Particular Coupling Structure Patents (Class 385/39)
  • Patent number: 7718948
    Abstract: To monitor light pulses from a light source, such as a laser, sense signals are provided to a photosensing component or array, causing photosensing during a series of one or more sense periods for the light pulse. Each light pulse can be provided through a transmission structure, such as a layered structure, that provides output light with an energy-dependent position on the photosensing component. A pulse's sensing results can be used to obtain a set of one or more differential quantities; for example, with a photosensing array, two cells of the array can be read out and compared. For a narrow band light pulse, a transmission structure can provide a spot on the photosensing component, and the light spot position can be sensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated
    Inventors: Peter Kiesel, Oliver Schmidt
  • Patent number: 7720341
    Abstract: A waveguide and resonator are formed on a lower cladding of a thermo optic device, each having a formation height that is substantially equal. Thereafter, the formation height of the waveguide is attenuated. In this manner, the aspect ratio as between the waveguide and resonator in an area where the waveguide and resonator front or face one another decreases (in comparison to the prior art) thereby restoring the synchronicity between the waveguide and the grating and allowing higher bandwidth configurations to be used. The waveguide attenuation is achieved by photomasking and etching the waveguide after the resonator and waveguide are formed. In one embodiment the photomasking and etching is performed after deposition of the upper cladding. In another, it is performed before the deposition. Thermo optic devices, thermo optic packages and fiber optic systems having these waveguides are also taught.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Guy T. Blalock, Howard E. Rhodes, Vishnu K. Agarwal, Gurtej Singh Sandhu, James S. Foresi, Jean-Francois Viens, Dale G. Fried
  • Patent number: 7717628
    Abstract: A system package using flexible optical waveguides and electrical wires, and a signal processing method thereof are disclosed. Several rigid substrates having highly integrated electronic elements and optical elements mounted thereon can be electrically and optically connected by using flexible substrates that are electrically wired and optically connected. The package can be variously changed when configuring the package by the flexible substrate and the heat dissipation device and the electromagnetic shielding device are installed in the inside of the package, making it possible to solve electromagnetic wave interference problems and thermal problems occurring in the inside of the package.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Korea Photonics Technology Institute
    Inventors: Sung Hwan Hwang, Byung Sup Rho, Jung Woon Lim, Woo Jin Lee
  • Patent number: 7720336
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical access network system that allows the transmission of packets irrespective of the packet length and which is also capable of adapting to cases where another user temporarily requires a large capacity bandwidth. This system performs two-way optical communications using a code division multiplexing system via an optical fiber channel and a star coupler between an optical line terminal and first and second optical network units. The optical line terminal comprises a bandwidth control section and a bandwidth allocation section and the bandwidth control section has signal converter pairs installed therein in a number equal to the number of optical network units. Further, the optical network units each comprise first and second bandwidth control sections and first and second bandwidth allocation sections. The bandwidth control sections each have one set of signal converter pairs installed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Electric Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Kashima
  • Patent number: 7720331
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing mode scrambling in a multimode optical fibre 1 comprises an electromechanical transducer 3 and a signal generator 9. A portion of the fibre 1, which is in the form of a loop 5, is arranged with its ends 6 fixed to the transducer 3, but with the remainder of the portion being left free to vibrate. The signal generator 9 drives the transducer 3 so as to form a succession of bends of differing bend radii in the portion of the fibre as a beam of electromagnetic radiation travels through the fibre, thereby “scrambling” the beam as it travels through the fibre.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Point Source Limited
    Inventors: Andrew James Rennie, Trevor White, Christel Rousseau, Ian Peter Alcock
  • Patent number: 7715665
    Abstract: In an optical circuit including multi-dimensional photonic crystals, in which the optical circuit has a structure (33), such as a light emitting member or a light receiving member, having a natural resonance frequency, another structure (34) having a natural resonance frequency slightly differing from the natural resonance frequency of the structure (33) is arranged in the vicinity of the structure (33) to control the directivity of localization and propagation of an electromagnetic field, light emission and light reception in a spatial region including the above structures in the multi-dimensional photonic crystals, in order to permit functional operations to be realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Jun Ushida, Hirohito Yamada
  • Patent number: 7715710
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for optical-power control in an optical network employing wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) optical-fiber links are devised to circumvent the effect of crosstalk caused by optical-power scattering. Each carrier signal is amplitude-modulated by an identifying tone, with the power of an identifying tone having a predetermined ratio to the power of its carrier signal. A fiber span within an optical-fiber link is tapped at a preferred monitoring point, and the power spectrum of the envelope of the tapped optical signal is measured. To estimate an individual carrier power, a temporary gain is applied and the power of a corresponding tone is measured. To control optical power of each wavelength carrier in several spans in the network, a network controller selects an order of processing the spans of interest, and selects the order of processing of each channel within each span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Ping Wai Wan, Derrick Remedios
