Grating Patents (Class 385/37)
  • Patent number: 9134479
    Abstract: An optical demultiplexing device includes a first portion operative to receive an input optical signal having a first polarization, a second polarization and multiple channels, and split the input optical signal into a first optical signal having the first polarization and a second optical signal having the first polarization, and an optical demultiplexing portion communicatively connected to the polarization splitter portion, the optical demultiplexing portion operative to receive a combination of the first optical signal and the second optical signal, and output each channel of the first optical signal and the second optical signal to a photodetector device corresponding to each channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Solomon Assefa, Douglas M. Gill, William M. Green
  • Patent number: 9134488
    Abstract: An optical coupling connector includes a main body and at least one optical fiber fixed to the main body. The main body includes a top surface, a first bottom surface, an outer side surface perpendicularly connecting with the top surface. The top surface defines an opening. The opening includes a second bottom surface. The first bottom surface includes at least one second coupling lens, the second bottom surface includes at least one first coupling lens, central axis of each first coupling lens and central axis of each second coupling lens are coaxial with each other. Each optical fiber includes an incident surface, an angle between the incident surface and a horizontal surface is about 45 degrees, and the incident surface is arranged toward the first coupling lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hsin-Shun Huang
  • Patent number: 9122244
    Abstract: A holography device may include a light reaction layer configured to react with light to form and remove a diffraction grating, and a metal thin film on the light reaction layer. When first light is incident on the metal thin film while the grating is formed in the light reaction layer, surface plasmon formed on the metal thin film may be diffracted so as to output a holography image. A method of processing a holography image may include recording the image on a holography device by irradiating first light to a light reaction layer to form a diffraction grating, outputting the image by irradiating second light to a metal thin film on the light reaction layer to diffract surface plasmon formed on the metal thin film, and deleting the image from the holography device by irradiating third light to the light reaction layer to remove the grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gae-hwang Lee, Jae-eun Jung, Kyu-young Hwang
  • Patent number: 9116131
    Abstract: A method and device for the detection and monitoring of the contamination of an optical component in a device for laser material processing, which emits a process laser beam through or onto the optical component. A measurement beam emitted by a light source is projected under an angle of incidence onto an optical surface of the optical component. The beam reflected from the outer surface of the protective window under the angle of reflection corresponding to the angle of incidence is conducted through an aperture stop onto a first light-sensitive detector so as to record the intensity of the reflected beam. The intensity of the scattered radiation, scattered diffusely from the optical surface of the component under a scattering angle, is recorded by a second light-sensitive detector. The degree of the contamination of the component is determined from the recorded intensities of the reflected beam and the scattered radiation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Inventor: Marius Jurca
  • Patent number: 9103984
    Abstract: An optical device for implementing passive alignment of parts and a method therefore, more particularly an optical device and a method therefore that utilize an alignment reference part 115 arranged on the substrate 110 to passively align an optical element part 111 with a lens-optical fiber connection part 120. For the passive alignment of parts, connection pillars 115b of an alignment reference part 115 are coupled to substrate holes 114, one or more light-emitting elements 111a and one or more light-receiving elements 111b are aligned in a row in a particular interval with respect to alignment holes 115a arranged opposite each other in the alignment reference part 115, a lens-optical fiber connection part 120 is aligned with respect to the alignment holes 115a, and an optical fiber 133 is aligned with the optical alignment point at a surface 122b of a prism forming a portion of the lens-optical fiber connection part 120.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Unive Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yung Sung Son, Sang-Shin Lee, Hak-Soon Lee, Jun-Young Park
  • Patent number: 9103986
    Abstract: Optical filters, optical sensor arrays and methods for assembling the same and systems incorporating the same are disclosed. An optical filter may include a first stack, a second stack and a spacer layer. The first stack may include alternating layers of a first material having a first refractive index and a second material having a second refractive index that differs from the first refractive index. The second stack may include alternating layers of the first material and the second material. The spacer layer may be positioned between the first stack and the second stack to form a stacked assembly. The spacer layer may include a patterned layer including the first material and the second material. At least a portion of the patterned layer may include a pattern composed of the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Empire Technology Development LLC
    Inventor: Mordehai Margalit
  • Patent number: 9091827
    Abstract: Methods and systems for grating couplers incorporating perturbed waveguides are disclosed and may include in a semiconductor photonics die, communicating optical signals into and/or out of the die utilizing a grating coupler on the die, where the grating coupler comprises perturbed waveguides. The perturbed waveguides may comprise a variable width along their length. The grating coupler may comprise a single polarization grating coupler comprising perturbed waveguides and a non-perturbed grating. The grating coupler may comprise a polarization splitting grating coupler (PSCC) that includes two sets of perturbed waveguides at a non-zero angle, or a plurality of non-linear rows of discrete shapes. The PSCC may comprise discrete scatterers at an intersection of the sets of perturbed waveguides. The grating couplers may be etched in a silicon layer on the semiconductor photonics die or deposited on the semiconductor photonics die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Luxtera, Inc.
