Star Coupler Patents (Class 385/46)
  • Patent number: 12078842
    Abstract: An optical multiplexer. The optical multiplexer comprising: a plurality of input waveguides, each comprising an input slab portion and an input rib portion; an output waveguide, comprising an output slab portion and output rib portion; and a wavelength multiplexer element, coupled to each input waveguide and the output waveguide, the wavelength multiplexer element comprising a slab waveguide which includes a grating configured to multiplex signals of differing wavelengths, received from the input waveguides, into a multiplexed signal, and provide the multiplexed signal to the output waveguide. The input rib portion(s) of one or more of the input waveguides are tapered so as to decrease in width in a direction towards the slab waveguide of the wavelength multiplexer element which is an echelle grating or an arrayed waveguide grating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: Rockley Photonics Limited
    Inventor: Adam Scofield
  • Patent number: 11914203
    Abstract: A substrate includes a first area in which a laser array chip is disposed. The substrate includes a second area in which a planar lightwave circuit is disposed. The second area is elevated relative to the first area. A trench is formed in the substrate between the first area and the second area. The substrate includes a third area in which an optical fiber alignment device is disposed. The third area is located next to and at a lower elevation than the second area within the substrate. The planar lightwave circuit has optical inputs facing toward and aligned with respective optical outputs of the laser array chip. The planar lightwave circuit has optical outputs facing toward the third area. The optical fiber alignment device is configured to receive optical fibers such that optical cores of the optical fibers respectively align with the optical outputs of the planar lightwave circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: Ayar Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Davenport, Mark Wade, Chong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11474297
    Abstract: A fiber optic splitter arrangement includes a housing defining a non-enterable interior; at least one optical power splitter disposed within the non-enterable interior; an input port carried by the housing; and a multi-fiber connection port carried by the housing. The input port and/or the multi-fiber connection port may be attached directly to the housing. Output fibers of more than one optical power splitter disposed within the non-enterable interior may be routed to the same multi-fiber connection port. Output fibers of a single optical power splitter may be routed to multiple multi-fiber connection ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY BELGIUM BVBA
    Inventor: David Jan Irma Van Baelen
  • Patent number: 11422322
    Abstract: A substrate includes a first area in which a laser array chip is disposed. The substrate includes a second area in which a planar lightwave circuit is disposed. The second area is elevated relative to the first area. A trench is formed in the substrate between the first area and the second area. The substrate includes a third area in which an optical fiber alignment device is disposed. The third area is located next to and at a lower elevation than the second area within the substrate. The planar lightwave circuit has optical inputs facing toward and aligned with respective optical outputs of the laser array chip. The planar lightwave circuit has optical outputs facing toward the third area. The optical fiber alignment device is configured to receive optical fibers such that optical cores of the optical fibers respectively align with the optical outputs of the planar lightwave circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: Ayar Labs, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Davenport, Mark Wade, Chong Zhang
  • Patent number: 11372162
    Abstract: A beam combiner includes: a plurality of input optical fibers, a beam combination optical fiber and an output optical fiber; the input optical fiber includes an input fiber core and an optical fiber input cladding layer wrapping an outer wall of the input fiber core, the output optical fiber includes an output fiber core and an optical fiber output cladding layer wrapping an outer wall of the output fiber core, a cross section of the optical fiber input cladding layer is fan-shaped or hexagonal and is provided with a groove and/or a protrusion along an axial direction, the plurality of input optical fibers are nested with each other to form the beam combination optical fiber, fiber cores in the beam combination optical fiber are all connected to the output fiber core, and a beam combination cladding layer of the beam combination optical fiber is connected to the output fiber core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventor: Xiuquan Ma
  • Patent number: 11275211
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical apparatus comprises forming an unfinished endface of a fiber array unit (FAU) that provides an arrangement of one or more optical fibers. The one or more optical fibers terminate at the unfinished endface. The method further comprises optically aligning the FAU with an external light-carrying medium. The one or more optical fibers are optically coupled with the external light-carrying medium through the unfinished endface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony D. Kopinetz, Ashley J. Maker, Jarrett S. Neiman
