"y" Coupler Patents (Class 385/45)
  • Patent number: 8682161
    Abstract: An optical data transmission system for transmitting optical data in a flight vehicle, including a head end, optical splitter, N units of terminals that process optical data received from the optical splitter to display such as video, plural optical cables connected between the head end and the optical splitter and between the optical splitter and the terminals, and a seat group including N sets of passenger seats that transmit two-way optical data and are placed close to one another. The N units of terminals are placed in association with the respective N sets of seats. The optical splitter is placed in association with the seat group; sends optical data from the head end to the N units of terminals; and reversely unifies N-series optical data, different from one another, from the N units of terminals into one series and sends it to the head end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki Higashida, Satoshi Ohyama
  • Patent number: 8644658
    Abstract: A light transmission system includes a light guide support, a first convex lens, an optical waveguide member, and two second convex lenses. The light guide support includes a first surface, a second surface, a hollow space formed between the first surface and the second surface, and an inner reflecting surface forming an angle of 45 degrees relative to the first surface. The first convex lens is formed at the first surface, and configured for converging light to the inner reflecting surface. The optical waveguide member is located at the hollow space, and includes a main section parallel with the first surface, two first branch sections extending from and forming equal angles relative to the main section, and two second branch sections extending from the respective first branch sections. The two second convex lenses are formed at the second surface and aligned with the respective second branch sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kai-Wen Wu
  • Patent number: 8620115
    Abstract: A semiconductor-based optical modulator is presented that includes a separate phase control section to adjust the amount of chirp present in the modulated output signal. At least one section is added to the modulator configuration and driven to create a pure “phase” signal that will is added to the output signal and modify the ei? term inherent in the modulation function. The phase modulation control section may be located within the modulator itself, or may be disposed “outside” of the modulator on either the input waveguiding section or the output waveguiding section. The phase control section may be formed to comprise multiple segments (of different lengths), with the overall phase added to the propagating signal controlled by selecting the different segments to be energized to impart a phase delay to a signal propagating through the energized section(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Webster, Kalpendu Shastri
  • Patent number: 8605286
    Abstract: A biaxial optical gyroscope is provided, which realizes mode separation using the waveguide devices with different material, and the biaxial optical gyroscope includes: a surface Plasmon Polariton Y-type mode splitter (1), a Y waveguide integrated optical device (2), a Y waveguide integrated optical chip (3), a first polarization-maintaining fiber coil (41), a second polarization-maintaining fiber coil (42), directional couplers (51, 52) and detectors (61, 62), wherein the two output ends of the surface Plasmon Polariton Y-type mode splitter (1) are respectively connected to the Y waveguide integrated optical device (2) and the Y waveguide integrated optical chip (3), and the output ends of the Y waveguide integrated optical device (2) and the Y waveguide integrated optical chip (3) are respectively connected to the first polarization-maintaining fiber coil (41) and the second polarization-maintaining fiber coil (42).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: Southeast University
    Inventors: Tong Zhang, Xiaojun Xue, Xiaoyang Zhang, Pengqin Wu, Qiuyue Chen
  • Patent number: 8600199
    Abstract: An optical modulator includes a modulator that modulates an input light of light by using an input signal. The optical modulator further includes a compensation circuit that compensates the phase of a signal light in accordance with an input current, the signal light being the input light modulated by the modulator. The optical modulator further includes a detector that detects the difference between the phase of the signal light compensated by the compensation circuit and the phase of an input signal that is input to the modulator. The optical modulator further includes an adjustment circuit that adjusts, in accordance with the phase difference detected by the detector, the input current that is input to the compensation circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Fujitsu Optical Components Limited
    Inventor: Tsuyoshi Morishita
  • Patent number: 8588560
    Abstract: An optical 90-degree hybrid circuit includes a first demultiplexing optical coupler having two or more first input ports and two or more first output ports, a second demultiplexing optical coupler having two or more second input ports and two or more second output ports, two first arm waveguides connected to the first output ports, two second arm waveguides connected to the second output ports, a 90-degree phase shift section installed in one of the four arm waveguides, a first optical coupler and a second optical coupler connected to the first arm waveguides and the second arm waveguides, a first optical waveguide for connecting an optical splitter and the first input ports, and a second optical waveguide for connecting the optical splitter and the second input ports, wherein an optical length of the first optical waveguide is different from that of the second optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation
