Photodetector coupled to a planar waveguide
Granted: August 11, 2009
Patent Number:
7574084
An improved electro-optical system has a planar waveguide coupled to a photodetector through a transparent substrate. The planar waveguide is within a planar optical structure that can be part of optical communication network. The photodetector is positioned to receive light that passes from the waveguide through the transparent substrate. The photodetector can be electrically coupled to electrical circuitry along the transparent substrate for connection to a electrical apparatus.…
Method and apparatus facilitating mechanical beam steering for optical integrated circuits
Granted: May 26, 2009
Patent Number:
7539364
Actuators facilitating mechanical beam steering for optical integrated circuits are disclosed. The mechanical beam steering can mitigate thermal sensitivity of optical circuits, for example, arrayed waveguides. Also disclosed are methods for fabricating optical integrated circuits employing actuators.
Optical steering element and method
Granted: May 5, 2009
Patent Number:
7529444
A 1×N wavelength selective switch which can function as a dynamic channel equalizer when N=1. In an exemplary arrangement, the present invention is a free-space device that includes a linear array of micromachined reflective elements for beam steering of individual wavelength channels. In at least some embodiments the array of reflective elements of the present invention provides a substantially seamless design such that the optical spectrum appears flat across the transition between…
Bi-directional PLC transceiver device
Granted: February 17, 2009
Patent Number:
7492992
An integrated bi-directional transceiver device for multiple wavelength optical signals that has a high level of wavelength isolation at the receivers of the device and low cross-talk of light between an external laser transmitter and the receivers. A WDM planar light wave circuit (PLC) assembly combines high spatial light confinement waveguide structures and a variable thickness dielectric wavelength selective filter (WSF) on the surface of the device to reflect a first wavelength…
Thermal control of optical components
Granted: November 4, 2008
Patent Number:
7447393
A linearized thermal and optical model of an optical integrated circuit can be used to temperature-stabilize one or more optical elements of the circuit using active temperature regulation. To stabilize a single optical element, such as an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG), a temperature sensor and a heater can be provided proximate to the grating. Thermal and optical coefficients can be then used to select an appropriate temperature set-point for the temperature controller that receives…
Stable center wavelength performance in non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit chip
Granted: November 4, 2008
Patent Number:
7447394
An optical device with a non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit over a substantially flat portion of a riser, the riser also equipped with a relief structure that is in thermal contact with a stabilizing brace that is in turn connected to two portions of the non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit. The non-rectilinearly shaped optical integrated circuit exhibits reduced center wavelength drift.
Optical materials with selected index-of-refraction
Granted: October 14, 2008
Patent Number:
7437047
Photosensitive optical materials are used for establishing more versatile approaches for optical device formation. In some embodiments, unpatterned light is used to shift the index-of-refraction of planar optical structures to shift the index-of-refraction of the photosensitive material to a desired value. This approach can be effective to produce cladding material with a selected index-of-refraction. In additional embodiments gradients in index-of-refraction are formed using…
Integrated gradient index lenses
Granted: June 24, 2008
Patent Number:
7391940
Gradient index lenses are described that are integrated within a planar optical structure. The gradient index lens is optically coupled to a planar optical waveguide. In some embodiments, the gradient index lens with variation in index-of-refraction n one dimension is within an optical fiber. The optical fiber includes cladding at least along the edges of the central plane of the gradient index lens. Methods for forming the integrated structures are described. Further optical structures…
GeBPSG top clad for a planar lightwave circuit
Granted: May 13, 2008
Patent Number:
7372121
A method of depositing a top clad layer for an optical waveguide of a planar lightwave circuit. A GeBPSG top clad layer for an optical waveguide structure of a planar lightwave circuit is fabricated such that the top clad layer comprises doped silica glass, wherein the dopant includes Ge (Germanium), P (Phosphorus), and B (Boron). In depositing a top clad layer for the optical waveguide, three separate doping gasses (e.g., GeH4, PH3, and B2H6) are added during the PECVD (plasma enhanced…
Tuning a narrow band filter for telecommunication applications with an acoustic optical tunable filter
Granted: January 29, 2008
Patent Number:
7324265
An optical tunable filter that includes an tunable acousto-opto deflector (AOD) for deflecting a broad band beam to an expander for projecting the broad band beam to a set of grating for generated a tuned output beam corresponding to a deflection from the AOD and a wavelength resolution of the set of gratings. The AOD further includes an RF driver for tuning the AOD with an RF driving signal. The AOD further comprises a directional tuning acousto-optic crystal. The optical beam expander…