  • Patent number: 7710581
    Abstract: A wavelength of an optical source is monitored by first and second adjacent detectors on a common base. A bulk reflective component has first and second partially reflective surfaces that respectively direct first and second portions of energy from the source to the first and second detectors. A wavelength discriminator is positioned between the first detector and first surface. An optical isolator downstream of the reflective component prevents radiation from the source and exiting the component from being coupled to the detectors and back to the source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Andrew Thomas Harker
  • Patent number: 7711226
    Abstract: Self-aligning optical connectors, systems, and methods for connecting optically-transmissive elements are described. In one embodiment, a connector includes a first component, a second component connected to the first component, and an optomechanical element. The optomechanical element is positioned adjacent and between said first and second components such that a portion of the optomechanical element is exposed to a leakage light when the first and second components are misaligned. The exposed portion includes a photosensitive material configured to at least attempt to change a dimension when exposed to the leakage light. In operation, the optomechanical element exerts an alignment force on at least one of the first and second components tending to align the first and second components when the exposed portion of the optomechanical element is exposed to the leakage light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Thomas L. Weaver
  • Patent number: 7702195
    Abstract: When light is made incident to an optical waveguide path 14 formed through a main body 12 composed of silver (Ag) that is a plasmon active medium, surface plasmon is generated on a definition face 55 of the optical waveguide path 14 (including a fine aperture 16). Thus, the intensity of the light propagating in the optical waveguide path 14 is strengthened as the light propagates toward the fine aperture 16. In addition, a distal end 51 of a first protrusive piece 13a is more protrusive as compared with a distal end 52 of a second protrusive piece 13b. Thus, in a distal end part of a projection 13, the light is focused in the vicinity of the first protrusive piece 13a based on an intensity distribution of an electric field at the distal end part. Thus, the light having seeped out from the fine aperture 16 is restricted from spreading in a polarizing direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Gifu Univeristy
    Inventors: Kazuo Tanaka, Masahiro Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7702200
    Abstract: A planar optical device useful as a low order wavelength router is realized by using a waveguide grating comprising two curved arrays of opposite curvatures. The diffraction order is determined by the angles of rotation of the two curved arrays, and any nonzero order less than about 30 can be realized. This arrangement is smaller, and performs better than a previous grating using a combination of three curved arrays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Inventor: Corrado Pietro Dragone
  • Publication number: 20100092133
    Abstract: A fiber optic network device for optically coupling a fiber optic distribution cable with a fiber optic drop cables is disclosed. Disposed within the fiber optic network device is a plurality of optical fibers optically coupled to the distribution cable. A plurality of ports opens into the fiber optic network device. Predetermined ones of the plurality of ports are operable for optically coupling respective predetermined ones of the plurality of optical fibers each to at least one drop cable external to the fiber optic network device. At least one of the predetermined ones of the plurality of ports is a pass-through port operable for optically coupling at least one of the respective pre-determined ones of the plurality of optical fibers to the at least one drop cable through another fiber optic network device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventor: Mark E. Conner
  • Patent number: 7697799
    Abstract: A light receiving device includes a first receiving structure and a second receiving structure. The first receiving structure has a first concentric coupling periodic structure provided in a first surface of a conductive thin film formed on a substrate, a first opening located at a center of the first concentric coupling periodic structure, and a first light receiving section located at an opening end of the first opening. The second receiving structure has a second concentric coupling periodic structure provided in the first surface of the conductive thin film, a second opening located at a center of the second concentric coupling periodic structure, and a second light receiving section located at an opening end of the second opening. The second light receiving section is electrically isolated from the first light receiving section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventor: Hideto Furuyama
  • Patent number: 7697207
    Abstract: Arrangements for combination and fast-axis alignment of fast-axes of diode-laser beams are disclosed. Alignment arrangements include providing each diode-laser with a corresponding alignable fast-axis collimating lens, providing individually alignable mirrors for steering an re-orienting beams from each diode-laser, and providing single diode-laser slab-modules in which the diode-laser beams can be pre-aligned to a common propagation-axis direction, and in which edges and surfaces of the slabs can be used to align the fast and slow-axes of the beams. Beam combination methods include combination by dichroic elements, polarization-sensitive elements, and optical fiber bundles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Coherent, Inc.