  • Patent number: 11256042
    Abstract: Waveguide substrate, waveguide substrate assemblies and methods of fabricating waveguide substrates having various waveguide routing schemes are disclosed. In one embodiment, a waveguide substrate includes a first surface and a second surface, and a plurality of waveguides within the waveguide substrate. The plurality of waveguides defines a plurality of inputs at the first surface. A subset of the plurality of waveguides extends to the second surface to at least partially define a plurality of outputs at the second surface. In one waveguide routing scheme, at least one branching waveguide extends between one of the first surface and the second surface to a surface other than the first surface and the second surface. Another waveguide routing scheme arranges the plurality of waveguides into optical receive-transmit pairs for duplex pairing of optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation
    Inventors: Alan Frank Evans, Christian Fiebig, Claudio Mazzali, James Scott Sutherland
  • Patent number: 11243351
    Abstract: A photonic system may include a PIC and an interposer. The PIC may include a first SiN waveguide. The interposer may include second and third SiN waveguides substantially vertically aligned with the first SiN waveguide in an overlap region of a first waveguide stack that may include the first, second, and third waveguides in the first waveguide stack. Within the overlap region, the second SiN waveguide may include vertical tapering that increases a thickness of the second SiN waveguide from an initial thickness to an increased thickness toward the first SiN waveguide. The first waveguide stack may further include a non-overlap region in which the interposer does not overlap the PIC. The non-overlap region may include the second and third SiN waveguides. Within the non-overlap region, the second SiN waveguide may maintain the increased thickness and the second and third SiN waveguides may include a first lateral bend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: II-VI DELAWARE, INC.
    Inventor: Jin-Hyoung Lee
  • Patent number: 11141888
    Abstract: An ordered, 3-dimensional, micro-scale, open-cellular truss structure including interconnected hollow polymer tubes. The hollow micro-truss structure separates two fluid volumes which can be independently pressurized or depressurized to control flow, or materials properties, or both. Applications for this invention include deployable structures, inflatable structures, flow control, and vented padding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: HRL Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Christopher S. Roper, William B. Carter, Alan J. Jacobsen, Kevin J. Maloney, Robert E. Doty, Tobias A. Schaedler, Adam E. Sorensen, Andrew P. Nowak
  • Patent number: 10989878
    Abstract: An example system for multi-wavelength optical signal splitting is disclosed. The example disclosed herein comprises a first splitter, a second splitter, and a modulator. The system receives a multi-wavelength optical signal and an electrical signal, wherein the multi-wavelength optical signal comprises a plurality of optical wavelengths and has a power level. The first splitter is to split the plurality of optical wavelengths into a plurality of optical wavelength groups. The second splitter is to split the multi-wavelength optical signal or the plurality of optical wavelength groups into a plurality of lower power signal groups. The modulator is to encode the electrical signal into the plurality of optical wavelength groups, the plurality of lower power signal groups, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Raymond G. Beausoleil, Di Liang, Marco Fiorentino, Geza Kurczveil, Mir Ashkan Seyedi, Zhihong Huang
  • Patent number: 10884190
    Abstract: For multi-mode interference (MMI) couplers that have a plurality of input and output ports, e.g. 4×4, a large number of modes may be supported in the multimode region, e.g. >10, as the width of the MMI core grows larger. In order for MMI couplers to form good images, the supported modes preferably have low modal phase error, which can't be achieved using a conventional single layer design. Accordingly, a multi-mode interference (MMI) coupler comprising an MMI core comprising a plurality of waveguide core strips alternating with a plurality of cladding strips solves the aforementioned problems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2021
    Assignee: Elenion Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Alexandre Horth
  • Patent number: 10659186
    Abstract: An optical communications system includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver optically coupled to an optical combiner/splitter, the combiner/splitter coupled to optical media; and, another optical transmitter and another optical receiver optically coupled to another optical combiner/splitter, the another combiner/splitter remotely coupled to the optical media; wherein the optical transmitter and the another optical transmitter are configured to transmit optical signals at substantially the same wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC
    Inventors: Pinhas Yehuda Rosenfelder, Carmi Shapira
  • Patent number: 10135561
    Abstract: An optical communications system includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver optically coupled to an optical combiner/splitter, the combiner/splitter coupled to optical media; and, another optical transmitter and another optical receiver optically coupled to another optical combiner/splitter, the another combiner/splitter remotely coupled to the optical media; wherein the optical transmitter and the another optical transmitter are configured to transmit optical signals at substantially the same wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd
    Inventors: Pinhas Yehuda Rosenfelder, Carmi Shapira
  • Patent number: 10114224
    Abstract: Discrete light fiber inputs for high powered image projector display systems are disclosed herein. Various embodiments disclosed herein may employ a bundle of light fiber inputs, a diffuser and reducing relay optic to convert the fiber input array into a smaller pattern of spots that may be interfaced to a projector display system that may perform light recycling. Many embodiments herein may facilitate higher power laser light for illumination and, possibly, recycling. In these embodiments, laser fibers may be individually collimated and illuminate a diffuser. The diffuser spots may be then imaged through a common path relay that can be resized to allow room for the individual lasers and collimation lenses. The diffuser spots may be imaged through holes in a mirror that is on the input side of an integration rod which recycles the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation
    Inventors: Duane Scott Dewald, Nathan Wainwright, Douglas J. Gorny, Martin J. Richards
  • Patent number: 10109981
    Abstract: Monolithic asymmetric optical waveguide grating resonators including an asymmetric resonant grating are disposed in a waveguide. A first grating strength is provided along a first grating length, and a second grating strength, higher than the first grating strength, is provided along a second grating length. In advantageous embodiments, the effective refractive index along first grating length is substantially matched to the effective refractive index along second grating length through proper design of waveguide and grating parameters. A well-matched effective index of refraction may permit the resonant grating to operate in a highly asymmetric single longitudinal mode (SLM). In further embodiments, an asymmetric monolithic DFB laser diode includes front and back grating sections having waveguide and grating parameters for highly asymmetric operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew Sysak, Jock Bovington
  • Patent number: 10048440
    Abstract: A photonic interconnect apparatus includes tunable light devices, multiplexers to multiplex optical signals produced by the tunable light devices onto optical paths, and a cyclic arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) to receive the optical signals over the optical paths, and to direct a given optical signal of the received optical signals to a selected output of a plurality of outputs of the cyclic AWG based on a wavelength of the given optical signal. A respective demultiplexer directs the given optical signal to a selected output of a plurality of outputs of the respective demultiplexer according to which coarse wavelength band the wavelength of the given optical signal is part of.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP
    Inventors: Mike Schlansker, Jean Tourrilhes, Michael Renne Ty Tan, Joaquin Matres, Wayne Victor Sorin
  • Patent number: 9729267
    Abstract: An optical communications system includes an optical transmitter and an optical receiver optically coupled to an optical combiner/splitter, the combiner/splitter coupled to optical media; and, another optical transmitter and another optical receiver optically coupled to another optical combiner/splitter, the another combiner/splitter remotely coupled to the optical media; wherein the optical transmitter and the another optical transmitter are configured to transmit optical signals at substantially the same wavelength.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: Corning Optical Communications Wireless Ltd
    Inventors: Pinhas Yehuda Rosenfelder, Carmi Shapira
  • Patent number: 9652429
    Abstract: A server is disclosed having at least one processor, at least one primary memory, and at least one secondary memory. The server further includes a primary memory board disposed primarily to support the at least one primary memory; a secondary memory board disposed primarily to support the at least one secondary memory; and a processor board disposed primarily to support the at least one processor. An optical bus couples the primary memory board, the secondary memory board, and the processor board to each other to communicatively couple the at least one processor to the at least one primary memory and the at least one secondary memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: ONULAS, LLC
    Inventors: Emmett Jay Leopardi, Walter Riley Thurmond, III, Carl R. Harte
  • Patent number: 9618694
    Abstract: A technique that does not increase the circuit size, does not make the circuit design and manufacturing difficult, and can reduce insertion loss when light enters from a slab waveguide toward an arrayed waveguide or when the light enters from the arrayed waveguide toward the slab waveguide. An optical waveguide provided with a slab waveguide in which a grating is formed therein at a distance from an end, and an arrayed waveguide whose end is connected to an end of the slab waveguide at a position where a constructive interference portion of a self-image of the grating is formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: NTT ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keiichi Morita, Kazumi Shimizu, Kouji Kawashima, Tomoharu Niitsu