    Inventors: Yohei Sakamaki, Takashi Goh, Toshikazu Hashimoto, Yusuke Nasu, Kuninori Hattori, Hiroshi Takahashi
  • Publication number: 20130243362
    Abstract: A reflective structure includes an input/output port and an optical splitter coupled to the input/output port. The optical splitter has a first branch and a second branch. The reflective structure also includes a first resonant cavity optically coupled to the first branch of the optical splitter. The first resonant cavity comprises a first set of reflectors and a first waveguide region disposed between the first set of reflectors. The reflective structures further includes a second resonant cavity optically coupled to the second branch of the optical splitter. The second resonant cavity comprises a second set of reflectors and a second waveguide region disposed between the second set of reflectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: Skorpios Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Derek Van Orden, Amit Mizrahi, Timothy Creazzo, Stephen B. Krasulick
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8526102
    Abstract: The invention provides a PLC-type DP-QPSK demodulator that reduces connection loss between a polarization beam splitter and a 90-degree hybrid circuit and aims at reducing the manufacturing cost and an optical transmission system using the same. In an embodiment of the invention, a PLC-type DP-QPSK demodulator that receives a DP-QPSK signal includes one PLC chip having a planar lightwave circuit. Input ports and output ports of signal light are provided at an input end and at an output end of the PLC chip, respectively. Within the planar lightwave circuit, there are integrated a polarization beam splitter that splits the DP-QPSK signal into an X-polarization QPSK signal and a Y-polarization QPSK signal, and two 90-degree hybrid circuits that mix the X-polarization QPSK signal and local oscillation light and the Y-polarization QPSK signal and local oscillation light, respectively, split each QPSK signal into orthogonal components I, Q and output them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Furukawa Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Inoue, Kazutaka Nara
  • Patent number: 8520984
    Abstract: A silicon-based optical modulator exhibiting improved modulation efficiency and control of “chirp” (i.e., time-varying optical phase) is provided by separately biasing a selected, first region of the modulating device (e.g., the polysilicon region, defined as the common node). In particular, the common node is biased to shift the voltage swing of the silicon-based optical modulator into its accumulation region, which exhibits a larger change in phase as a function of applied voltage (larger OMA) and improved extinction ratio. The response in the accumulation region is also relatively linear, allowing for the chirp to be more easily controlled. The electrical modulation input signal (and its inverse) are applied as separate inputs to the second region (e.g., the SOI region) of each arm of the modulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Webster, Russell Romano, Kalpendu Shastri
  • Publication number: 20130195404
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to a branching waveguide circuit where two or more waveguides branch from a main waveguide defining between them an intermediate region ranging from said main waveguide. The intermediate region comprises a plurality of holes of cladding material extending from the top of the core layer into intermediate material, said holes being arranged so that the depth of said holes increases away from said main waveguide with an average slope of the hole depth versus distance to main waveguide. This way, loss due to transition between the main and branching waveguides may be reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 1, 2013
    Inventors: Martin Boulanger, Yueqiang Shen, Dan Anker Zauner
  • Patent number: 8483527
    Abstract: A device for collecting light emitted by a laser source, including an optical wave guide arranged so as to collect a light signal emitted by the laser source, by coupling. The wave guide includes a loop coupled to a laser source in two coupling zones making it possible to recover optical modes circulating along the direction opposite to the required direction for the signal output from the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignees: Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
    Inventors: Fabien Mandorlo, Jean-Marc Fedeli, Pedro Rojo-Romeo, Xavier Letartre, Christian Seassal
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8442364
    Abstract: An optical waveguide device includes an optical branch device for branching a first input light and outputting the branched first input light to a first and a second optical waveguides, another optical branch device, arranged between the first and the second optical waveguides, for branching a second input light and outputting the branched second input light to a third and a fourth optical waveguides, an optical coupler which couples the lights traveling along the first and the third optical waveguides, then branches the coupled lights, and outputs them; and another optical coupler which couples the lights traveling along the second and the fourth optical waveguides, then branches the coupled lights, and outputs them, wherein optical path lengths of either a pair of the first and the second optical waveguides or a pair of the third and the fourth optical waveguides are set to be equal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shinya Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20130117819
