Including Optical Element (e.g., Lens, Mirror, Etc.) Patents (Class 398/212)
  • Patent number: 7609980
    Abstract: A first average detecting circuit detects an average of output signals of a pre-amplifying unit that controls an amplification gain based on a result of comparison between an output of the first average detecting circuit and a predetermined reference voltage. A discriminating circuit receives an output signal of the pre-amplifying unit as an input signal and performs a signal discrimination of the input signal based on a threshold. A second average detecting circuit detects an average of input signals to the discriminating circuit. The discriminating circuit receives an output of the second average detecting circuit as the threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masamichi Nogami, Junichi Nakagawa, Masaki Noda, Toyoaki Uo
  • Patent number: 7609982
    Abstract: A received RZ-DPSK signal is guided to an interferometer. The interferometer comprises a 1-bit delaying element in an upper arm. A balanced photodiode converts a pair of optical signals output from the interferometer into electrical signal. A high-pass filter, which has a cut-off frequency equal or approximately equal to the symbol rate of transmission data, filters the signal output from the balanced photodiode. A BPSK demodulator circuit demodulates the output signal of the high-pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Tadashi Ikeuchi
  • Patent number: 7606504
    Abstract: An optical receiver comprises branching units for branching and supplying the signal lights to be inputted to the first to fourth optical waveguides provided on a substrate, second to third optical waveguides for giving delay time differences corresponding to a symbol of the DMPSK modulated signal, a demodulating unit for demodulating two light signals through interference of signal lights between the first to second optical waveguides and between the third to fourth optical waveguides, two optical detectors for converting two light signals from the demodulating unit, and a light path length varying unit for identically varying each light path length of two optical waveguides being arranged through selection of combinations of the first and third optical waveguides, the first and fourth optical waveguides, and the second and third optical waveguides in one region when the wavelength of the signal light is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2009
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Hiroshi Onaka, Takeshi Hoshida
  • Patent number: 7603043
    Abstract: According to one embodiment, a plurality of light receiving elements photoelectrically convert light signals having information signals, respectively. A plurality of first amplification circuits amplify currents of electric signals from the respective light receiving elements. A selecting section selectively outputs one of signals amplified by the plurality of first amplification circuits. A second amplification circuit amplifies a voltage of the signal output from the selecting section, and supplies the signal to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Masahiro Aoki, Yasushi Higashiyama, Masashi Ueno
  • Patent number: 7596323
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating fiber dispersion in an optical communication system including transmitting an optical signal carrying a unique word along an optical communication path, receiving the optical signal carrying the unique word from the optical communication path, producing an electrical signal corresponding to the received unique word, and processing the electrical signal corresponding to the received unique word to produce an estimate of the fiber dispersion in the optical communication system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Broadwing Corporation
    Inventors: Alistair J. Price, Bassel F. Beidas, Terry L. Bittner, A. Roger Hammons, Jr., William M. Kirschner, Daniel F. McAlister, Shou Y. Mui
  • Patent number: 7596322
    Abstract: In a cryptographic key distribution system by the phase modulation using a single photon state or a faint LD light, there is required an interferometer independent on polarization and stabilized against thermal fluctuations in order to make a transmission distance longer. Cryptographic key distribution systems are generally low in cryptographic-key-generating efficiency, and an improvement in the efficiency is demanded. In the present invention, two interferometers are disposed within the receiver so as to require no phase modulator within the receiver, thereby achieving a polarization-independent receiver. The pulses are paired, and the signal is transmitted with the relative phase, and the interval of the paired pulses is sufficiently reduced to set the optical path within the interferometer in the receiver to be smaller, thereby achieving the interferometer stabilized against thermal fluctuations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuya Tomaru, Shinya Sasaki, Kiyotaka Hammura
  • Publication number: 20090238568
