit chip die.

Abstract: An all-fiber optical pulse compression arrangement comprises a concatenated arrangement of a section of input fiber (e.g., a single mode fiber), a graded-index (GRIN) fiber lens and a section of pulse-compressing fiber (e.g., LMA fiber). The GRIN fiber lens is used to provide mode matching between the input fiber (supporting the propagation of chirped optical pulses) and the pulse-compressing fiber, with efficient pulse compression occurring along the length of the LMA fiber. The dispersion and length of the LMA fiber section are selected to provide the desired degree of pulse compression; for example, capable of reconstituting a femtosecond pulse as is used in supercontinuum generation systems.

Abstract: A multifunctional optical film for enhancing light extraction includes a flexible substrate, a structured layer having nanoparticles of different sizes, and a backfill layer. The structured layer effectively uses microreplicated diffractive or scattering nanostructures located near enough to the light generation region to enable extraction of an evanescent wave from an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device. The backfill layer has a material having an index of refraction different from the index of refraction of the structured layer. The backfill layer also provides a planarizing layer over the structured layer in order to conform the light extraction film to a layer of an OLED display device. The film may have additional layers added to or incorporated within it to an emissive surface in order to effect additional functionalities beyond improvement of light extraction efficiency.

Abstract: An integrated photonic circuit includes waveguides (12-19) and other photonic components. The photonic circuit has a first part (1) and a second part (2), the first part and the second part being connected to a mirror in the form of a half 2×2 multimode interferometer (MMI) (32), which comprises solely one half MMI (31) in a longitudinal direction, the half MMI (32) having two ports (33, 34) and being arranged to reflect half of the light that is incident on one of the ports to one port and transmit half of the incident light to the second port, and the free surface (35) of the half MMI (32) having been treated with a highly reflective material.

Abstract: The specification describes tunable optical filters improved according to the invention by designing the optical system architecture to provide a double pass of the signal being analyzed through the tunable optical filter. The benefit of double passes through the tunable optical filter is narrower linewidth and better adjacent and non-adjacent channel isolation. The invention may be implemented with any tunable optical filter which is reciprocal. The optical system architecture is preferably an optical performance monitor for a WDM system.

Abstract: An illumination system generating light having at least one wavelength within 200 nm a plurality of nano-sized structures (e.g., voids). The optical fiber coupled to the light source. The light diffusing optical fiber has a core and a cladding. The plurality of nano-sized structures is situated either within said core or at a core-cladding boundary. The optical fiber also includes an outer surface. The optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light via the nano-sized structures away from the core and through the outer surface, to form a light-source fiber portion having a length that emits substantially uniform radiation over its length, said fiber having a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km for the wavelength(s) within 200 nm to 2000 nm range.

Abstract: An optical attenuator includes a first reflection portion reflecting a light incoming from an optical input portion in a direction different from incoming axis, a second reflection portion reflecting the light from the first reflection portion, an optical output portion outputting the light that is reflected by the first reflection portion after being reflected by the second reflection portion, and an optical-intensity-attenuation filter that is arranged on an optical path between the first reflection portion and the second reflection portion, optical transmittance being shifted in stages according to a position thereof. The first reflection portion is capable of turning to shift an incoming position at the optical-intensity-attenuation filter.

Abstract: An optical substrate guided relay (300) includes an optical substrate (302) having at least one major face (411), an output coupler (303) coupled to a major face (411,412), and an input coupler (301) coupled to a major face (411,412). The input coupler (301) is configured to reflect, via internal layers (414), portions of received light to the optical substrate 302. The input coupler (301) includes either one or more internal layers (414) or a contoured face (1040) with surfaces configured as reflectors that expand the received light and direct it into the optical substrate (302). The output coupler (303) expands a pupil of light in one direction and directs the expanded light away from the optical substrate guided relay.