    Inventors: Lieven Verslegers, Attila Mekis
  • Patent number: 9081304
    Abstract: A target for measuring an overlay error or a critical dimension of a substrate comprises a grating. In one example, lines of the grating are arranged at an angle of about 45° with respect to edges of the target. As a consequence, the diffraction order of the grating reflection has its sub-maxima not aligned along the line on which the other diffraction orders are positioned, and overlap of intensity with other diffraction orders is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrik Jan Hidde Smilde, Willem Marie Julia Marcel Coene
  • Patent number: 9077450
    Abstract: Optical systems for wavelength division multiplexing and wavelength division demultiplexing with a multi-core fiber, and methods of their fabrication, are disclosed. The systems include a coupling mirror with a plurality of angled surfaces that are configured to direct light to or from different cores of a multi-core fiber. In addition, the multiplexer systems can further include laser chips for generating light, while the demultiplexer systems can include photodiode arrays for detecting light from the multi-core fiber. The systems can also include a guiding structure comprising filters/micro-mirrors to direct light from the lasers or to the photodiodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jean Benoit Héroux, Masao Tokunari
  • Patent number: 9069226
    Abstract: Thermally stabilized resonant electro-optic modulator (1), wherein the temperature control unit (8) is provided for separately determining the first and the second intensities measured by the light sensor (6) at the first voltages and the second voltages respectively in function of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignee: IMEC
    Inventor: Mark Maria Albert Ingels
  • Patent number: 9052447
    Abstract: An optical de-MUX includes a sub-wavelength grating that magnifies an input optical signal. In particular, along a direction perpendicular to a propagation direction of the optical signal, the sub-wavelength grating has a spatially varying effective index of refraction that is larger at a center of the sub-wavelength grating than at an edge of the sub-wavelength grating. Moreover, the optical de-MUX includes an optical device that images and diffracts the optical signal using a reflective geometry, and which provides different diffraction orders to output ports. For example, the optical device may include an echelle grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: ORACLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ying L. Luo, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy, Xuezhe Zheng, Guoliang Li
  • Patent number: 9042690
    Abstract: A light source for a photonic integrated circuit may comprise a reflection coupling layer formed on a substrate in which an optical waveguide is provided, at least one side of the reflection coupling layer being optically connected to the optical waveguide; an optical mode alignment layer provided on the reflection coupling layer; and/or an upper structure provided on the optical mode alignment layer and including an active layer for generating light and a reflection layer provided on the active layer. A light source for a photonic integrated circuit may comprise a lower reflection layer; an optical waveguide optically connected to the lower reflection layer; an optical mode alignment layer on the lower reflection layer; an active layer on the optical mode alignment layer; and/or an upper reflection layer on the active layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Bok-ki Min, Taek Kim, Young-soo Park
  • Patent number: 9042691
    Abstract: An optical coupling module for a silicon photonics chip in which a grating is formed on an optical waveguide, and a material having an intermediate refractive index between refractive indexes of a core and a cladding for side surface optical coupling of the silicon photonics chip is provided. The optical coupling module which is optically coupled with an internal/external optical fiber comprises a core transmitting light, and a cladding covering the core and holding the light in the core through total internal reflection, wherein a grating is formed at one end of the core, and a refractive element is formed between the one end of the core and the cladding, has an intermediate refractive index between the refractive indexes of the core and the cladding, and is optically coupled with the internal/external optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Sae-Kyoung Kang, Sang-Soo Lee