  • Patent number: 9494735
    Abstract: Roughly described, an AWG has two or more inputs and multiple outputs. By selecting the angular spacing among the inputs, and by designing the different inputs to address different orders of the waveguide array, the device can be designed such that the inputs will carry frequency bands having any desired center frequency spacing and any desired same or different channel spacing. For example a dual input device can be designed such that one input carries C-band channels and the other input carries L-band channels, and both have channel spacings that match or substantially match the ITU grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GEMFIRE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hindrik Freerk Bulthuis
  • Patent number: 9465137
    Abstract: Techniques and apparatus are provided for downhole sensing using optical couplers in a downhole splitter assembly to split interrogating light signals into multiple optical sensing branches. Each optical branch may then be coupled to an optical sensor (e.g., a pass-through or an optical single-ended transducer (OSET)) or to another optical coupler for additional branching. The sensors may be pressure/temperature (P/T) type transducers. Some systems may exclusively use OSETs as the optical sensors. In this manner, if one of the OSETs is damaged, it does not affect light traveling to any of the other sensors, and sensing information from remaining sensors is still returned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2016
    Assignee: WEATHERFORD TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Lagace, David Labella, Domino Taverner
  • Patent number: 9348791
    Abstract: Compute clusters to implement a high performance computer are provided. For example, a compute cluster includes an optical redistribution box, and a processor module comprising M processors. The optical redistribution box includes N optical input connectors, N optical global connectors, and internal optical connections configured to connect each optical input connector to every optical global connector such that each duplex pair of a given optical input bundle connected connected to the optical global connectors. A first group of N processors (wherein N=M/2) of the processor module is optically connected to one of the optical input connectors via one of the optical input bundles, and second group of N processors of the processor module is optically connected to one of the optical global connectors via one of the optical global bundles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Evan G. Colgan, Monty M. Denneau, Daniel M. Kuchta
  • Patent number: 9213141
    Abstract: Methods and systems for optical interconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: Wavefront Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas W. Stone
  • Patent number: 9164241
    Abstract: A node for a low loss passive optical hub is provided. The low loss passive optical hub includes a 1:N-split fiber and a plastic-optical fiber. The 1:N-split fiber has a fused-fractional end and N second-fractional ends. The 1:N-split fiber is formed from N sub-fibers. The N sub-fibers each have a first-fractional end and a second-fractional end. The N first-fractional ends are fused to form the fused-fractional end. The plastic-optical fiber has a first end and a second end. The first end of the plastic-optical fiber is optically coupled to the fused-fractional end of the 1:N-split fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Charles Lo
  • Patent number: 9158068
    Abstract: Consistent with the present disclosure, an AWG is provided that has grating waveguide groupings that extend between a first free space region and a second free space region. The difference in length (?L) between successive grating waveguides differs for each grouping of grating waveguides, such that, for example, the ?L associated with a given grating waveguide grouping is not an integer multiple of any of the other grating waveguide groupings. The grating waveguide groupings direct images having relatively small wavelength differences to a given output waveguide, and each grating waveguide grouping has an associated passband, which is similar to that of the conventional AWG. Unlike the conventional AWG, however, multiple grating waveguide groupings are included in the same AWG, such that the spectra associated with the grating waveguide groupings combine to provide a transmission characteristic having a passband that is greater than any individual passband.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Masaki Kato, Radhakrishnan L. Nagarajan
  • Patent number: 9120693
    Abstract: Multi-core optical fiber ribbons and methods for making multi-core optical fiber ribbons are described herein. In one embodiment, a multi-core optical fiber ribbon includes at least two core members formed from silica-based glass and oriented in parallel with one another in a single plane. Adjacent core members have a center-to-center spacing ?15 microns and a cross-talk between adjacent core members is ??25 dB. In this embodiment each core member is single-moded with an index of refraction nc, and a core diameter dc. In an alternative embodiment, each core member is multi-moded and the center-to-center spacing between adjacent core members is ?25 microns. A single cladding layer is formed from silica-based glass and surrounds and is in direct contact with the core members. The single cladding layer is substantially rectangular in cross section with a thickness ?400 microns and an index of refraction nc1?nc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Brett Jason Hoover, Ming-Jun Li
