End Fire Patents (Class 385/38)
  • Patent number: 7509011
    Abstract: A waveguide system wherein a top cladding layer leaves portions of an underlying core channel exposed to ambient air. The ends of core channels are exposed so that light can exit out of or enter into each of the core channels. Openings are formed in the top cladding layer to expose a curved section of a core channel to the ambient air. The low index of refraction of the ambient air allows the curved section to have a reduced turn radius and thereby allows the waveguide system to have a smaller footprint. A via in the top cladding layer provides access to an underlying core channel so that optical communication with the underlying core can be established. An optical computer input device formed of waveguide systems having top cladding layers that leave portions of an underlying core channel exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Poa Sana Liquidating Trust
    Inventor: Jonathan N. Payne
  • Patent number: 7477816
    Abstract: A lens-equipped optical waveguide device for a touch panel includes an optical waveguide including an under cladding layer, and a plurality of cores formed on a surface of the under cladding layer with respective ends in parallel along one edge portion of the under cladding layer; and a lens device having amounting surface for placing the optical waveguide, and a lens formed in an end portion of the mounting surface. The one edge portion has an end surface which abuts the lens when the optical waveguide is placed on the lens device. The lens device is formed with a protrusion on its abutting surface for abutting the end surface, while the end surface is formed with a recess complementary to the protrusion so that the protrusion and the recess are meshed to cause the end surface and the abutting surface to be in intimate contact with each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Nitto Denko Corporation
    Inventor: Noriyuki Juni
  • Patent number: 7466896
    Abstract: A method of making a photonic fabric display includes wrapping photonic fibers with a yarn, weaving the wrapped photonic fibers to form a fabric, printing a pattern on the fabric, surface treating the fabric, and coupling the photonic fibers with a light source to form a photonic fabric display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2008
    Assignee: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Inventors: Xiaoming Tao, Xiaoyin Cheng, Jianming Yu, Lijie Liu, Wang-wah Wong, Wing-kwong Tam
  • Patent number: 7463801
    Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting laser light and redirecting the light laterally relative to an axis of the apparatus includes an optical fiber having both a core and a cladding surrounding the core. The optical fiber terminates at a distal tip having a surface inclined relative to the axis of the optical fiber. A tubular member surrounds the optical fiber at its distal end. The distal end of the optical fiber has a portion opposing the tubular member for being united to the tubular member. The distal portion is joined to the tubular member by an intermediate material selected to have an index of refraction matching that of the core and the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2008
    Assignee: Medical CV, Inc.
    Inventors: John Paul Brekke, Gregory G. Brucker
  • Patent number: 7460747
    Abstract: A waveguide includes a core part, clad layer surrounding the core part about an optical axis of the core part, and an optical path conversion mirror formed at the end face of at least one of the core part or the clad layer. The optical path conversion mirror converts an optical path of a signal light. The shape of the end face of the core part and the shape of the end face of the clad layer are different in the optical path conversion mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2008
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Junichi Tanaka, Hirokatsu Nakayama, Naru Yasuda, Hayami Hosokawa
  • Patent number: 7444047
    Abstract: A multiplexing optical system includes collimator lenses, a first condensing lens, a second condensing lens and an optical fiber. The collimator lenses collimate divergent laser beams that have been emitted from semiconductor lasers. The first condensing lens condenses laser beams transmitted through the collimator lenses in only one of a plane including the stripe width direction of the semiconductor lasers and a plane including a direction perpendicular to the stripe width direction. The second condensing lens condenses laser beams transmitted through the first condensing lens. The optical fiber is arranged in such a manner that the condensed laser beams enter the optical fiber. In the multiplexing optical system, an anamorphic lens is used as the second condensing lens, and the anamorphic lens condenses the laser beams in the two planes in cooperation with the first condensing lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventors: Shinichiro Sonoda, Hiromitsu Yamakawa
  • Patent number: 7440657
    Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing an optical connector, an apparatus for producing the same, and a process for forming a polymer coating film on an end face of a fibrous dielectric, which can dispose a refractive index adjuster only onto an end face of an optical transmitting medium with excellent reproducibility. Such a process includes bringing an end surface of the optical transmitting medium close to an end face of a liquid refractive index adjuster, while charging at least one of the optical transmitting medium and the liquid refractive index adjuster, thereby adhering the liquid refractive index adjuster to the end face of the optical transmitting medium, and thereafter solidifying the adhered liquid refractive index adjuster to obtain the refractive index adjuster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Tomoegawa Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomoki Furue, Ken Sukegawa, Kyoichi Sasaki, Masayoshi Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7436875
    Abstract: A laser module includes: one or more semiconductor laser elements which emit one or more laser beams; an optical fiber which has a light-entrance end face; and an optical condensing system which is constituted by one or more optical components and makes the one or more laser beams converge at the light-entrance end face of the optical fiber. In the laser module, at least one of one or more light-entrance surfaces and one or more light-output surfaces of the one or more optical components is exposed to air, and the one or more laser beams realize an optical power density of 15 W/mm2 or lower, or 60 to 800 W/mm2 at the at least one of the one or more light-entrance surfaces and the one or more light-output surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: FUJIFILM Corporation
    Inventor: Hideo Miura
  • Patent number: 7435982
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing light includes a chamber and an ignition source that ionizes a gas within the chamber. The apparatus also includes at least one laser that provides energy to the ionized gas within the chamber to produce a high brightness light. The laser can provide a substantially continuous amount of energy to the ionized gas to generate a substantially continuous high brightness light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Energetiq Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald K. Smith
  • Patent number: 7391703
    Abstract: Methods for recording volume Bragg grating structures having a target wavelength are disclosed. Such a method may include providing a photosensitive recording medium, bringing a first face of the recording medium into contact with a face of a prism, the prism being made of a material that is transparent at a recording wavelength, and recording a Bragg grating onto the recording medium by exposing the prism to an incident light wave at the recording wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: PD-LD, Inc.
    Inventors: Boris Leonidovich Volodin, Sergei Dolgy, Vladimir Sinisa Ban
  • Patent number: 7389024
    Abstract: An optical hot tip and method for manufacturing the same. The hot tip is for conducting high optical power beams at the tip of a fiber or waveguide. The light from the fiber or waveguide is absorbed in and end tip in order to generate heat. The heat can then be used in a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: KiloLambda Technologies Ltd.
    Inventors: Ram Oron, Doron Nevo, Moshe Oron
  • Patent number: 7382944
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing cones and pillars on polymethylmethacralate (PMMA) optical fibers for glucose monitoring. The method, in one embodiment, consists of using electron beam evaporation to deposit a non-contiguous thin film of aluminum on the distal ends of the PMMA fibers. The partial coverage of aluminum on the fibers is randomly, but rather uniformly distributed across the end of the optical fibers. After the aluminum deposition, the ends of the fibers are then exposed to hyperthermal atomic oxygen, which oxidizes the areas that are not protected by aluminum. The resulting PMMA fibers have a greatly increased surface area and the cones or pillars are sufficiently close together that the cellular components in blood are excluded from passing into the valleys between the cones and pillars. The optical fibers are then coated with appropriated surface chemistry so that they can optically sense the glucose level in the blood sample than that with conventional glucose monitoring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administration of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Bruce A. Banks
  • Patent number: 7382949
    Abstract: A device, system and method for transmitting electro-magnetic radiation between at least two separate fibers (as well as for imaging a sample) are provided. For example, a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber may be provided, such that the first and/or second fibers is/are rotatable. At least one first optical arrangement may also be included which communicates with at least one end of the first optical fiber and/or the second optical fiber. Further, at least one second arrangement may be included which is configured to control a position of the optical arrangement to align longitudinal axes of the first and the second optical fibers at least at the ends thereof. In addition, at least one third arrangement can be provided which is adapted to rotate the first and/or second optical fibers at a rate that is greater than 40 revolutions per second.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation
    Inventors: Brett Eugene Bouma, Guillermo J. Tearney, Milen Shishkov
  • Patent number: 7376304
