End Fire Patents (Class 385/38)
  • Patent number: 12066342
    Abstract: The present invention concerns apparatus (1) for obtaining distributed pressure measurements in a wellbore (2), the apparatus (1) comprising: a flexible rod (10; 110) arranged to be disposed in the wellbore (2); and an elongate sensing member (15; 115) extending along the rod, the sensing member comprising at least one optical sensing fibre member (16; 116) arranged to afford a continuous length of sensing capability, wherein the sensing member extends in a groove formed in the exterior surface of the rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ziebel AS
    Inventor: Neil Gardner
  • Patent number: 12053147
    Abstract: A low-cost, ultra-compact multichannel micro-endoscope system is described that includes fiber bundles that can be implanted directly into the target tissue. In one example, the system includes one or more fiber bundles, where a first end of one fiber bundle is shaped as a non-flat surface for insertion into a target, allowing direct contact with a region of interest within the target. The light that travels back from varying depths of the region of interest are received at second end of the fiber bundle, is captured and the corresponding signals are processed to produce high-resolution images of the region of interest. Multiple imaging probes can be implanted into the target to simultaneously monitor neural activities in different regions and at different depths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of the University of Arizona
    Inventors: Rongguang Liang, Haijiang Cai
  • Patent number: 11994725
    Abstract: A circular optical antenna array system is disclosed. The system includes a phase modulator configured to control an input phase of an input beam, and a polarization unit configured to feed the input beam in a predetermined input polarization mode. The system also includes a plurality of waveguide elements positioned in a predetermined configuration with a predetermined element spacing (D). Each waveguide element comprises a mirror inclined at a predetermined angle (?°) to generate a beam having an output polarization based on the predetermined configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2024
    Assignee: Amrita Vishwa Vidyapectham
    Inventor: Viswas S. Nair
  • Patent number: 11982840
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for laser-based splicing of a glass fiber (1) onto an optical component (3), comprising the following steps: arranging both surfaces to be spliced substantially parallel to each other and at a predefined distance from each other; and aiming a laser beam (4) at the optical component (3). In order to specify an improved method in which the properties of the joining partners are maintained to the greatest extent during splicing, which exhibits high reproducibility and in particular is suitable for splicing joining partners of different cross-sections, the invention proposes that the angle of incidence of the laser beam (4) on the surface of the optical component be between 15° and 45°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Steffen Bohme, Thomas Schreiber, Simone Fabian
  • Patent number: 11936162
    Abstract: A light source device includes a semiconductor laser that has a first end surface and a second end surface parallel to each other and forming a first resonator, and an optical system that is disposed on an optical path of laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser, that forms a second resonator with the second end surface of the semiconductor laser, and that has a reflection characteristic in which a reflectance with respect to light having a previously specified wavelength width centered at a specified center wavelength of the semiconductor laser is higher than the reflectance of the first end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignees: YOKOGAWA ELECTRIC CORPORATION, YOKOGAWA TEST & MEASUREMENT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Katsushi Ota, Tsukasa Kokubo
  • Patent number: 11927805
    Abstract: An optical fiber connection structure includes: a tubular member; a first collimator attached to a first end of the tubular member in an axial direction; and a second collimator attached to a second end of the tubular member. The first collimator includes a first optical fiber, a first ferrule, a first lens, and a first sleeve. The second collimator includes a second optical fiber, a second ferrule terminating the second optical fiber, a second lens, and a second sleeve. The first sleeve is fixed to the first end via adhesive in a state where the first lens faces the tubular member, and the second sleeve is fixed to the second end via adhesive in a state where the second lens faces the tubular member. An outer diameter of the second ferrule is larger than that of the second lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Osamu Shimakawa, Hidehisa Tazawa, Masato Tanaka
  • Patent number: 11911101
    Abstract: Optical fibers used to deliver laser energy inside the body are often twisted and bent when passed through tortuous routes in accessing the target tissue or pathology, e.g. during the ureteroscopic laser lithotripsy. When an irregular laser output that is produced at the start of the lasing process is channeled through a fiber that is bent at or near the bend limit, fail safe polymer claddings are damaged and can no longer contain even regular laser output in tight deflection. A common resulting fiber failure, known as ‘fiber burn through’, results in injuries to patients and is a major cause of damage to ureteroscopes. Discussed are the systems and methodologies providing a solution to such premature fiber failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: CYCLONE BIOSCIENCES, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen E. Griffin, Jason Guth