  • Patent number: 9042685
    Abstract: This invention concerns real-time multi-impairment signal performance monitoring. In particular it concerns an optical device, for instance a monolithic integrated photonics chip, comprising a waveguide having an input region to receive a signal for characterization, and a narrow band CW laser signal. A non-linear waveguide region to mix the two received signals. More than one output region, each equipped with bandpass filters that extract respective discrete frequency bands of the RF spectrum of the mixed signals. And, also comprising (slow) power detectors to output the extracted discrete frequency banded signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Sydney
    Inventors: Trung Duc Vo, William Peter Corcoran, Mark David Pelusi, David James Moss, Benjamin John Eggleton, Jochen Bernhard Schroeder
  • Patent number: 9042687
    Abstract: A waveguide lens includes a substrate, a planar waveguide formed on the substrate and configured to couple with a laser light source that emits a laser beam into the planar waveguide along an optical axis, and a media grating film including two media gratings with a gap intervening therebetween. Each media grating is symmetrical about a widthwise central axis. Each widthwise central axis and the optical axis are substantially parallel with each other and cooperatively define a plane that is substantially perpendicular to the planar waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hsin-Shun Huang
  • Publication number: 20150140556
    Abstract: The present invention provides, in addition to other things, methods, systems, and apparatuses that involve the use of an optical fiber with grating and particulate coating that enables simultaneous heating; optical detection; and optionally temperature measurement. Methods, systems, and apparatuses of the present invention may be used in many applications including isothermal and/or thermal cycling reactions. In certain embodiments, the present invention provides methods, systems, and apparatuses for use in detecting, quantifying and/or identifying one or more known or unknown analytes in a sample.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Jacques Albert, Anatoli Ianoul, Aliaksandr Bialiayeu, Adam Bottomley
  • Patent number: 9036967
    Abstract: The invention relates to a polarization-insensitive optical filter centered on a wavelength measured in vacuum, comprising: first and second waveguides each having a propagation mode; a first grating formed in or on the surface of the first waveguide, the first grating being periodical at least along a first axis Ox defining a first orthonormal base Oxyz; a second grating formed in or on the surface of the second waveguide, the second grating being periodical at least along a second axis Ox? defining a second orthonormal base Ox?y?z; wherein the first and second grating are provided one above another and are such that the first axis Ox and the second axis Ox? define an angle ? different from ±?/2 radians so that, when the first grating is illuminated by a light beam, the propagation modes are excited and have orthogonal fields for an angle of incidence of the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignees: Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
    Inventors: Antoine Monmayrant, Olivier Gauthier-Lafaye, Kristel Chan Shin Yu, Anne-Laure Fehrembach, Anne Sentenac, Philippe Arguel, Jacques Loesel
  • Patent number: 9033325
    Abstract: An optical fiber fusion splicer that heats and fusion-splices optical fibers to each other, the optical fiber fusion splicer includes: a coating clamp installation base; a coating clamp that is attached to the coating clamp installation base and has a coating clamp lid that is openable and closable; and a first power source for advancing the coating clamp installation base and opening the coating clamp lid. An operation of opening the coating clamp lid is performed using the first power source after the fusion splicing is completed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshinori Iwashita
  • Publication number: 20150131942