  • Patent number: 9103985
    Abstract: To reduce the wavelength dependence of the phase difference given to the lightwaves traveling through the optical waveguide arms of a coherent mixer, the optical waveguide device includes a first optical branching device branching a first input light and outputting to a first and a second optical waveguides, a second optical branching device branching a second input light and outputting to a third and a fourth optical waveguides, a first optical coupler that mixes lightwaves travelling through the first and the third optical waveguides, and then branches and outputs a first and a second output lights, a second optical coupler that mixes the lightwaves which travel through the second and the fourth optical waveguides, and then branches and outputs a third and a fourth output lights. Here optical path lengths are mutually equal between the first and the second optical waveguides, and between the third and the fourth optical waveguides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Shinya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9069118
    Abstract: A radius of a first core 21 in a large-diameter end surface EF1 of a tapered portion 31 is denoted by r1S, a radius of a second core 22 is denoted by r2S, a relative refractive index difference of the first core 21 with respect to a clad 23 is denoted by ?1, a relative refractive index difference of the second core 22 with respect to the clad 23 is denoted by ?2, a refractive index volume of the first core 21 is denoted by V1S, and a refractive index volume of the second core 22 is denoted by V2S, r2S/r1S is set to be 3 or more and 5 or less, V2S/V1S is set to be 1.07r22?13.5 or more and 1.07r22?11.5 or less, and r2S/r1S is set to be ?3×?1/?2+10 or more.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2015
    Assignees: FUJIKURA LTD., NATIONAL UNIVERSITY CORPORATION HOKKAIDO UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shoichiro Matsuo, Katsuhiro Takenaga, Kunimasa Saitoh, Masanori Koshiba
  • Patent number: 8923672
    Abstract: A passive arrayed-waveguide-grating (AWG) router that can be used to implement the dual functionality of a wavelength router and a 3-dB power splitter for one of its wavelength channels while functioning as a conventional wavelength router for the other wavelength channels. The passive AWG router can advantageously be used, e.g., in a WDM-PON system to reduce the insertion-loss disparity between the various wavelength channels that are being used to broadcast optical signals from an optical line terminal located at the service provider's central office, through the passive AWG router, to a plurality of optical network units located near the end users.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Pietro A. G. Bernasconi, David T. Neilson
  • Patent number: 8923673
    Abstract: An optical modulator is provided which can compensate for a bias shift between an output light and a monitoring light of the optical modulator and which has a configuration capable of being reduced in size with a simple structure. The optical modulator comprises a substrate that has an electro-optical effect, an optical waveguide that includes a Mach-Zehnder type optical waveguide formed in the substrate, a modulation electrode that modulates light waves propagating in the optical waveguide, an optical fiber that guides an output light from the optical waveguide, light collecting means for collecting two radiated lights from the Mach-Zehnder type optical waveguide toward a single optical receiving element, and light intensity ratio adjusting means for adjusting a light intensity ratio of the two radiated lights received by the optical receiving element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Osaka Cement Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kei Katou, Shinsuke Kanno, Ryo Shimizu, Norikazu Miyazaki, Hideki Ichimei
  • Patent number: 8909009
    Abstract: Lightguides, devices incorporating lightguides, processes for making lightguides, and tools used to make lightguides are described. A lightguide includes light extractors arranged in a plurality of regions on a surface of the lightguide. The orientation of light extractors in each region is arranged to enhance uniformity and brightness across a surface of the lightguide and to provide enhanced defect hiding. The efficiency of the light extractors is controlled by the angle of a given light extractor face with respect to a light source illuminating the light guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: Tzu-Chen Lee, David A. Ender, Guoping Mao, Jun-Ying Zhang, Jaime B. Willoughby
  • Patent number: 8861908
    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: November 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Vascular Imaging Corporation
    Inventors: Michael J. Eberle, Kenneth N. Bates, William W. Morey
  • Publication number: 20140211502
    Abstract: According to one aspect, a waveguide includes a waveguide body having a coupling cavity extending therethrough and a plug member having a first portion disposed in the coupling cavity. The plug member includes an outer surface substantially conforming to the coupling cavity and a second portion extending from the first portion into the coupling cavity and a reflective surface adapted to direct light in the coupling cavity into the waveguide body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: July 31, 2014
    Applicant: Cree, Inc.
