Don L Clark

US Patent:

6750969, Jun 15, 2004

Filed:

Jul 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/206625

Inventors:

Jenkin A. Richard - Palo Alto CA
Eric V. Chamness - Menlo Park CA
David F. Moore - San Carlos CA
Steven J. Benerofe - San Francisco CA
Don A. Clark - Berkeley CA
Ryan D. Bruneau - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

Gigabit Optics Corporation - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G01B 1100

US Classification:

356399, 359196, 359211

Abstract:

Improved methods and systems for routing and aligning beams and optical elements in an optical device include a multiplexing device and/or a demultiplexing device, which includes an optical alignment element (OAE). The OAE can be configured to substantially compensate for the cumulative alignment errors in the beam path. The OAE allows the optical elements in a device, other than the OAE, to be placed and fixed in place without substantially compensating for optical alignment errors. The OAE is inserted into the beam path and adjusted. This greatly increases the ease in the manufacturing of optical devices, especially for devices with numerous optical elements, and lowers the cost of manufacturing. The multiplexing and/or demultiplexing device can reside within a standard small form factor, such as a GBIC. The devices fold the paths of the traversing beams with a geometry which allows a small package.

US Patent:

6781693, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Jul 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/205835

Inventors:

Jenkin A. Richard - Palo Alto CA
Eric V. Chamness - Menlo Park CA
David F. Moore - San Carlos CA
Steven J. Benerofe - San Francisco CA
Don A. Clark - Berkeley CA
Ryan D. Bruneau - Sunnyvale CA

Assignee:

Gigabit Optics Corporation - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G01B 1100

US Classification:

356399, 359196, 359209, 359211, 359831

Abstract:

Improved methods and systems for routing and aligning beams and optical elements in an optical device include a multiplexing device and/or a demultiplexing device, which includes an optical alignment element (OAE). The OAE can be configured to substantially compensate for the cumulative alignment errors in the beam path. The OAE allows the optical elements in a device, other than the OAE, to be placed and fixed in place without substantially compensating for optical alignment errors. The OAE is inserted into the beam path and adjusted. This greatly increases the ease in the manufacturing of optical devices, especially for devices with numerous optical elements, and lowers the cost of manufacturing. The multiplexing and/or demultiplexing device can reside within a standard small form factor, such as a GBIC. The devices fold the paths of the traversing beams with a geometry which allows a small package.

US Patent:

6844932, Jan 18, 2005

Filed:

Jul 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/205833

Inventors:

Jenkin A. Richard - Palo Alto CA, US
Eric V. Chamness - Menlo Park CA, US
David F. Moore - San Carlos CA, US
Steven J. Benerofe - San Francisco CA, US
Don A. Clark - Berkeley CA, US
Ryan D. Bruneau - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

Oplink Communications, Inc. - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G01B 1100

US Classification:

356399

Abstract:

Improved methods and systems for routing and aligning beams and optical elements in an optical device include a multiplexing device and/or a demultiplexing device, which includes an optical alignment element (OAE). The OAE can be configured to substantially compensate for the cumulative alignment errors in the beam path. The OAE allows the optical elements in a device, other than the OAE, to be placed and fixed in place without substantially compensating for optical alignment errors. The OAE is inserted into the beam path and adjusted. This greatly increases the ease in the manufacturing of optical devices, especially for devices with numerous optical elements, and lowers the cost of manufacturing. The multiplexing and/or demultiplexing device can reside within a standard small form factor, such as a GBIC. The devices fold the paths of the traversing beams with a geometry which allows a small package.

US Patent:

6856435, Feb 15, 2005

Filed:

Jul 26, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/205837

Inventors:

Jenkin A. Richard - Palo Alto CA, US
Eric V. Chamness - Menlo Park CA, US
David F. Moore - San Carlos CA, US
Steven J. Benerofe - San Francisco CA, US
Don A. Clark - Berkeley CA, US
Ryan D. Bruneau - Sunnyvale CA, US

Assignee:

Gigabit Optics Corporation - Sunnyvale CA

International Classification:

G02B006/26
G02B006/42

US Classification:

359129, 359127, 359589, 385 31, 385 36

Abstract:

Improved methods and systems for routing and aligning beams and optical elements in an optical device include a multiplexing device and/or a demultiplexing device, which includes an optical alignment element (OAE). The OAE can be configured to substantially compensate for the cumulative alignment errors in the beam path. The OAE allows the optical elements in a device, other than the OAE, to be placed and fixed in place without substantially compensating for optical alignment errors. The OAE is inserted into the beam path and adjusted. This greatly increases the ease in the manufacturing of optical devices, especially for devices with numerous optical elements, and lowers the cost of manufacturing. The multiplexing and/or demultiplexing device can reside within a standard small form factor, such as a GBIC. The devices fold the paths of the traversing beams with a geometry which allows a small package.

US Patent:

20020135767, Sep 26, 2002

Filed:

Jul 27, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/916624

Inventors:

Jenkin Richard - Palo Alto CA, US
Eric Chamness - Menlo Park CA, US
David Moore - Redwood City CA, US
Ryan Bruneau - Sunnyvale CA, US
George Guan - Fremont CA, US
Steven Benerofe - San Francisco CA, US
Nader Mahvan - Cupertino CA, US
Don Clark - Berkeley CA, US

International Classification:

G01B011/00

US Classification:

356/399000

Abstract:

An improved method for aligning a plurality of optical elements in an optical device, includes: placing at least one optical element in a beam path; fixing the optical element in place without substantially compensating for errors in optical alignment; placing at least a one optical alignment element (OAE) in the beam path; and aligning the beam path to a desired beam path by adjusting the OAE. The alignment of the beam path substantially compensates for cumulative alignment errors in the beam path. The method increases the ease of manufacturing of optical devices and lowers the cost of manufacturing. The tolerances of the placement of optical elements are increased, and the optical element does not need special features for alignment.