    Abstract: Unlike excessively complex and extremely expensive methods in the prior art, this invention discloses a highly cost-effective and simple-to-use device for transferring data unidirectionally, allowing small businesses and home users to reap the benefits of advanced network security, which otherwise would have been affordable and attainable exclusively by commercial and federal entities. Because of its cost effectiveness and simplicity, the device of this invention makes it possible for every computer user to protect their internal networks from information thieves.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 20, 2012
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Applicant: INTERFACE9 INCORPORATED
    Inventor: INTERFACE9 INCORPORATED
  • Patent number: 8412008
    Abstract: A semiconductor optical device includes a first optical waveguide including first, second, and third sections; a second optical waveguide including fourth, fifth, and sixth sections; an input optical coupler; and an output optical coupler. The first and second optical waveguides and the input and output optical couplers each include a first cladding layer composed of an n-type semiconductor and a core layer. The second and fifth sections each include an intermediate semiconductor layer on the core layer, and a second cladding layer composed of an n-type semiconductor. The first, third, fourth, and sixth sections and the input and output optical couplers each further include a third cladding layer on the core layer. At least one of the third cladding layers includes a first cladding section on the core layer and a second cladding section on the first cladding section. The second cladding section is composed of a semi-insulating semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun-ichi Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8401351
    Abstract: The present invention provides a 90-degree hybrid capable of miniaturization and also capable of a stable operation in a wide band. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a PLC-type 90-degree hybrid comprises: a PLC chip having a planar lightwave circuit formed therein; and a 90-degree hybrid circuit formed in the planar lightwave circuit, mixing a modulated signal light and an LO light to separate the signal light into quadrature components I and Q, and outputting the same. The 90-degree hybrid circuit includes: two Y-branch couplers each branching the signal light and the LO light; and two wavelength-independent directional couplers which cause LO lights passing through two paths and signal lights passing through two paths to interfere with each other, respectively. The above-described paths include waveguides having mutually inverted shapes and waveguides having an identical shape, and have a shape substantially symmetrical with respect to the signal light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi Inoue, Kazutaka Nara
  • Publication number: 20130064505
    Abstract: A method for constructing an area array waveguide power splitter includes preparing a reflective layer on a substrate and forming a core of an area array waveguide layer and alignment features for an optical fiber input and a plurality of optical fiber outputs atop the reflective layer, wherein the core of the area array waveguide layer and the alignment features are formed concurrently. The method also includes applying a reflective layer to the top and side surfaces of the core of the area array waveguide layer and exposing an input and exposing a plurality of outputs in the reflective layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: March 14, 2013
    Inventors: Terrel Morris, Michael Renne Ty Tan, Wayne V. Sorin, Paul Kessler Rosenberg, Sagi Varghese Mathai
  • Patent number: 8396336
    Abstract: An optical phase modulator includes a main Mach-Zehnder interferometer having first and second main optical waveguide path arms, whose initial phase difference in the used wavelength is ?, a first sub Mach-Zehnder interferometer having first and second sub optical waveguide path arms that are formed in the first main optical waveguide path arm, whose initial phase difference in the used wavelength is 0, and a second sub Mach-Zehnder interferometer having third and fourth sub optical waveguide path arms that are formed in the second main optical waveguide path arm, and whose initial phase difference in the used wavelength is 0. Of each of the main optical waveguide path arms and the sub optical waveguide path arms, at least the portions where high-frequency electrodes are formed are constructed using semiconductor waveguide paths, and reduce the effects of frequency chirping caused by an orthogonal component due to light absorption in the semiconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tomofumi Kise, Masaki Funabshi
  • Patent number: 8372063
    Abstract: Fiber optic phototherapy device comprises a light emitter comprising one or more layers of optical fibers. The optical fibers have end portions extending from opposite ends of the light emitter that are mixed together and lighted using the same light source or light sources.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: Lumitex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Williams
  • Patent number: 8351745
    Abstract: A 2-to-1 POF optical coupler, a bi-directional link that employs the coupler, and methods for performing 2-to-1 optical coupling are provided, wherein the 2-to-1 POF optical coupler is configured to provide a carefully-selected amount of cross-sectional overlap at the interface between the end face of a main POF or POF pigtail and the end face of the coupler. The amount of overlap is selected to ensure that optical coupling losses are reduced and optical efficiency is increased in both directions in a bi-directional optical communications links. Consequently, signal integrity is improved, limitations on link length are relaxed, and overall link performance is improved while, at the same time, overall link costs are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Nikolaus W. Schunk