Abstract: In various embodiments described herein, a display device includes a front illumination apparatus that comprises a first light guide disposed forward of an array of display elements, such as an array of interferometric modulators, to distribute light across the array of display elements. The light guide panel is edge illuminated by a light source positioned behind the array display elements. The light from such a light source is coupled to a second light guide disposed behind the array of display elements and positioned laterally with respect to the light source. The light in the second light guide is coupled into the first light guide using a small optical coupling element such as a turning mirror. In some embodiments the second light guide may comprise the backplate of the display device.

Abstract: A photonic integrated circuit (410) is described comprising at least one signal processing circuit (110). The signal processing circuit (110) comprises at least one input coupling element (120) for coupling incident light from a predetermined incoupling direction into the photonic integrated circuit (410), and at least one output coupling element (130) for coupling light out of the photonic integrated circuit (410) into an outcoupling direction. The relation between the incoupling direction and the outcoupling direction is different from a relation according to the law of reflection and the incoupling direction and the outcoupling direction are substantially the same. Furthermore, an optical sensor probe (400) comprising such a photonic integrated circuit (410) is disclosed.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention provides a coupled waveguide photo detector device. Optically, the device includes an input waveguide. An output waveguide is coupled to the input waveguide with a nonuniform coupling coefficient in a coupling section. An absorber is included in the coupling section to convert an absorbed portion of optical radiation into photo current. The location of absorber and the optical radiation intensity pattern in the coupling section are set to control the maximum intensity of output power absorbed by the output waveguide to be within a predetermined limit that avoids saturation. The absorber is also part of a transmission line collector which has a phase and group velocity to match those of the optical wave in the coupling section such that currents collected by the transmission line collector add in phase as the optical wave propagates in the output waveguide.

Abstract: An optical system includes optical devices that each has functional sides between lateral sides. The functional sides include a top side and a bottom side. A first one of the devices has an optical amplifier, a first waveguide, and a first port. A second one of the devices has a second port optically aligned with a second waveguide. The second device is positioned over one of the functional sides of the first device. The optical amplifier is optically positioned between the first waveguide and the first port such that a light signal from the first waveguide enters the amplifier and travels through the amplifier. The first port is configured to receive the light signal from the optical amplifier and change the direction that the light signal is traveling such that the light signal exits the first device traveling in a direction that is toward the second device.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for scrambling optical modes in multimode fibers to achieve uniform light distribution in guided multi-mode light for various applications.

Abstract: There is provided an opto-electronic circuit board that includes a first board, a second board coupled with the first board via solder, where the second board is mounted with an electronic circuit and a photoelectrical conversion device, and a wall disposed between an optical coupling portion and the solder. The optical coupling portion is for optically coupling an optical waveguide with the photoelectric conversion device, where the optical waveguide is formed in the first board.

Abstract: A process comprises imagewise exposing at least a portion of a photoreactive composition to light sufficient to cause simultaneous absorption of at least two photons/thereby inducing at least one acid- or radical-initiated chemical reaction where the composition is exposed to the light, the imagewise exposing being carried out in a pattern that is effective to define at least the surface of a plurality of light extraction structures. Each one of the array of light extraction structures has at least one shape factor; the shape factor may vary across the array. At least one light extraction structure may have the geometric configuration of a truncated asphere.

Abstract: A touch panel optical waveguide which obviates the need for positioning light receiving cores of the optical waveguide with respect to light emitting cores of the optical waveguide, and to provide a touch panel employing the optical waveguide. A projection (5) is provided in one of longitudinally opposite end portions of an elongated optical waveguide (A), and a recess (6) to be engaged with the projection (5) is provided in the other end portion of the elongated optical waveguide (A). By engaging the projection (5) with the recess (6), distal ends of light emitting cores (3) are automatically and accurately opposed to distal ends of light receiving cores (3) with the intervention of a display screen of a touch panel.

Abstract: An optical device comprising a 1×2 optical coupler on a planar substrate and a waveguide on the planar substrate, the waveguide having a first arm and a second arm coupled to the 1×2 optical coupler. The device also comprises an optical resonator on the planar substrate, wherein the optical resonator is optically coupled to the first arm and the optical resonator is substantially athermalized.

Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods of using same where hybrid substrate materials are provided with a substantially uniform surface to provide uniformity of properties, including interaction with their environments. Uniform surfaces are applied as coatings over, e.g., hybrid metal/silica, metal/polymer, metal/metal surfaces to mask different chemical properties of differing regions of the surface and to afford a protective surface for the hybrid structure.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods of using same where hybrid substrate materials are provided with a substantially uniform surface to provide uniformity of properties, including interaction with their environments. Uniform surfaces are applied as coatings over, e.g., hybrid metal/silica, metal/polymer, metal/metal surfaces to mask different chemical properties of differing regions of the surface and to afford a protective surface for the hybrid structure.

Abstract: Devices, systems and methods of using same where hybrid substrate materials are provided with a substantially uniform surface to provide uniformity of properties, including interaction with their environments. Uniform surfaces are applied as coatings over, e.g., hybrid metal/silica, metal/polymer, metal/metal surfaces to mask different chemical properties of differing regions of the surface and to afford a protective surface for the hybrid structure.

Abstract: An illumination arrangement (1) for a projection system is proposed comprising a light source device (10) and a light collecting, integrating and redirecting device (20). The light source device (10) comprises at least one solid state light source device (30). The light collecting, integrating and redirecting device (20) comprises at least one light integrating device (50), which is adapted to directly receive and to integrate at least a part of primary illumination light (L1) generated by and emitted from at least one associated of at least one solid state light source device (30).

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprising: a waveguide core through which light propagates; a cladding that surrounds the waveguide core and has a refractive index that is less than the refractive index of the waveguide core; a metal layer that is formed on a surface of at least one end of the optical waveguide in a longitudinal direction, the surface being inclined so as not to be perpendicular to the longitudinal direction; and a channel that is formed at a portion of an outer surface of the cladding, the outer surface forming an acute angle with the inclined surface, and the channel being positioned such that light entering the optical waveguide adjacent the channel is reflected by the inclined surface into the waveguide core.

Abstract: In a semiconductor apparatus, a plurality of light-triggered type semiconductor devices, each having a groove for burying of an optical fiber for supplying an optical gate signal to a housing of the light-triggered type semiconductor device, are connected in series. Device cooling heat sinks, each having a flow path for circulating a coolant medium and a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet communicating with the flow path, are disposed on both sides of the housing of each light-triggered type semiconductor device. The light-triggered type semiconductor devices and the device cooling heat sinks are coupled into a single structure. An optical fiber insertion groove, which corresponds in position to the groove of the housing, is provided on a side surface of the device cooling heat sink, which contacts a groove (4)-side surface of the housing of the light-triggered type semiconductor device.

Abstract: A solar concentrator having a concentrator element for collecting input light, a redirecting component with a plurality of incremental steps for receiving the light and also for redirecting the light, and a waveguide including a plurality of incremental portions enabling collection and concentration of the light onto a receiver. Other systems replace the receiver by a light source so system optics can provide illumination.

Abstract: A suspension board with circuit includes a circuit board formed with an opening, and having a mounting portion defined by the opening for mounting thereon a slider on which a magnetic head is mounted, and an optical waveguide disposed on the circuit board so as to traverse the opening. The optical waveguide is slack in the opening.

Abstract: A fiber spectroscopic probe that can be mounted directly above the objective lens of a standard microscope to add a spectroscopic function to the microscope. The fiber spectroscopic probe only consists of a minimum number of optical components and is compact enough to induce minimum alteration to the optical path of the microscope.