    Abstract: Biochemical assays of samples in receptacles, in gels, in blots, in arrays and the like, and that utilize excitation and light emission as labels for detection are enhanced by an illumination and detection system that supplies excitation light through an optical fiber that transmits excitation light from an excitation light source to the sample. Emission light produced by the excitation is then collected by a lens and converted to a signal that is compiled by conventional software for analysis. The optical fiber transfixes (passes through) the lens via a slot or other opening and is preferably offset from the center of the lens. The optical fiber and collecting lens can either be on the same side of the sample or on opposite sides, i.e., one above and the other below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Hillendahl, David E. Waldbeser
  • Patent number: 7371016
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing an optical arrangement (10, 300), in which an optical component (355, 20) is optically connected to at least one waveguide (90, 320, 330) provided on or in a carrier substrate (100, 310). In order to enable an optical component to be connected to an optical waveguide of a carrier substrate in a particularly simple and thus cost-effective manner, the invention provides for there to be arranged between the optical component (20, 355) and the waveguide (90, 320, 330) an adjustment device (40, 350) with at least one auxiliary waveguide (60, 410, 440), the waveguide ends (50, 70, 400, 420, 430, 450) of which are in each case movable and an optical adjustment between the optical component (20, 355) and the waveguide (90, 320, 330) of the carrier substrate (100, 310) is effected by a mechanical adjustment of the movable waveguide ends (50, 70, 400, 420, 430, 450).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventors: Ingo Baumann, Detlef Krabe, Manfred Scheubeck, Andreas Schumacher
  • Patent number: 7373050
    Abstract: A half region of an end face of an optical fiber is cut at an angle of 45° to form a reflecting surface. A light-emitting element is arranged so as to face the end face of the optical fiber. A photoreceptor element is arranged beside the optical fiber with the element facing the reflecting surface. Transmitting light that has been emitted from the light-emitting element enters the end face of the optical fiber and passes through this optical fiber. Further, received light, which has been passed through the optical fiber is reflected by the reflecting surface and emitted from the side of the optical fiber, and then it enters the photoreceptor element. This allows the transmitting light and the received light to be separated from each other without using any optical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Zenya Nagashima
  • Patent number: 7369731
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fiber for amplification, an optical amplifying apparatus, and so on, having a structure for enabling increase of power of output light, suppression of occurrence of nonlinear optical phenomena, and compact storage all together. The optical amplifying apparatus comprises an optical fiber for amplification amplifying input light inputted together with pumping light from a pumping light source. The optical fiber for amplification comprises a core region doped with a rare-earth element, and a cladding region provided on an outer periphery of the core region and having a refractive index lower than that of the core region. The core region has an outer diameter of 10 ?m or more but 30 ?m or less, and has a relative refractive index difference of 0.5% or more but 2.0% or less with respect to the cladding region. The cladding region has an outer diameter of 75 ?m or more but 200 ?m or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Takagi, Motoki Kakui, Akira Tokuhisa, Soichi Owa
  • Patent number: 7369724
    Abstract: A polymer waveguide assembly. The assembly includes a polymer waveguide have a plurality of waveguide cores and an associated plurality of lenses respectively. The assembly also includes a molded lens structure having a support region, a primary refractive surface and a secondary refractive lens. The polymer waveguide is positioned onto the support surface of the molded lens structure so that the waveguide lenses are in optical alignment with the primary refractive lens and the secondary refractive lens of the molded waveguide structure. The lenses of the polymer waveguide are capable of collimating in the X and Y directions respectively. The primary refractive lens and the secondary refractive lens are both capable of collimating light in the Z direction. With this arrangement, a substantial; portion of the light passing through the secondary lens toward the waveguide cores is within the acceptance angle of the plurality of waveguides lenses respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: National Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Deane
  • Patent number: 7356225
    Abstract: The invention described here is an improved fiber optic probe. The tip of the probe is made from a transparent fill material that is connected to the end of a conventional optical fiber. The optical fiber is tapered, the fill material is connected thereto, and typically extends outwardly from the fiber as though it is a continuous part of the fiber. The outer diameter of the fill material is preferably essentially the same as the optical fiber. The fill material may contain light-scattering elements that disperse light as it exits the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ondine International Ltd