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system, apparatus, and method for efficient optical amplification and transmission of a data-encoded optical signal within a networking device, such as a transmitter or receiver. In various embodiments of the invention, an optical duobinary signal or hybrid duobinary signal is generated and shaped in preparation for amplification of the optical signal by an SOA. The deleterious impact of SOA fast gain dynamics may be reduced by taking advantage of characteristics of a duobinary or hybrid duobinary signal (e.g., a relatively lower pulse amplitude and no phase encoded data) and shaping the optical duobinary pulse (e.g., smoothing amplitude swings within the signal and spectral compression).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2008
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Inventor: Ilya Lyubomirsky
  • Publication number: 20090238582
    Abstract: In an optical receiver, a light receiving element receives the optical packet signals and converts the optical packet signals to electrical signals. A bias voltage supply section supplies bias voltage to the light receiving element. A monitoring section monitors an input level of each optical packet signal or each electrical signal and transmits a monitored value to the bias voltage supply section. In addition, the bias voltage supply section temporarily increases the bias voltage according to magnitude of the monitored value after an end of receiving of each optical packet signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Publication date: September 24, 2009
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yukito TSUNODA, Satoshi IDE, Shinichi SAKURAMOTO, Kazuyuki MORI, Toru MATSUYAMA
  • Patent number: 7574143
    Abstract: A device for processing of an optical input signal includes at least a first data signal. A first optical resonator provides a reference signal by optical filtering of the optical input signal. The first optical resonator is matched with a predetermined reference wavelength of the first data signal. A second optical resonator provides a sideband signal by optical filtering of the optical input signal. The second optical resonator is non-matched with the predetermined reference wavelength of the first data signal. An optical combiner combines the sideband signal with the reference signal to form an optical output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Luxdyne Oy
    Inventor: Tuomo Von Lerber
  • Patent number: 7561812
    Abstract: An optical receiver has a voltage supply, a first node, and a second node. A first input of a differential amplifier is coupled to the first node and a second input of the differential amplifier is coupled to the second node. A photodetector is coupled between the voltage supply and the first node, which produces a photodetector capacitance. A programmable variable capacitor having a capacitance selectively matched to the photodetector capacitance is coupled between the voltage supply and the second node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Wai Keat Tai, Kok Soon Yeo, Chee Keong Teo, John Julius Asuncion, Lian Chun Xu
  • Patent number: 7561805
    Abstract: An optical transmitter has a case. The case houses a laser beam generator, a lens, a cooler, and a high heat conductivity member. The lens concentrates the laser beam generated by the laser beam generator and leads the laser beam to an optical fiber. The high heat conductivity member is arranged between the laser beam generator and the lens and the cooler. The laser beam generator has higher heat conductivity than that of the case. The laser beam generator conveys the heat generated in the laser beam generator to the cooler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: FiBest, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroatsu Aoki, Seishi Notomi
  • Patent number: 7561813
    Abstract: A wide field of view heterodyne receiver is provided for enhancing mixing efficiency of a returned signal with a local oscillator signal to generate a heterodyned signal. The returned signal defines a first wave front, and the local oscillator signal defines a second wave front. The receiver includes an optics system, a local oscillator, and a focal plane array. The optics system is operative to transmit the returned signal along an optical path and to focus the returned signal onto a focal plane. The local oscillator is operative to provide the local oscillator signal being directable toward the focal plane. The focal plane array is disposed coincident with the focal plane and is operative to receive the focused returned signal and the local oscillator signal. Upon reaching the focal plane array, the first wave front and the second wave front are planar and oriented substantially parallel relative each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventor: John E. Jackson
  • Patent number: 7558489
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for monitoring the power level of one or more optical emitters are provided. In some embodiments, optical signals from two or more optical emitters are directed at different regions of a photo detector. The photo detector may include two or more spaced contacts that are adapted to receive different contributions of photo current from each of the optical signals. By monitoring the photo currents in the two or more spaced contacts, a measure of the optical power of each of the optical signals may be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Finisar Corporation
    Inventor: James K. Guenter
  • Patent number: 7558490
