Joona Koponen

Title: Joona Koponen: Innovator in Optical Waveguide Technology

Introduction

Joona Koponen is a prominent inventor based in Vantaa, Finland. He has made significant contributions to the field of optical waveguide technology, holding a total of 10 patents. His innovative work focuses on enhancing mixed-reality experiences through advanced optical systems.

Latest Patents

One of Joona Koponen's latest patents is the "Waveguide Combiner with Stacked Plates." This invention discloses a mixed-reality optical waveguide-based combiner apparatus that includes stacked plates of reflective optical elements (ROEs) and associated methods of fabrication. The ROEs in the plates share a commonly shaped and sized footprint and are aligned in the stack. The top plate includes an input coupler, such as a prism, for in-coupling light for virtual images from a display engine into the waveguide combiner. Additionally, the top plate features a top ROE comprising a cascaded array of mirror elements that horizontally expands the exit pupil of the virtual images and couples the light to a corresponding bottom ROE in the stack. The bottom ROE then couples the virtual image light to an output coupler in the bottom plate, which out-couples light from the waveguide combiner.

Another notable patent is the "Spun Round Core Fiber." This invention describes optical waveguide cores with refractive index profiles that vary angularly about a propagation axis, allowing for single-mode operation with larger core diameters than conventional waveguides. The optical waveguide comprises a core that extends along a propagation axis and has a refractive index profile that varies angularly about this axis. The cladding is disposed around the core and extends along the propagation axis, enhancing the performance of the optical system.

Career Highlights

Joona Koponen has worked with notable companies in the optical technology sector, including Nlight, Incorporated and Nlight Photonics Corporation. His experience in these organizations has contributed to his expertise in developing innovative optical solutions.

Collaborations

Throughout his career, Joona has collaborated with talented individuals such as Changgeng Ye and Ossi Kimmelma. These partnerships have fostered a creative environment that has led to groundbreaking advancements in optical technology.

Conclusion

Joona Koponen is a distinguished inventor whose work in optical waveguide technology has paved the way for advancements in mixed-reality