Gary J Ball

US Patent:

6370290, Apr 9, 2002

Filed:

Sep 19, 1997

Appl. No.:

08/934189

Inventors:

Gary A. Ball - Simsbury CT
Robert W. Ade - Bolton CT
Karl Kissa - Avon CT
Paul Dunn - Westfield MA
Timothy C. Munks - Crystal Lake IL
Eitan Gertel - North Wales PA

Assignee:

Uniphase Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B 612

US Classification:

385 14

Abstract:

An integrated optical transmitter for use in an optical system has an optical head assembly with an optical beam generator for providing an optical beam and a lens assembly collecting the optical beam and generating therefrom a formed optical beam. Interface optics receives the formed optical beam and provides optical coupling so as to minimize insertion loss to the optical beam. Also included is an optical modulator for receiving the optical beam from the interface optics and for providing a modulated optical beam in response to received modulation signals. The optical modulator is coupled to the interface optics to be in a fixed relationship therewith.

US Patent:

55464815, Aug 13, 1996

Filed:

Mar 2, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/397467

Inventors:

Gerald Meltz - Avon CT
Gary A. Ball - Simsbury CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

G02B 600

US Classification:

385 11

Abstract:

A single polarization fiber and/or amplifier includes a non-polarization preserving fiber 10 having a fiber grating tap 12 which has a predetermined length and strength (. DELTA. n/n) and is oriented at a predetermined angle. theta. and has a grating spacing D so as to couple-out of the fiber 10 a predetermined amount of one polarization 24 over a predetermined wavelength range of an input light 16 and pass the other polarization 28 as output light 26, the grating length being substantially the length of the fiber 10. Alternatively, all or a portion of the fiber 10 may be doped to form a polarization sensitive optical amplifier.

US Patent:

55139132, May 7, 1996

Filed:

May 28, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/069231

Inventors:

Gary A. Ball - Simsbury CT
Gerald Meltz - Avon CT
Leon A. Newman - Glastonbury CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

G01K 1100
G01L 124
G01B 1116

US Classification:

374120

Abstract:

A remote active multipoint fiber laser sensor includes a plurality of fiber lasers 12,14,16, each having a pair of Bragg gratings 18,20, embedded in a fiber 10 and excited by a common pump light 30. The lasers 12,14,16 lase at different longitudinal modes (lasing wavelengths) and emit light 32,34,36, at their respective wavelengths. lambda. 1,. lambda. 2,. lambda. n. The lasing wavelength of each laser shifts due to perturbations, such as strain or temperature, applied thereto. The output light 32,34,36 is fed to a spectrum analyzer 50 where the wavelength shift is analyzed. A signal processor 54 reads the wavelength shift and provides a signal on lines 56 indicative of the perturbation at each of the lasers/sensors 12-16. Alternatively, a single laser may be used as a single sensor. Alternatively, birefringent fiber may be used as the fiber cavities 21 and the two polarizations are beat together to form a lower difference or "beat" frequency, thereby allowing lower frequency detection devices to be used.

US Patent:

55349935, Jul 9, 1996

Filed:

Jun 15, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/260136

Inventors:

Gary A. Ball - Simsbury CT
Leon A. Newman - Glastonbury CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

G01C 300

US Classification:

356 509

Abstract:

An amplitude modulated continuous wave (AMCW) laser radar (ladar) system is provided with a dual-wavelength source 10 which provides a dual wavelength signal 12 (one fixed and one chirped) which is launched down a fiber 28 to a target 38 and reflected back along the fiber 28 and the return detected by a detector 52. The transmitted signal is detected by a detector 56. The detectors 52, 56 provide an electrical return beat signal and reference beat signal, respectively, indicative of the difference between the wavelengths incident thereon. The signals are fed to a frequency mixer 60 which subtracts the two beat frequencies and signal processing logic 64 computes the distance to the target 38. Using dual wavelengths and beat frequencies provides a much broader chirp bandwidth than conventional ladar techniques, and allows for higher power sources, thereby reducing range error.