    Abstract: An electronic receiver for decoding data encoded into light is described. The light is received at an ultra-small resonant structure. The resonant structure generates an electric field in response to the incident light. An electron beam passing near the resonant structure is altered on at least one characteristic as a result of the electric field. Data is encoded into the light by a characteristic that is seen in the electric field during resonance and therefore in the electron beam as it passes the electric field. Alterations in the electron beam are thus correlated to data values encoded into the light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Virgin Islands Microsystems, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gorrell, Mark Davidson, Jean Tokarz, Lev Gasparov
  • Patent number: 7555217
    Abstract: An optical antenna assembly including multiple optical antenna elements, each of the optical antenna elements are arranged in a regular pattern and carried by a supporting body. The regular pattern of the plurality of optical antenna elements is nonuniform. Certain ones of the optical antenna elements are configured to respond to the one or more waves of light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Searete LLC
    Inventors: W. Daniel Hillis, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Clarence T. Tegreene, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7546037
    Abstract: Systems and methods for encoding information in the topology of superpositions of helical modes of light, and retrieving information from each of the superposed modes individually or in parallel. These methods can be applied to beams of light that already carry information through other channels, such as amplitude modulation or wavelength dispersive multiplexing, enabling such beams to be multiplexed and subsequently demultiplexed. The systems and methods of the present invention increase the number of data channels carried by a factor of the number of superposed helical modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: New York University
    Inventor: David G. Grier
  • Patent number: 7532826
    Abstract: Apparatus for demultiplexing a wavelength division multiplexed optical signal comprising a plurality of signals each having a different wavelength. The apparatus comprises a demultiplexer sub-assembly and a multi-channel receiver optical sub-assembly. The demultiplexer sub-assembly comprises a filter block sub-assembly for splitting the input optical signal. The receiver optical sub-assembly comprises an array of photo detectors for converting the optical signals from the filter block sub-assembly into electrical signals. The electrical signals are amplified by amplifier ICs and transmitted through electrical leads. The demultiplexer sub-assembly and the multi-channel receiver optical sub-assembly are actively aligned and fixed together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Beam Express, Inc
    Inventors: Lijun Zhu, Grigore Suruceanu, Robert P. Lombaerde, Jignesh H. Shah, Joseph I. Vanniasinkam
  • Patent number: 7520680
    Abstract: To provide a light-receiving element that is capable of high-speed operation and includes an optical element with controlled setting position, shape and size, a manufacturing method for the light-receiving element, and an optical module and an optical transmitting device including the light-receiving element, a light-receiving element includes a base member provided over a light-receiving surface, and an optical element provided on a top surface of the base member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventors: Tsuyoshi Kaneko, Hajime Onishi
  • Patent number: 7520683
    Abstract: To provide a small-sized and reliable optical module in which a light emitting element and an optical function element respectively remarkably different in a coefficient of thermal expansion are mounted in the same casing, in the invention, the optical function element is mounted on the casing made of first material substantially equal in a coefficient of thermal expansion to the optical function element, a light emitting element unit including the light emitting element (for example, a thermoelectric module over which the light emitting element is mounted) is mounted on a member (base material) made of second material different from the first material and matched with the light emitting element unit in a coefficient of thermal expansion, and the member is, for example, embedded in the bottom of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Opnext Japan, Inc.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Takai, Kenji Yoshimoto, Hiroyasu Sasaki, Masanobu Okayasu, Naoki Matsushima
  • Publication number: 20090097867
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical receiver, in which the transmittance of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer can be locked at a normal operation point in a simple structure and control. A transmittance detecting circuit and a minute modulation signal detecting circuit are provided in parallel after a balanced optical receiver, and a switch is selectively connectable either a minute modulation signal detecting circuit and a transmittance detecting circuit. In the initial stage of frequency pull-in, the switch is set to connect the transmittance detecting circuit to the synchronous detection circuit. If the transmittance detecting circuit detects that the transmittance of the Mach-Zehnder interferometer at the carrier frequency becomes a desired transmittance, the connection of the switch is switched from the transmittance detecting circuit to the minute modulation signal detecting circuit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Mikio Yoneyama, Fumiaki Saitou, Shigeru Ono, Yosuke Takeuchi, Kazushige Yonenaga, Shoichiro Kuwahara, Eiji Yoshida, Yutaka Miyamoto, Hiroto Kawakami