    Inventor: Nicholas Loebel
  • Publication number: 20080080811
    Abstract: A polymer waveguide assembly. The assembly includes a polymer waveguide have a plurality of waveguide cores and an associated plurality of lenses respectively. The assembly also includes a molded lens structure having a support region, a primary refractive surface and a secondary refractive lens. The polymer waveguide is positioned onto the support surface of the molded lens structure so that the waveguide lenses are in optical alignment with the primary refractive lens and the secondary refractive lens of the molded waveguide structure. The lenses of the polymer waveguide are capable of collimating in the X and Y directions respectively. The primary refractive lens and the secondary refractive lens are both capable of collimating light in the Z direction. With this arrangement, a substantial; portion of the light passing through the secondary lens toward the waveguide cores is within the acceptance angle of the plurality of waveguides lenses respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: April 3, 2008
    Applicant: National Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware Corporation
    Inventor: Peter Deane
  • Patent number: 7340129
    Abstract: A spark delivery system for generating a spark using a laser beam is provided, and includes a laser light source and a laser delivery assembly. The laser delivery assembly includes a hollow fiber and a launch assembly comprising launch focusing optics to input the laser beam in the hollow fiber. The laser delivery assembly further includes exit focusing optics that demagnify an exit beam of laser light from the hollow fiber, thereby increasing the intensity of the laser beam and creating a spark. Other embodiments use a fiber laser to generate a spark. Embodiments of the present invention may be used to create a spark in an engine. Yet other embodiments include collecting light from the spark or a flame resulting from the spark and conveying the light for diagnostics. Methods of using the spark delivery systems and diagnostic systems are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Colorado State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Azer Yalin, Bryan Willson, Morgan Defoort, Sachin Joshi, Adam Reynolds
  • Publication number: 20080037933
    Abstract: Illumination of objects in an optical inspection system may utilize an at least partially-coherent light source optically connected to a fiber optic bundle that is linked to a light guide comprising a single optical element. The combination of the bundle and element provides coherence-breaking effects and serves to smooth out angular and spatial non-uniformities. The end face of the light guide may be tapered such that the output end of the light guide is wider than the input end. The illumination system may be configured to illuminate an object such as a semiconductor wafer with critical, Kohler, or other illumination, and may further include a diffuser or other optical elements. The light guide and fiber bundle combination may be used alone or as part of a larger illumination system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Dov Furman, Daniel Mandelik
  • Publication number: 20080019653
    Abstract: An optical coupling assembly includes light transmitting or reflecting members fusion bonded to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 24, 2008
    Inventors: Chien-Hua Chen, Kuohua Wu, Jeffrey S. Obert
  • Patent number: 7315667
    Abstract: Light to be sensed is spreaded across an entry surface of a transmission structure with a laterally varying energy transmission function. For example, the light could be output from a stimulus-wavelength converter, provided through an optical fiber, or it could come from a point-like source or broad area source. Output photons from the transmission structure can be photosensed by photosensing components such as an array, position sensor, or array of position sensors. Wavelength information from the light can be obtained in response to the photosensing component. Spreading can be performed by air, gas, transparent material, or vacuum in a gap, by a region or other part of a lens, or by an optical fiber end surface. If the light comes from more than one source, a propagation component can both spread the light and also keep light from the sources separate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Oliver Schmidt, Peter Kiesel, Patrick Y. Maeda
  • Patent number: 7309169
    Abstract: The field of the invention is that of fiber-optic communication devices known as transceivers, used in the aeronautical field for ensuring that on-board electronic computers can converse with one another, or in civil telecommunication. The subject of the invention is a single-channel transceiver comprising essentially a transmitting optoelectronic part, a receiving optoelectronic part, and a specific optical configuration for transmitting and receiving optical signals on a single optical port in real time and using the same wavelength. The optical architectures according to the invention include no semireflecting components, thus making it possible to reduce light energy losses at transmission and reception of the optical signals. These transceivers are particularly well suited for the construction of single-fiber full-duplex optical communication networks allowing simultaneous transmission and reception of signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignees: Thales, D-Lightsys