  • Patent number: 11906369
    Abstract: A detection system in an aircraft includes an optical fiber arranged along a structure of the aircraft and affixed to the structure with clamps that are spaced apart along the structure. The optical fiber includes two or more sets of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). The system also includes a light source to generate light with two or more wavelengths for injection into the optical fiber, and processing circuitry to identify an overheat condition and monitor vibration experienced by the optical fiber based on reflected signals generated by the two or more sets of FBGs. Integrity of the clamps is indicated by monitoring the vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: KIDDE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Aswin Kumar Vallamkondu, Mark Sherwood Miller, Stefan Coreth
  • Patent number: 11886011
    Abstract: An optical microstructure is configured to work with an optical fiber or a different substrate and the optical microstructure includes a beam converter including a tapered optical guide configured to transform a gaussian optical beam into a first annular optical beam; an inverted cone having first and second reflection surfaces, each configured to reflect the first annular optical beam, having a radius R1, so that a resulting second annular optical beam has a radius R2 larger than the radius R1; and a prism having a reflection surface configured to reflect the second annular optical beam to form a third converging annular optical beam. The third converging annular optical beam includes plural single optical beams that intersect at a given crossing point, outside the optical microstructure. The plural single optical beams form an optical trap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: KING ABDULLAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Carlo Liberale, Andrea Bertoncini, Innem Venkata Anudeep Kumar Reddy
  • Patent number: 11832872
    Abstract: A microsurgical probe employs an optional probe support structure; an optical fiber for providing a feed path for an emission wavelength; a chemical feed path for delivering a chemical; a resonator motor; and a probe accessory tool. A microsurgical system additionally employs a sensor and an artificial intelligence (AI) system to assess conditions based on data provided by the sensor. The system can be employed to remove tumor tissue that is interwoven with healthy tissue. This system can also be employed to fertilize old, inflexible ova.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Inventor: Anya L. Getman
  • Patent number: 11794281
    Abstract: A method of laser processing including generating a laser beam having, at different longitudinal positions in a propagation direction, first and second transverse beam profiles of energy density. The first transverse beam profile is different to the second transverse beam profile and is non-Gaussian. The method includes carrying out a scan of the laser beam across a working surface, wherein, during the scan, the laser beam and/or working surface is adjusted such that, for a first part of the scan, the first transverse beam profile is located at the working surface and, for a second part of the scan, the second transverse beam profile is located at the working surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: RENISHAW PLC
    Inventor: Ian James Thomson
  • Patent number: 11771597
    Abstract: Systems and methods for creating multi-spot laser light beams, multiplexing an illumination light and the multi-spot laser light beams, delivering the multiplexed light to a surgical handpiece via a multi-core optical fiber cable, and delivering the multiplexed light onto patient anatomy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: Alcon Inc.
    Inventors: Gerald David Bacher, Mark Harrison Farley, Alireza Mirsepassi, Ronald T. Smith
  • Patent number: 11774664
    Abstract: An embodiment optical device includes a glass plate, a first trench disposed in the glass plate, and a second trench disposed in the glass plate. The second trench crosses the first trench, and the first trench has an open end in a first wall of the second trench. The optical device includes a waveguide disposed inside the first trench, where the waveguide is formed of a material having a refractive index different from that of the glass plate, and a mirror on a second wall of the second trench opposite the first wall and waveguide. The optical device includes an encapsulation layer filling the second trench and covering all of an upper surface of the waveguide and having a refractive index that is different from the waveguide and the glass plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS SA
    Inventors: Folly Eli Ayi-Yovo, Cédric Durand, Frédéric Gianesello
  • Patent number: 11747574
    Abstract: A ferrule mold having a reverse-image of a through-hole array for optical fibers is formed. A non-polymeric ferrule material is deposited in the reverse-image mold, followed by removing the mold to create a multi-fiber connector ferrule having at least two fiber through-holes. An optical fiber is inserted in each through-hole until each fiber endface is positioned approximately even with a connection surface of the ferrule. A fiber recess for each of the optical fibers is formed such that each fiber is recessed from the multi-fiber ferrule connection surface by a distance of at least 0.1 micron. The recess may be formed by differential polishing of the non-polymeric ferrule and endfaces of the optical fibers. Alternatively, a layer of spacer material may be deposited over the multi-fiber ferrule connection surface. An antireflection coating is deposited over the ferrule connection surface and ends of the recessed fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Ningo Litas Optical Technologies Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Benjamin B. Jian