    Abstract: A grating coupler comprising a semiconductor substrate, a one-dimensional (1D) grating element coupled to the semiconductor substrate, wherein the 1D grating element is adapted to simultaneously couple a first polarization component of an incident optical beam with a transverse electric (TE) waveguide mode in a first propagation direction and a second polarization component of the incident optical beam with a transverse magnetic (TM) waveguide mode in a second propagation direction, and wherein the first propagation direction is opposite of the second propagation direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Futurewei Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Qianfan Xu, Xiao Shen
  • Patent number: 9031366
    Abstract: A system includes a light source that generates a coherent output signal. A light stabilizer comprising an optical fiber can be configured to pass one axis of propagation of the coherent output signal from the light source to a Bragg grating to generate a stabilized pump output signal for the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronic Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Bassam S. Dimashkie
  • Patent number: 9028157
    Abstract: Photonic integrated circuit (PIC) chips with backside vertical optical coupler and packaging into an optical transmitter/receiver. A grating-based backside vertical optical coupler functions to couple light to/from a plane in the PIC chip defined by thin film layers through a bulk thickness of the PIC chip substrate to emit/collect via a backside surface of the PIC chip where it is to be coupled by an off-chip component, such as an optical fiber. Embodiments of a grating-based backside vertical optical coupler include a grating coupler with a grating formed in a topside surface of the thin film A reflector is disposed over the grating coupler to reflect light emitted from the grating coupler through the substrate to emit from the backside of the PIC chip or to reflect light collected from the backside of the PIC chip through the substrate and to the grating coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Yun-chung Na, Haisheng Rong
  • Patent number: 9025958
    Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexer utilizes an optical source in the form of at least two separate laser array components, each laser array component including a group of laser diodes operating at wavelengths that are spaced by a multiple of the pre-defined channel spacing of the multiplexer. This optical source thus generates a plurality of non-sequential optical signals that need to be re-ordered at some point along the signal path so that all of the signals are multiplexed onto a single output signal path. The multiplexer utilizes an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) to combine the various optical signals, with a specialized apparatus for re-ordering the non-sequential wavelengths of the propagating plurality of N optical signals disposed either at the input or output of the AWG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Leonard Jan-Peter Ketelsen, Julian Bernard Donald Soole
  • Patent number: 9025918
    Abstract: A photoelectric coupling module includes a photoelectric board, a photoelectric lens module, and a jumper. The photoelectric board is configured for converting light rays into electrical signals or converting the electrical signals into the light rays. The photoelectric lens module is positioned on the photoelectric board and configured for reflecting the light rays. The jumper includes a fiber connector and two fasteners extending from one side of the fiber connector. The photoelectric lens module is locked between the fasteners and the fiber connector. The photoelectric lens module reflects the light rays emitting from the photoelectric board to the fiber connector or reflects the light rays emitting from the fiber connector to the photoelectric board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: I-Thun Lin
  • Publication number: 20150117817
    Abstract: An optical device for redirecting an incident electromagnetic wave includes an interference region having a first side and a second side opposite to the first side; a grating structure arranged on a third side of the interference region; a mirror arranged at the first side. An incident electromagnetic wave is impinged into the interference region through the second side or through the grating structure or through a side opposite to the grating structure, and then a substantial portion of the incident electromagnetic wave leaves the interference region at a predetermined angle with respect to the incident direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Applicant: Forelux Inc.
