David W Nippa

US Patent:

6782149, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Mar 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/098730

Inventors:

Richard William Ridgway - Westerville OH
Van Earl Wood - Delaware OH
David William Nippa - Dublin OH

Assignee:

Battelle Memorial Institute - Columbus OH

International Classification:

G02B 600

US Classification:

385 11, 385 14, 385 40

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

6785435, Aug 31, 2004

Filed:

Mar 21, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/394444

Inventors:

Richard William Ridgway - Westerville OH
Van Earl Wood - Delaware OH
David William Nippa - Dublin OH

Assignee:

Battelle Memorial Institute - Columbus OH

International Classification:

G02B 612

US Classification:

385 14, 385129, 385130, 385132

Abstract:

Waveguides and integrated optical devices incorporating optically functional cladding regions are provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, an electrooptic clad waveguide is provided with an optical waveguide core and first and second electrooptic cladding regions. The optical waveguide core is a substantially non-electrooptic material. The cladding regions are electrooptic polymers defining a refractive index that is less than that of the core. The first and second cladding regions may be configured such that their polar axes are oriented in opposite directions, different directions, or along a contour of an electric field. Additional embodiments of the present invention utilize other types of optically functional materials in the cladding regions. Integrated optical devices according to the present invention comprise phase modulators, intensity modulators, 2Ã2 polarization independent optical switches, high-frequency modulators, wavelength-dependent optical switches, directional couplers employing electrooptic gaps and electrooptic cladding regions, and optical devices with thinned-down waveguide channels and phase compensating elements.

US Patent:

6795597, Sep 21, 2004

Filed:

Mar 15, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/098731

Inventors:

Richard William Ridgway - Westerville OH
David William Nippa - Dublin OH
Richard Davis - Columbus OH
Van Earl Wood - Delaware OH

Assignee:

Optimer Photonics, Inc. - Columbus OH

International Classification:

G02B 600

US Classification:

385 11, 385 14, 385 40

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

6853758, Feb 8, 2005

Filed:

Nov 22, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/302793

Inventors:

Richard William Ridgway - Westerville OH, US
David William Nippa - Dublin OH, US

Assignee:

Optimer Photonics, Inc. - Columbus OH

International Classification:

G02F001/035

US Classification:

385 2, 359245, 359246

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

6931164, Aug 16, 2005

Filed:

Mar 24, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/395835

Inventors:

Steven M. Risser - Reynoldsburg OH, US
Vincent McGinniss - Sunbury OH, US
David W. Nippa - Dublin OH, US
Richard W. Ridgway - Westerville OH, US
John Snyder - Westerville OH, US

Assignee:

Optimer Photonics, Inc. - Columbus OH

International Classification:

G02F001/35

US Classification:

385 3, 385 8, 385122

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

6931192, Aug 16, 2005

Filed:

Jun 25, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/877551

Inventors:

Richard William Ridgway - Westerville OH, US
Van Earl Wood - Delaware OH, US
David William Nippa - Dublin OH, US

Assignee:

Battelle Memorial Institute - Columbus OH

International Classification:

G02B006/10

US Classification:

385129, 385132, 385 40

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

7016555, Mar 21, 2006

Filed:

Sep 9, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/658218

Inventors:

Richard W. Ridgway - Westerville OH, US
Steven Risser - Reynoldsburg OH, US
Vincent McGinniss - Sunbury OH, US
David W. Nippa - Dublin OH, US

Assignee:

Optimer Photonics, Inc. - Columbus OH

International Classification:

G02F 1/35

US Classification:

385 3, 385122, 385145

Abstract:

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.

US Patent:

7076134, Jul 11, 2006

Filed:

Nov 7, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/268156

Inventors:

David W. Nippa - Dublin OH, US
Richard W. Ridgway - Westerville OH, US
Steven M. Risser - Reynoldsburg OH, US
Dirk Schoellner - Columbus OH, US
Louis P. Vassy - New Albany OH, US

Assignee:

Optimer Photonics, Inc. - Columbus OH

International Classification:

G02B 6/26
G02B 6/42

US Classification:

385 40, 385 14, 385131

Abstract:

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.