    Inventors: Sergei V. Govorkov, Sol Peter DiJaili, Douglas William Anthon, Luis A. Spinelli
  • Patent number: 7697143
    Abstract: An optical coupling device for connecting hollow core optical fiber coils in a fiber optic gyro system. An example fiber optic gyro system includes a recirculator or an integrated optics chip, a fiber coil of hollow core optical fiber with first and second ends, and a coupling device that holds an end of the hollow core optical fiber in an enclosed cavity at some predefined distance from the recirculator or integrated optics chip. The coupling device includes a housing for rigidly holding the fiber end in position. The housing includes a cavity that receives the fiber end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Glen A. Sanders, Andrew Kaliszek, Thien Dang
  • Patent number: 7697797
    Abstract: The present invention is a diaphragm-fiber optic sensor (DFOS), interferometric sensor. This DFOS is based on the principles of Fabry-Perot and Michelson/Mach-Zehnder. The sensor is low cost and is designed with high efficiency, reliability, and Q-point stability, fabricated using MEMS (micro mechanic-electrical system) technology, and has demonstrated excellent performance. A DFOS according to the invention includes a cavity between two surfaces: a diaphragm made of silicon or other material with a rigid body (or boss) at the center and clamped along its edge, and the endface of a single mode optic fiber. By utilizing MEMS technology, the gap width between the diaphragm and the fiber endface is made accurately, ranging from 1 micron to 10 microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Assignee: New Jersey Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Ken K Chin, Guanhua Feng, Ivan Padron, Harry Roman
  • Patent number: 7693372
    Abstract: An optical communication module is fabricated to include a refraction plate made of an inorganic material whose refractive index varies little with temperature. The refraction plate is inserted in the optical path to perform optical axis compensation in a single lens system with long focal length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Taro Kaneko, Mitsunori Kanemoto
  • Patent number: 7689079
    Abstract: Optical fiber interconnection devices, which can take the form of a module, are disclosed that include an array of optical fibers and multi-fiber optical-fiber connectors, for example, two twelve-port connectors or multiples thereof, and three eight-port connectors or multiples thereof. The array of optical fibers is color-coded and is configured to optically interconnect the ports of the two twelve-port connectors to the three eight-port connectors in a manner that preserves transmit and receive polarization. In one embodiment, the interconnection devices provide optical interconnections between twelve-fiber optical connector configurations to eight-fiber optical connector configurations, such as from twelve-fiber line cards to eight-fiber line cards, without having to make structural changes to cabling infrastructure. In one aspect, the optical fiber interconnection devices provide a migration path from duplex optics to parallel optics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC
    Inventors: William R. Burnham, Robert W. Dennis, Alan W. Ugolini, Terry L. Cooke, Tory A. Klavuhn
  • Patent number: 7682089
    Abstract: An adapter couples a length of optical fiber to a hollow probe and to an optical coherence tomography instrument. The length of optical fiber may be greater than the length of the adapter itself. The optical fiber is fixed to an optical coupler at a proximal end of the adapter and may be maintained in a curved configuration by features located in an internal cavity of the adapter. An optical fiber advance mechanism be used to advance and/or retract the length of optical fiber to align it within the hollow probe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Inventor: Brooks H. Rohlen
  • Patent number: 7684660
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to mount an optical waveguide to a substrate are disclosed. A disclosed method involves providing a substrate having a first layer and a second layer. The first layer includes at least one alignment fiducial and the second layer covers the at least one fiducial. At least a portion of the second layer is removed to render the fiducial visible and a waveguide is automatically aligned with the first fiducial. The waveguide is then fixed to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Henning Braunisch, Daoqiang Lu, Nathaniel Arbizu