    Inventors: Shu-Lu Chen, Yun-Chung Na
  • Patent number: 9020310
    Abstract: An optical waveguide provided with a slab waveguide, which has a plurality of phase gratings arranged at a distance from each other in a direction substantially parallel to a light propagation direction and diffracting propagated light and a plurality of interference regions arranged alternately to the plurality of phase gratings in the direction substantially parallel to the light propagation direction and interfering the light diffracted by the plurality of phase gratings, and an arrayed waveguide whose end is connected to an end of the slab waveguide at a position of a constructive interference portion of a self-image formed by the plurality of phase gratings as an integrated phase grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: NTT Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Keiichi Morita, Kazumi Shimizu, Kenya Suzuki, Koji Kawashima
  • Patent number: 9008514
    Abstract: Example embodiments of the present invention relate to An optical node comprising of at least two optical degrees; a plurality of directionless add/drop ports; and at least one wavelength equalizing array, wherein the at least one wavelength equalizing array is used to both select wavelengths for each degree, and to perform directionless steering for the add/drop ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Inventors: Mark E. Boduch, Kimon Papakos
  • Patent number: 9002158
    Abstract: An optical connector is described. This optical connector spatially segregates optical coupling between an optical fiber and an optical component, which relaxes the associated mechanical-alignment requirements. In particular, the optical connector includes an optical spreader component disposed on a substrate. This optical spreader component is optically coupled to the optical fiber at a first coupling region, and is configured to optically couple to the optical component at a second coupling region that is at a different location on the substrate than the first coupling region. Moreover, the first coupling region and the second coupling region are optically coupled by an optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Drost, John E. Cunningham, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 9002615
    Abstract: A method and system for online power management of a turbine engine is provided. The method includes operating an engine control system on a first bandwidth, filtering at least one data input from the engine control system to a second bandwidth, and receiving, by a power management system operating on the second bandwidth, the at least one filtered data input. The method also includes predicting an engine operating condition using the at least one filtered data input using a closed-loop engine model, determining an optimal engine power management based on the prediction, solving a constrained optimization for a desired optimization objective, and outputting the optimal engine power management to the engine control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aditya Kumar, Santanu Chatterjee, Pierino Gianni Bonanni, Avinash Vinayak Taware
  • Publication number: 20150093074
    Abstract: Techniques relating to optical shuffling are described herein. In an example, a system for shuffling a plurality of optical beams is described. The system includes a plurality of sources to output respective beams of light. The system further includes a plurality of receivers to receive respective beams of light. The system further includes a shuffling assembly including a plurality of sub-wavelength grating (SWG) sections. Each of the plurality of SWG sections is for defining optical paths of the plurality of beams. The plurality of SWG sections includes at least one reflecting SWG section to reflect and direct light from a respective one of the plurality of sources toward a respective one of the plurality of receivers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Paul Kessler Rosenberg, David A. Fattal, Marco Fiorentino, Raymond G. Beausoleil
  • Patent number: 8995796
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system (1) for generating a (high-frequency) beat signal. The system has a first light source (3) with a multimode spectrum, a second light source (4) and a coupler and filter arrangement (5) with a first port (6) for coupling in light from the first light source (3), and a second port (7) for coupling in light from the second light source (4). Furthermore, a detector (11) is provided to which light of both light sources (3, 4) can be supplied. The coupler and filter arrangement (5) has a spectral filter (20, 28) for filtering out one or several modes from the spectrum of the first light source (3), and a first fiber-optical coupler (17, 23, 26) for coupling the light of the second light source (4) and the not yet filtered or the already filtered light of the first light source (3). The coupler and filter arrangement (5) is configured to be merely fiber-optical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Menlo Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Ronald Holzwarth, Marc Fischer, Michael Mei
  • Patent number: 8995807
    Abstract: The subject matter disclosed herein relates to an optical device comprising: a light guide film to transport light rays via total internal reflection; a first optical layer covering at least a portion of a first side of the light guide film, the first optical layer to receive an exiting portion of the light rays; a second optical layer covering at least a portion of the first optical layer; and a grating pattern located at an interface between the first optical layer and the second optical layer to out-couple light rays travelling in the light guide film, wherein the grating pattern is configured so that the exiting portion of the light rays transmit through the grating pattern twice before being total internally reflected by the grating pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Modilis Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Juho Ilkka Jalava
