Frequency-agile laser systems
US4897843A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 21, 1989 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 21, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/107
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A high-speed broadband tunable laser system is disclosed. In one illustrated embodiment, a microprocessor-controlled synchronous tunable laser system is disclosed having multiple tuning elements. The tuning elements can be individual birefringent crystals (such as potassium deuterated hydrogen phosphate) which exhibit electro-optic effects when electric field is applied. Two (or more) of such elements provide coarse and progressively finer control over the wavelength and linewidth. The appropriate voltage values for each element can be stored in a random access memory within a controller and retrieved immediately to obtain a desired wavelength within milliseconds without the scanning delays inherent in mechanical systems.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.