  • Patent number: 7502566
    Abstract: A light-emitting module outputting laser beam emitted from a semiconductor light-emitting element via a lens, the light-emitting module includes a first main plane, a mount portion on the first main plane that mounts the semiconductor light-emitting element, a lens holding portion that holds the lens so that a light axis of the lens corresponds to a reference line crossed at right angles to the first main plane, a semiconductor light-receiving element that receives the laser beam reflected by the lens out of the laser beam emitted from the semiconductor light-emitting element. The semiconductor light-receiving element is positioned on the light axis of the lens and the semiconductor light-emitting element is provided away from the light axis of the lens.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox, Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuaki Kuwata, Hideo Nakayama, Akemi Murakami, Ryoji Ishii, Naotaka Mukoyama
  • Patent number: 7486896
    Abstract: The invention relates to clock recovery in optical communication systems. Optical clock frequencies are recovered from a plurality of optical channels by using a single optical resonator. The optical resonator is matched with the carrier frequencies and the sideband frequencies of the data signals sent at different channels. The separation range of the optical resonator is selected such that the clock frequency of at least one data signal is substantially equal to the separation range of the optical resonator multiplied by an integer greater than or equal to two. The method according to the invention allows the use of different clock frequencies at different optical channels. Furthermore, the method provides considerable freedom to select the spectral positions of the optical channels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Luxdyne Oy
    Inventor: Tuomo Von Lerber
  • Publication number: 20090028579
    Abstract: A fiber optic communications link is disclosed that can include first and second nodes operably connected by a multi-mode optical fiber and that utilizes two distinct optical wavelengths for enabling the bidirectional transfer of data via the optical fiber between the first and second nodes. Each node can include an integrated transmitter/receiver chip that includes a substrate, an optical receiver or transmitter, a filter, and an optical transmitter or receiver. The transmitter of the chip at the first node can be configured to transmit, via the optical fiber, optical data on one wavelength for conversion to an electrical signal by the receiver of the chip at the second node. Simultaneously, the transmitter of the chip at the second node can be configured to transmit, via the optical fiber, optical data on another wavelength for conversion to an electrical signal by the receiver of the chip at the first node.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2008
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Applicant: FINISAR CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hongyu Deng
  • Patent number: 7483642
    Abstract: A receiver for an OTDM/PDM pulse train (10) in which the pulses (12) have alternating polarizations (P1, P2) has a polarization insensitive optical switch (16; 161, 162, 163, 164) for isolating optical pulses (10?) within the pulse train (10), and a polarization selective element (17) for separating from the isolated pulses (10?) at least one component that has a single polarization. This allows to considerable relax the constraints posed on the switch since components in the isolated pulses that result from interchannel interference can, at least to a large extent, be eliminated by the subsequent polarization selective element (17).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventors: Michael Schmidt, Eugen Lach
  • Publication number: 20080298817
    Abstract: A light receiving device includes a frame 1, and a light-receiving element 2 placed on one surface side of the frame 1. The other surface of the light-receiving element 2 opposite to the frame 1 side, as well as the frame 1, are grounded. Thus, the GND potential is present on the one surface side of the light-receiving element 2, while the other surface of the light-receiving element 2 is also of the GND potential. Consequently, there is provided a light receiving device being small-sized and having an effective noise shielding effect as well as high heat radiation property.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 6, 2005
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Toshihisa Matsuo
  • Publication number: 20080298818
    Abstract: A compact optical transceiver is provided in which a substrate provides for an alignment surface for optical fibers and a lens assembly provides the necessary optical paths for coupling to photodiode and photodetector structures. Appropriate electrical connections on the substrate enable the substrate to be directly connected to a printed circuit board, grid array socket, and the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: Aprius, Inc.
