Particular Coupling Structure Patents (Class 385/39)
  • Patent number: 8532451
    Abstract: An optical transmitter includes three or more emission optical fibers that are three-dimensionally arranged, a single reception optical fiber, and an optical path converting component to optically couple the emission optical fibers to the reception optical fiber. The optical path converting component includes optical transmission portions that are optically coupled to the three or more emission optical fibers one to one, respectively, and optically coupled commonly to the single reception optical fiber. Entry ends of the optical transmission portions are aligned with exit ends of the three or more emission optical fibers, respectively. Exit ends of the optical transmission portions are aligned, as a whole, with an entry end of the single reception optical fiber. The exit ends of the optical transmission portions are arranged substantially parallel to one another and in closer proximity to one another than the entry ends of the optical transmission portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Olympus Corporation
    Inventor: Tomoyuki Hatakeyama
  • Publication number: 20130229809
    Abstract: An optical device includes: a first cladding layer; a core layer disposed on the first cladding layer and, with increase in its sectional area, extending from a first end which receives/outputs light along a direction from the first end toward a second end; a slab layer disposed on the first cladding layer and extending to the second end along the direction from the first end toward the second end; a rib layer disposed on the slab layer and, with decrease in its sectional area, extending to the second end along the direction from the first end toward the second end; and a second cladding layer disposed on the core layer and the rib layer. The core layer and both of the slab and rib layers are optically coupled in a part in which the sectional are of the core and rib layers is the maximum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2013
    Publication date: September 5, 2013
    Applicants: NEC CORPORATION, FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Nobuaki HATORI, Masashige ISHIZAKA, Takanori SHIMIZU
  • Patent number: 8526768
    Abstract: A light control device with a reduced electric loss is provided which can suppress a phenomenon of electrically reflecting a high-frequency signal even when it employs a dielectric anisotropic substrate. A light control device includes a signal electrode formed on a dielectric anisotropic substrate and ground electrodes disposed with the signal electrode interposed therebetween. Here, the signal electrode includes at least two signal electrode portions disposed in directions in which the dielectric constant of the substrate is different from each other and a curved connecting portion connecting the at least two signal electrode portions. The connecting portion is configured so that the characteristic impedance in parts connected to the at least two signal electrode portions is equal to that of the corresponding signal electrode portion, and the characteristic impedance in the connecting portion between the at least two signal electrode portions continuously varies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuhki Kinpara, Masayuki Ichioka, Junichiro Ichikawa, Satoshi Oikawa, Yasuhiro Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 8519325
    Abstract: The present invention provides a spectrally selective planar optical radiation concentrator, in which different spectral components of solar energy can be collected for different applications such as heat, illumination and electricity. The optical radiation concentrator has two basic components, an angle selective optical filter and a light redistribution reflector for collecting, trapping and concentrating radiant energy. It further comprises a light deflecting component and a fluorescent wavelength shifter to improve acceptance angle and concentration efficiency respectively. The planar optical radiation concentrator exhibits the potential for light weight, high concentration ratio and efficiency, and the ability for passive tracking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Inventors: Zhenyu Lu, Jingfeng Yuan
  • Patent number: 8520990
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved collimating lens assemblies (32) which include: a singlemode fiber (38) terminating in a distal end; a step-index multimode fiber (44) having a proximal end abutting to the singlemode fiber distal end, and having a distal end; a graded-index multimode fiber (45) having a proximal end abutting the step-index multimode fiber distal end, and having a distal end; and a collimating lens (34) longitudinally spaced from the graded-index multimode fiber distal end by an intermediate air gap (43), and operatively arranged to collimate light rays emanating from the graded-index multimode fiber distal end. The improved collimating lens assembly is characterized by the fact that there is no epoxy, silicone gel or index-matching material between the graded-index multimode fiber distal end and the collimating lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Moog Inc.