    Inventors: BERND P. KELLER, Eric J. Tarsa, Zongjie Yuan, Kurt S. Wilcox
  • Patent number: 8705925
    Abstract: An optical waveguide film includes at least one optical waveguide area having an X-direction and a Y-direction orthogonal to the X-direction. Such an optical waveguide film includes a plurality of core portions arranged side by side within the same layer so as to extend along the X-direction, each of the core portions having side surfaces, and the core portions adjoining to each other in the Y-direction being arranged through a gap therebetween; and a plurality of cladding portions provided so as to cover the side surfaces of each of the core portions, each of the cladding portions formed of a resin having an optical refractive index smaller than that of each of the core portions, and the cladding portion between the adjoining core portions providing each gap. In the optical waveguide film, a size of the gap between the adjoining core portions varies along the X-direction in at least a part of the optical waveguide area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Sumitomo Bakelite Company Limited
    Inventors: Shinsuke Terada, Koji Choki
  • Patent number: 8676009
    Abstract: An optical device includes a waveguide slab, first and second input port couplers, and first and second output port couplers located over a planar optical substrate. The waveguide slab has a plane of symmetry. The first and second input port couplers extend from the waveguide slab and have an input coupler pair axis located about midway between the first and second input port couplers. The input coupler pair axis is offset at a nonzero first distance from the plane of symmetry. The first and second output port couplers extend from the waveguide slab and have an output coupler pair axis located about midway between the first and second output port couplers. The output coupler pair axis is offset at a different nonzero second distance from the plane of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventors: Nils Weimann, Vincent Houtsma, Mohand Achouche
  • Patent number: 8582930
    Abstract: A fiber sensing system is provided, including a plurality of ring structures, an optical coupler and a switching unit. Each of the ring structures has at least one fiber sensor to receive and reflect a light source signal. The optical coupler is directly connected to the ring structures thereby injecting the light source signal into the ring structures to form a plurality of loops. The switching unit is disposed in a central office having two output terminals coupled to the ring structure respectively by the optical coupler, thereby forming a first path and a second path in the loops, such that the light source signal is injected into the first path and the second path sequentially by the switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Chien-Hung Yeh, Chi-Wai Chow
  • Patent number: 8554032
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling an optical coupler system. A first plurality of optical fibers is connected to a first receptacle using an alignment system to align the first plurality of optical fibers in the first receptacle. A second plurality of optical fibers is connected to a second receptacle using the alignment system to align the second plurality of optical fibers in the second receptacle. The first receptacle is connected to a star coupler. The first plurality of optical fibers is optically connected to a mixing channel in the star coupler. The second receptacle is connected to the star coupler. The second plurality of optical fibers is optically connected to the mixing channel in the star coupler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Dennis Gary Koshinz, Eric Y. Chan
  • Publication number: 20130216180
    Abstract: This disclosure is directed to scalable optical interconnect fabrics for distributing optical signals over a computer systems. In one aspect, an optical interconnect fabric includes a star coupler and a plurality of output optical fibers. Each output optical fiber is connected at a first end to the star coupler and is connected at a second end to a node of a plurality of nodes. The fabric also includes the input optical fiber connected at a first end to the star coupler and connected at a second end to a node of the plurality of nodes. The star coupler is to receive at least one optical signal via the input optical fiber, is to split each optical signal into a plurality of optical signals with approximately the same optical power, and is to output each optical signal into one of the output optical fibers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Renne Ty Tan, Wayne V. Sorin, Paul Kessler Rosenberg, Sagi Varghese Mathai, Georgios Panotopoulos
  • Patent number: 8494319
    Abstract: Arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) circuits are disclosed, having different radii in the slab regions to supplement and/or replace other mechanical techniques which enable athermal AWGs. Dual band, interleaved pairs of athermal AWGs are also disclosed, with improved cost, space and center wavelength properties, for, e.g., optical line terminal (OLT), and remote node (RN) applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: AiDi Corporation
    Inventor: Katsunari Okamoto
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20130148926
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for assembling an optical coupler system. A first plurality of optical fibers is connected to a first receptacle using an alignment system to align the first plurality of optical fibers in the first receptacle. A second plurality of optical fibers is connected to a second receptacle using the alignment system to align the second plurality of optical fibers in the second receptacle. The first receptacle is connected to a star coupler. The first plurality of optical fibers is optically connected to a mixing channel in the star coupler. The second receptacle is connected to the star coupler. The second plurality of optical fibers is optically connected to the mixing channel in the star coupler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventors: Dennis Gary Koshinz, Eric Y. Chan
  • Patent number: 8340484