    Inventors: Marc Epitaux, Peter E. Kirkpatrick
  • Patent number: 7450862
    Abstract: A detector system for a fiber optic component is insensitive to stray light. Specifically, the invention comprises a detector chip, which converts received light into an electric signal. A baffle substrate is positioned over the detector chip. This baffle substrate has a transmission port through which an optical signal is transmitted to the detector chip. As a result, light that is not directed to be transmitted through the port is blocked by the baffle substrate. In this way, it rejects stray light that may be present in the hermetic package. A detector substrate is provided on which the detector chip is mounted. This detector substrate preferably comprises electrical traces to which the detector chip is electrically connected. The detector substrate can further comprise bond pads for wire bonding to make electrical connections to the electrical traces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Axsun Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Dale C. Flanders, Walid Atia, Eric E. Fitch, Minh Van Le, Randal A. Murdza, Robert L. Payer, Jeffrey A. Korn, Xiaomei Wang, Walter R. Buchwald, L. James Newman, III
  • Patent number: 7437074
    Abstract: A WDM transmission system is provided which can multiplex/demultiplex and transmit wavelength division multiplexing signals, where signal lights have a different signal bandwidth, in a status without much deterioration of transmission quality. In the WDM transmission system, an optical receiver includes a demultiplexing unit which demultiplexes the wavelength division multiplexing signals and outputs the demultiplexed signal lights from a plurality of output ports, wherein each output port has transmission characteristics to be set such that the bandwidth of the transmission band where the light transmits and the bandwidth of the non-transmission band where light does not transmit are different, and the transmission band substantially matches with the signal band of the signal lights that are output from the output port out of the received wavelength division multiplexing signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Kentaro Nakamura, Takafumi Terahara
  • Publication number: 20080232824
    Abstract: A receiver scheme (10) for optical signals in Return-to-zero (RZ) systems comprises a conventional receiver (11) at the input of which is placed an all-optical decision element (12) realized with nonlinear optical elements. This allows obtaining a substantial increase in performance compared with a simple conventional receiver optimised for NRZ signals. In particular, an optical decision is made up advantageously of two non-linear optical loop mirrors (NOLMs) (15, 16) arranged in cascade with an optical amplifier (14) at the input and a pass-band filter (18) at the output. The loops lengths may be different, as may be the splitting ratios of the couplers of the NOLMs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: September 25, 2008
    Applicant: ERICSSON
    Inventors: Paolo Ghelfi, Mirco Scaffardi, Antonella Bogoni, Luca Poti
  • Publication number: 20080219680
    Abstract: Disclosed is a optical receiving apparatus including a balanced receiver comprising first and second light receiving elements which receive respective optical signals from first and second ports of a 1-bit delay interferometer, monitor units that monitor amplitudes and delays at the first and second light receiving elements, respectively, control units that variably respectively control attenuations and delays on the paths between the first and second output ports of the 1-bit delay interferometer and the first and second light receiving elements, based on monitored results by the monitor units.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2008
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventors: Kumi Omori, Tadashi Koga
  • Patent number: 7421212
    Abstract: Detecting a pulse of a signal includes receiving the signal and a light beam. The signal drives a spatial light modulator to modulate the light beam, where the complex amplitude of the modulated light beam is proportional to the signal current. The modulated light beam passes through an optical system and is detected by an optical detector array. A processor identifies a portion of the signal comprising the pulse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: John B. Allen
  • Publication number: 20080205887
    Abstract: An integrated wavelength selectable photodiode includes a device package having an input that receives an optical signal. A set-and-hold, thermally tunable thin-film filter is positioned in the device package and includes an input that is optically coupled to the input of the device package. The set-and-hold, thermally tunable thin-film filter passes light with a predetermined optical bandwidth to an output. An optical element collimates an incident optical beam onto the input of the set-and-hold, thermally tunable thin-film filter. A detector is positioned in the device package and includes an input that is optically coupled to the output of the set-and-hold, thermally tunable thin-film filter. The detector detects data received by the integrated wavelength selectable photodiode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: AEGIS LIGHTWAVE, INC.