Optical materials and optical devices
Granted: December 11, 2007
Patent Number:
7306845
Nanoscale particles, particle coatings/particle arrays and corresponding consolidated materials are described based on an ability to vary the composition involving a wide range of metal and/or metalloid elements and corresponding compositions. In particular, metalloid oxides and metal-metalloid compositions are described in the form of improved nanoscale particles and coatings formed from the nanoscale particles. Compositions comprising rare earth metals and dopants/additives with rare…
Photodetector coupled to a planar waveguide
Granted: September 18, 2007
Patent Number:
7272273
An improved electro-optical system has a planar waveguide coupled to a photodetector through a transparent substrate. The planar waveguide is within a planar optical structure that can be part of optical communication network. The photodetector is positioned to receive light that passes from the waveguide through the transparent substrate. The photodetector can be electrically coupled to electrical circuitry along the transparent substrate for connection to a electrical apparatus.…
Optical materials with selected index-of-refraction
Granted: May 29, 2007
Patent Number:
7224882
Photosensitive optical materials are used for establishing more versatile approaches for optical device formation. In some embodiments, unpatterned light is used to shift the index-of-refraction of planar optical structures to shift the index-of-refraction of the photosensitive material to a desired value. This approach can be effective to produce cladding material with a selected index-of-refraction. In additional embodiments gradients in index-of-refraction are formed using,…
Filter response optimization for an arrayed waveguide grating device by adjusting grating optical path length at nanometer scale
Granted: March 20, 2007
Patent Number:
7194162
A method of optimizing a filter response of an arrayed waveguide grating is disclosed. The method includes the step of measuring a respective phase error of a plurality of waveguide cores of the arrayed waveguide grating. Once the phase error is measured, a respective optical path length of the cores is adjusted in accordance with the respective phase error of the cores. Optical path length is adjusted by adjusting a respective refractive index of the cores. The respective optical path…
Multilayered optical structures
Granted: May 2, 2006
Patent Number:
7039264
Monolithic optical structures include a plurality of layer with each layer having an isolated optical pathway confined within a portion of the layer. The monolithic optical structure can be used as an optical fiber preform. Alternatively or additionally, the monolithic optical structure can include integrated optical circuits within one or more layers of the structure. Monolithic optical structures can be formed by performing multiple passes of a substrate through a flowing particle…
Three dimensional engineering of planar optical structures
Granted: October 4, 2005
Patent Number:
6952504
Three dimensional optical structures are described that can have various integrations between optical devices within and between layers of the optical structure. Optical turning elements can provide optical pathways between layers of optical devices. Methods are described that provide for great versatility on contouring optical materials throughout the optical structure. Various new optical devices are enabled by the improved optical processing approaches.
Reactant nozzles within flowing reactors
Granted: July 19, 2005
Patent Number:
6919054
Improved reaction chamber designs are described that provide for improved control over the flow within the reaction chamber. The reaction chambers contain reactions for particle production from a flowing reactant stream. Improved reactant delivery nozzles are described that are useful for the delivery of gas/vapor reactants and/or aerosol reactants. Improved nozzle designs can result in more uniform reactant flow. Suitable reactors can comprise an electromagnetic radiation source that…
Reactive deposition for the formation of chip capacitors
Granted: July 12, 2005
Patent Number:
6917511
Methods for the production of ceramic chip capacitors include the deposition of at least two layers of electrical conductor and at least one layer of a dielectric between electrical conducting layers. The compositions in the dielectric layer are deposited from a flow in which flowing reactants react to form particles in a reaction driven by light at a light reaction zone. In some embodiments, a plurality of dielectric layers is deposited. Suitable dielectric materials include barium…
Optical materials and optical devices
Granted: February 1, 2005
Patent Number:
6849334
Nanoscale particles, particle coatings/particle arrays and corresponding consolidated materials are described based on an ability to vary the composition involving a wide range of metal and/or metalloid elements and corresponding compositions. In particular, metalloid oxides and metal-metalloid compositions are described in the form of improved nanoscale particles and coatings formed from the nanoscale particles. Compositions comprising rare earth metals and dopants/additives with rare…