  • Patent number: 8326096
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a digital electro-optical switch (1) comprising: an electro-optical substrate (3); a Y-shaped optical waveguide (2) formed in the substrate (3) and including an input branch (4) configured to be connected to an input optical waveguide, and two output branches (5) configured to be connected to respective output optical waveguides; and electrically conductive electrodes (6, 7) formed on the substrate (3) and including an inner electrode (7) arranged between the output branches (5), substantially at a branching area of the optical waveguide (2), and two outer electrodes (6) arranged outside the output branches (5), on opposite sides of the inner electrode (7), the outer electrodes (6) being electrically operable to make the electro-optical switch (1) operative between a first switching state wherein transmission of optical energy is enhanced between the input branch (4) and a first one of the output branches (5), and substantially inhibited in a second one of the output branches (5), and a se
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Selex Sistemi Integrati S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luigi Pierno, Massimiliano Dispenza
  • Patent number: 8320723
    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: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Vascular Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eberle, Kenneth N. Bates, William W. Morey
  • Patent number: 8311371
    Abstract: Herein disclosed is an optical modulation device, comprising: a substrate 1 having a polarization non-reversal region 17a and a polarization reversal region 17b; an optical waveguide 18 including first and second branched optical waveguide portions 18a, 18b; and a traveling waveguide including a center electrode 19a and a ground electrode 19b, 19c to have an electric signal applied thereto, said traveling waveguide and said first and second branched optical waveguide portions collectively forming an interaction portion to have said incident light interacted with said electric signal, said interaction portion being constituted by a first interaction sub-portion 20a and a second interaction sub-portion 20b, said first and second interaction sub-portions being respectively positioned in regions of said substrate having opposite polarization orientations with each other, in which said center electrode is positioned in face to face relationship with one of said first and second branched optical waveguide portions
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Anritsu Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Kawano, Masaya Nanami, Hiroaki Senda, Takeshi Hondo, Seiji Uchida, Yuji Sato, Toru Nakahira
  • Patent number: 8280214
    Abstract: Nanoribbons and nanowires having diameters less than the wavelength of light are used in the formation and operation of optical circuits and devices. Such nanostructures function as subwavelength optical waveguides which form a fundamental building block for optical integration. The extraordinary length, flexibility and strength of these structures enable their manipulation on surfaces, including the precise positioning and optical linking of nanoribbon/wire waveguides and other nanoribbon/wire elements to form optical networks and devices. In addition, such structures provide for waveguiding in liquids, enabling them to further be used in other applications such as optical probes and sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Peidong Yang, Matt Law, Donald J. Sirbuly, Justin C. Johnson, Richard Saykally, Rong Fan, Andrea Tao
  • Patent number: 8272788
    Abstract: An optical-path turning device is interposed between paired first and second optical components of pin-fitting alignment system that have their optical paths mutually different in direction, for an optic coupling between the optical components, and has a device body 16 of a block shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Fujikura Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsuya Ohta
  • Patent number: 8270787
    Abstract: An optical fiber coupler is formed of a section of optical fiber that is positioned between a conventional input fiber (for example, a single mode fiber) or waveguide and a coiled optical fiber device. The adiabatic coupler is coiled (or, at least, curved) to assist in transforming a conventional fundamental mode optical signal propagating along the longitudinal axis of the input fiber to an optical signal that is shifted into a peripheral region of the coiled optical fiber. Moreover, the pitch of an inventive coiled optical fiber coupler can be controlled to assist in the adiabatic transformation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: OFS Fitel, LLC
    Inventor: Mikhail Sumetsky
  • Publication number: 20120224812
    Abstract: The present invention provides a 90-degree hybrid capable of miniaturization and also capable of a stable operation in a wide band. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a PLC-type 90-degree hybrid comprises: a PLC chip having a planar lightwave circuit formed therein; and a 90-degree hybrid circuit formed in the planar lightwave circuit, mixing a modulated signal light and an LO light to separate the signal light into quadrature components I and Q, and outputting the same. The 90-degree hybrid circuit includes: two Y-branch couplers each branching the signal light and the LO light; and two wavelength-independent directional couplers which cause LO lights passing through two paths and signal lights passing through two paths to interfere with each other, respectively. The above-described paths include waveguides having mutually inverted shapes and waveguides having an identical shape, and have a shape substantially symmetrical with respect to the signal light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takashi INOUE, Kazutaka Nara
