Scott Andrew Merritt

US Patent:

6404793, Jun 11, 2002

Filed:

Aug 30, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/650675

Inventors:

Scott A. Merritt - Vienna VA 22180

International Classification:

H01S 500

US Classification:

372 50, 372 46

Abstract:

A novel device and method of beam steering for semiconductor lasers or optical amplifiers is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves high signal extinction ratios, high speed, low chirp modulation by biasing a multi-lateral mode beam steering section. The device of the present invention comprises an active single vertical and lateral mode optical waveguide, a multi-lateral mode waveguide, and a mode converter. The mode converter efficiently couples output from an active single mode waveguide to two or more modes of a multi-lateral mode waveguide. Two guided modes arrive at a device facet with a particular intermodal phase difference based on initial mode phasing, multi-lateral mode waveguide length and modal dispersion properties, and facet angle. Beam steering is achieved through carrier antiguiding effect by injecting current into the multi-lateral mode waveguide from the mode converter thus changing the intermodal dispersion. Changing the intermodal phase difference changes the direction of beam propagation relative to the device facet, providing enhanced beam steering.

US Patent:

6842287, Jan 11, 2005

Filed:

Dec 17, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/320972

Inventors:

Timothy C. Munks - North Granby CT, US
Andrew Finch - Avon CT, US
Scott Merritt - McLean VA, US

Assignee:

JDS Uniphase Corporation - San Jose CA

International Classification:

G02B 2700

US Classification:

359579, 359577, 385 27

Abstract:

A micro-optic Mach-Zehnder interferometer with a differential delay of n bit periods, where n is an integer number, and thermal bias control is useful as a spectral filter in front of a differential detection system to accomplish a balanced receiver. The interferometer may also be arranged as a Michelson interferometer or a dual-plate interferometer.

US Patent:

7050222, May 23, 2006

Filed:

May 24, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/851179

Inventors:

Anthony W. Yu - Spencerville MD, US
Stewart W. Wilson - Billerica MA, US
Dennis Bowler - Sudbury MA, US
Peter J. S. Heim - Washington DC, US
Scott A. Merritt - McLean VA, US

Assignee:

Covega, Inc. - Jessup MD

International Classification:

H10S 3/00
H01L 29/22

US Classification:

359344, 257 98

Abstract:

High power, low degree of polarization superluminescent diodes (SLDS) are described. A semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) which amplifies light in substantially one polarizaton state can be used to create a SLD by combining the output from both sides of this polarization sensitive SOA in a manner which results in a depolarized output.

US Patent:

7068890, Jun 27, 2006

Filed:

May 19, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/132801

Inventors:

Yakov G. Soskind - Plainsboro NJ, US
Mark Itzler - Princeton NJ, US
Scott Merritt - McLean VA, US

Assignee:

JDS Uniphase Corporation - Milpitas CA

International Classification:

G02B 6/30
G02B 6/26
G02B 6/42
G02B 6/38
G02B 6/36
G02B 6/00
H01L 29/732

US Classification:

385 49, 385 39, 385 70, 385 88, 385 92, 385140, 257184

Abstract:

An optical coupling assembly having an optical receiver that exhibits extended dynamic range, and, more particularly, an optical receiver that is integrated with a Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) to extend the dynamic range of the receiver.

US Patent:

7158291, Jan 2, 2007

Filed:

Jan 29, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/767651

Inventors:

Simarjeet S. Saini - Columbia MD, US
Peter J. S. Heim - Washington DC, US
Scott A. Merritt - McLean VA, US
Mario Dagenais - Chevy Chase MD, US

Assignee:

Quantum Photonics, Inc. - Jessup MD

International Classification:

H01S 4/00
H04B 10/12

US Classification:

359344

Abstract:

A semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) has an overall gain that is substantially polarization independent, i. e. , less than 1 dB difference between transverse electric (TE) and transverse magnetic (TM) gain. The SOA includes a residual cladding layer having different thicknesses over different portions of the gain section. Over a first portion of the gain section, the residual cladding layer is thinner than over a second portion of the gain section. This results in the first portion providing more gain to optical energy having a TE polarization state than optical energy having a TM polarization state. In the second portion of the gain section, however, more gain is provided to optical energy having a TM polarization state than energy having a TE polarization state. The resulting gain differences can be designed to offset one another so that the output has a gain that is substantially polarization independent.

US Patent:

7203409, Apr 10, 2007

Filed:

Aug 16, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/919112

Inventors:

Scott A. Merritt - McLean VA, US
Peter J. S. Heim - Washington DC, US

Assignee:

Covega Corporation - Jessup MD

International Classification:

G02B 6/10
H01S 5/00

US Classification:

385129, 385132, 372 4301, 372 4601

Abstract:

Systems and methods according to the present invention address this need and others by providing SLD devices and methods for generating optical energy that reduce internal reflections without the use of an absorber region. This can be accomplished by, among other things, adapting the waveguide geometry to dump reflections from the front facet out through the back facet of the device.

US Patent:

60279575, Feb 22, 2000

Filed:

Jun 27, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/673222

Inventors:

Scott Andrew Merritt - Vienna VA
Peter John Schultz Heim - Washington DC
Mario Dagenais - Chevy Chase MD

Assignee:

University of Maryland - College Park MD

International Classification:

H01L 23488

US Classification:

438106

Abstract:

A method and a resulting device for mounting a semiconductor to a submount by depositing a first layer of a first metal solder having a selected first melting point and corresponding thickness onto a surface of the semiconductor. Depositing a second layer of a second metal solder having a selected second melting point higher than the first melting point and a corresponding selected thickness onto a surface of the submount. Disposing the semiconductor surface and submount surface in confronting intimate contact and heating the submount and semiconductor to a temperature greater than the first temperature and lower that the second temperature for initiating and promoting liquid interdiffusion between the first and second solders.

US Patent:

61697575, Jan 2, 2001

Filed:

Sep 26, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/938368

Inventors:

Scott A. Merritt - Vienna VA

International Classification:

H01S 500

US Classification:

372 50

Abstract:

A novel device and method of beam steering for semiconductor lasers or optical amplifiers is disclosed. The method of the present invention achieves high signal extinction ratios, high speed, low chirp modulation by biasing a multi-lateral mode beam steering section. The device of the present invention comprises an active single vertical and lateral mode optical waveguide, a multi-lateral mode waveguide, and a mode converter. The mode converter efficiently couples output from an active single mode waveguide to two or more modes of a multi-lateral mode waveguide. Two guided modes arrive at a device facet with a particular intermodal phase difference based on initial mode phasing, multi-lateral mode waveguide length and modal dispersion properties, and facet angle. Beam steering is achieved through carrier antiguiding effect by injecting current into the multi-lateral mode waveguide from the mode converter thus changing the intermodal dispersion. Changing the intermodal phase difference changes the direction of beam propagation relative to the device facet, providing enhanced beam steering.