Digital Optics Corporation

Tessera North America, Inc.

Harris Corporation

Other

University of Central Florida Research Foundation, Inc.

Flir Systems, Incorporated

Digitaloptics Corporation East

Infinite Photonics, Inc.

Flir Systems Trading Belgium Bvba

Eric G Johnson

Alan D Kathman

William Hudson Welch

Charles S Koehler

Michael R Feldman

Robert Dale Tekolste

Robert Te Kolste

Raymond Charles Rumpf

Robert D TeKolste

Richard A Stoltz

Jeff A Bullington

Thomas J Suleski

James E Morris, Jr

Adam S Fedor

Jason Kirk O'Daniel

Oleg Smolski

Pradeep Srinivasan

M Gamal Moharam

A method for transmitting a signal in an optical system includes generating an optical signal along an optical axis for transmission through an optical element, positioning the optical element so that a surface discontinuity is positioned along the optical axis such that the optical signal defines a substantially radially symmetric intensity profile, and launching the optical signal into an input face of an optical fiber such that the intensity profile is substantially null proximate an optical axis associated with the optical fiber.

Optical element and system using the same

A communication system includes at least one optical-wireless device coupled to a longitudinal side of an optical fiber. The optical-wireless device may include an optical fiber power unit for converting optical power into electrical power, and a wireless communication unit electrically powered by the optical fiber power unit. The optical-wireless device may include a substrate mounting the optical fiber power unit and the wireless communication unit to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber. The wireless communication unit may include a radio frequency transmitter, and a signal optical grating coupling the transmitter to the longitudinal side of the optical fiber. The radio frequency transmitter in some embodiments may include an ultra-wideband transmitter. A dipole antenna may also be provided including first and second portions extending in opposite directions along the longitudinal side of the optical fiber.

Communication system providing hybrid optical/wireless communications and related methods

An optical element may include a first diffractive structure having a radially symmetric amplitude function and a second diffractive structure having a phase function. The second diffractive structure may serve as a vortex lens. A system employing the optical element may include a light source and/or a detector.

A waveguide to waveguide coupled hybrid master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) includes a wavelength locked laser master oscillator (MO) first chip including a semiconductor substrate, a waveguide region having a gain section, one side of the MO including an integrated wavelength selective feedback element and the other side of the MO including an integrated reflective or coupling element on one side the waveguide and an emitting surface opposite the integrated reflective or coupling element for emitting light. A power amplifier (PA) second chip is stacked above or below the MO. The PA includes a semiconductor substrate including a waveguide region having a gain section, an integrated reflective or coupling element on a side of the PA aligned with light emitted from the emitting surface of the MO and a coupling grating or turning mirror and integrated lens on an opposite side of the PA for emitting an output beam.

Hybrid MOPA having narrowband oscillator and amplifier with integrated optical coupling

An apparatus which couples light to a fiber from a light source at an input plane while reducing back reflections includes returning light reflected back through such that the returning light does not substantially overlap with an output of the light source in the input plane. This apparatus may include a mode matching element and/or an angular distribution altering element. The apparatus may be reciprocal. The reciprocal apparatus may prevent light traversing the apparatus again having a change in phase of light from substantially overlapping an original object in an input plane.

Fiber coupler, system and associated methods for reducing back reflections

Our wafer scale processing techniques produce chip-laser-diodes with a diffraction grating () that redirects output light out the top () and/or bottom surfaces. Generally, a diffraction grating () and integrated lens-grating () are used herein to couple light from the chip to an output fiber (), and the lens-grating () is spaced from the diffraction grating (). Preferably the diffraction grating () and integrated lens grating () are also used to couple light from the output fiber () back to the active region of the chip. The integrated lens-grating () can be in a coupling block (). The use of a coupling block () can eliminate 'facet-type damage'. A coupling block () is generally used herein to couple light from the chip to an output fiber (), and preferably to couple feedback reflected from the fiber () back to the chip.

Laser-to-fiber coupling

An optical coupler reduces differential mode delay in a fiber by reducing an amount of light incident on the fiber in a region in which the refractive index is not well controlled. This region of the fiber is typically in the center of the fiber The optical coupler directs light away from the this region and/or provides a high angle of incidence to any light on this region. A diffuser may be used to reduce sensitivity of the coupler to any fluctutations in the output of the light source. The optical coupler does not need to be offset from the center of the multi-mode coupler. A phase function of an azimuthal mode of the fiber may be imposed on the light beam so that a substantial null on axis is maintained even after propogation of the light beam beyond the depth of focus of the coupler. A diffractive element generating a beam which propogates in a spiral fashion along an axis allows the shape of the beam to be maintained for longer than a depth of focus of the diffractive element.

Multi-mode fiber coupler system

An integrated parallel transmitter includes an array of light sources, a corresponding array of diffractive elements splitting off a portion of the beam to be monitored, a corresponding array of power monitors for respectively monitoring each light source, and an array of couplers that couples light into a corresponding waveguide. The coupler is preferably a phase-matched coupler. All of the passive optical elements are integrated onto a single substrate or a plurality of substrates that have been bonded together on a wafer level.

Integrated parallel transmitter

A monitor for a light beam creates a monitor beam by deflecting a portion of the application beam and further manipulating the monitor beam and/or the application beam to allow more efficient use thereof. For example, the monitor beam may be collimated to allow an increase in spacing between the device outputting the light beam and a detector for sensing the monitor beam. Alternatively or additionally, the monitor beam may be focused to allow use of a smaller detector and of a smaller percentage of the application beam. The diffractive element deflecting the beam may be either transmissive or reflective. The additionally manipulation of the monitor beam and/or the application beam may be provided by the same diffractive element which deflects the beam, which is particularly useful when the diffractive element is reflective, and/or by additional optical elements.

Diffractive monitor and system

An optical coupler reduces differential mode delay in a fiber by reducing an amount of light incident on the fiber in a region in which the refractive index is not well controlled. This region of the fiber is typically in the center of the fiber. The optical coupler directs light away from the this region and/or provides a high angle of incidence to any light on this region. A diffuser may be used to reduce sensitivity of the coupler to any fluctutations in the output of the light source. The optical coupler does not need to be offset from the center of the multi-mode coupler. A phase function of an azimuthal mode of the fiber may be imposed on the light beam so that a substantial null on axis is maintained even after propogation of the light beam beyond the depth of focus of the coupler. A diffractive element generating a beam which propogates in a spiral fashion along an axis allows the shape of the beam to be maintained for longer than a depth of focus of the diffractive element.

Growing community of inventors

Winter Park, FL, United States of America

Eric G Johnson