  • Patent number: 8260102
    Abstract: D-shaped POFs are used to form a 2-to-1 optical coupler. The D-shaped POFs are produced via an extrusion process that is relatively inexpensive to perform and that can be performed with relatively high manufacturing throughput. The D-shaped POFs are bonded together to form a coupler end face having a generally circular cross-sectional area. The coupler end face is interfaced with an end face of a main POF that is generally circular in cross-sectional shape. The resulting D-shaped 2-to-1 optical POF couplers have relatively low insertion loss and relatively high optical coupling efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Avago Technologies Fiber IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd
    Inventor: Nikolaus W. Schunk
  • Patent number: 8229262
    Abstract: A fiber-optic coupler packaging including an internal encapsulation for encapsulating a fiber-optic coupler, the refraction index of the internal encapsulation is smaller than the refraction index of the fiber-optic coupler, and an external encapsulation, for encapsulating the internal encapsulation, the refraction index of the external encapsulation is greater than the refraction index of the internal encapsulation, the internal encapsulation and the external encapsulation are substantially transparent to the range of wavelengths of the light traveling inside the fiber-optic coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignees: V-Gen Ltd., State of Israel-SOREQ Nuclear Research Center
    Inventors: Eran Inbar, Yoav Sintov
  • Patent number: 8224139
    Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure a compact, integrated tunable filter is provided that can adjust the power levels of optical signals output from an optical amplifier, for example, so that the amplifier has a uniform spectral gain. The tunable optical filter includes a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) having cascaded Mach-Zehnder interferometers, each of which having corresponding differential optical delays. At least one of the differential optical delays is different than the rest. Alternatively, the differential optical delays are different from one another. Each of the Mach-Zehnder interferometers is connected to one another by a tunable optical coupler. Such a filter has an improved frequency response in that the number of shapes that the transmission spectrum may have is increased. Accordingly, the optical filter may be more finely tuned to more effectively flatten, for example, the output of the optical amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Brent E. Little, Wei Chen
  • Patent number: 8218584
    Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for coupling light into an optical wave guide, a laser system with such an apparatus, and a preform to manufacture the apparatus for coupling light into an optical wave guide with the aid of a pumping fiber to guide the light, whereby the optical wave guide comprises a core with a cladding and an initial length segment with a second length segment immediately connected to it, whose cross section increases in tapered form with respect to the first length segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: fiberware, Generalunternehmen für Nachrichtentechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Kuka
  • Patent number: 8175427
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods for using a tunable optical source in safety curtain applications provide for enhanced operation of the safety curtain. In an embodiment, a safety curtain includes a transmit unit and a receive unit to operate as the safety curtain, where a single tunable light source generates different wavelengths of light and a single detector is used to detect the generated light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Francis Lawrence Leard, Hassan R. Manjunath, James Edward Dogul
  • Patent number: 8175432
    Abstract: A method of adjusting the optical axis of an optical waveguide element which can improve a manufacturing yield of the optical waveguide element, an alignment yield between the optical waveguide element and an input waveguide means, etc. and can equalize the branch ratio in a Y-branch waveguide; and an optical waveguide element which can be made compact and also inhibited from complication in structure by using this method. The optical waveguide element (5) formed on a substrate comprises at least a linear waveguide (6) and a Y-branch waveguide (7) branched from the linear waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Oikawa, Toru Sugamata, Ryo Shimizu, Tsutomu Saitou, Katsutoshi Kondou
  • Patent number: 8094986
    Abstract: A double clad fiber includes a core, a first cladding provided so as to cover the core, and a second cladding provided so as to cover the first cladding. The second cladding has a plurality of pores extending in a length direction and arranged so as to surround the first cladding. In at least one fiber end, the second cladding has been removed by mechanical processing so that the at least one fiber end is formed by the core and the first cladding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masatoshi Tanaka, Tetsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8078021
    Abstract: A waveguide connecting structure includes a light branching element (111) for branching light from an input optical waveguide (201) including one core into two branched light components having the same optical power and the same phase, and a twin-arm waveguide (113) including a pair of arm waveguides (113A, 113B) for outputting the light components branched by the light branching element to a slot waveguide (202) including two cores arranged in parallel at a narrow spacing. The pair of arm waveguides have cores formed in a cladding on a substrate and having a refractive index higher than that of the cladding, and are formed such that the spacing between them gradually narrows and becomes equal to the core spacing of the slot waveguide from the core input ends into which the branched light components enter toward the core output ends from which the light components are output to the slot waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Jun Ushida