  • Patent number: 11673207
    Abstract: A device for determining a focus position of a laser beam in a laser machining system includes an optical element configured to reflect a portion of the laser beam for coupling out a first sub-beam of the laser beam, a spatially resolving sensor to which the first sub-beam can be directed, and an evaluation unit configured to determine a focus position of the laser beam based on an actual diameter of the first sub-beam incident on the spatially resolving sensor, a laser beam power, and calibration data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Precitec GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: David Blázquez-Sánchez
  • Patent number: 11662527
    Abstract: An optical assembly includes a light source for providing a beam of light, a lens system configured to expand and collimate the beam of light, and a configurable beam injector, wherein the beam injector contains a first grid plate and a second grid plate to block individual beams of light. The first grid plate and the second grid plate may be configured such that each grid plate respectively corresponds to particular MEMS mirrors. The grid plates can be configured to have pathways that allow for beams of light to be passed through and other pathways which are blocked to prevent the passage of light. The first grid plate and second grid plate may thus block or allow for transmission of beams of lights to those particular MEMS mirrors. The second grid plate can be configured to be easily swappable during or removable to allow for a different set of beams of light, corresponding to a different set of MEMS mirrors, to be blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Kevin Yasumura, Jill Berger
  • Patent number: 11493760
    Abstract: A light source or projector for a near-eye display includes a light source subassembly optically coupled to a waveguide concentrator. The light source subassembly may include several semiconductor chips each hosting an array of emitters such s superluminescent light-emitting diodes. The semiconductor chips may be disposed side-by-side, with their emitting sides or facets coupled to the waveguide concentrator, which provides a tight array of output light ports on a common output plane of the concentrator. The output diverging beams at the array of output light ports are coupled to a collimator, which collimates the beams and couples them to an angular scanner for scanning the collimated light beams together across the field of view of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: Meta Platforms Technologies LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Guenther Grief, Scott Charles McEldowney, Stephen John Holmes, Chadwick Brian Martin, Stephen James McNally, John Goward
  • Patent number: 11471978
    Abstract: A laser oscillator includes a plurality of laser modules, beam coupler (12) that couples a plurality of laser beams (LB1 to LB4) emitted from the plurality of laser modules to form a coupled laser beam, beam coupler (12) emitting the coupled laser beam, and a condensing lens unit having a condensing lens, the condensing lens unit condensing the coupled laser beam to have a given beam diameter and guiding the condensed coupled laser beam to a transmission fiber. Beam coupler (12) has optical members (OC1 to OC4) configured to change optical paths of laser beams (LB1 to LB4). By changing the optical paths of laser beams (LB1 to LB4) by optical members (OC1 to OC4,) a beam profile of the coupled laser beam emitted from the transmission fiber is changed without adjusting a position of the condensing lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Domoto, Ryo Ishikawa, Naoya Kato
  • Patent number: 11381056
    Abstract: A light source has a resonant laser cavity with an optical grating and a waveguide that has a longitudinal axis. A portion of the longitudinal axis extends through the optical grating and serves as a grating axis. The laser cavity is configured to generate a laser signal that exits the laser cavity through the optical grating. The optical grating includes multiple perturbation structures that each causes a perturbation in an effective refractive index of the waveguide. The perturbation structures are staggered on the waveguide such that the perturbation structures that are adjacent to one another in a longitudinal direction are spaced apart in a transverse direction. The longitudinal direction is a direction parallel to the grating axis and the transverse direction is a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SiLC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Amir Ali Tavallaee, Bradley Jonathan Luff, Mehdi Asghari
  • Patent number: 11022764
    Abstract: Laser hazard at disconnection can be prevented with a simple structure. A tubular connector exterior, and a block that is incorporated on one end side of the connector exterior and on which a light emission portion or a light incident portion is mounted toward the other end side are provided. The light emission portion or the light incident portion is mounted on the block so that the optical axis direction thereof is tilted relative to the longitudinal direction of the connector exterior. The light emission portion is a lens through which light output from a light transmission path is collimated and emitted. At least part of the collimated light emitted through the lens is incident on a light diffusion portion provided inside the connector exterior.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuaki Toba, Masanari Yamamoto, Ryohei Takahashi, Hiroshi Morita
  • Patent number: 10365446