    Inventors: Patrice Toillon, Mathias Pez, François Quentel
  • Patent number: 7310462
    Abstract: Biochemical assays that are performed in cuvettes and in the wells of multi-well plates and that utilize excitation and light emission as labels for detection are enhanced by an illumination and detection system that supplies excitation light through an optical fiber that transmits excitation light from an excitation light source to the cuvette or well. Emission light produced by the excitation is then collected by a collimating lens and converted to a signal that is compiled by conventional software for analysis. The optical fiber and collimating lens can either be on the same side of the receptacle (generally the open side) or on opposite sides, i.e., one above and the other below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Hillendahl, David E. Waldbeser
  • Patent number: 7298940
    Abstract: A compact, light weight, efficient and cost-effective illumination system for optical displays is disclosed. The illumination system is capable of producing a self-luminous light beam of selected cross-section and spatial distribution in terms of intensity and angle. The illumination system can efficiently couple light from light sources having wide variety of sizes and shapes into light valves of various shapes and sizes. The illumination system includes a light recovery system or a polarization conversion system or a suitable combination of the foregoing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2007
    Inventor: Nayef M. Abu-Ageel
  • Patent number: 7280734
    Abstract: Apparatus and methodology for the low coupling of optical fibers in high power applications. An end of a single mode optical fiber, or a polarization maintaining fiber, is cut and spliced to a relatively short segment of an index matched multi-mode fiber or an optical fiber without cladding (air cladded) having approximately similar diameter as the single mode fiber which in turn is coupled to the external device. The free end of the multi-mode fiber may be cleaved, polished and have an anti-reflection applied to it. The beam emitted by the small core of the single mode optical fiber expands into the larger core of the multi-mode fiber providing low loss high power coupling of the optical fiber to the external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2007
    Assignee: Micro Optics, Inc.
    Inventors: Jan W. Kokkelink, Talal K. Findakly
  • Patent number: 7274844
    Abstract: A light-emitting textile structure, which in particular is useful for medical purposes, comprises a flat support (2) and a plurality of light-emitting elements (4) fixed thereto. Each light-emitting element comprises a light-supplying optical fiber (6), to each optical fiber (6) there being associated exactly one light-emitting element (4), which comprises at least one output zone formed by a local curvature of the optical fiber. The local curvature is selected in such a way that a lateral exit of light from the optical fiber occurs due to the absence of total reflection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2007
    Assignee: University of Zurich EMPA
    Inventors: Heinrich Walt, Bärbel Selm, Thomas Wessel
  • Patent number: 7272102
    Abstract: A ridge waveguide having a recessed ridge forming an isolated tip at a terminal end of the waveguide's aperture efficiently couples light into a spot adjacent to the tip in a medium below the terminal end of the waveguide which is significantly smaller than the light's wavelength. The waveguide is used to heat a recording medium via the small spot for heat assisted recording or to pattern substrates by photolithography with line width exposures that are significantly smaller than the wavelength of light. The body of the waveguide may also be recessed away from the medium in an area surrounding the waveguide's aperture to further confine the energy emerging from the waveguide to the small spot adjacent the tip in the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: Seagate Technology LLC
    Inventor: William Albert Challener
  • Patent number: 7258495
    Abstract: The present invention relates to lensed fiber stub assemblies and optical and optoelectronic packages including them. The fiber stub assemblies include a section of lensed fiber having a lensed end having a lens face, and a distal end having an endface, a lens alignment ferrule affixed to and holding the lensed end of the lensed fiber, and a package attachment ferrule having a distal endface and an exterior surface, the package attachment ferrule affixed to and holding the distal end of the lensed fiber. The lensed fiber stub assemblies of the present invention allow for hermetic packaging of optical and optoelectronic devices, good manufacturing throughput, facile package connectorization, acceptable device thermal performance, and ease of alignment in the packaging process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2007
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Lawrence Charles Hughes, Jr., Karen Irene Matthews, William James Miller
  • Patent number: 7245804