  • Patent number: 7677813
    Abstract: An electro-optical hybrid connection assembly provides an optical connection of at least a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber that define a fiber axis and an electrical connection of at least a first electrical conductor and a second electrical conductor. The assembly includes a first connector and a second connector. The first connector includes a first ferrule that encloses the first optical fiber, a centering sleeve surrounding the first ferrule and projecting beyond at least one end of the first ferrule, and at least one electrical plug-in contact connected to the first electrical conductor. The second connector includes a second ferrule enclosing the second optical fiber, and at least one electrical plug-in contact connected to the second electrical conductor. Each of the two optical fibers has a plane fiber end aligned at right angles to the fiber axis and provided with an anti-reflection coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2010
    Assignee: Trumpf Laser Marking Systems AG
    Inventors: Martin Anrig, Dirk Bueche, Michael Sauerwein, Dieter Wildhaber, Hagen Zimer, Carsten Ziolek
  • Publication number: 20100061680
    Abstract: A resettable optical energy switching device comprises a waveguide forming an optical path between an input end and an output end, and an optical energy diverting material located in said optical path for diverting optical energy propagation away from said output end when said optical energy exceeds a predetermined threshold. The optical energy diverting material does not divert optical energy propagation away from the output end when the optical energy propagation drops below the predetermined threshold, and thus propagation of optical energy to the output end is automatically resumed when the optical energy drops below the predetermined threshold. In one implementation, the optical energy diverting material comprises a light-absorbing material having an index of refraction that decreases as light is absorbed by the material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2008
    Publication date: March 11, 2010
    Inventors: Ram Oron, Ariela Donval, Boaz Nemet, Doron Nevo, Moshe Oron
  • Patent number: 7672550
    Abstract: A coherent light source includes a plurality of light emitting points arranged in one-dimensional array. A beam shaping unit shapes a light beam so that a diameter of a light emitted from the coherent light source in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the light emitting point array is larger than a diameter in the direction of the light emitting point array, and an intensity distribution of the light emitted from each of the light emitting points is uniform. A magnification of a focusing optical system is set such that a light emitted from the beam shaping unit is coupled to an optical fiber based on a maximum diameter of the light emitted from the beam shaping unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Rena Murase, Yoko Inoue, Tomohiro Sasagawa
  • Patent number: 7672551
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an improved optical device having at least a first and second optical components. The optical device further includes a first extending tube securely attached to the first and second optical components as a first building block wherein the first and second optical components are aligned and position adjusted in the position-holding-and-fixing means and securely attached thereto by a room-temperature UV curable epoxy UV cured at room temperature. The optical device then further assembled using a step-by-step building block assembling process with more building blocks assembled by optical components similar to the first building block described above. In other preferred embodiment, the first and second optical components held in the extending tube having a pre-aligned dihedral angle between the first and second optical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Oplink Communications, Inc.