    Inventors: Norris E. Lewis, Martin J. Oosterhuis, K. Peter Lo
  • Patent number: 8515227
    Abstract: An optical microresonator is configured as an optical microbubble formed along a section of an optical microcapillary. The curvature of the outer surface of the microbubble creates an optical resonator with a geometry that encourages the circulating WGMs to remain confined in the central region of the bubble, creating a high Q optical resonator. The resonator may be tuned by modifying the physical properties of the microbubble, allowing the resonator to be used as an optical filter. The resonator may also be used as a sensor or laser by introducing the material to be sensed (or the active laser material) into the microcapillary along which the microbubble is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventor: Mikhail Sumetsky
  • Patent number: 8515225
    Abstract: Provided is an optical device that includes a ring-shaped optical waveguide and an input/output optical waveguide, and that changes a resonant wavelength of the ring-shaped optical waveguide, in which the ring-shaped optical waveguide includes in part a refractive index control section for controlling a refractive index at a guided wavelength, and the refractive index control section is formed of an optical material having a thermo-optic effect with its sign different from that of an optical material that forms a section of the ring-shaped optical waveguide other than the refractive index control section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignees: NEC Corporation, Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masafumi Nakada, Takanori Shimizu, Nobuo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8509579
    Abstract: A multiplicity of Fresnel lenses are attached to tubular branches of a tree-like support structure. Fiber optic bundles are connected to the Fresnel lenses and routed inside the tubular branches and collected as a larger fiber optic bundle inside a main trunk structure to which each of the branches is connected. The larger fiber optic bundle may be connected to a remotely located power generating plant or other processing facility via a fiber optic transmission network. A domed solar energy collector includes an outer dome and one or more inner domes concentrically nested therewith, one or more Fresnel lenses being positioned on the hemispherical surface of each of the outer and inner domes to thereby multiply the solar energy focused through each of the domes to a collection area within the innermost dome.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Inventor: Fernando Ramon Martin-Lopez
  • Patent number: 8509577
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a fiberoptic device that uses a gradient-index (GRIN) lens for focusing a light beam emitted by an optical fiber, but achieves a substantially longer focal length than that of a GRIN lens alone by placing a beam expander (e.g., no core fiber or step-index multimode fiber) between the terminal end of the optical fiber and the GRIN lens to simulate free space therebetween. In one embodiment, a fiberoptic device comprises an optical fiber having a fiber core and an end through which a light beam emits from the fiber core; a beam expander having a first end coupled to the end of the optical fiber and having a second end, the beam expander permitting the light beam emitting from the fiber core to pass from the first end to the second end and to expand from the first end to a larger size at the second end; and a gradient-index fiber lens coupled to the second end of the beam expander to receive the light beam from the beam expander and focus the light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: St. Jude Medical, Inc.
    Inventor: Yu Liu
  • Patent number: 8503841
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for coupling an optical fiber and a nanophotonic component formed on a first substrate, wherein the device comprises: an intermediate component formed on a second substrate including a first wave guide adapted for receiving light from the optical fiber and for transmitting the same to a first diffraction grating independently from the polarization of the incident light; second and third diffraction gratings formed on the first substrate and coupled to the nanophotonic component, the first diffraction grating being adapted to provide the first and second light beams respectively towards the second diffraction grating and the third diffraction grating, the first and second beams having perpendicular polarizations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Christophe Kopp, Badhise Ben Bakir, Stéphane Bernabe
  • Patent number: 8498503
    Abstract: An integrated optical coupler including in the medium separating a first integrated waveguide from a second substantially parallel integrated waveguide, a succession of strips parallel to one another and orthogonal to the general direction of the waveguides, said strips being made of a material having an absorption preventing the propagation of an electromagnetic wave across its volume, and having: a length H equal to k?/2nmedium, where k is an integer, ? is the central wavelength used, and nmedium is the optical index of the medium between the waveguides; a period P smaller than ?/2nmedium; and ends at a distance shorter than ?/10 from the waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Commissariat a l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives
    Inventors: Alexandre Mary, Salim Boutami, Roch Espiau De Lamaestre, Jérôme Le Perchec
  • Patent number: 8485736
    Abstract: An optical connector which enables an operator to easily remove a ferrule from a housing without using a special jig by himself alone. A supporting member that is mounted in a housing in a manner capable of being inserted and removed in a state in which the ferrule is held therein, includes a supporting member main body which is accommodated in the housing, and an operating portion which temporarily releases an engagement between protrusions formed on the supporting member main body and through holes formed in the housing. The operating portion is arranged in a manner protruding outside the housing when the supporting member is mounted in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Japan Aviation Electronics Industry, Limited
    Inventors: Naoki Katagiyama, Hideto Shimazu, Hideo Sugimoto
  • Patent number: 8488927
    Abstract: The invention relates to an optical component including an array of coupled waveguides, wherein said waveguide array includes: a first area made of parallel waveguides coupled according to a first coupling coefficient; a second area adjacent to the first area and made of parallel waveguides coupled according to a second coupling coefficient lower than the first coupling coefficient; a third area adjacent to the second area and made of parallel waveguides coupled according to a third coupling coefficient higher than the second coupling coefficient; a fourth area adjacent to the third area and made of parallel waveguides coupled according to a fourth coupling coefficient lower than the third coupling coefficient; and a fifth area adjacent to the fourth area and made of parallel waveguides coupled according to a fifth coupling coefficient higher than the fourth coupling coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignees: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Groupe des Ecoles de Telecommunications—Ecole National Superieure des Telecommunications
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Moison, Christophe Minot
  • Patent number: 8488922
    Abstract: A multi-channel dispersion compensator comprising an optical signal waveguide that forms an input end for receiving an optical signal and an output end for providing a filtered optical signal. The multi-channel dispersion compensator also includes a series of closed-loop resonators providing frequency delay to at least one channel of the optical signal. The optical signal waveguide and each closed-loop resonator form a tunable coupler having a coupling value. The coupling value for each tunable coupler is selected to minimize constant dispersion and linear slope dispersion of the optical signal. Methods of fabrication and use are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Brent E. Little, Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8483526
    Abstract: An innovative micro-size photonic switch is presented. The photonic switch is comprised of: a mirror having a reflecting surface; an input waveguide; and an output tapered waveguide structure. The photonic switch further includes a switching mechanism disposed adjacent to the reflecting surface and operable to change the refractive index along the reflective surface and thereby shift the angle at which the optical signal reflects from the mirror. More specifically, the switching mechanism may operate to change concentration of free carrier distribution along the reflective surface and thereby displace the effective reflecting interface of the mirror. In this way, the optical signal can be directed to one of two or more output ports of the output tapered waveguide structure and finally exited by one output waveguide channel that is connected to the selected port of the output tapered waveguide structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: University of Ottawa
    Inventors: DeGui Sun, Trevor Hall
  • Publication number: 20130170792
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a light guide assembly includes the steps of providing an array of generally frustum-shaped light guides made of a light-transmissive material, providing an optical isolation frame of interconnected slats made of an opaque material, wherein the slats are arranged and profiled to correspondingly match the gaps between the light guides and the outer gap around the periphery of the light guide array, and bonding the light guide array and the optical isolation frame to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Publication date: July 4, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric
    Inventors: Chang Kim, David McDaniel, Gary McBroom
  • Patent number: 8478091
    Abstract: A single-stage 1×5 grating-assisted wavelength division multiplexer is provided. A grating-assisted asymmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer, a plurality of grating-assisted cross-state directional couplers and a plurality of novel side-band eliminators are combined to form the multiplexer. Only general gratings are required, not Bragg grating, for 5-channel wavelength division multiplexing in a single stage. A nearly ideal square-like band-pass filtering passband is obtained. The present disclosure can be used as a core device in IC-to-IC optical interconnects for multiplexing and demultiplexing of an optical transceiver. The present disclosure has a small size and good performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: National Central University
    Inventors: Hung-Chih Lu, Jen-Inn Chyi