  • Patent number: 8995845
    Abstract: A multi-laser transmitter optical subassembly may include N number of lasers, where each laser is configured to generate an optical signal with a unique wavelength. The transmitter optical subassembly may further include a focusing lens and a filter assembly. The filter assembly may combine the optical signals into a combined signal that is received by the focusing lens. The filter assembly may include N?1 number of filters. Each of the filters may pass at least one of the optical signals and reflect at least one of the optical signals. The filters may be low pass filters, high pass filters, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Tengda Du, Bernd Huebner
  • Publication number: 20150086163
    Abstract: An optical waveguide (2) arranged to transmit light under total internal reflection has a first diffractive grating region (8) arranged to receive light and diffract the received light along the optical waveguide (2), an intermediate diffraction grating (10) optically coupled to the first diffractive grating region (8) arranged to expand received light in a first dimension and a second diffractive grating region (9) optically coupled to the intermediate diffraction grating (10) arranged to expand light in a second dimension, orthogonal to the first dimension and to output the light expanded in the first and second dimensions from the optical waveguide (2) by diffraction. The first and second diffractive grating regions (8,9) are fabricated as a common grating whereas the second grating is fabricated above the common grating in an area where the common grating is erased by a coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicant: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventors: Mohmed Salim Valera, Michael David Simmonds
  • Patent number: 8989538
    Abstract: A sensor element for detecting mechanical state variables contains at least one optical waveguide having at least one fiber Bragg grating, and at least one planar optical filter element to which light exiting the optical waveguide can be fed to at least one measuring device for determining an intensity ratio of a Stokes and an anti-Stokes lines and/or a propagation time of an optical signal. A method for detecting mechanical state variables uses such a sensor element running along a measuring section, wherein light having at least one predefinable mean wavelength and a predefinable spectral width is coupled into the optical waveguide and light reflected and/or scattered in the optical waveguide is fed to at least two measuring devices, measuring the intensity of the light exiting the optical waveguide in selected spectral ranges, and measuring an intensity ratio of a Stokes and an Anti-stokes line and/or a propagation time of an optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignees: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Draka Cable Wuppertal GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schade, Norbert Keil, Martin Angelmahr, Peter Funken
  • Patent number: 8989537
    Abstract: An optical grating comprising a grating layer and two surface layers, the layers being arranged with the grating layer between the surface layers. The grating layer comprises a set of multiple, discrete, elongated first grating regions that comprise a first dielectric material and are arranged with intervening elongated second grating regions. The bulk refractive index of the dielectric material of the first grating regions is larger than the bulk refractive index of the second grating regions. The first surface layer comprises a first impedance matching layer, and the second surface layer comprises either (i) a second impedance matching layer or (ii) a reflective layer. Each said impedance matching layer is arranged to reduce reflection of an optical signal transmitted through the corresponding surface of the grating layer, relative to reflection of the optical signal in the absence of said impedance matching layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: LightSmyth Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas W. Mossberg, Christoph M. Greiner, Dmitri Iazikov
  • Publication number: 20150078708
    Abstract: Provided are an optical coupler and an arrayed-waveguide grating structure including the same. The coupler includes a lower clad layer, a core comprising a slab waveguide region disposed on one side of the lower clad layer and a ridge waveguide region disposed on the other side of the lower clad layer, and an upper clad disposed on the core, wherein the ridge waveguide region comprises a self-focusing region configured to focus an optical signal provided form the slab waveguide region and thus to prevent scattering of the optical signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Jaegyu PARK, Hyundai PARK, Jiho JOO, Myung joon KWACK, Gyungock KIM
  • Patent number: 8983250
    Abstract: A wavelength interrogator is coupled to a circulator which couples optical energy from a broadband source to an optical fiber having a plurality of sensors, each sensor reflecting optical energy at a unique wavelength and directing the reflected optical energy to an AWG. The AWG has a detector coupled to each output, and the reflected optical energy from each grating is coupled to the skirt edge response of the AWG such that the adjacent channel responses form a complementary pair response. The complementary pair response is used to convert an AWG skirt response to a wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Intelligent Fiber Optic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard J. Black, Joannes M. Costa, Fereydoun Faridian, Behzad Moslehi, Vahid Sotoudeh