    Abstract: In a laser module, a laser beam which is emitted from a laser element is focused by a condensing optical system and caused to enter an incidence end of an optical fiber. A laser device is provided with a plurality of these laser modules. Emission end portions of the optical fibers are bundled to form a laser emission portion. A thickness of cladding h of each optical fiber is set to a value calculated in accordance with the following equation: cladding thickness ? ? h ? ( emission ? ? light ? ? amount of ? ? one ? ? laser ? ? module ? ? W required intensity ? ? C × packing ratio ? ? P - core diameter ? ? t ) ÷ 2 As a result, it is possible to emit a laser-beam with a high intensity that is required for functionality as a laser light source, for the purpose of raising resolution of an exposure apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: Fujifilm Corporation
    Inventors: Yuichi Teramura, Fusao Yamanaka, Yoji Okazaki
  • Patent number: 7224865
    Abstract: Techniques for designing optical devices that can be manufactured in volume are disclosed. An optical assembly is build individually and includes a first tube with one end being polished to a slanted angle and attached with a filter. Because of the slanted angle, a predefined angle of incidence can be defined. The assembly is then bonded to a substrate on which other components or more such assemblies are bonded to form an integrated piece. Depending on implementation, the first tube may include no other element, a lens, or a lens and a fiber pigtail that are encapsulated. In the case that the first tube includes no other element or only a lens, a second tube is provided to include a fiber pigtail and a lens, or simply a fiber pigtail. One of the advantages of having two tubes is the underlying mechanism providing a lateral adjustment between the two tubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2007
    Assignee: Alliance Fiber Optic Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Daoyi Wang, Yao Li
  • Patent number: 7218810
    Abstract: Biochemical assays that are performed in cuvettes and in the wells of multi-well plates and that utilize excitation and light emission as labels for detection are enhanced by an illumination and detection system that supplies excitation light through an optical fiber that transmits excitation light from an excitation light source to the cuvette or well. Emission light produced by the excitation is then collected by a collimating lens and converted to a signal that is compiled by conventional software for analysis. The optical fiber and collimating lens can either be on the same side of the receptacle (generally the open side) or on opposite sides, i.e., one above and the other below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: James W. Hillendahl, David E. Waldbeser
  • Patent number: 7218813
    Abstract: An optical communication system has a plastic optical fiber (POF) and an optical communication module. The POF has a spherical end surface, and light emitted from the spherical end surface has an NA of 0.35 or lower. The POF is installed in the module such that a light receiving surface of a light receiving element (PD) is at a distance, d, from an apex of the spherical end surface. The distance, d, is within a range of 0<d?r*D/(n?n1) when a PD diameter is not larger than D, and within a range of D?d?r*D/(n?n1) when the PD diameter is larger than D, where D is a diameter of the POF, r*D is a radius of curvature of the spherical end surface, n is a refractive index of a core of the POF, and n1 is a refractive index of a substance between the spherical end surface and the PD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yorishige Ishii, Tetsuo Iwaki, Toshihiro Tamura
  • Patent number: 7200335
    Abstract: An optical transceiver is equipped with at least one coupling lens which condenses reception signal light from an optical medium and condenses transmission signal light to the optical medium, an optical plate which passes the reception signal light and reflects the transmission signal light, a light receiving element which receives the reception signal light passed through the optical plate, and a light emitting element which transmits the transmission signal light so as to be reflected by the optical plate, wherein an emission port of the transmission signal light of the light emitting element is arranged at a position to enable the transmission signal light from the light emitting element to form an image in the optical medium via the optical plate and the coupling lens, and wherein the emission port of the transmission signal light of the light emitting element is arranged in a direction that makes the incident angle formed on the optical plate by the beam center line of the transmission signal light trans
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Rohm Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Tsumori, Haruo Tanaka, Tomohiro Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 7200300
    Abstract: The present invention provides lensed fibers and methods of making lensed fibers. According to one embodiment of the invention, a method of making a functional-coated lensed fiber includes the steps of providing a lensed fiber, the lensed fiber having a terminal section including a terminal fiber segment and a lensed segment, the lensed segment having an optically operative area; covering at least part of the terminal section of the lensed fiber with a protective element, thereby forming a protected lensed fiber having an optically operative area that is not covered by the protective element; and forming a functional coating on the optically operative area of the lensed segment of the protected lensed fiber to form the functional-coated lensed fiber. The method can be used to provide antireflection coated lensed fibers that are resistant to breakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2007