US Patent:

51113260, May 5, 1992

Filed:

Apr 25, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/691264

Inventors:

Gary A. Ball - Newington CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

G02B 626
H01S 310

US Classification:

359244

Abstract:

An optical modulation source provides a pulsed optical signal 44 by coupling a pulsed optical pump signal 13 polarized along one axis of a polarization preserving fiber 24 having a wavelength. lambda. p and a continuous-wave (CW) probe signal 54 polarized partially along the pump polarization axis having the desired output wavelength. lambda. s provided by a laser 52, into one end 22 of a polarization preserving fiber 24. The pump signal is decoupled at the output end 26 of the fiber 24 and used to drive the laser 52 which provides the CW probe signal 54. The pulsed pump signal 13, when present, changes the polarization of the probe signal 54 by the optical Kerr effect. The probe signal is decoupled at the output end 26 of the fiber 24 and passed through an analyzer 38 yielding an output probe signal 44 which exists only when the pump signal is present (or alternatively, when absent), thereby providing a probe signal 44 having a wavelength. lambda. s of the probe signal and a pulse rate (1/T) of the pump signal.

US Patent:

60209860, Feb 1, 2000

Filed:

Nov 21, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/976307

Inventors:

Gary A. Ball - Simsbury CT

Assignee:

JDS Uniphase Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

H04J 1402

US Classification:

359130

Abstract:

An apparatus for use in selectively adding or dropping channels in an optical network includes an optical circulator and an array of programmable fiber Bragg gratings. Each fiber Bragg grating is a narrow ban reflective element which can be tuned on or off of an ITU standard wavelength division multiplex channel so that the channel is either fully reflected or transmitted by the grating. The addition or subtraction of signal channels is operated by a controller which operates the individual fiber Bragg gratings between transmissive and reflective states.

US Patent:

53175760, May 31, 1994

Filed:

Feb 1, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/013117

Inventors:

Frederick Leonberger - Glastonbury CT
William H. Glenn - Vernon CT
Gary A. Ball - Newington CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

H01S 330

US Classification:

372 6

Abstract:

A tunable optical waveguide laser arrangement includes a solid optical waveguide capable of guiding light along an axis between axially spaced ends thereof and being at least in part of an excitable material that emits light in response to stimulation by light. Stimulating light is launched into the waveguide for axial propagation therein and attendant emission of light by the excitable material. Two end reflectors are situated in the waveguide, each at one of the axially spaced ends thereof and extending normal to the axis to delimit a laser cavity. Each of the reflectors is constituted by a Bragg grating consisting of a multitude of axially consecutive grating elements constituted by periodic refractive index perturbations with a given periodicity. The length of the cavity, the peak reflectivity of the Bragg gratings and the gain of the excitable material are so coordinated with one another as to enable lasing in only a single longitudinal mode. The length of that portion of the optical waveguide that incorporates the two Bragg gratings and an intervening region of the optical waveguide is uniformly controlledly varied with attendant continuous tuning of the laser output wavelength without longitudinal mode hopping.

US Patent:

53053354, Apr 19, 1994

Filed:

Feb 12, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/017069

Inventors:

Gary A. Ball - Simsbury CT
William H. Glenn - Vernon CT

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

H01S 330

US Classification:

372 6

Abstract:

An optical waveguide laser arrangement includes a solid optical waveguide having a waveguiding portion that extends along an axis between two spaced regions of the optical waveguide and is of a material capable of emitting stimulated light upon excitation by pumping light that is launched into the optical waveguide for axial propagation through the axially spaced regions of the optical waveguide. Two reflectors are provided, each being disposed at one of the axially spaced regions of the optical waveguide to delimit a laser resonator. At least one of the reflectors is constituted by a Bragg grating consisting of a multitude of axially consecutive periodic perturbations in the refractive index of the respective one of the axially spaced regions that cumulatively reflect the stimulated light at a reflectivity that decreases for adjacent longitudinal modes of the stimulated light with increasing deviation from a central wavelength. The axial length of the laser resonator, the reflectivity of the Bragg grating and the gain of the excitable material are so coordinated with one another as to sustain lasing in only a single longitudinal mode.