  • Patent number: 8983252
    Abstract: Conventionally, there has been a problem that a structure in which optical signals outputting from a substrate facet in a PLC are optically coupled to a different bulk type optical device is so complicated that its assembly is laborious. There also has been a problem that a structure in which an output facet of a PLC is polished with an angle results in an increase in coupling loss in free space optics. With a lens bonded to an angled facet of a PLC, an optical circuit of the present invention achieves an optical coupling, with low loss, to a bulk-type optical device or another PLC with a simple structure. Moreover, a lens part and an optical fiber part are respectively bonded to different core apertures exposed on a single angled facet. Thereby, optical signals can be inputted to and outputted from the PLC through the single facet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Motohaya Ishii, Naoki Ooba, Kenya Suzuki, Shinji Mino
  • Publication number: 20150071589
    Abstract: To suppress occurrence of axial hole burning in a phase shift portion of a diffraction grating, provided is a semiconductor optical device including: a diffraction grating layer including a diffraction grating and a phase shift portion; and an optical waveguide layer including an active layer that has a gain with respect to an emission wavelength and an optical waveguide region that has no gain with respect to the emission wavelength. The optical waveguide region is formed at least on the lower side of the phase shift portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 12, 2015
    Inventors: Atsushi NAKAMURA, Kazuhiko NAOE, Toshihiko FUKAMACHI, Masaru MUKAIKUBO
  • Patent number: 8977082
    Abstract: A filter and fabrication process for a thin film filter that is based on frustrated total internal reflection and multiple waveguide layers, in which the waveguide modes are resonantly coupled. The physics of the design is related to prism coupling of light into planar waveguides, and waveguide coupling between planar waveguides in close proximity. Embodiments include a filter that acts as a bandpass filter and polarizer, a filter that acts as a bandpass filter, polarizer and angle filter (spatial filter), a filter that is widely tunable, and a filter that is widely tunable in both peak transmission wavelength and width. Methods of fabrication are disclosed, and methods to correct for manufacturing errors in thin film deposition are described. The filter embodiments can also be used in reflection as notch filters in wavelength and angle, for a particular polarization component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Stream Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Kirat Singh, Elmar Prenner, Alan D. Streater
  • Patent number: 8977084
    Abstract: An optical antenna and methods for optical beam steering are provided. One optical planar antenna includes a linear waveguide within a substrate and having a fiber interface. The optical planar antenna also includes a planar waveguide within the substrate, a first diffractive optical element configured to couple the linear waveguide to the planar waveguide and a second diffractive optical element configured to couple the planar waveguide to free space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Daniel Eric Hulsey
  • Publication number: 20150063753
    Abstract: The present invention includes an optical waveguide with a grating and a method of making the same for increasing the effectiveness of the grating. In one example, the grating is at least partially covered by a liner layer disposed on at least a portion of a grating; and a cover layer disposed on the liner layer, wherein a first material selected for the core and ridges and a second material selected for the liner layer are selected to provide a difference in the index of refraction between the first and second material that is sufficient to provide a contrast therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 5, 2015
    Inventors: Gary A. Evans, Jerome K. Butler, Jay B. Kirk, Ruo-Hua He, Jin Yao, Guoliang Li, Xuezhe Zheng, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 8969788
    Abstract: An integrated optical source is described. This optical source outputs one or more optical signals that provide a comb of wavelengths for use in wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) optical interconnects or links. In particular, a shared echelle grating is used as a wavelength-selective filter or control device for multiple lasing cavities to achieve self-registered and accurate lasing-channel spacing without inter-channel gain competition. Furthermore, the optical source can be used to provide all the wavelength channels in one optical waveguide or in separate optical waveguides. Therefore, the optical source may be used with cascaded ring-resonator modulators and/or electro-absorption-based broadband modulators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Oracle International Corporation
    Inventors: Xuezhe Zheng, Ying L. Luo, Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy
  • Patent number: 8965155
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention utilize optical structures created by processes in the wafer fabrication foundry to form optical isolators and circulators. Grating coupling structures are utilized to couple light having a chosen polarization component into free space through non-reciprocal rotation material; said light is captured by another set of grating coupling structures after experiencing a 45 degree rotation of the polarization. By non-reciprocally rotating the polarization, the input and output ports of the optical isolator will be different depending on the direction of the light propagation. The amount of non-reciprocal rotation material utilized by embodiments of the invention may be small, and the grating coupling structures may be efficiently made to couple to each other as their field profiles may be matched and their position may be precisely defined by lithographic means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Aurrion, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Alan Fish
