US 10042116

Here's a concise summary of US Patent 10042116:

US Patent 10042116 Summary

• Title: Techniques for direct optical coupling of photodetectors to optical demultiplexer outputs and an optical transceiver using the same
• Assignee: Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (As of 2026-05-24, the patent is assigned to Applied Optoelectronics Inc., with BOKF, NA D/B/A BOK FINANCIAL holding a security interest filed on 2025-08-01.)
• Inventors: I-Lung Ho, Zhengyu Miao, Qin Li
• Filing Date: 2016-04-25
• Issue Date: 2018-08-07
• Abstract: The patent describes an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) device designed for use in optical transceivers. This device demultiplexes an optical signal into multiple channel wavelengths. The AWG chip within the device features a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) that demultiplexes the wavelengths and directs them into output waveguides. A tapered region at one end of the AWG chip is configured to reflect light from these output waveguides towards an exposed output interface region. This design allows detector devices to directly couple to the AWG chip's output, thereby eliminating insertion losses typically associated with intermediate fiber arrays or other physical coupling devices.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (AWG Chip): This claim describes an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) chip. It includes a first end for connecting to an optical input, a substrate, and a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) on the substrate that separates incoming channel wavelengths. Multiple output waveguides are connected to the PLC, guiding the separated light along a first path towards a second end of the chip. At this second end, there's a tapered region designed to reflect the light towards an exposed output interface region of the chip. Crucially, this output interface emits the reflected light from the same side as the substrate, without the light passing through the substrate itself.
• Independent Claim 12 (Optical Transceiver Module): This claim describes an optical transceiver module. It includes a housing containing a multi-channel receiver optical sub-assembly (ROSA) and a multi-channel transmitter optical sub-assembly (TOSA). The ROSA incorporates an AWG chip, similar to that described in Claim 1, but with additional detail that the first end for coupling to the optical receptacle includes an angled surface to reduce back reflections. The AWG chip's tapered region directs light to an output interface region, which is adjacent to an array of detector devices. The TOSA contains at least one laser package for transmitting optical signals at different wavelengths.

USPTO and CAFC 2026 Dockets:

US Patent 10042116 is currently Active, with an anticipated expiration date of 2036-04-25.

The patent family has been involved in litigation, including:

• A "First worldwide family litigation filed".
• Two PTAB (Patent Trial and Appeal Board) cases:
  • IPR2025-00435, which was filed but "Not Instituted - Procedural".
  • IPR2025-01566, which was filed and is currently "Pending - Instituted".
• Multiple US cases filed in the California Northern District Court (e.g., 5:24-cv-01010, 4:24-cv-09041, 4:23-cv-04787, 3:24-cv-09041, 3:24-cv-01010).
• A US case filed in the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC) with case ID 26-101.