    Abstract: An optical module structure includes a main substrate, an interposer substrate electrically connected to the main substrate via a first protruding electrode, a first communication LSI electrically connected to the interposer substrate via a second protruding electrode, an IC element electrically connected to the interposer substrate via a lateral-surface connection terminal of the interposer substrate and via a third protruding electrode, an Si bench substrate electrically connected to the IC element via a fourth protruding electrode and via a lateral-surface connection terminal of the Si bench substrate, an optical element electrically connected to the Si bench substrate via a fifth protruding electrode, and an optical fiber optically connected via an optical waveguide formed on the Si bench substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shozo Ochi, Daisuke Sakurai
  • Patent number: 10101539
    Abstract: An optical fiber adapter according to the present disclosure includes a main body, a first shutter member, a second shutter member, an inner housing, a first elastic member and a second elastic member. The first elastic member includes a first base portion, a first driving portion and a first connecting portion. The first connecting portion connects the first base portion with the first driving portion. The second shutter member includes a second base portion, a second driving portion and a second connecting portion. The second connecting portion connects the second base portion with the second driving portion. The inner housing is positioned within the main body through the first opening. The first shutter member is attached to and is driven to move by the first driving portion. The second shutter member is attached to and is driven to move by the second driving portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: PROTAI PHOTONIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jyh-Cherng Yang, Yu-Kai Chen
  • Patent number: 9671561
    Abstract: A coating is applied on a first end face of an optical component which includes a cladding and a core for guiding light. The first end face has a cladding front face and a core front face. The core front face is covered with a mask, the coating is applied onto the first end face, the coating s removed from the masked core front face, and for covering the core front face, a lacquer layer made of a photo resist is applied onto the first end face. The photo resist is exposed to light from the rear side only in the region of one of the front faces such that light is input on the second end face of the component only in one of the two regions, and the lacquer layer is subsequently selectively removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: LEONI Kabel Holding GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Kufner, Sebastian Haaf
  • Patent number: 9529163
    Abstract: An optical wiring substrate includes an insulation layer including a resin, a first conductor layer formed on the insulation layer and including a metal, the first conductor layer including an inclined surface that is inclined relative to an optical axis of an optical fiber. The insulation layer further includes an end surface that faces a cladding of the optical fiber. The inclined surface of the first conductor layer is formed at a position that faces a core of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Ishikawa, Kouki Hirano, Hiroki Yasuda
  • Patent number: 9429717
    Abstract: A ferrule of the present invention includes a positioning mechanism for positioning an optical fiber, and a recess having at least a first inner wall for allowing a front end of the optical fiber portion positioned by the positioning mechanism to protrude, and a second inner wall opposite to the first inner wall. A distance between the first inner wall and the second inner wall is less than or equal to four times the outer diameter of the optical fiber. Adhesive is filled into the recess and cured in a state in which the optical fiber protrudes from the first inner wall and substantially contacts the second inner wall to fix the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Akihiro Nakama, Tatsuya Ohta, Akito Nishimura, Terutake Kobayashi, Kunihiko Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 9304268
    Abstract: An optical interposer comprising: (a) a crystalline substrate having a top planar surface and a crystalline plane angle; (b) a groove defined in the top planar surface and extending from an edge of the substrate to a terminal end, the groove having side walls and a first facet at the terminal end, the facet having a first angle relative to the top planar surface, the first angle being about the crystalline plane angle, the first angle having a delta from 45°; (c) a reflective coating on the first facet; and (d) an optical conduit having an optical axis and an end face optically coupled with the first facet, the end face having a second angle with respect to the optical axis such that the angle of refraction at the end face compensates for the delta such that the end face and the first facet cooperate to bend light about 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Lou Castagna, Richard Dean Miller, Shelly Ann Buchter
  • Patent number: 9191122
    Abstract: An optical module include a first substrate including a first surface over which a light emitting element is mounted, an optical waveguide provided with a second surface of the first substrate, a mirror configured to reflect output light of the light emitting element to the optical waveguide, a second substrate, and a light receiving element configured to receive leakage light produced when the output light from the light emitting element is transmitted through the mirror disposed in the optical waveguide, the light receiving element being mounted over the second substrate different from the first substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Takatoshi Yagisawa, Takashi Shiraishi
  • Patent number: 9148225