  • Patent number: 8965152
    Abstract: A projection display 210 arranged to display an image to an observer 212 use waveguide techniques to generate a display defining a large exit pupil at the point of the observer 212 and a large field of view, while using a small image-providing light source device. The projection display 210 uses two parallel waveguides 214, 216 made from a light transmissive material. One waveguide 214 stretches the horizontal pupil of the final display and the other waveguide 216 stretches the vertical pupil of the final display and acts as a combiner through which the observer 212 views an outside world scene 220 and the image overlaid on the scene 220. In a color display, each primary color is transmitted within a separate channel R, G, B.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Bae Systems PLC
    Inventor: Michael David Simmonds
  • Patent number: 8958665
    Abstract: An optical device may include a substrate; an arrayed waveguide grating provided on the substrate and having first and second slabs; multiple first waveguides extending from the first slab, the multiple first waveguides may supply respective first optical signals to the first slab; multiple second waveguides extending from the second slab, the multiple second waveguides may supply respective second optical signals to the second slab; a third waveguide extending from the second slab, the third waveguide outputting a third optical signal from the second slab, the third optical signal including the first optical signals; a fourth waveguide extending from the first slab, the fourth waveguide may output a fourth optical signal from the first slab, the fourth optical signal including the second optical signals; and a first scattering device optically coupled to a portion of an edge of the first slab between the multiple first waveguides and the fourth waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Peter W. Evans, Pavel Studenkov, Mehrdad Ziari, Matthias Kuntz, Scott Corzine, Masaki Kato, Vikrant Lal
  • Patent number: 8953918
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a channel waveguide, a ridge waveguide including a ridge and having a bottom surface, a coupler between the channel waveguide and the ridge waveguide, the coupler including an opening configured to transmit light from the channel waveguide to the ridge waveguide, wherein the opening has a first segment having a first width and a second segment having a second width different from the first width, and a protrusion extending from the ridge beyond the plane of the bottom surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: Amit Vasant Itagi
  • Publication number: 20150036978
    Abstract: A novel blazed grating spectral filter disclosed herein includes a multilayer stack of materials that is formed on a wedge-shaped substrate wherein the upper surface of the substrate is oriented at an angle relative the bottom surface of the substrate and wherein the angle corresponds to the blaze angle of the blazed grating filter. Various methods of forming such a filter are also disclosed such as, for example, performing a planarization process in a CMP tool to define the wedge-shaped substrate, thereafter forming the multilayer stack of materials above the upper planarized surface of the substrate and etching recesses into the multilayer stack.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Applicant: GLOBALFOUNDRIES Inc.
    Inventors: Lei Sun, Obert Reeves Wood, II
  • Patent number: 8948590
    Abstract: Modular kit of devices for variable distribution, mixing and monitoring of optical signals in the Internet and other networks is formed by an optical module interconnected with a control electronic module of the electronic system with two redundant power supply sources, which is subsequently interconnected with the communication computer module equipped with the user communication interface and the machine communication interface. Optical module has N optical inputs and M optical outputs where N and M are non-zero natural numbers, and in total the optical module contains N×M of 2×2 type Mach-Zender interferometer optical switching elements. Each of them has two optical inputs, two optical outputs and one electric input. Optical switching elements are mutually interconnected in a grid. Control electronic module is formed by N×M pulse-width modulators connected via an interface module to the communication computer module and to the power supply distribution block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Cesnet Zajmove Sdruzeni Pravnickych Osob
    Inventors: Josef Vojt{hacek over (e)}ch, Miloslav H{dot over (u)}la, Miroslav Karasek, Stanislav {hacek over (S)}íma, Jan Radil
  • Patent number: 8948549
    Abstract: A polarization rotator assembly for rotating a polarization mode of an electromagnetic signal is provided. The polarization rotator assembly has a waveguiding structure of co-extensive first and second layers defining, successively, an input portion, a subwavelength composite portion and a polarization rotating portion. The subwavelength composite portion is formed by the first and second layers, where the second layer defines a subwavelength pattern. The polarization rotator portion is geometrically configured to rotate the polarization mode of the electromagnetic signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Teraxion Inc.
    Inventors: Marie-Josée Picard, Yves Painchaud