Bae Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Teraconnect, Incorporated

Altera Corporation

Mani Sundaram

Richard J Williams

Axel R Reisinger

John S Ahearn

John A Trezza

Rick L Thompson

Thomas S Faska

Jason S Bundas

Barry R Arsenault

Alan E Tobey

David W Gomes

Michael F Taylor

A QWIP structure is disclosed that includes a graded emitter barrier and can further be configured with a blocked superlattice miniband. The graded emitter barrier effectively operates to launch dark electrons into the active quantum well region, thereby improving responsivity. A graded collector barrier may also be included for reverse bias applications. The configuration operates to eliminate or otherwise reduce image artifacts or persistence associated with dielectric relaxation effect in low-background applications.

QWIP with electron launcher for reducing dielectric relaxation effect in low background conditions

A tunable QWIP FPA device that is configured for spectral tunability for performing the likes of imaging and spectroscopy is disclosed. A selected bias voltage is applied across the contacts associated with a particular detector layer/channel of the device, where each applied bias corresponds to a particular target spectrum/color for detection. Each detector layer/channel can be coarse tuned for a bimodal or dual-band operation (e.g., MWIR/LWIR). Also, each detector layer/channel is configured for continuous or fine tuning within a particular mode (e.g., MWIR/MWIR). Thus, dynamic bias-controlled tuning is enabled. Asymmetric quantum well configurations enable this tunability.

QWIP with tunable spectral response

A QWIP structure is disclosed that is configured with enhanced optical coupling to improve absorption capability and efficiency. A waffle-type light-coupling grating having a pattern of etched wells operates to improve absorption by preventing photons from bouncing out of the detector sensing areas. A post-type light coupling grating can also be used. Parameters of the grating, including its orientation, pitch, and etch depth, can be adjusted to optimize specific color detection. The grating can include a hybrid metal layer including both ohmic and reflective qualities to further improve quantum and conversion efficiency. A 'photon-in-a-box' configuration is also disclosed, where sides of the QWIP sensing areas are coated with reflective metal to further inhibit the escaping of photons. The material design and number of quantum wells per QWIP can be selected so as to exploit the avalanche effect, thereby increasing device responsivity.

QWIP with enhanced optical coupling

A multi-wavelength optical communication system includes a number of emitters each of which emits radiation at a different wavelength; a plurality of the detectors each of which senses radiation at a different wavelength corresponding to the radiation from one of the emitters and a shared waveguide including a scattering medium to transmit emitted radiation to the detectors.

Multi-wavelength optical communication system

The present invention relates to an optical modulator array that uses stepped-well continuously tunable quantum well infrared modulators in order to accomplish electronic beam modulating. The present invention involves a coherent optical beam modulating device to steer an optical beam comprising: an optical modulator array, where said optical modulator array includes a stepped quantum well doped with electrons, wherein the modulator array affects operates as at least one of a phase modulator and a light intensity modulator base upon a voltage bias applied across the modulator array. The continuous tunable quantum well modulator includes asymmetry of the unit cell that allows transitions from the ground state to the second excited state that are normally forbidden in symmetrical quantum well infrared photodetectors.

Optical beam modulating system implementing the use of continuous tunable QWIMs

A semiconductor-based, photo detector device capable of simultaneously detecting two or more selected wavelengths of light on a pixel-registered basis. The device has detector layers of selected semiconductor materials of one micron or less in thickness interspersed with contact layers, each detector layer having a different light absorption to wavelength response curve. All contact layers, including detector bias voltages, have electrical contacts on the backside of the pixel for discrete pixel connection to mating connections on a suitable ROIC substrate. Among its several embodiments, there is a multi-color detector array and a single channel per pixel differential optical signal detector.

Multi-color, multi-focal plane optical detector

A system to facilitate alignment of an optical connector to respective optical channels of one or more optical arrays. Optical planar arrays having multiple optical emitters and multiple optical detectors of a multi-channel optical link are aligned by employing supporting circuitry and software that controls the optical devices, enabling all receivers, turning on the transmitters sequentially, and recording the optimal transmitter/receiver pairs. Another feature of the invention is the aspect of redundancy, wherein the system establishes a record of spare emitters and spare detectors that are used when the selected transmitter receiver pair degrades or fails. The techniques of the present invention also provide a unique multiplexer/demultiplexer arrangement for a single wavelength channel of emitters and detectors.

Self aligning optical interconnect with multiple opto-electronic devices per fiber channel

An array of devices for electronically steering a laser beam. A plurality of quantum well absorption modulators steer a laser beam, either reflective or transmissive, without moving parts and operable at room temperature. The foregoing is accomplished using intraband, also termed intersubband, transitions in the quantum wells.

Laser beam steering system

A signal matrix provides high speed interconnections using optoelectronic elements by detecting wavelength dependent photonic signals at each element of a matrix and re-emitting the detected photonic signals for transmission to an intended destination. Applications include telecommunications and computing, and particularly, cross bar switches and fiber optic bundles.

Integrated circuit photonic signal matrix

The present invention features a packaging system for two-dimensional optoelectronic arrays. In one embodiment, the packaging includes a heat spreader, a housing with embedded electrical interconnections, a substrate including electrical contacts, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) including a hybridized array with vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL), detectors or both. The waveguide assembly includes a plurality of individual one-dimensional waveguides formed in waveguide sheets, wherein the waveguides match the array footprint on one end and a connector footprint on the other end.

Packaging system for two-dimensional optoelectronic arrays

A method for alignment in software and supporting circuitry of the optical transmitters and receivers to their respective optical channels at each connection of a multi-channel optical link to an optical planar array, permits non-critical physical alignment of the connector to the optical array. The steps include: employing a connector and optical array configuration at each connection in which there are several optical devices within the illumination area of each channel at the connector/array interface, employing supporting circuitry and software that has control of all optical devices associated with the optical link, enabling all receivers, turning on the transmitters sequentially, recording which of the receivers is responding, comparing matching receiver sets for each transmitter to identify associated transmitter sets and channels.

Growing community of inventors

Nashua, NH, United States of America

Mani Sundaram