  • Patent number: 8478093
    Abstract: A multimode interference coupler includes at least one supply waveguide and at least one output waveguide, wherein the coupler has along its longitudinal extent in the direction of the supply waveguide at least one longitudinal section in which the refractive index has a locally oscillating profile in a direction running substantially at right angles to the direction of the supply waveguide. A method for the structural configuration of such a multimode interference coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Reinhard Kunkel, Martin Schell, Inigo Molina-Fernandez, Gonzalo Wangümert Perez, Alejandro Ortega Monux
  • Patent number: 8478092
    Abstract: A single fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer comprises an optical fiber having a core region and a cladding surrounding the core region, and a micro-cavity having part of the cladding and the core region removed, wherein the micro-cavity is adapted to receive a light beam and separate the light beam into a first light beam that propagates through the micro-cavity in an unguided mode, and a second light beam that propagates through the core region in a guided mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    Inventors: Dongning Wang, Ying Wang, Minwei Yang
  • Publication number: 20130163072
    Abstract: The multi-core optical fiber amplifier according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention having the above configuration includes: a double clad multi-core optical fiber including a plurality of cores, an internal cladding enclosing the plurality of cores, and an external cladding enclosing the internal cladding; a pumping light source outputting pumping light; an optical fiber to which pumping light from the pumping light source is input; and a wavelength division multiplexing coupler coupling the optical fiber with the double clad multi-core optical fiber to apply the pumping light input to the optical fiber from the pumping light source to the double clad multi-core optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Sun Hyok CHANG, Hwan Seok CHUNG
  • Patent number: 8472763
    Abstract: A method and apparatus use a photonic-crystal fiber having a very large core while maintaining a single transverse mode. In some fiber lasers and amplifiers having large cores problems exist related to energy being generated at multiple-modes (i.e., polygamy), and of mode hopping (i.e., promiscuity) due to limited control of energy levels and fluctuations. The problems of multiple-modes and mode hopping result from the use of large-diameter waveguides, and are addressed by the invention. This is especially true in lasers using large amounts of energy (i.e., lasers in the one-megawatt or more range). By using multiple small waveguides in parallel, large amounts of energy can be passed through a laser, but with better control such that the aforementioned problems can be reduced. An additional advantage is that the polarization of the light can be maintained better than by using a single fiber core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Anping Liu, Eric C. Honea, Charles A. Lemaire, Roy D. Mead, Christopher D. Brooks, Andrew J. W. Brown, Charles E. Hamilton, Thomas H. Loftus, Fabio Di Teodoro
  • Patent number: 8472777
    Abstract: This invention relates to an optical fiber access terminal and its terminal parts, specifically to an optical fiber interface protective cap for the terminal body. An optical fiber access terminal includes a terminal body and a protective cap. The terminal body provides an incision from which an optical fiber splice is exposed. The protective cap covering the incision includes a front end, a rear end, an upside, an underside, a right side and a left side portion. The front end portion has a wire outlet through which an optical fiber passes. The rear end portion has an opening receiving the optical fiber splice. The left side portion has a clamping part clamped with the terminal body. The front end, the rear end, the upside, the underside, the right side and the left side portion make a cavity in which the optical fiber and the optical fiber splice are connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: CIG Shanghai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Changjiang Cui
  • Patent number: 8472764
    Abstract: A system for delivering optical power over optical conduits includes delivering more than one optical power form over an optical conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Alistair K. Chan, Roderick A. Hyde, Muriel Y. Ishikawa, Jordin T. Kare, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8465699
    Abstract: An analytical device including an optically opaque cladding, a sequencing layer including a substrate disposed below the cladding, and a waveguide assembly for receiving optical illumination and introducing illumination into the device. The illumination may be received from a top, a side edge, and a bottom of the device. The waveguide assembly may include a nanoscale aperture disposed in the substrate and extending through the cladding. The aperture defines a reaction cell for receiving a set of reactants. In various aspects, the device includes a sensor element and the illumination pathway is through the sensor element. Waveguides and illumination devices, such as plasmonic illumination devices, are also disclosed. Methods for forming and operating the devices are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc.
