Optimer Photonics, Inc.

Battelle Memorial Institute

Accenture Global Solutions Limited

Batlelle Japan Corporation

David W Nippa

Richard William Ridgway

Steven Risser

Van Earl Wood

Vincent Daniel McGinniss

Christopher J McClellan

Michael James Smith

Dirk Schoellner

Benjamin Scott Rogers

Louis P Vassy

Jon C Carder

Christopher Bryan Paul Barr

Josef Salyer

Kevin D McCann

Paul E Burrows

James E Dvorsky

Alexander Morrow

James Henry Saunders

Kevin B Spahr

C Alexander Morrow

Asanga B Padmaperuma

James H Saunders

Stephen Yen

Hiroshi Mataki

Tim L Shortridge

John Snyder

Richard Davis

Sambhu N Kundu

Thomas J Barnum

Steven M Risser

Implementations include actions of receiving consumer-specific data and ID-specific data from an identification presented by a consumer to a vending machine, processing at least a portion of the ID-specific data to determine one or more of whether the identification is unexpired and whether the identification is authentic, and serving the consumer from the vending machine at least partially in response to determining that the identification is unexpired and that the identification is authentic and determining that the consumer is authentic relative to the identification.

Automated vending machine with customer and identification authentication

Light is transmitted through or from a separator of a battery cell or scattered within a battery cell and received by one or more light detectors. The light that is normally transmitted through the separator is scattered, absorbed, wavelength-shifted or otherwise distorted by an impending fault in the vicinity of or within the separator. The change in light due to the impending fault is measured by a detector and a signal from the detector is processed to identify the impending fault so that a warning can be generated indicative of the impending fault.

Optical monitoring of battery health

Luminescent compositions are described comprising lanthanide-containing nanoclusters comprising lanthanide atoms bonded to at least one semimetal or transition metal via an oxygen or sulfur atom. Novel compositions include an antenna ligand complexed with the nanoclusters. The rare earth-metal nanoclusters are in the size range of 1 to 100 nm. Articles, such as solar cells, are described in which the nanoclusters (with or without antenna ligands) are dispersed in a polymer matrix. Novel methods of making luminescent films are also described.

Organic-inorganic complexes containing a luminescent rare earth-metal nanocluster and an antenna ligand, luminescent articles, and methods of making luminescent compositions

A method of converting a modulated optical signal to an encoded electrical signal is provided. The method utilizes a device comprising an electrooptic sideband generator, an optical filter, and an optical/electrical converter. Initially, the modulated optical signal, which carries encoded optical data, is directed to an optical input of the electrooptic sideband generator. The electrooptic sideband generator is driven to generate frequency sidebands about a carrier frequency of the input optical signal. The optical filter is utilized to discriminate between the frequency sidebands and the carrier frequency and combine sidebands-of-interest to yield at least one frequency-converted optical signal comprising a millimeter wave modulation frequency. The frequency converted optical signal carries the encoded optical data and the modulation frequency is a function of the spacing of the sidebands-of-interest. The frequency-converted optical signal is directed to the optical/electrical converter where it is converted to an encoded electrical signal. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Optical-to-millimeter wave conversion

The present invention relates to the design and operation of a frequency selective electrooptic source. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the electrooptic source comprises an optical signal generator, optical circuitry, and at least one optical/electrical converter wherein the optical signal generator comprises a plurality of optical outputs characterized by distinct output frequencies and the optical circuitry is configured to permit the selection and combination of different ones of the distinct-frequency optical outputs to generate a modulated optical signal, which is converted to a millimeter or sub-millimeter wave. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Frequency selective MMW source

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an antenna assembly comprising an antenna portion and an electrooptic waveguide portion is provided. The antenna portion comprises at least one tapered slot antenna. The waveguide portion comprises at least one electrooptic waveguide. The electrooptic waveguide comprises a waveguide core extending substantially parallel to a slotline of the tapered slot antenna in an active region of the antenna assembly. The electrooptic waveguide at least partially comprises a velocity matching electrooptic polymer in the active region of the antenna assembly. The velocity &#x3bd;of a millimeter or sub-millimeter wave signal traveling along the tapered slot antenna in the active region is at least partially a function of the dielectric constant of the velocity matching electrooptic polymer. In addition, the velocity &#x3bd;of an optical signal propagating along the waveguide in the active region is at least partially a function of the index of refraction of the velocity matching electrooptic polymer. Accordingly, the active region and the velocity matching electrooptic polymer can be configured such that &#x3bd;and &#x3bd;are substantially the same, or at least within a predetermined range of each other, in the active region. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Millimeter and sub-millimeter wave detection