    Inventor: Guijun Ji
  • Patent number: 7672560
    Abstract: An optical coupling device for coupling light with an optical waveguide comprises a mirror formed within an optical waveguide. The mirror comprises a first material, a first reflective end, and a second reflective end. The first material is light conducting and has a first refractive index. The first and second reflective ends reflect and transmit light. The mirror has an axis line. The optical coupling device is useful for extracting light from a waveguide and providing a backlight for a liquid crystal display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Roger F. Dangel, Folkert Horst, Tobias P. Lamprecht, Bert Jan Offrein
  • Patent number: 7672553
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical waveguide modulator. In one embodiment, the optical waveguide modulator includes a semiconductor planar optical waveguide core and doped semiconductor connecting paths located adjacent opposite sides of the core and capable of applying a voltage across the core. The optical waveguide core and connecting paths form a structure having back-to-back PN semiconductor junctions. In another embodiment, the optical waveguide modulator includes a semiconductor optical waveguide core including a ridge portion wherein the ridge portion has at least one PN semiconductor junction located therein. The optical waveguide modulator also includes one or more doped semiconductor connecting paths located laterally adjacent the ridge portion and capable of applying a voltage to the ridge portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas M. Gill, Christopher D. W. Jones, Sanjay Patel, Mahmoud Rasras, Nils G. Weimann
  • Patent number: 7665911
    Abstract: A disclosed optical waveguide holding device is attached onto a printed circuit board of an optical transceiver that performs conversion between an electric signal and an optical signal. The optical waveguide holding device holds an optical waveguide between an external optical fiber and a photoelectric conversion unit attached onto or formed on the printed circuit board. The optical waveguide holding device includes a first connection part configured to optically connect a first end of the optical waveguide to a light receiving/emitting part of the photoelectric conversion unit; a second connection part configured to optically connect a second end of the optical waveguide to the external optical fiber; an optical fiber forming the optical waveguide, disposed between the first end and the second end of the optical waveguide; a first holder configured to hold the optical fiber on a side of the first end; and a second holder configured to hold the optical fiber on a side of the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Component Limited
    Inventor: Masahiro Hamazaki
  • Patent number: 7668422
    Abstract: An arrangement for multiplexing and/or demultiplexing optical signals having a plurality of wavelengths, including a multiplex body having two parallel surfaces between which light is reflected back and forth and in this case is coupled in or out in a wavelength-dependent manner, and structures for coupling optical signals into or out of the multiplex body. According to the invention, the structures for coupling optical signals into or out of the multiplex body have a plurality of essentially structurally identical subassemblies, each subassembly having an optoelectronic transducer and an associated optical system, by which light having a wavelength is respectively coupled into or out of the multiplex body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventor: Jorg-Reinhardt Kropp
  • Patent number: 7668421
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical coupling lens and light source module. An optical coupling lens is provided for converging a light flux emitted from a light source to an entrance aperture. The optical coupling lens satisfies a predetermined condition according to a third-order astigmatisms coefficient of the optical coupling lens. A light source module includes: a light source; an optical waveguide; and an optical unit including one or more of an optical coupling lens for converging a light flux emitted from the light source onto the optical waveguide. At least one optical coupling lens satisfies predetermined condition according to a third-order astigmatism coefficient of the optical coupling lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Fumio Nagai, Nobuyoshi Mori
  • Patent number: 7664355
    Abstract: An all-optical logic gates comprises a nonlinear element such as an optical resonator configured to receive optical input signals, at least one of which is amplitude-modulated to include data. The nonlinear element is configured in relation to the carrier frequency of the optical input signals to perform a logic operation based on the resonant frequency of the nonlinear element in relation to the carrier frequency. Based on the optical input signals, the nonlinear element generates an optical output signal having a binary logic level. A combining medium can be used to combine the optical input signals for discrimination by the nonlinear element to generate the optical output signal. Various embodiments include all-optical AND, NOT, NAND, NOR, OR, XOR, and XNOR gates and memory latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: CoveyTech LLC
    Inventor: John Luther Covey
  • Patent number: 7664351
    Abstract: In the present invention, methods and systems for fabricating novel LPFGs are taught. Fabrication is preformed by focusing a CO2 laser beam having a diameter of 30 to 40 ?m onto a fiber, such fiber being fixed and weighted on either ends. The variations of transmission spectrum and polarization dependent (PDL) loss of the CO2 laser-grooved LPFGs with different fabrication parameters as functions of applied as functions of applied tensile stain are demonstrated and evaluated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Inventors: Dongning Wang, Yiping Wang, Wei Jin