    Abstract: In a method and system to fabricate a compact optical device, a periodic group-delay device (PGDD) includes N optical input ports, N being a positive integer number, each port being configured to include one or more wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) channels; N corresponding optical output ports, each port being configured to include one or more WDM channels. The PGDD also includes a first slab waveguide region (FSWR) coupled to the N optical input ports, a second slab waveguide region (SSWR) coupled to the said N optical output ports, a first optical grating coupled to the FSWR, a second optical grating coupled to the SSWR, and; a third slab waveguide region (TSWR) coupled to at least one of the first and second optical gratings. The TSWR is configured to provide a configurable amount of dispersion to the N optical output ports. Optical signals carried by each WDM channel are processed concurrently and independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2012
    Assignee: Board of Regents, The University of Texas System
    Inventors: Michael Vasilyev, Nikolai M. Stelmakh
  • Patent number: 8335408
    Abstract: In the sending and receiving of a signal through an optical waveguide, an unknown substrate connected to the optical waveguide can be recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Sekiya, Ken Hayakawa, Kazuo Haraoka, Masaaki Hattori, Naoki Kaneko, Tetsujiro Kondo
  • Patent number: 8326101
    Abstract: An optimized planar optical router consisting of two stages performing stationary imaging between an input waveguide and a set of output waveguides has advantages of reduced size, larger number of channels and minimal loss variation in each passband. The new router is an optimized M×N imaging arrangement including two waveguide gratings and n waveguide lenses connected between the principal zones of the two gratings. The largest values of N are realized by using a combination of two techniques that increase N without increasing the size of the two gratings. One technique increases N for a given number n of lenses and, the other, increases n. In one embodiment, each lens produces a periodic sequence of passbands, all transmitted from a particular input waveguide to the same output waveguide, whereas, in a second embodiment, the above passbands are transmitted to different output waveguides. In both cases, the loss caused by secondary images is substantially reduced by including secondary lenses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Corrado Pietro Dragone
  • 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: 8280254
    Abstract: An apparatus includes one or more optical de-interleavers. Each optical de-interleaver includes an optical component having a first pair of optical input and output ports and a second pair of optical input and output ports and a 1×2 optical coupler. Each optical output port of the optical component is optically connected to a corresponding optical port of the 1×2 optical coupler. The optical component is constructed to operate as a first optical filter for light propagating between the optical ports of the first pair and is constructed to operate as a second optical filter for light propagating between the optical ports of the second pair. The first and second optical filters have substantially regularly spaced and interleaved passbands.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Christopher Richard Doerr
  • Patent number: 8275224
    Abstract: An optical coherent detector that employs an interleave-chirped arrayed waveguide grating (AWG). The AWG has a periodic chirp pattern that enables the AWG to function as an optical 90-degree hybrid. If the AWG is implemented using a birefringent material, then the AWG can also function as a polarization demultiplexer. In one embodiment, the AWG is designed to simultaneously function as a wavelength demultiplexer, a polarization demultiplexer for each wavelength-division-multiplexed (WDM) signal component, and a 90-degree hybrid for each polarization-division-multiplexed component of each WDM signal component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Alcatel Lucent
    Inventor: Christopher R. Doerr
  • Patent number: 8200053
    Abstract: An optical apparatus including input ports receiving WDM light, an output port, a first wavelength dividing unit that divides the lights input from the input ports into divided lights with different wavelengths, an optical signal processing unit that reflects the divided lights respectively to the first wavelength dividing unit, thereby light from one of the input ports is directed to the output port, for respective wavelength of the divided lights, a light source outputting a monitor light, a first coupler branching the monitor light to the monitor lights to the input ports, a second coupler branching the monitor lights output from the output port and outputs branched output monitor light, a second wavelength dividing unit that divides the branched monitoring lights into divided lights with different wavelengths, and a monitoring unit monitoring the divided lights from the second wavelength dividing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Shinji Komiya
  • Patent number: 8200047
    Abstract: Described are systems and methods that provide tunable true time delay of a signal using a compact photonic circuit. The photonic circuit comprises a plurality of waveguides, in which each waveguide corresponds to a different time delay. A particular one of the waveguides corresponding to a desired time delay is selected by tuning the wavelength of a tunable laser. Additional photonic circuits can be used to provide additional selectable time delays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventor: Anthony C. Kowalczyk
  • Patent number: 8155488
    Abstract: A transmissive active channel element is provided in each signal channel of a monolithic multi-channel TxPIC where each channel also includes a modulated source. The active channel element functions both as a power control element for both monitoring and regulating the output channel signal level of each signal channel and as a modulator for channel wavelength tagging or labeling to provide for wavelength locking the modulated sources. The power regulating function is also employed to control the channel signal power outputs of each channel to be uniform across the channel signal array. All of these functions are carried out by a feedback loop utilizing digital signal processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Infinera Corporation
    Inventors: Alan C. Nilsson, Robert W. Smith, Yishai Kagan, Paul N. Freeman