    Inventors: Robert Murano, John F. Hazell, Wayne F. Sharfin, Mark Lourie, Bei P. Wang
  • Patent number: 7415212
    Abstract: A transmitter formed of two or more light-emitting sections such as LEDs, which are physically arranged in a predetermined manner, is disposed in the real world object, and each light-emitting section transmits data by flashing at a flashing pattern representing the transmission data of a predetermined bit length. A receiver, on the other hand, includes a photoreceiving section formed from a two-dimensional photoreceiving surface, decodes the transmission data on the basis of the photoreceived flashing pattern, and recognizes the spatial information of an object on the basis of the flashing position on the two-dimensional photoreceiving surface. Therefore, information, such as an ID, can be obtained from the object in the real world, and also, the spatial position of the object can be recognized at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Matsushita, Junichi Rekimoto, Shigeru Tajima, Yuji Ayatsuka, Michimune Kohno
  • Patent number: 7411725
    Abstract: A demodulator includes: a Michelson interferometer having: a half-mirror which splits an optical signal, emits a first split light to a first optical path, and emits a second split light to a second optical path; a first reflector which reflects the first split light to the half-mirror; and a second reflector which reflects the second split light to the half-mirror, wherein the half-mirror recombines the first split light and the second split light, and emits a recombined optical signal while splitting the recombined optical signal; and an balanced optical detector which receives the recombined optical signals from the Michelson interferometer, and generates a demodulated signal based on the two recombined optical signals. The length difference between the first optical path and the second optical path is set so that the second split light has a delay time equal to a one-bit period, with respect to the first split light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2008
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Suzuki, Yoshihiro Sanpei, Morio Wada
  • Patent number: 7406263
    Abstract: In an adaptive optics module, wavefront sensing and data detection are implemented in a single device. For example, an optical-to-electrical converter converts a data-encoded optical beam to an intermediate electrical signal, which contains both the data encoded in the beam and also wavefront information about the beam. The data and wavefront information are later separated, for example by frequency filtering.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Assignee: AOptix Technologies
    Inventors: J. Elon Graves, Malcolm J Northcott, J. Christopher Shelton
  • Publication number: 20080175603
    Abstract: An optical receiver for visible light communication includes a lens system for converging visible light for light communication and an optical filter for passing converged visible light to the optical receiver. A photoelectric transmission device detects data from visible light for light communication in a VLC system. An optical filter is positioned between the lens system and the photoelectric transmission device, the optical filter having a first film for transmitting visible light and a second film arranged/grown around the first film to transmit ultraviolet rays or infrared rays. A first optical detects data from visible light passing through the first film of the optical filter. A second optical detector detects the intensity of light transmitting the second film. The encoding, encoding rate or intensity of the optical transmitted signal can be adjusted in response to the detection of at least the second optical detector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Publication date: July 24, 2008
    Inventors: Jae-Seung Son, Eun-Tae Won, Jong-Hoon Ann
  • Publication number: 20080165310
    Abstract: There is provided an infrared signal receiver which includes a photo-detector unit receiving light in a predetermined infrared wavelength region, sent from a remote operating unit; and an optical element disposed in front of the photo-detector unit, allowing the light of the predetermined infrared wavelength region to transmit therethrough in preference to other infrared wavelength region. In the receiver, the predetermined signal wavelength region is a region of 930 nm or longer and 960 nm or shorter, and mean transmittance of light of the optical element in the predetermined signal wavelength region is larger than mean transmittance of light in a region of 900 nm or longer and shorter than 930 nm, and/or, mean transmittance of light in a region of longer than 960 nm and 1,020 nm or shorter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Masaharu Senoue, Kazuhiko Morisawa, Takashi Watanabe, Shunichi Kajiya, Kenichi Sasaki, Hitomi Madokoro, Yuji Takahashi, Rie Tsubo
  • Publication number: 20080166136
    Abstract: A unitary optical receiver assembly is formed to include a V-groove passively aligned with a first aspheric lens (the lens formed along a surface perpendicular to the V-groove). An optical fiber is disposed along the V-groove and is used to bring the received optical signal into the unitary assembly. Upon passing through the first aspheric lens, the received optical signal will intercept a 45° turning mirror wall that directs the signal downward, through a second aspheric lens (also molded in the unitary assembly), and then into a photosensitive device. Advantageously, the photosensitive device is disposed in passive alignment with the second aspheric lens, allowing for a received signal to be coupled from an incoming optical fiber to a photosensitive device without needing any type of active alignment therebetween.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Inventors: Dincer Birincioglu, Rajesh Dighde, Mary Nadeau, David Piede, Wenhong Qin