Waveguide devices and schemes for fabricating waveguide devices useful in applications requiring modulation, attenuation, polarization control, and switching of optical signals are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of fabricating an integrated optical device is provided. The method comprises the acts of: (i) providing a support wafer defining an electrode support surface; (ii) forming an electrode pattern over the electrode support surface of the support wafer; (iii) forming a non-polymeric buffer layer on at least a portion of the electrode pattern and over at least a portion of the support wafer; (iv) forming a waveguide core material layer over the non-polymeric silica-based buffer layer; (v) removing portions of the core material layer to define a waveguide core; and (vi) positioning a cladding material in optical communication with the waveguide core such that the buffer layer, the cladding material, and the waveguide core define an optically-clad waveguide core.

Embedded electrode integrated optical devices and methods of fabrication

Methods of attenuating, delaying the phase, and otherwise controlling an optical signal propagating along a waveguide are provided. According to one method, a variable optical attenuator structure is provided comprising a waveguide core, a cladding, an electrooptic polymer, and a set of control electrodes. The core, the cladding, and the electrooptic polymer are configured such that an increase in the index of refraction of the polymer causes a substantial portion of an optical signal propagating along the waveguide core to couple into a relatively high index region of the electrooptic polymer above the waveguide core, so as to inhibit return of the coupled signal to the waveguide core. Another embodiment of the present invention introduces a phase delay in the coupled optical signal and permits return of the coupled signal to the waveguide core. An additional embodiment contemplates the use of a ridge waveguide structure to enable control of the optical signal. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed.

Schemes for controlling optical signals in optically functional waveguide structures

According to the present invention, an improved waveguide device utilizes an advantageously designed optically functional cladding region and an associated modulation controller to address design challenges in applications requiring modulation, attenuation, control, switching, etc. of optical signals. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic modulator is provided comprising an optical waveguide, a cladding optically coupled to the optical waveguide, an optically functional cladding region defined in at least a portion of the cladding, and a modulation controller configured to provide a modulating control signal to the optically functional cladding region. The modulation controller is configured to generate an electric field in the optically functional region in response to a biased modulating RF control signal.

Electrooptic modulators and waveguide devices incorporating the same

The present invention provides for polarization independence in electrooptic waveguides. Specifically, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic waveguide for an optical signal is provided. The waveguide comprises a plurality of control electrodes, an optical waveguide core defining a primary axis of propagation, and an electrooptic cladding at least partially surrounding the core. The control electrodes are positioned to generate a contoured electric field across the cladding. The cladding is poled along a poling contour. The contoured electric field and/or the poling contour are asymmetric relative to a plane intersecting the waveguide core and extending along the primary axis of propagation. The electrooptic cladding defines at least two cladding regions on opposite sides of the waveguide core. The contoured electric field comprises (i) a vertical electric field component within a first one of said pair cladding regions that is larger than a vertical component in a second one of the cladding regions and (ii) a horizontal electric field component within the first cladding region that is smaller than a horizontal component in the second cladding region.

Contoured electric fields and poling in polarization-independent waveguides

A waveguide device is provided comprising an optical waveguide core and a cladding optically coupled to the optical waveguide core. The cladding comprises an optically functional region defining a refractive index that is configured to vary in response to a control signal applied to the optically functional region. The refractive index of the optically functional region is lower than the refractive index of the optical waveguide core. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, the optically functional region may be characterized as a Kerr Effect medium.

Waveguide devices incorporating Kerr-based and other similar optically functional mediums

The present invention present a means for addressing PDL, PMD, and other polarization-related performance issues in optical components and systems. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an integrated optical device is provided. The device comprises: (i) first and second optical waveguide arms arranged to define an optical signal splitting region near an input side of the integrated optical device and an optical signal combining region near an output side of the integrated optical device and (ii) a functional region between the optical signal splitting and combining regions. The first and second optical waveguide arms comprise first and second waveguide cores passing through a first electrooptic portion of the functional region. First and second sets of control electrodes are positioned to generate electric fields in the first and second portions of the functional region. The first set of control electrodes and the first waveguide core are positioned to be TE mode predominant and the second set of control electrodes and the second waveguide core are positioned to be TM mode predominant.

Growing community of inventors

Dublin, OH, United States of America

David W Nippa