    Inventors: Adrian Fehr, Nathaniel Joseph McCaffrey, Stephen Turner
  • Patent number: 8467644
    Abstract: A method of fabricating a light guide assembly includes the steps of providing an array of generally frustum-shaped light guides made of a light-transmissive material, providing an optical isolation frame of interconnected slats made of an opaque material, wherein the slats are arranged and profiled to correspondingly match the gaps between the light guides and the outer gap around the periphery of the light guide array, and bonding the light guide array and the optical isolation frame to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Chang Kim, David McDaniel, Gary McBroom
  • Patent number: 8467642
    Abstract: An arrayed waveguide grating optical multiplexer/demultiplexer according to the present invention including an input channel waveguide, an input slab waveguide, an arrayed waveguide, a polarization dependence eliminating means, an output slab waveguide, a temperature compensating means, and an output channel waveguide is characterized in that the temperature compensating means compensates for the temperature dependence of the optical path lengths in the channel waveguides of the arrayed waveguide, and the polarization dependence eliminating means eliminates the temperature dependence and the polarization dependence of the arrayed waveguide grating optical multiplexer/demultiplexer at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignees: NTT Electronics Corporation, Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Daisuke Ogawa, Takashi Saida, Yuji Moriya, Shigeo Nagashima, Yasuyuki Inoue, Shin Kamei
  • Patent number: 8463439
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a surgical instrument includes a housing linkable with a manipulator arm of a robotic surgical system, a shaft operably coupled to the housing, a force transducer on a distal end of the shaft, and a plurality of fiber optic strain gauges on the force transducer. In one example, the plurality of strain gauges are operably coupled to a fiber optic splitter or an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) multiplexer. A fiber optic connector is operably coupled to the fiber optic splitter or the AWG multiplexer. A wrist joint is operably coupled to a distal end of the force transducer, and an end effector is operably coupled to the wrist joint. In another embodiment, a robotic surgical manipulator includes a base link operably coupled to a distal end of a manipulator positioning system, and a distal link movably coupled to the base link, wherein the distal link includes an instrument interface and a fiber optic connector optically linkable to a surgical instrument.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Gregory W. Dachs, II, Ian McDowall, Christopher J. Hasser
  • Patent number: 8463093
    Abstract: An optical device includes a light-transmitting medium positioned on a base. The light-transmitting medium at least partially defines a free propagation region through which light signals travel. A reflective grating includes stepped reflecting surfaces positioned such that light signals that travel through the free propagation region are received by the reflecting surfaces. The reflecting surfaces are configured to reflect the light signal back into the free propagation region such that the light signals associated with different wavelengths separate as the light signals travel through the free propagation region. At least a portion of the reflecting surfaces each includes an overlapping region. Additionally, at least a portion of the reflecting surfaces each includes an overlapped region and un un-overlapped region. The reflecting grating is configured such that the light signals travel toward the overlapped regions and the un-overlapped regions before being reflected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Kotura, Inc.
    Inventors: Dazeng Feng, Wei Qian, Mehdi Asghari
  • Patent number: 8457459
    Abstract: A multiplexer/demultiplexer includes: a waveguide chip including a first chip and a second chip that are divided by a plane and obtained by cutting, together with a substrate, in a direction crossing an optical axis, a first slab waveguide of an AWG including the first slab waveguide and a second slab waveguide that are formed on the substrate; a first base to which the first chip is fixed; a second base separated from the first base and to which the second chip is fixed; and a member that has one end fixed to the first base or chip and another end fixed to the second base or chip, in a state in which cut surfaces of the first and second chips face each other, and that is configured to move the first base and the second base relatively to each other along the plane by expanding/contracting when temperature changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Hasegawa, Kazutaka Nara
  • Patent number: 8457460
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing a Mach-Zehnder filtering device. The method includes the following steps: (a) providing an optical fiber having a jacket and a core containing rare earth element dopants; (b) stripping the jacket of a segment of the optical fiber; and (c) performing a fused-tapering to the stripped segment of the optical fiber to form a first and a second necks simultaneously, wherein the core exists in both the first and the second necks to form a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: National United University
    Inventors: Nan-Kuang Chen, Zhi-Zheng Feng
  • Publication number: 20130135853
