Random-access digitally -tuned optical frequency synthesizer
US4914666A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 1989 |
| Grant date | Apr 3, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/06256
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A digitally tuned optical frequency synthesizer includes a laser control arrangement for tuning the laser over a range of frequencies. The laser is tunable in response to different magnitudes of injected bias current. A digital processor determines bias current values which produce the desired different operating frequencies corresponding to a set of Fabry-Perot resonant frequencies. Those current values are stored in the digital processor for ready retrieval. During operation, one of the bias current values is retrieved and is applied to the laser. If the laser characteristic curve has drifted, an incremental bias current is determined and is added to the retrieved bias current value. For future use, this new bias current value is stored in the digital processor in place of the originally retrieved bias current value. The digital processor additionally calculates new bias current values for all of the desired frequencies of operation and stores those new values for subsequent selection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.