  • Patent number: 7394995
    Abstract: An optical receiver is disclosed comprising an erbium-doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) that is coupled to a photodiode and transimpedance amplifier without filtering output light signal in the EDFA. Optionally, a clock/data regenerator can be coupled to the electrical output of the transimpedance amplifier for compensating for noise distortion and timing jitter for affecting the control loop feeding back for adjusting the electrical current into a pump laser of an optical pre-amplifier. Furthermore, the optical receiver of the present invention can also be implemented in a transponder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Avanex Corporation
    Inventors: Emmanuel Audic, Franck Deblock, Elisabeth Leclerc, Gilles Sorhouetgary, Alexandre Sherr, Henri Jean Egger
  • Patent number: 7376359
    Abstract: The invention discloses a digital adjusting method for an optical receiver module, and the method implements real-time monitor of parameters, on-line adjustment and non-linear compensation. The digital optical receiver module includes elements as follow: a voltage output circuit of optical power detection 24, a DC/DC voltage boost circuit 22 and a bias voltage adjusting unit which is consisted of an optical-electronic conversion circuit 21; a digital adjusting unit 25, an analog-digital converter (A/D converter) 26 and a memory 27. The digital adjusting unit 25 makes on-line adjustment and implements temperature compensation and dark current compensation of the optical receiver module. The A/D converter 26 monitors the optical power, the working temperature and the bias voltage of the optical detector in real time. The memory 27 stores parameters of the optical receiver module for comparison with a detected optical power and measured temperature etc. and for on-line interrogation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Zhenyu Tang
  • Patent number: 7373044
    Abstract: An optical link module of the present invention for connecting light beams by deflection and including light-emitting devices arranged in a planar manner; an optical fiber bundle that is an optical waveguide for receiving the light beams from the light-emitting devices, and an optical turn which includes a plurality of aspherical lenses which are disposed between the light-emitting devices and the optical fiber bundle and are formed while corresponding to the number of the light-emitting devices and the number of optical fibers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuo Sekiya, Tadashi Fukuzawa
  • Patent number: 7366428
    Abstract: An optical receiver includes a light-receiving part and a control part. The light-receiving part includes an APD, a PIN-PD, and a branching optical device. First signal light is incident on the light-receiving part and is divided into second signal light and third signal light which are incident on the APD and the PIN-PD, respectively, by the branching optical device. Due to this structure, the third signal light is incident on the PIN-PD without the quantity thereof being varied depending on the polarization state of the first signal light. The control part generates a supply voltage at which a desired avalanche multiplication factor is obtained in the APD on the basis of the output current from the PIN-PD. According to the above-described structure, the avalanche multiplication factor of the APD is accurately controlled on the basis of the output current of the PIN-PD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Indutries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiki Kuhara, Mitsuaki Nishie, Shigeo Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7348551
    Abstract: A remote-control light receiving unit includes a remote-control light receiving unit body having a lens portion, and a light guiding member that guides transmission signal light received from a remote-control transmitter to the lens portion. In the remote-control light receiving unit body, at least a photoelectric conversion device and a signal processing device that processes an electric signal received from the photoelectric conversion device are mounted on a lead frame, and encapsulated in a light permeable resin. The light guiding member has a terminal end surface that emits the transmission signal light toward the lens portion. The light guiding member is disposed with at least a part of the terminal end surface in close contact with the lens portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshida
  • Patent number: 7343104
    Abstract: An optical differential phase shift key (DPSK) receiver, a method of demodulating an optical DPSK modulated signal and an optical processor capable of operating as either a DPSK receiver or DPSK transmitter. In one embodiment, the DPSK receiver includes: (1) an optical waveguide and a delay line associated therewith configured to receive simultaneously an optical DPSK modulated signal, (2) a coupler having at least two inputs and at least four outputs, the at least two inputs configured to terminate the optical waveguide and the delay line, the delay line having a path length difference that delays the optical DPSK modulated signal by at least one timeslot relative to the optical waveguide and (3) photodetectors associated with the at least four outputs and configured to provide signals indicative of digital data contained in components of the optical DPSK modulated signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher R. Doerr, Douglas M. Gill
  • Publication number: 20080056734
