Samuel Bruce Weaver

US Patent:

6766081, Jul 20, 2004

Filed:

Feb 13, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/782882

Inventors:

Samuel P. Weaver - Boulder CO
Raymond F. Cahill - Boulder CO

Assignee:

PTS Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B 632

US Classification:

385 39, 385 33, 398 81, 398 88

Abstract:

An optical arrangement and method are provided for receiving a light beam having a plurality of spectral bands and directing subsets of the spectral bands along optical paths to respective optical elements. The light beam is received at an input port. The optical elements which route the spectral bands are configured as a substantially planar array. A dispersive element is configured to angularly spread the light beam, after it has been collimated, into a plurality of angularly separated beams that correspond to the plurality of spectral bands. A first focusing element is disposed with respect to the dispersive element and with respect to the array of optical elements such that variation of focal length with wavelength of the separated beams is compensated by the field curvature of the optical system, and the final image surface is flattened.

US Patent:

6781730, Aug 24, 2004

Filed:

Sep 12, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/243924

Inventors:

Samuel P. Weaver - Boulder CO
Anthony W. Sarto - Platteville CO

Assignee:

PTS Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B 2608

US Classification:

359212, 359254, 359318

Abstract:

A method and apparatus are provided for spectral grooming of light having a multiple spectral bands. The light is received at an input port and encounters an optical train disposed between the input port and at least one output port. The optical train provides optical paths for routing the spectral bands and includes a dispersive element disposed to intercept light traveling from the input port. An attenuation mechanism is provided for independently attenuating the individual spectral bands. The attenuation mechanism has multiple configurable attenuation elements disposed so that each spectral band is attenuated in accordance with a state of one of the configurable attenuation elements.

US Patent:

6845187, Jan 18, 2005

Filed:

Sep 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/658158

Inventors:

Samuel P. Weaver - Boulder CO, US
Robert T. Weverka - Boulder CO, US
Richard S. Roth - Boulder CO, US

Assignee:

PTS Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B 626
H04J 1400

US Classification:

385 18, 385 15, 385 16, 385 17, 398 48, 398 49, 398 50, 398 82

Abstract:

An optical routing apparatus that allows flexible and effective routing of optical signals between input and output ports is provided. The apparatus makes use of one or more linearly actuated mirrors, with different routing configurations of the optical signals resulting from different mirror positions. For each such mirror, the linear actuation is may be performed along an axis that is either parallel or perpendicular to the mirror surface.

US Patent:

6873755, Mar 29, 2005

Filed:

Dec 20, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/747064

Inventors:

Robert Anderson - Boulder CO, US
Samuel P. Weaver - Boulder CO, US

Assignee:

PTS Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B006/26
G02B006/42

US Classification:

385 18, 385 16, 385 17, 385 20, 385 21, 385 31, 385 39, 385 47, 359223, 359226, 359627, 359877, 398 45, 398 48, 398 49

Abstract:

An optical routing apparatus and method that achieves improved optical signal reintegration is disclosed. The optical routing apparatus includes an input port, such as may be provided at the end of an optical fiber. The signal may be routed to one or more of a plurality of output ports, such as may also be provided at the end of an optical fiber, each output port being configured to receive the optical signal. The routing between the input port and the output ports is accomplished with an optical switching arrangement that may shift among multiple distinct optical configurations, each configuration being such as to direct the optical signal to one of the output ports. The ports are positioned such that the input port and at least one of the output ports lie in different parallel planes, each such plane being orthogonal to a path along which the optical signal is provided by the input port or received by one of the output ports.

US Patent:

6959132, Oct 25, 2005

Filed:

Mar 13, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/099392

Inventors:

Nicholas Charles Cizek - Superior CO, US
Samuel Paul Weaver - Boulder CO, US

Assignee:

PTS Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B006/26

US Classification:

385 47, 385 37, 385 26, 385 18, 359226, 359515

Abstract:

Retroreflecting elements adapted for use in one-to-M wavelength routing elements are provided. Each retroreflecting element is configured to retroreflect an optical ray that is orthogonal to a reference plane. A first reflective surface, such as may be provided by a mirror, is inclined with respect to the reference plane and is disposed to encounter the optical ray. The first reflective surface is also configured for rotation about an axis to multiple positions. A second reflective surface, such as may also be provided by a mirror, is inclined with respect to the first reflective surface. In at least one of the positions, the optical ray also encounters the second reflective surface.

US Patent:

7155084, Dec 26, 2006

Filed:

May 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/150810

Inventors:

Edward J. Bortolini - Nederland CO, US
Dirk Barthel - Westminster CO, US
Robert T. Weverka - Boulder CO, US
Samuel Paul Weaver - Boulder CO, US

Assignee:

Altera Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B 6/28
H04B 10/08

US Classification:

385 24, 385 16, 385 17, 385 18, 398 49

Abstract:

Bidirectional wavelength cross connects include a plurality of ports, each configured to receive an input optical signals, each input optical signal having a plurality of spectral bands. At least one of the plurality of ports is disposed to simultaneously transmit an output optical signal having at least one of the spectral bands. A plurality of wavelength routing elements are configured to selectively route input optical signal spectral bands to output optical signals.

US Patent:

7349594, Mar 25, 2008

Filed:

Nov 30, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/565133

Inventors:

Edward J. Bortolini - Nederland CO, US
Dirk Barthel - Westminster CO, US
Robert T. Weverka - Boulder CO, US
Samuel Paul Weaver - Boulder CO, US

Assignee:

Altera Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B 6/28

US Classification:

385 24, 385 16, 385 17, 385 18, 398 49

Abstract:

Bidirectional wavelength cross connects include a plurality of ports, each configured to receive an input optical signals, each input optical signal having a plurality of spectral bands. At least one of the plurality of ports is disposed to simultaneously transmit an output optical signal having at least one of the spectral bands. A plurality of wavelength routing elements are configured to selectively route input optical signal spectral bands to output optical signals.

US Patent:

7694514, Apr 13, 2010

Filed:

Nov 21, 2007

Appl. No.:

11/944147

Inventors:

Lee S. Smith - Boulder CO, US
Samuel P. Weaver - Boulder CO, US
Brian P. Nuel - Nederland CO, US
William H. Vermeer - Longmont CO, US

Assignee:

Cool Energy, Inc. - Boulder CO

International Classification:

F01B 29/10
F02G 1/04
F25B 9/00

US Classification:

60517, 60521, 62 6

Abstract:

Systems and methods for operating a thermodynamic engine are disclosed. The systems and methods may effect cyclic motion of a working fluid between hot and cold regions of a thermodynamic engine and inject a dispersible material into the working fluid at the hot or cold region during a heat-addition or heat-rejection process. The system and methods may also evacuate the dispersible material from the hot or cold region.