  • Patent number: 7664357
    Abstract: Provided are a photonic-crystal plate that forms an optical waveguide and an optical device assembly using the same, and more particularly, a vertical-type photonic-crystal plate and an optical device assembly configured to be easily integrated with surface-emitting light source devices and surface-receiving light detector devices. The photonic-crystal plate includes a plurality of cylindrical through holes formed in a thickness direction and arranged in a periodic crystal lattice structure. The plate further includes: a main crystal lattice defect that forms a main optical waveguide for passing lights in a direction perpendicular to the photonic-crystal plate; and a sub-crystal lattice defect that forms a sub-optical waveguide for causing light in a specific wavelength band among the lights passing through the main optical waveguide to be optically coupled and passing the coupled light in the direction perpendicular to the photonic-crystal plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Hyun Woo Song, Sang Choon Ko
  • Patent number: 7660494
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for an optical fuel detection system. The optical fuel detection system comprises an outer tube, and inner tube, and a set of optical fibers. The outer tube has a reflective inner surface capable of reflecting light and is configured to allow a liquid fuel to enter an interior of the outer tube on which the reflective inner surface is located. The inner tube is located within the outer tube in which an area is present between the reflective inner surface. The set of optical fibers are mounted to an outer surface of the inner tube. Each optical fiber has a core that is exposed on each part of an optical fiber opposite to the reflective inner surface and the optical fiber has a refractive index that is lower that the liquid fuel but higher than a gaseous form of any gas that may enter the area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Steven A. Anderson
  • Patent number: 7660493
    Abstract: An optical modulator is provided. The optical modulator includes a thin plate made of an electrooptic material and having a thickness of 20 ?m or less, an optical waveguide formed on a top or bottom surface of the thin plate, and a modulation electrode formed on the top surface of the thin plate to modulate light passing through the optical waveguide, wherein, in a shape of the thin plate, a width of the thin plate at an optical input portion or optical output portion of the optical waveguide is two time or less the thickness of the thin plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Katsutoshi Kondou, Satoshi Oikawa, Takashi Shinriki
  • Patent number: 7657139
    Abstract: The invention provides tunable delay or resonator devices in an electro optical substrate. Signals in at least one waveguide in the electro optical substrate pass through Y-junction reflectors which direct signals from one branch of the waveguide back into another branch of the waveguide. A coupled delay or resonator approximated loop is presented in an embodiment of the invention with opposing Y-junction reflectors. In other embodiments of the invention, a delay ladder is provided with selectable levels of delay from multiple outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignees: The Regents of the University of California, National Institute of Information and Communication, Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jianxiao Chen, Paul Kit Lai Yu, Tetsuya Kawanishi, Kaoru Higuma
  • Patent number: 7657144
    Abstract: Provided are an optoelectric printed circuit board (PCB) including an optoelectric transmission metal track and a dielectric layer, an optoelectric transmission method using the optoelectric PCB, and a method of manufacturing the optoelectric PCB. The optoelectric transmission method includes injecting light and electricity to the optoelectric PCB including at least one optoelectric transmission metal track and a dielectric layer contacting the optoelectric transmission metal track. The injected light and electricity are transmitted through the optoelectric PCB. The transmitted light and electricity are emitted from the optoelectric PCB.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Myung Hyun Lee, Suntak Park, Jung Jin Ju, Min Su Kim, Seung Koo Park
  • Patent number: 7656568
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide structures for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) that can be sensed, activated, controlled or otherwise addressed or made to respond by the application of forcing functions. In particular, an optical shutter structure suitable for use in an optical switch arrangement is disclosed. In one embodiment, an optical shutter or switch can be scaled and/or arranged to form arbitrary switch, multiplexer and/or demultiplexer configurations. In another embodiment of the present invention, an optical switch can include: a shutter; and a flexure coupled to the shutter, whereupon a vibration transmitted to the flexure when in the presence of a resonant frequency causes the shutter to move across an opening for the passage of an optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Hyuck Choo, Richard S. Muller
  • Patent number: 7656472