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Kristen L. Barefoot, G. Scott Glaesemann, John R. Saltzer, Jr., Nagaraja Shashidhar
  • Patent number: 7184669
    Abstract: Optical systems are provided. A representative optical system includes an optical transceiver with an optical source and an optical receiver. The system also includes an optical waveguide. At least one of the optical source and the optical receiver is optically coupled to an intermediate portion of the optical waveguide. The optical source provides optical signals for propagation by the optical waveguide, and the optical receiver receives optical signals propagated by the optical waveguide. Methods, optical transceivers and other systems also are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Gary B. Gordon
  • Patent number: 7174077
    Abstract: An optical fiber for evenly illuminating a target. The optical fiber is coupled to a laser emitting diode and receives laser light. The laser light travels through the fiber optic and exits at an exit end. The exit end has a diffractive optical pattern formed thereon via etching, molding or cutting, to reduce the Gaussian profile present in conventional fiber optic cables. The reduction of the Gaussian provides an even illumination from the fiber optic cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventor: Richard T. Howard
  • Patent number: 7171075
    Abstract: A luminaire 1 comprising a light-directing element 3, e.g. a reflector, having a light emission window 5. Said reflector has a shape for directing light originating from an electric light source 7 into an optical fiber system 9 positioned in front of the light emission window. The optical fiber system comprises a bundle of optical fibers 11. Said shape is calculated in accordance with a ray-tracing algorithm which takes into account that said light source is voluminous, e.g. a Light Emitting Diode. The reflector has a shape which is composed of n solids of revolution of parabolic sectors 13, wherein said (adjoining) parabolic sectors form an integral surface 15. The invention further relates to a dynamic road marking unit 19.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V.
    Inventor: Louis Montagne
  • Patent number: 7167615
    Abstract: Waveguide grating devices. One includes at least one waveguide having an end, the end having an endface; and a waveguide grating fabricated on the endface, the waveguide grating having at least one waveguide layer and at least one grating layer. The waveguide layer is a separate waveguide from the waveguide on which the waveguide grating is fabricated. Systems for spectral filtering. One, which utilizes a guided-mode resonance effect in a waveguide, includes at least one waveguide having a proximal end and a distal end having an endface; and a waveguide grating fabricated on the end of the waveguide and having a plurality of variable parameters such as permittivity of the grating layer(s) and permittivity of the waveguide layer(s). Methods of forming waveguide grating devices, and methods of detecting one or more parameters of a medium using a waveguide grating device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Debra D. Wawro, Sorin Tibuleac, Robert Magnusson
  • Patent number: 7167630
    Abstract: Beam shapers, imaging heads formed using such beam shapers and methods are provided that are adapted to shape a light beam for use in imaging. In accordance with one method described herein a light beam is received and the light beam is reflectively scrambled to form generally homogenous light having a non-circular shape. The homogenous light is delivered to a circular core multimode light path that shapes the light beam so that light exiting the circular core multimode light path comprises circular shaped homogenous light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2007
    Assignee: Kodak IL, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ophir Eyal, Moshe Liberman, Asaf Pellman
  • Patent number: 7155077
    Abstract: A surface sensing system including at least two sensors located on the end of the same optical fiber. The sensors are configured such that they exhibit resonant frequencies or Q-factors that are distinguishable from each other, where the Q-factor is defined as the resonant frequency divided by the resonance spectrum at full-width half maximum (FWHM). Because the sensors have distinguishable resonant frequencies or Q-factors and are located on the end of the same optical fiber, they can be monitored in parallel with little or no optical interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc
    Inventors: Annette C. Grot, Kai Cheung Chow
  • Patent number: 7151870
    Abstract: An optical fiber coupling, for example, an optical switch, for coupling a light source with a light-receiving end face of an optical waveguide comprises a lens for focusing a light beam emitted from the light source at a focal point on the light-receiving end face of the optical waveguide. An adaptive coupler positioned in the optical path is responsive to a beam steering control signal for steering and aligning the focal point relative to the light-receiving end face of the optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Teledyne Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Dong-Feng Gu, Donald B. Taber, Bruce K. Winker
