Todd J Barrett

US Patent:

6614982, Sep 2, 2003

Filed:

Sep 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/960616

Inventors:

Todd Barrett - San Diego CA 92121

International Classification:

G02B 600

US Classification:

385140, 385 47

Abstract:

A variable optical attenuator is provided, and in one embodiment, a communication beam and associated alignment beam are generated by a beam generating element. The alignment beam may later be sampled by a sensor that can provide a relative location of the alignment beam with respect to the sensor. The communication beam may then be positioned so that a desired percentage of the communication beam enters an output fiber. Information, such as alignment beam offset, may be used to position the communication beam. In another embodiment, the variable optical attenuator may utilize one or more reflecting devices, such as a MEMS device, to provide optical beam attenuation. In this configuration, the MEMS device may position a focused communication beam in such a manner that a desired percentage of the communication beam enters an output fiber.

US Patent:

6680776, Jan 20, 2004

Filed:

Sep 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/960274

Inventors:

Todd K. Barrett - San Diego CA

Assignee:

Trex Enterprises Corp. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G01N 2100

US Classification:

356 731

Abstract:

A method and system for detecting a power level of a communication light beam is disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic switch beam generation element generates a communication light beam that may be received at a beam splitter. The beam splitter may be configured to produce a reflected light beam that reflects a portion of the communication light beam, while permitting at least a portion of the communication light beam to propagate through the beam splitter. A reflected light beam detector may be used to detect the reflected light beam. The power level (e. g. , light energy) of the communication light beam may then be calculated based on the light energy of the reflected light beam.

US Patent:

6731833, May 4, 2004

Filed:

Apr 30, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/846879

Inventors:

Dave Sandler - San Diego CA
Todd Barrett - San Diego CA
Donald Bruns - San Diego CA

Assignee:

T-Rex Enterprises Corp. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 626

US Classification:

385 17, 385 16, 385 19, 385 24, 385 31, 385 33

Abstract:

An optical cross connect switch having a beam generating, beam directing, and beam receiving portions is disclosed. In one embodiment, the beam generating portion receives a number of optical fibers and generates a communication and companion alignment beam for each fiber. The communication and alignment beams may be spatially separated, substantially collimated beams, and are aligned to propagate away from the beam generating portion in substantially parallel paths. The communication and alignment beams then strike a beam directing element where they may be redirected to the beam receiving portion. A beam receiving portion includes a plurality of optical output fibers, each having an associated position sensor. The location where the alignment beam strikes the position sensor provides position information regarding the corresponding communication beam. Using the position information, the beam directing elements may be finely adjusted to direct the focused communication beam onto an optical output fiber.

US Patent:

6968098, Nov 22, 2005

Filed:

Sep 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/960223

Inventors:

Todd Barrett - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

Trex Enterprises Corporation - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B006/26

US Classification:

385 15, 385 18, 385 24, 385 52

Abstract:

A method for attenuating an optical beam is provided, and in one embodiment, a communication beam and associated alignment beam are generated by a beam generating element. The alignment beam may later be sampled by a sensor that can provide a relative location of the alignment beam with respect to the sensor. The communication beam may then be positioned so that a desired percentage of the communication beam enters an output fiber. Information, such as alignment beam offset, may be used to position the communication beam. In another embodiment, optical beam attenuation may be provided by using one or more reflecting devices, such as a MEMS device. In this configuration, a MEMS device may position a focused communication beam in such a manner that a desired percentage of the communication beam enters an output fiber.

US Patent:

7050669, May 23, 2006

Filed:

May 3, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/838070

Inventors:

Todd Barrett - San Diego CA, US
Chris Sexton - San Diego CA, US
Donald Bruns - San Diego CA, US
Dave Sandler - San Diego CA, US
Hus Tigli - La Jolla CA, US

Assignee:

Trex Enterprises Corp. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 6/26

US Classification:

385 17, 385 16, 385 19, 385 24, 385 31, 385 33

Abstract:

An optical cross connect switch. In this switch any optical fiber in an input set of optical fibers, each carrying a communication beam, can be cross connected to any optical fiber in an output set of optical fibers. An alignment beam is added to and aligned co-axially with the communication beam carried by each fiber in the input set of optical fibers to define a communication-alignment beam for each fiber. Each communication-alignment beam is directed within a confined optical pathway to a specific exit aperture in an input array structure. The exit apertures for all of the communication-alignment beams are arranged in a pattern defining an input array so that each communication-alignment beam can be identified by the location of its exit aperture in the input array structure. Each communication-alignment beam is formed into a cross-connection beam by a micro-lens in a first lens micro-lens array. Each cross-connection beam is directed to a lens in a second lens array by two mirrors, a first mirror in a first mirror array and a second mirror in a second mirror array.

US Patent:

7177497, Feb 13, 2007

Filed:

Jun 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/174041

Inventors:

Todd Barrett - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

Trex Enterprises Corp. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

G02B 6/26
G02B 6/42

US Classification:

385 24, 385 17, 385 18, 385 33, 359248

Abstract:

A porous silicon filter for wavelength multiplexing and de-multiplexing. Preferred embodiments include rugate-type porous silicon filters with pores having continuously varying widths with pore depth an optical cross connect switch. In other preferred embodiments, the pores are filled with a material that changes index of refraction with changes in applied voltage, current or temperature. Important applications of these porous silicon filters are for multiplexing and de-multiplexing in fiber optic communication systems. For example, a preferred embodiment is an all optical fiber optic switch utilizing these filters.

US Patent:

8401385, Mar 19, 2013

Filed:

Dec 17, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/653723

Inventors:

Brett Spivey - Carlsbad CA, US
Eric Korevaar - La Jolla CA, US
Hus Tigli - La Jolla CA, US
Todd Barrett - San Diego CA, US

Assignee:

Trex Enterprises Corp. - San Diego CA

International Classification:

H04J 14/02

US Classification:

398 48, 398 57, 398 68

Abstract:

A large communication network suitable for nationwide or worldwide utilization. The present invention overthrows the conventional packet switching technologies with an all-optical network. The invention uses tunable laser sources to generate large number of highly stable narrow-band optical signals, each serving as a communication channel. With packet processing replaced by all-optical channels, the network become highly secure and scalable while harnessing the virtually unlimited capacity of fiber-optic. A large number of nodes (called area code nodes) are connected with all-fiber-optic links with all-optical switches. A routing algorithm provides one or more communication links from each area code node to every other area code node so that information never has to change carrier wavelength as it travels the network. Each area code node contains circuits that are provided to connect individual users to the network.

US Patent:

20050074237, Apr 7, 2005

Filed:

Oct 2, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/677590

Inventors:

Brett Spivey - Carlsbad CA, US
Eric Korevaar - La Jolla CA, US
Hus Tigli - La Jolla CA, US
Todd Barrett - San Diego CA, US

International Classification:

H04J014/00

US Classification:

398045000

Abstract:

The present invention provides a large communication network suitable for nationwide or worldwide utilization. A plurality of area code nodes are connected with all-fiber-optic links with all-optical switches. A routing algorithm provides one or more communication links from each area code node to every other area code node so that information never has to change carrier wavelength as it travels the network. Each area code node contains circuits that are provided to connect individual users to the network.