    Abstract: An optical receiver for a quantum key distribution system comprises a plurality of optical components mounted or formed in a substrate and optically coupled by one or more hollow core waveguides formed in the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: QINETIQ LIMITED
    Inventors: Brian Sinclair Lowans, Richard Michael Jenkins, Ewan David Finlayson
  • Patent number: 9044824
    Abstract: The invention relates to laser cutting, using multiple laser beams directed to a processing region. At least one first laser beam (2) is coupled into the work piece (1) material to generate a melt (5) and to form a keyhole (3). At least one second beam (6) is guided onto selected surface regions (7) of the melt (5). The laser energy is provided to the processing region as individual beams that may be conditioned independently. The invention has the advantage that arbitrary energy distributions can be arranged in the processing region as determined according to the requirements of the laser cutting process, rather than being limited by an inappropriate beam shape of a single high power laser beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Inventor: Flemming Ove Olsen
  • Patent number: 9020307
    Abstract: In a waveguide device, unnecessary optical power is appropriately terminated. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the waveguide device has a termination structure filled with a light blocking material to terminate light from a waveguide end. In the termination structure, a cladding and a core are removed to form a groove on an optical waveguide. The groove is filled with a material (light blocking material) that attenuates the intensity of light. Thus, light input to the termination structure is attenuated by the light blocking material, suppressing crosstalk which possibly effects on other optical devices. Thus, such a termination structure can restrain crosstalk occurred in optical devices integrated in the same substrate and can also suppress crosstalk which possibly effects on any other optical device connected directly to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignees: NTT Electronics Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Takanori Ishikawa, Tomoyo Shibazaki, Mitsuru Nagano, Masahiro Yanagisawa, Hiroshi Terui, Mikitaka Itoh
  • Patent number: 8992836
    Abstract: Embodiments of optofluidic devices or methods according to the application can provide on-chip, label-free, massively parallel analysis of analytes. An embodiment of the optofluidic device can comprise a microresonator, a waveguide optically coupled to the microresonator, and a fluidic channel that exposes an analyte to an evanescent field from the microresonator, wherein the light signal has a linewidth lesser than the width of at least one resonance of the light signal propagating in the microresonator. The light signal can be tuned across a spectrum of light wavelengths, wherein the spectrum of wavelengths includes one or more wavelengths defining the at least one resonance in the microresonator. The light transmission through the waveguide over the spectrum of wavelengths of the input light can be detected, and an absorption spectrum of the analyte can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Cornell University
    Inventors: Arthur Nitkowski, Michal Lipson
  • Publication number: 20150085283
    Abstract: There are provided an optical measurement probe capable of obtaining a more stable measurement result, and an optical measurement device provided with the same. An incidence surface of an optical window to be used in a high temperature environment is covered by a deposited film. The optical window is formed of sapphire, and the deposited film is formed from SiO2. Adhesion of dirt to the incidence surface, and an influence, on a measurement result, of the adhesion of dirt on the incidence surface can thereby be prevented, and a more stable measurement result can be obtained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Applicants: SHIMADZU CORPORATION, HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Nagai, Nobuyuki Iwai, Yasuyuki Furukawa, Ryoji Hiraoka, Isao Azumagakito, Satoru Okada
  • Patent number: 8983245
    Abstract: An optical board includes a plate-shaped resin base material including a slit-shaped optical fiber housing portion formed thereon, a metal layer formed on a surface of the based material, and a reflective layer for reflecting light propagating in an optical fiber housed in the optical fiber housing portion. The base material further includes an inclined surface inclined with respect to the surface of the base material at a terminal end of the optical fiber housing portion. The reflective layer is formed over an end face of the metal layer and the inclined surface, the end face forming a flat surface continuously with the inclined surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi Metals, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroki Yasuda, Hiroshi Ishikawa, Kouki Hirano
  • Patent number: 8983257
    Abstract: An optical delivery apparatus is disclosed including: an optical fiber extending between a distal end having a distal end face and a proximal end having a proximal end face, an optical element positioned to receive the light emitted from the distal end face and direct the light to an illumination region; and a non-metallic housing containing the optical fiber and the optical element and maintaining the relative position of the optical fiber and the optical element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Nomir Medical Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Eric Bornstein, Edward Sinofsky
  • Patent number: 8977085
    Abstract: A method of forming an optical fiber tip, the method including, roughening at least part of an end portion of the optical fiber; and, etching the roughed end portion to thereby form an optical fiber tip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: The University of Queensland