  • Patent number: 7149383
    Abstract: An optical system is adapted to produce reduced back reflection from a receiving detector back to a light source for increased system performance. The system may optically condition light signals from the light source for projection onto the detector. The conditioning may result in a light spot on the detector that has an annular intensity distribution or profile. The annular distribution may be attained in any number of ways including providing a slope discontinuity in the lens surface, providing an ax icon lens function, and/or providing a defocused light spot on the detector surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2006
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventor: Bo Su Chen
  • Patent number: 7116866
    Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a back-reflection reduction device that is disposed between a support structure containing a plurality of optical waveguides and a bulk media. The support structure containing the optical waveguides has a substantially flat end face at which the optical waveguides terminate. Where the optical waveguides intersect the end face, they are substantially perpendicular to it. The back-reflection reduction device comprises a window disposed between the bulk media and the support structure. The window has a refractive index that is substantially identical to that of the optical waveguides. The window has an inner side that is affixed to the support structure and an opposing outer side. A gap exists between the window outer side and the bulk media. The gap provides an index of refraction substantially equal to unity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Alex Harwit
  • Patent number: 7113675
    Abstract: An optical fiber for use with a laser device including a source of light energy, as well as a method of making same, where the optical fiber has a proximal end in communication with the light source and a distal end positionable at a treatment site. The optical fiber includes: a core having a proximal portion, a distal portion and a distal face proximate the distal end of the optical fiber, a layer of cladding radially surrounding the core from the core proximal portion to a designated point adjacent the core distal portion; a sleeve radially surrounding the cladding layer composed essentially of a predetermined type of material; and, a tip diffuser positioned at the distal end of the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott A. Nield, Jane A. Sheetz, Robert M. Trusty
  • Patent number: 7076174
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for processing an optical signal is provided. An optical signal is input into an optical waveguide structure for providing a nonlinear effect. As a result, the optical signal undergoes chirping induced by the nonlinear effect. An output optical signal output from the optical waveguide structure is supplied to an optical bandpass filter to thereby extract components except a small-chirp component from the output optical signal. The optical bandpass filter has a pass band including a wavelength different from the wavelength of the optical signal. By extracting the components except the small-chirp component from the output optical signal in the form of pulse, it is possible to remove intensity fluctuations or accumulated noise especially at a top portion and/or a low-power portion of the pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Shigeki Watanabe, Fumio Futami
  • Patent number: 7058264
    Abstract: The invention concerns monomode or multimode optical fibers provided with a lens with an end taper, obtained by selective photopolymerization of a formulation, and with improved performances through the use of novel parameters and technical processes enabling production of polymer tapers with optimized characteristic required for a wide range of applications. The monomode or multimode optical fibers can, for certain specific applications, be equipped with a metallized polymer taper except for a nanometric opening for sensing or emitting light or a polymer taper whereof the formulation contains fluorescent particles. The novel fibers are essential components in various fields such as telecommunications (high performance connectors) or instrumentation (optical radiation comparator probes for scanning optical microscopy and near-field optical microscopy).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2006
    Assignee: Universite de Technologie de Troyes
    Inventors: Pascal Royer, Renaud Bachelot, Carole Ecoffet, Daniel-Joseph Lougnot
  • Patent number: 7050677
    Abstract: An optical fiber includes an entrance face that is optically coupleable with a device for transmitting a light beam through the optical fiber. The entrance face includes a core region and a cladding region surrounding the core region. The cladding region is at least partially covered with a coating, which is made of metal, for example. That is, the coating is formed over a whole area of the cladding region or the coating is formed on an area of the cladding region defined in a vicinity of the core region. The coating has a mirror surface to increase the reflectivity thereof and enhances the reflectivity of the entrance face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: PENTAX Corporation
    Inventors: Masahiro Fushimi, Eiichi Ito, Tomohiro Fujita, Tadashi Minakuchi, Akira Arimoto, Mitsunori Iima, Yoshimi Obara, Shinji Tsukamoto, Ryoichi Nakanishi