Abstract: A fiber spectroscopic probe that can be mounted directly above the objective lens of a standard microscope to add a spectroscopic function to the microscope. The constructed microscope with fiber spectroscopic probe is suitable for micro-sampling, Raman analysis, as well as fluorescence analysis and can be easily reconfigured for different excitation/detection wavelengths. The fiber spectroscopic probe only consists of a minimum number of optical components and is compact enough to induce minimum alteration to the optical path of the microscope.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an optical fiber collimator suitable for coupling optical radiation from an optical fiber to an optical device, the optical fiber collimator comprising: a graded-index multi-mode fiber segment for receiving optical radiation transmitted by the input optical fiber; an optional mode field device, and a collimating lens for receiving optical radiation transmitted by the graded-index multi-mode fiber segment, the collimating lens for coupling the optical radiation into the optical device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a radiation based analysis system comprises a first radiation source to generate first radiation having a wavelength outside the visible spectrum, a second radiation source to generate second radiation having a wavelength within the visible spectrum, and a waveguide coupler to couple a portion of the first radiation and a portion of the second radiation into a combined radiation beam such that the first radiation and the second radiation follow a path that is substantially coaxial.

Abstract: An erbium (Er)-doped silicon (Si) nanocrystalline embedded silicon oxide (SiOx) waveguide and associated fabrication method are presented. The method provides a bottom layer, and forms an Er-doped Si nanocrystalline embedded SiOx film waveguide overlying the bottom layer, having a minimum optical attenuation at about 1540 nanometers (nm). Then, a top layer is formed overlying the Er-doped SiOx film. The Er-doped SiOx film is formed by depositing a silicon rich silicon oxide (SRSO) film using a high density plasma chemical vapor deposition (HDPCVD) process and annealing the SRSO film. After implanting Er+ ions, the Er-doped SiOx film is annealed again. The Er-doped Si nanocrystalline SiOx film includes has a first refractive index (n) in the range of 1.46 to 2.30. The top and bottom layers have a second refractive index, less than the first refractive index.

Abstract: Provided is an optical receiver used for an optical communication system, more particularly, a polarization split-phase shift demodulation coherent optical receiver. An optical hybrid includes a first optical splitter, a phase shift waveguide, a second optical splitter, and an optical coupler. The first optical splitter splits a first input optical signal to output first output optical signals. The phase shift waveguide receives the first output optical signals and controls and outputs the first output optical signals such that the first output optical signals have different phases. The second optical splitter splits a second input optical signal to output a plurality of second output optical signals. The optical coupler couples the first output optical signals one-to-one with the second output optical signals, respectively.

Abstract: A display system includes and image-guiding substrate with input and/or output structures configured to improve image quality.

Abstract: In one aspect, a planar illumination area includes two light-guide elements, each with an out-coupling region. At least a portion of each out-coupling region overlaps with at least a portion of the other. The overlapping region emits a substantially uniform light output power.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a radiation-emitting component, a radiation-responsive component, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the introduction of scattering sites into a substrate of the radiation emitting electronic device will increase optical outcoupling. In one embodiment, the substrate can be glass or plastic and a laser is used as a sub-surface engraving tool to produce scattering sites.

Abstract: A sensor for force is formed from an elastomeric cylinder having a region with apertures. The apertures have passageways formed between them, and an optical fiber is introduced into these passageways, where the optical fiber has a grating for measurement of tension positioned in the passageways between apertures. Optionally, a temperature measurement sensor is placed in or around the elastomer for temperature correction, and if required, a copper film may be deposited in the elastomer for reduced sensitivity to spot temperature variations in the elastomer near the sensors.

Abstract: A light collector is provided to converge light from a light source down to a range of acceptance angles of an illumination optic, and to couple the converged light into the illumination optic, where the range of acceptance angles of the illumination optic is less than a range of emission angles of the light source.

Abstract: An optical photonic device comprising a planar semiconductor substrate having a light-guiding layer thereon, a primary laser light source in said light-guiding layer and a vertical coupler optically coupled to the primary laser light source by waveguide portions of the light-guiding layer. The vertical coupler is configured to receive a light beam from the primary laser light source and redirect the light beam in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to a surface of the planar substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a beam homogenizer being equipped with an optical waveguide having a pair of reflection planes provided oppositely, having one end surface into which the laser beam is incident, and having the other end surface from which the laser beam is emitted in the optical system for forming the beam spot. The optical waveguide is a circuit being able to keep radiation light in a certain region and to transmit the radiation light in such a way that the energy flow thereof is guided in parallel with an axis of the channel.