    Inventors: Laurence James Walsh, Roy George
  • Patent number: 8937277
    Abstract: The invention relates to a monofrequency optical filter, including reflective elements which are formed on one surface of a dielectric support layer and which define at least one periodic array of parallel grooves passing across same. The periodicity, height, and width of said periodic groove array are selected so as to form a structure, the wavelength of which can be selected from within a predetermined range of wavelengths. According to the invention, the thickness and refractive index of the support layer are selected so that said layer forms a half-wave plate for a wavelength of the predetermined wavelength range. The filter, when in contact with the surface of the support layer opposite the surface on which the groove array is formed, includes a medium, the refractive index of which is less than that of the support layer so as to obtain a guided mode that resonates in the support layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et Aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventor: Jerome Le Perchec
  • Publication number: 20140376862
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus may include an optical fiber that may have a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber. The surface may define a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the optical fiber and incident on the interface to a direction offset from the longitudinal axis. The apparatus may also include a doped silica cap that may be fused to the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber may be disposed within a cavity defined by the doped silica cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: December 25, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Zerfas, Richard P. Tumminelli
  • Patent number: 8861907
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus may include an optical fiber that may have a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber. The surface may define a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the optical fiber and incident on the interface to a direction offset from the longitudinal axis. The apparatus may also include a doped silica cap that may be fused to the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber may be disposed within a cavity defined by the doped silica cap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey W. Zerfas, Richard P. Tumminelli
  • Patent number: 8849081
    Abstract: Embodiments include an apparatus including an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the optical fiber has a surface configured to emit energy transverse to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. The apparatus also includes a tube including a channel, and the distal end of the optical fiber is disposed in the channel of the tube. The apparatus further includes an element disposed at a distal end of the tube such that a pocket is formed in the channel of the tube between the element and the distal end of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ty Fairneny, Isaac Ostrovsky, Michael O'Brien, William Asselin
  • Patent number: 8849080
    Abstract: An optical fiber coupler includes a clad optical fiber core having a coupling window formed therein. A laser source is joined to emit light into the core through the coupling window. The core has an output coupler for partially reflecting a portion of light and transmitting a portion as output. A Bragg grating is formed in the core having a pitch and being positioned to reflect light from said laser source toward the output coupler. The pitch is variable in response to a temperature change. A thermal control device is joined to the core for adjusting its temperature and the Bragg grating pitch. In other embodiments a mode convertor is provided to reduce the output modes to selected modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Tariq Manzur
  • Patent number: 8818149
    Abstract: Exemplary apparatus for obtaining information for a structure can be provided. For example, the exemplary apparatus can include at least one first optical fiber arrangement which is configured to transceive at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, and can include at least one fiber. The exemplary apparatus can also include at least one second focusing arrangement in optical communication with the optical fiber arrangement. The second arrangement can include a ball lens, and be configured to focus and provide there through the first electro-magnetic radiation to generate the focused electro-magnetic radiation. Further, the exemplary apparatus can include at least at least one dispersive third arrangement which can receive a particular radiation (e.g., the first electro-magnetic radiation(s) and/or the focused electro-magnetic radiation), and forward a dispersed radiation thereof to at least one section of the structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Milen Shishkov, Guillermo J. Tearney, Brett Eugene Bouma, Dvir Yelin, Nicusor Iftimia
  • Publication number: 20140226933
    Abstract: Embodiments include an apparatus including an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the optical fiber has a surface configured to emit energy transverse to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. The apparatus also includes a tube including a channel, and the distal end of the optical fiber is disposed in the channel of the tube. The apparatus further includes an element disposed at a distal end of the tube such that a pocket is formed in the channel of the tube between the element and the distal end of the optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2014
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Applicant: BOSTON SCIENTIFIC SCIMED, INC.