  • Patent number: 8026528
    Abstract: Phototherapy devices for phototherapy treatment of a patient include a light emitter for emitting light received from a light source. Means may be provided for increasing the amount of power to the light source in response to a decrease in light output to maintain a substantially constant light output. The light source may be inside a housing and bonded to a heat sink attached to the back side of the housing to dissipate excess heat generated by the light source. Also the light source may comprise at least one LED that generates blue light output bands and at least one other LED that generates other color light output bands that are selectively mixed with the blue light output bands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Lumitex, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffrey B. Williams
  • Patent number: 7995872
    Abstract: An optical modulator component 2 has a substrate 4 for modulation made of an electro-optical material and having a joining face 4b; an optical waveguide 6 provided in or on the substrate 4 and having at least one pair of branched portions 6c; and a radio-frequency interaction portion 11 applying a voltage on the respective branched portions 6c to modulate light propagating through the branched portions. The optical waveguide 6 has end faces 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D present on the joining face 4b of the substrate 4 for modulation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Aoki, Osamu Mitomi, Jungo Kondo, Yuichi Iwata, Tetsuya Ejiri
  • Publication number: 20110135243
    Abstract: Provided is an electro-optic device. The electro-optic device includes an input Y-branch comprising a first input branch and a second input branch, an output Y-branch comprising a first output branch and a second output branch, a first optical modulator and a second optical modulator connected in series between the first input branch and the first output branch, and a third optical modulator connecting the second input branch to the second output branch. The first optical modulator comprises a PIN diode, and each of the second optical modulator and the third optical modulator comprises a PN diode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Jeong Woo Park, Jongbum You, Gyungock Kim
  • Patent number: 7945132
    Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises: a waveguide substrate; three planar optical waveguides formed on the substrate, each comprising a transmission core and cladding; a laser positioned to launch its optical output to propagate along the first waveguide; a photodetector positioned to receive an optical signal propagating along the second waveguide; and a lateral splitter core formed on the substrate for (i) transferring a first fraction of laser optical output propagating along the first waveguide to the second waveguide, and (ii) transferring a second fraction of the laser optical output propagating along the first waveguide to the third waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: HOYA Corporation USA
    Inventors: David W. Vernooy, Joel S. Paslaski
  • Patent number: 7907808
    Abstract: A self-written branched optical waveguide is formed. A laser beam 2 from a laser source (not shown) is focused with a lens 3 onto the face of incidence 10 of an optical fiber 1. The laser beam of an LP11 mode was emitted from the face of emergence 11, and “bimodal” light intensity peaks were arranged in the horizontal direction (1.A). A slide glass 4 coated with a photocurable resin gel 5 was placed horizontally (1.B). A single linear cured material 61 was formed as the LP11-mode laser beam was emitted from the face of emergence 11 of the optical fiber 1 (1.C). A branch portion 62 was then formed at a distance L from the face of emergence 11 of the optical fiber 1, which was followed by the growth of two cylindrical cured materials 63a and 63b. The two cylindrical cured materials 63a and 63b were linear branches, and formed an angle of about four degrees. An optical waveguide 60 thus formed was composed of cured materials 61, 62, 63a, and 63b (1.D).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Totoya Chuo Kenkyusho, National University Corporation Shizuoka University Faculity of Engineering
    Inventors: Manabu Kagami, Tatsuya Yamashita, Masatoshi Yonemura, Naomichi Okamoto, Masahiro Tomiki
  • Patent number: 7903913
    Abstract: An optical apparatus including a 360-degree star coupler with derivative structure(s) and applications to optical imaging, optical communications and optical spectroscopy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher Doerr
  • Patent number: 7899287
    Abstract: The optical branching-coupling device having a self-written optical waveguide core is formed without using half mirrors. In the optical branching-coupling device, three POFs are inserted into a housing having an approximately D-shaped sidewall. An approximately semi-columnar region V in the housing was filled with an uncured liquid light-curing acrylic resin. A laser beam was introduced from one of the POFs, and a cured material was formed of the end face of the POF. The diameter was equal to the core diameter of the POF. The cured material grew, resulting in the cured material reaching the end face of another one of the POFs, thereby forming an optical waveguide core. Next, a laser beam was introduced from the end face of the last one of the POFs. The cured material grew, resulting in a connection with the optical waveguide core, thereby forming the optical waveguide core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Haga, Yukitoshi Inui, Kazuhiro Terada, Akiko Okita, Masaaki Tsuchimori, Akari Nakao