    Abstract: The present invention is related to a light-guiding element, a light-emitting diode (LED) lamp tube and an illumination lamp. The present invention utilizes a light-guiding element disposed on a light-emitting unit of the LED lamp tube. The light-guiding element includes a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is spaced with a plurality of reflecting units in a longitudinal direction thereof, and the second surface is partitioned with a reflecting area and non-reflecting areas corresponding to the reflecting units of the first surface. The light-emitting unit includes LEDs correspondingly attached to the non-reflecting areas of the second surface of the light-guiding element. An elongated light-emitting surface can be uniformly generated from the LED lamp tube by utilizing a destroyed total reflection phenomenon caused by lights in between the reflecting units of the first surface and the reflecting area of the second surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2011
    Publication date: May 30, 2013
    Inventors: Chi-Feng Lin, Yu-Bin Fang, Chia-Chin Chen
  • Patent number: 8447152
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a waveguide coupling device with properties of forward coupling and backward coupling as well as a manufacturing method thereof, the waveguide coupling device comprises: a substrate, at least one inverted taper coupling structure, an intermediate layer, and at least one three-dimensional taper coupling structure. Wherein one end of the three-dimensional taper coupling structure is adopted for connecting to an external optical fiber, so as to couple the optical wave propagating in the optical fiber; Moreover, by way of the specific coupling sequence of (three-dimensional taper coupling structure)-(intermediate layer)-(inverted taper coupling structure), the optical wave may be efficiently coupled into, be confined in, and ultimately propagates in the inverted taper coupling structure connecting to waveguide devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Ming-Chang Lee, Kai-Ning Ku
  • Patent number: 8442088
    Abstract: Optical resonators and optical devices based on optical resonators that implement diffractive couplers for coupling light with the optical resonators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: OEwaves, Inc.
    Inventors: Vladimir Ilchenko, Anatoliy Savchenkov, Lutfollah Maleki
  • Patent number: 8442368
    Abstract: Development of Integrated Optical Circuits depends greatly on progress in coupling light to and between chip devices. Exemplary disclosed embodiments provide a system and method of fabricating couplers for optical chips that may allow for access to devices on the entire chip surface. Cantilever couplers comprising optical waveguides are deflected out-of-plane creating access to remote portions of devices. An exemplary system and method may provide waveguides with tunable angles of deflection creating greater flexibility in optical coupling options.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: The Ohio State University Research Foundation
    Inventors: Ronald M. Reano, Peng Sun
  • Patent number: 8437591
    Abstract: A system includes at least two optical fibers crossing to form a vertice. The optical fibers comprise a core, a cladding surrounding the core, and a conductive coating at least partially surrounding the length of the cladding. A portion of the core of each of the fibers is exposed proximate to the vertice. An optical microsphere whispering gallery mode (WGM) resonator is positioned to cover exposed core portion of each fiber and in contact with the conductive coating of each fiber. The optical fibers may be orthogonal to each other or offset by a non-orthogonal and non-zero angle. The WGM resonator may be positioned between each of the fibers. An optical energy source may be coupled to an end of the optical fibers, with an optical detector coupled to the other end. A voltage source may be connected to the conductive coating of each of the optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Ryan P. Lu, Christopher K. Huynh, Ayax D. Ramirez, Joshua M. Kvavle
  • Patent number: 8433163
    Abstract: A bi-directional signal interface includes a carrier signal source that generates a carrier traveling wave at an output. A first traveling wave structure includes a first and a second waveguide having an input that is coupled to the output of the carrier signal source. The first and second waveguide propagate the carrier traveling wave. A second traveling wave structure includes an outgoing signal port that receives an outgoing signal and a bi-directional signal port that receives an incoming electrical signal and provides the outgoing signal. The first and second traveling wave structures have an electromagnetic interaction region with a geometry that is chosen for a desired outgoing-to-incoming signal isolation. A detector having an input coupled to the output of the first traveling wave structure generates an electrical signal related to the incoming electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Photonic Systems, Inc
    Inventors: Charles Cox, Edward I. Ackerman
  • Patent number: 8433162
    Abstract: A method and system for coupling optical signals into silicon optoelectronic chips are disclosed and may include coupling one or more optical signals into a back surface of one or more of a plurality of CMOS photonic chips comprising photonic, electronic, and optoelectronic devices. The devices may be integrated in a front surface of the chips and optical couplers may receive the optical signals in the front surface of the chips. The optical signals may be coupled into the back surface of the chips via optical fibers and/or optical source assemblies. The optical signals may be coupled to the optical couplers via a light path etched in the chips, which may be refilled with silicon dioxide. The chips may be flip-chip bonded to a packaging substrate. Optical signals may be reflected back to the optical couplers via metal reflectors, which may be integrated in dielectric layers on the chips.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Luxtera Inc.