    Abstract: In a light source device, a row of fibers is provided in which a plurality of optical fibers is arrayed in a single row in parallel fashion separately from each other. A light-direction controller is disposed on one side of the optical fibers, main fibers is disposed above and below the light-direction controller, and a main fiber is disposed at the other end of the row of fibers. Light sources are connected to each of the end portions of the main fibers. Three types of mirrors that mutually differ in direction are formed on the surface of the light-direction controller, light emitted from a main fiber enters the optical fibers by way of a first mirror, and light emitted from a main fiber enters the optical fibers by way of a second mirror.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Takatori, Ken Sumiyoshi
  • Patent number: 7657140
    Abstract: An optical cable module has an optical waveguide formed by surrounding a core with a clad layer and a light-receiving/emitting element, installed on a supporting substrate. A light-releasing face of the optical waveguide or a light-incident face to the optical waveguide is aligned so as to face a light-receiving face or a light-emitting face of the light-receiving/emitting element. The optical waveguide is formed into a film shape having flexibility, and provided with a reinforcing member that prevents a deflection from occurring in the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide is placed on a protruding portion from a supporting face of the optical waveguide on the supporting substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiaki Okuno, Hayami Hosokawa, Naru Yasuda, Akihiko Sano, Junichi Tanaka, Hiroto Nozawa, Hirokatsu Nakayama
  • Patent number: 7653269
    Abstract: A quasi-PM fused optical coupler device and method for forming the same. The optical coupler device includes a first polarization maintaining (PM) input section providing a first PM input for the fused optical coupler device for receiving a linearly polarized signal and a first PM input section output. A non-PM fiber including fusion region has an input optically coupled to the first PM input section output, the fusion region including a fusion region output. A first intermediate non-PM output and a second intermediate non-PM output are both optically coupled to the fusion region output. A first support structure is provided for securing the fusion region thereto, wherein the first intermediate non-PM output includes a cleaved output near an outer edge of the first support structure to provide a shortened first intermediate non-PM output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Gooch & Housego PLC
    Inventor: Norman Edward Fisher
  • Patent number: 7653268
    Abstract: A substrate guided relay (600) includes an input coupler (601), an output coupler (603), and an optical substrate (602). Light is delivered from the input coupler (601) to the optical substrate (602), and then to the output coupler (603). Partially reflective coatings can be used at interfaces (606,607) between components. Partially reflective coatings or other devices (501) can be also used to create one or more copies of light. Light polarization alteration devices (661,662,663,664,665) can be used within the substrate guided relay (600), alone or in combination, to tailor the polarization of light to the designer's needs. Such devices, such as half-wave plates, provide the designer with increased flexibility regarding the design and manufacture of the substrate guided relay (600).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Microvision, Inc.
    Inventor: Christian Dean DeJong
  • Patent number: 7653271
    Abstract: The present invention provides a low-cost, high-bandwidth optical laser array where subsequent streams of data are injected in a serial fashion. The invention permits the creation of multiple channels of data on a single optical substrate without the use of costly multiplexer arrays to consolidate various optical signals. Further, the serial array eliminates the need for the parallel alignment of optical data sources, such as lasers, and instead allows for the serial alignment of the optical data sources, resulting in decreased footprint applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Finisar Corporaiton
    Inventor: Hongyu Deng
  • Publication number: 20100014802
    Abstract: A coherent planar lightwave circuit (PLC) optical mixer chip is described comprising a matched pair of symmetrical four-coupler interferometers for in-phase and in-quadrature detection of two polarization components of light using a polarization diversity arrangement. The waveguide structure of the chip is symmetrical about two orthogonal central axes of the chip, whereby the effect of temperature gradients on the mixer is reduced. A light traveling from an input to an output of any of the two interferometers is cross-coupled by one of the two couplers it passes through, and is bar-coupled by the other of the two couplers, so as to compensate for polarization, wavelength, and manufacturing process dependence of bar-coupling with that of cross-coupling.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Inventors: David J. Chapman, David J. Dougherty
  • Publication number: 20100014810
    Abstract: This document discusses, among other things, a connector for an optical imaging probe that includes one or more optical fibers communicating light along the catheter. The device may use multiple sections for simpler manufacturing and ease of assembly during a medical procedure. Light energy to and from a distal minimally-invasive portion of the probe is coupled by the connector to external diagnostic or analytical instrumentation through an external instrumentation lead. Certain examples provide a self-aligning two-section optical catheter with beveled ends, which is formed by separating an optical cable assembly. Techniques for improving light coupling include using a lens between instrumentation lead and probe portions. Techniques for improving the mechanical alignment of a multi-optical fiber catheter include using a stop or a guide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Publication date: January 21, 2010