    Inventors: Ty FAIRNENY, Isaac OSTROVSKY, Michael O'BRIEN, William ASSELIN
  • Patent number: 8768122
    Abstract: Disclosed is an optical module which improves optical coupling efficiency either when configured to receive an optical signal from an optical fiber with a light receiving element or when configured to receive an optical signal from a light emitting element with an optical fiber. The optical module includes: a substrate (1) having in the surface thereof a first groove (1a) and a second groove (1b) formed, with this second groove (1b) being configured to have a substantially V-shaped cross section formed deeper than the first groove and being formed in continuation from the first groove; and an internal waveguide (16) provided within the first groove (1a) of the substrate (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Tadahiro Yamaji, Nobuyuki Asashi, Hiroyuki Yagyu, Yutaka Kinugasa, Takuya Matsumoto, Tsutomu Niiho
  • Patent number: 8744220
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device which is free from interference with an optical path between a light emitting element and an optical waveguide thereof, and to provide a method of manufacturing the optical waveguide device. A light emitting element (5) is provided on an upper surface of a first under-cladding layer (21), and a second under-cladding layer (22) is provided on the upper surface of the first under-cladding layer (21), covering the light emitting element (5). A core 3 which receives light emitted from the light emitting element (5) through the second under-cladding layer (22) is provided on an upper surface of the second under-cladding layer (22). The core (3) is located in a position such that the light emitted from the light emitting element (5) is incident on the core (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventors: Sazzadur Rahman Khan, Kazunori Mune
  • Patent number: 8731351
    Abstract: Embodiments include an apparatus including an optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of the optical fiber has a surface configured to emit energy transverse to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber. The apparatus also includes a tube including a channel, and the distal end of the optical fiber is disposed in the channel of the tube. The apparatus further includes an element disposed at a distal end of the tube such that a pocket is formed in the channel of the tube between the element and the distal end of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
    Inventors: Ty Fairneny, Isaac Ostrovsky, Michael O'Brien, William Asselin
  • Patent number: 8724948
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for terminating optical fiber bundles, wherein the fiber bundle is inserted into a sleeve which is filled with adhesive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Hubertus Russert, Werner Sklarek
  • Patent number: 8724945
    Abstract: The present disclosure is a system for the protection of a fiber within a laser system. The system has a water-cooled housing supporting a termination block, which is operative to shield a protective layer of a delivery fiber from back-reflected beams of light. The termination block is manufactured from quartz and is frustconical in configuration and fuseable to the delivery fiber. The delivery fiber has a polymeric protective layer with an acceptance end and a delivery end, and passes through a washer contained within the housing; the washer has a dielectric reflective coating. The system has at least one terminal block connector which further comprises a cone termination block, a reflector, and a set of light guards. The cone termination block is spliced to an output end of the delivery fiber and produces an angle ? so as to reduce propagation of back-reflected light. The reflector is positioned so as to block additional back-reflected light from the protective layer of the delivery fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: IPG Photonics Corporation
    Inventors: Valentin P. Gapontsev, Alexander Makagon, Dimitri Yagodkin
  • Patent number: 8705906
    Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric conversion module in which an optical device and an optical waveguide are arrayed in a horizontal direction, thereby improving the optical coupling efficiency and therefore, reducing light loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Korea Electronics Technology Institute
    Inventors: Young-Min Im, Hwe-Kyung Kim
  • Publication number: 20140099060
    Abstract: An optical fiber connector includes a fiber alignment body including a continuous optical fiber guide channel extending therethrough. The continuous optical fiber guide channel has a lead-in channel portion, a lead-out channel portion and a turn portion that connects the lead-in channel portion and the lead-out channel portion. The fiber alignment body has a reflective surface formed of metal that receives light traveling from an optical fiber located within the lead-in channel portion of the continuous optical fiber channel and reflects the light into the lead-out channel portion of the continuous optical fiber channel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 9, 2012
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey D. Danley, Robert B. Elkins, II, Kevin B. Sparks
  • Patent number: 8666210
    Abstract: A liquid crystal (LC) display panel including a lower substrate with pixel structures, an upper substrate, and an LC layer is provided. Each of the pixel structures includes a transistor and a pixel electrode. The pixel electrode includes first and second pixel electrodes insulated from each other, respectively including a first pattern and a second pattern that different and complementary to each other. Each of the first pixel electrode and the second pixel electrode has at least a trunk with a width smaller than or equal to 10 microns and a plurality of branches. The LC layer is positioned between the upper and the lower substrates and includes a plurality of LC molecules and a plurality of polymers, which are formed on surfaces of at least one of the upper and the lower substrates to cause the plurality of LC molecules to have a pretilt angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Chimei Innolux Corporation
    Inventors: Chien-Hong Chen, Jian-Cheng Chen, Rung-Nan Lu