    Abstract: A radio transmitter integrated circuit includes a photodiode array circuit, a digital conversion module, a transmit baseband processing module, an analog conversion module, an up-conversion module, and a power amplifier circuit. The photodiode array circuit is coupled to convert received light into electrical image signals. The digital conversion module is coupled to convert the electrical image signals into digital image signals. The transmit baseband processing module is coupled to convert the digital image signals into digital transmit baseband or low IF signals. The analog conversion module, the up-conversion module, and the power amplifier circuit are coupled to convert the digital transmit baseband or low IF signals into transmit radio frequency (RF) signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Publication date: March 6, 2008
    Applicant: Broadcom Corporation, a California Corporation
    Inventor: Ahmadreza (Reza) Rofougaran
  • Publication number: 20080050126
    Abstract: A control module is configured to receive one or more input signals. An optical selection network includes a plurality of optical input ports configured to receive respective optical waves at an operative wavelength, and at least one optical output port configured to provide an optical wave at the optical wavelength. The optical selection network is configured to receive one or more control signals from the control module, and in response to the control signals, provide a high transmission path for the operative wavelength from an optical input port, determined by the input signals, to the optical output port at a predetermined time with respect to a time reference in at least one of the input signals, and provide a low transmission path for the operative wavelength from each of a plurality of optical input ports, determined by the input signals, to the optical output port at the predetermined time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Shapiro, Franco N. C. Wong
  • Publication number: 20080050127
    Abstract: A micro-optic dual beam-splitter assembly comprises at least two beam-splitter optical filters and at least one photoreceptor. Each of the beam-splitter optical filters comprises an optical substrate having at least a coated or uncoated optical tap surface and a filter surface carrying a thin-film optical filter. The thin-film optical filters are substantially normal to the optical path from an optical signal source. Each of the optical tap surfaces is operative as an optical beam splitter to tap off an optical tap signal. The one or more photoreceptors are arranged to receive both or at least one of the optical tap signals. The tap signals comprise a portion of the optical signals passed along the optical path to the optical filter chips. The filter chips are cooperatively transmissive to an optical signal output port of a selected set of wavelengths received from the optical signal source along the optical path, and are reflective of other wavelengths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: Bookham Technology plc
    Inventors: Rad Sommer, Jill Oosterom, Claude Gamache
  • Publication number: 20080050128
    Abstract: At least a plurality of light-receiving regions for receiving remote control signals, respectively, in a form of incident light and performing photoelectric conversion of the signals are provided in one common mold package. The remote control receiver includes a first signal processing circuit for adding up signals outputted by the plurality of light-receiving regions and, based on a resulting signal, demodulating and outputting the remote control signal. The remote control receiver also includes a second signal processing circuit for calculating a difference between the signals outputted by the plurality of light-receiving regions to obtain and output a directional signal representing a direction in which the incident light has been incident on the plurality of light-receiving regions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Inventors: Takehisa Ishihara, Hideo Wada
  • Patent number: 7336908
    Abstract: An optical communication system configured to operate with optical signals at lower signal to noise ratios than previously contemplated. The communication system includes a receiver having an optical pre-processor coupled between a demultiplexer and a detector. The optical pre-processor includes either an optical polarization section having a polarization rotator and an optical polarizer, a phase modulation section that includes a phase modulator and a dispersion element and a clock recovery circuit, or an amplitude modulation section that includes an amplitude modulator clock recovery circuit and a spectral shaping filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Tyco Telecommunications (US) Inc.
    Inventors: Neal S. Bergano, Alexei N. Pilipetskii, M. Imran Hayee
  • Patent number: 7330657
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for demultiplexing multiple wavelengths of light. In one embodiment, an optical signal having a plurality of wavelengths is provided to an optical-to-electrical (OE) circuit configured to convert optical signals into electrical signals. The optical signal may include a plurality of wavelengths. The OE circuit converts the optical signal into a first electrical signal. The first electrical signal is received by a demodulating circuit, which also receives a demodulating signal. The demodulating circuit combines both the first electrical signal and the demodulating signal in order to produce a second electrical signal. Both the second electrical signal and the demodulating signal correspond to one of the wavelengths in the optical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: Bookham Technology PLC
    Inventor: Andrew C. Davidson