    Inventors: Thierry Pinguet, Attila Mekis, Steffen Gloeckner
  • Patent number: 8428401
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for on-chip optical waveguides, methods of making on-chip optical waveguides, and devices including such on-chip optical waveguides. A dielectric layer formed from, e.g., transparent spacer dielectric material, forms a waveguide core and can be surrounded or substantially surrounded by a metal cladding layer. The metal cladding layer can be formed in the chip using backend metallization techniques, e.g., Damascene processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ)
    Inventor: Lars Tilly
  • Publication number: 20130094809
    Abstract: An optical assembly comprising a plurality of inputs comprising optical fibres which have a non-circular core cross-section, the fibres having a proximal end for receiving light from a respective diode emitter and a distal end, the fibres being combined at their distal ends and joined to a single output fibre which has a circular core cross-section, whereby in use light from a plurality of diode emitters is combined and output through the single output fibre.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: GSI Group Limited
    Inventors: Iain Botheroyd, Glyn Edwards, Steve Keen
  • Publication number: 20130094244
    Abstract: A light guide plate includes a light guide portion, and a number of light gathering portions. The light guide portion defines a plurality of openings. The light gathering portions are formed on the light guide portion. Each light gathering portion includes a light receiving part and a light reflecting part. The light receiving part partially surrounds one of the openings. The light reflecting part includes a sloping reflecting surface formed between the light receiving part and the light guide portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Applicant: FIH (HONG KONG) LIMITED
    Inventor: YI-CHIEH MIAO
  • Patent number: 8422836
    Abstract: A printed circuit board element (1) with a substrate (2), with at least one optoelectronic component (3) embedded in a photopolymerizable optical layer material (5), and with at least one optical waveguide (6) optically coupled with the former and structured in the optical material by photon absorption, wherein a prefabricated deflection mirror (4) embedded in the optical material (5) and optically coupled with the optoelectronic component (3) via the optical waveguide (6) is arranged on the substrate (2), optionally together with a support (4?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Riester, Gregor Langer
  • Patent number: 8417078
    Abstract: The invention relates to a printed circuit board element (10) including at least one optoelectronic component (1) which is embedded in an optical, photopolymerizable layer material (13), and at least one optical waveguide (14) optically coupled thereto, which is structured in the optical, photopolymerizable material (13) by photon irradiation, wherein the component (1) comprises a curved deflection mirror (5) on its light transmission surface (3), which curved deflection mirror deflects the light radiation (15), for instance by 90°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: AT & S Austria Technologie & Systemtechnik Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Riester, Gregor Langer, Alexander Stuck
  • Patent number: 8417077
    Abstract: The present invention provides an optical branching device and an optical communication system which are easy to connect with optical fibers. In the optical branching device, when light emitted from an optical fiber in a front stage is incident on an entrance port of a multicore optical fiber, the light propagates through a first core and then is distributed from the first core to four second cores by core-to-core crosstalk between the first and second cores. The light beams distributed to the four second cores propagate through the respective cores and are emitted to four optical waveguides optically coupled core-to-core thereto within a fan-out part at exit ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Eisuke Sasaoka, Osamu Shimakawa, Takuji Nagashima
  • Patent number: 8417071
    Abstract: The invention provides a component electro-optical printed circuit board backplane for assembly in a modular electro-optical backplane, the component electro-optical printed circuit board backplane comprising: optical channels for the propagation and transmission of optical data signals and electrical channels for the propagation and transmission of power and control signals; connectors for connection in-plane to at least one other component electro-optical printed circuit board; and, at least one socket for receiving, in use, a user circuit. The invention also provides a modular backplane made up of plural such component backplanes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Xyratex Technology Limited
    Inventors: Kenneth M Hopkins, Richard C. Pitwon
  • Patent number: 8412006