  • Patent number: 7881573
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Vascular Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eberle, Kenneth N. Bates, William W. Morey
  • Patent number: 7840108
    Abstract: Provided is a light branching optical waveguide including: at least one incident light waveguide (A) optically connected to one end of a multi-mode optical waveguide; and output light waveguides (B) larger in number than the incident light waveguide (A) optically connected to the other end thereof, the light branching optical waveguide being characterized in that: an intensity distribution of light incident from at least one optical waveguide (a) out of the incident light waveguide (A) on the multi-mode optical waveguide at a connecting surface of the incident light waveguide (A) and the multi-mode optical waveguide is asymmetric with respect to a geometrical central axis of the optical waveguide (a); and an extended line of the geometrical center axis of the optical waveguide (a) does not coincide with a geometrical central axis of the multi-mode optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuo Miyadera, Rei Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7822298
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method by which polarization components may be processed separately, for example, to enable a polarization beam splitter (PBS) or a switch. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes: first and second Mach-Zehnder interferometers, each Mach-Zehnder interferometer having input and output optical couplers and two internal optical arms, each optical arm connecting one output of the input optical coupler to a corresponding input of the output optical coupler, the output optical coupler of the first Mach-Zehnder interferometer being the input optical coupler of the second Mach-Zehnder interferometer, wherein the input optical coupler of the first Mach-Zehnder interferometer is configured to transmit one polarization component of the light to two of the outputs thereof and to transmit a different polarization of the light to substantially only one of the outputs thereof in response to receiving said light at an input thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent USA Inc.
    Inventor: Mahmoud Rasras
  • Patent number: 7813603
    Abstract: An optical component including an acceptance fiber, e.g. a photonic crystal fiber, for propagation of pump and signal light, a number of pump delivery fibers and a reflector element that reflects pump light from the pump delivery fibers into the acceptance fiber. An optical component includes a) a first fiber having a pump core with an NA1, and a first fiber end; b) a number of second fibers surrounding the pump core of the first fiber, at least one of the second fibers has a pump core with an NA2 that is smaller than NA1, the number of second fibers each having a second fiber end; and c) a reflector element having an end-facet with a predetermined profile for reflecting light from at least one of the second fiber ends into the pump core of the first fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: NKT Photonics A/S
    Inventor: Thomas Nikolajsen
  • Patent number: 7813604
    Abstract: An optical apparatus comprises: a waveguide substrate; three planar optical waveguides formed on the substrate, each comprising a transmission core and cladding; a laser positioned to launch its optical output to propagate along the first waveguide; a photodetector positioned to receive an optical signal propagating along the second waveguide; and a branched splitter core formed on the substrate for (i) transferring a first fraction of laser optical output propagating along the first waveguide to the second waveguide, and (ii) transferring a second fraction of the laser optical output propagating along the first waveguide to the third waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: HOYA Corporation USA
    Inventors: David W. Vernooy, Joel S. Paslaski
  • Patent number: 7801400
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical device involves forming patterns on a dielectric substrate. The patterns include a waveguide pattern having a folded part, a conductor pattern positioned on an outer peripheral side of the folded part, and a dummy pattern that connects the folded part and the conductor pattern. The method further involves performing heat diffusion processing on the dielectric substrate on which the patterns have been formed at the forming, to make the waveguide pattern into an optical waveguide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Masaki Sugiyama
  • Patent number: RE44262
    Abstract: An optical coupler is provided. It has a bundle of multimode fibers with a few-mode fiber in its centre. Such bundle is fused at one end which is the output end for the signal that is transmitted by the few-mode fiber. To make the coupler, this output end of the bundle is aligned and spliced with a large area core double clad fiber while preserving the modal content of the feed-through. A method for making such optical coupler is also provided. It includes the steps of bundling a central few-mode fiber with a plurality of multimode fibers and then fusing one end of such bundle and aligning it and splicing with a large core double clad fiber, while preserving fundamental mode transmission from one to the other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: ITF Laboratories Inc.
    Inventors: François Gonthier, Lilian Martineau, François Seguin, Alain Villeneuve, Mathieu Faucher, Nawfel Azami, Marc Garneau