    Applicant: Vascular Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eberle, Kenneth N. Bates, William W. Morey
  • Patent number: 7649590
    Abstract: An LCD includes an LCD panel, a light guiding plate disposed at a rear of the LCD panel and having a light incident surface on which a curved surface pattern is formed, and a point light source facing the light incident surface and disposed closer to the LCD panel than to a center of thickness of the light incident surface. Accordingly, the LCD including the point light source has excellent light efficiency and brightness uniformity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Se-ki Park, Joo-woan Cho, Gi-cherl Kim, Seok-hyun Nam, Sang-yu Lee
  • Patent number: 7650052
    Abstract: A first optical coupler is configured to direct optical signals from an optical fiber onto one or more first optical channels located on a semiconductor chip, wherein the one or more first optical channels have dimensions that are within a specified tolerance of the dimensions of the optical fiber. One or more second optical couplers are configured to direct the optical signals from the one or more first optical channels to one or more second optical channels located on the semiconductor chip, wherein the one or more second optical channels have a specified sub-micron size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2010
    Assignee: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ashok V. Krishnamoorthy, John E. Cunningham
  • Patent number: 7645077
    Abstract: An optical communication module includes a base substrate; a wavelength branching filter arranged on the base substrate, in which a light is allowed to go through or be reflected according to a wavelength thereof; a photodetector arranged on the base substrate to receive a light passed through the wavelength branching filter and to convert the light into an electric signal; and a light emitting device arranged on the base substrate to provide a transmission light. The transmission light is outputted through the wavelength branching filter. The optical detector comprises a light receiving portion which is formed to have a first length and a second length, which is shorter than the first length. The first length of the light receiving portion is perpendicular to an optical axis of an input light on a plane parallel to a surface of the substrate, and a second length of the light receiving portion is parallel to the optical axis of the input light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Oki Semiconductor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masahiro Uekawa
  • Patent number: 7646449
    Abstract: An exemplary backlight module (200) includes a light emitting unit (220). The light emitting unit includes a plurality of light sources (227, 228, 229) configured for providing color light beams respectively, and a mixer (222) configured for mixing the color light beams into white color beams. The mixer includes a plurality of light guide structures (223) respectively corresponding to the light sources and a mixing body (226) connected to the light guide structures. The light guide structures are configured for guiding color light beams emitted from the light sources to the mixing body. The color light beams emitted from all the light sources being partially mixed into white light beams in the mixing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Innolux Display Corp.
    Inventor: Chih-chung Hsiao
  • Patent number: 7643710
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficient coupling between a silicon photonic chip and an optical fiber is described. In one embodiment, an apparatus according to embodiments of the present invention includes: a first optical waveguide having a first end to optically couple to a first external device and a second end, the second end having a taper with a tip at the second end, a second optical waveguide optically coupled to the taper of the first optical waveguide, having a taper with a tip at a second end, and a third optical waveguide optically coupled to the taper of the second optical waveguide, the third optical waveguide to optically couple to a second external device having a larger cross-sectional area than the first external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Ansheng Liu
  • Patent number: 7639904
    Abstract: An optical device is provided to prevent a dicing blade form being clogged when a wafer is cut by means thereof. Further, an optical device is provided to the present invention can prevent unnecessary expansion of a resin used in the optical device. The present invention relates an optical device having a substrate and an optical waveguide layer laminated thereon. The optical waveguide layer has a first lateral surface connected to an optical fiber or an optical fiber array and a second lateral surface not connected to the same. The substrate has a lateral surface disposed on the same side as that of the second lateral surface of the optical waveguide layer. At least a portion of the second lateral surface of the optical waveguide layer is disposed in a plane different from the lateral surface of the substrate so that an exposed area of the substrate is formed between the second lateral surface of the optical waveguide layer and the lateral surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshihiro Kuroda, Rei Yamamoto, Shigeyuki Yagi