    Abstract: An optocoupler with optical transmitter and receiver dies attached to a single conductive pad is presented. One of the optical transmitter and receiver dies may be attached directly to the conductive pad, while the other one of the optical transmitter and receiver dies may be attached to the conductive pad by means of three layers of materials comprising an isolation layer sandwiched between two attachment layers. A multi-channel optocoupler with multiple transmitter and/or receiver dies is also presented, in which one of the optical transmitter and receiver dies may be attached directly to the conductive pad. The other optical transmitter or receiver dies may be attached to the conductive pad by means of three layers of materials comprising an isolation layer sandwiched between two attachment layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Thiam Siew Gary Tay, Gopinath Maasi
  • Patent number: 8410462
    Abstract: An optoelectronic apparatus for transmission of an electrical signal via, galvanically isolated by means of a one-piece, translucent, plastic body, an input current circuit. At least one optical transmission element, and an output current circuit, having at least one optical receiving element, wherein the optical transmission element has a principle transmission axis and the optical receiving element a principle receiving axis, which are oriented so as to concide with a shared optical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Endress + Hasuer GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Brutschin, Hartmut Damm, Klaus Ruf, Alex Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20130077918
    Abstract: An input device is provided which prevents unwanted light beams leaking through the ending end surface of a light-emitting main core from reaching a light-receiving element. The input device includes an optical waveguide having a rectangular hollow interior, a light-emitting element connected to the starting end of the light-emitting main core, and a light-receiving element connected to the ending ends of light-receiving cores. The light-receiving element is positioned close to the ending end of the light-emitting main core. A void (an air space) is provided between the ending end of the light-emitting main core and the light-receiving element. The air space causes unwanted light beams leaking through the ending end surface of the light-emitting main core to diffuse, thereby preventing the unwanted light beams from reaching the light-receiving element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Applicant: NITTO DENKO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Mizutani, Naoki Shibata
  • Patent number: 8401346
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device having an optical fiber coupled to a high pressure containment vessel and a method for making the same. The high pressure containment vessel can be an optical fiber based flow cell for a chromatography system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Waters Technologies Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Jeannotte, Anthony C. Gilby, Theordore A. Dourdeville, Dennis DellaRovere, John Leason
  • Patent number: 8401396
    Abstract: An optical communication module includes an optical package including at least one semiconductor optical device, an optical filter for reflecting light of a specific wavelength and transmitting light of an other wavelength, an optical block including a transparent material and the optical filter, a housing that houses the optical package and the optical block, an in-housing circuit board housed in the housing and mounting a peripheral electrical circuit for the optical package thereon, and an electrical connector electrically connected to the in-housing circuit board and exposed at a bottom surface of the housing. The optical block further includes a front lens portion at a front side face of the housing, a rear lens portion at a rear side face of the housing, a light inputting port, and a light outputting port. The optical filter is arranged to obliquely intersect with an optical axis passing through the front lens portion and the rear lens portion at a predetermined angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hitachi Cable, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sunaga, Kenichi Tamura, Yoshiaki Ishigami
  • Publication number: 20130064504
    Abstract: A pigtail light guide structure for transmitting optical signals includes an optical transmission line and a fiber stub structure. The optical transmission line has an optical fiber, a coating enclosing the optical fiber and a buffer layer enclosing the coating. A part of the optical fiber is exposed to outer side of a free end of the optical transmission line. The fiber stub structure includes a sleeve and a capillary. The sleeve has a first internal receiving hole for accommodating the optical transmission line, and a second internal receiving hole in communication with the first internal receiving hole for accommodating the capillary. The second internal receiving hole has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the first internal receiving hole. The capillary has an internal passage for accommodating a part of the optical fiber of the optical transmission line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2011
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Applicants: EZCONN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Chih-Cheng Chien