High-resolution integrated-optics-based spectrometer
US10914634B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 2017 |
| Grant date | Feb 9, 2021 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 6, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B2006/12159
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A high-resolution single-chip spectrometer is disclosed. Embodiments of the present invention are analogous to Fourier-transform spectrometers; however, embodiments of the present invention have no moving parts. An illustrative embodiment is a spectrometer having a nested plurality of Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs), where all MZIs share at least one surface-waveguide section in each of its sample and reference arms. The light signals in the sample and reference arms are tapped at a series of discrete locations along their length via electro-optically-controlled directional couplers, which are separated by uniform-length waveguide portions in each arm, but where the uniform lengths are different in the sample and reference arms providing a different path-length difference for the arms of each MZI. The tapped light from the sample and reference arms is recombined at a low-loss beam combiner to generate a distribution of optical power as a function of time-delay difference in the arms.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.