Tunable optical waveguide coupler
US5253314A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 31, 1992 |
| Grant date | Oct 12, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 31, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/3428
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Various optical functions are generated in accordance with the present invention of a novel broadly tunable monolithic wavelength selective coupler which can be integrated with a gain medium to form a broadly tunable laser. The tunable wavelength selective coupler supports a pair of asynchronous waveguides, an upper waveguide and a lower waveguide, in combination with a phase match course grating for coupling optical energy between said waveguides. One end of the lower waveguide terminates at an output facet. The corresponding end of the upper waveguide terminates in an optical signal absorbing medium. The other end of the lower waveguide is terminated to prevent optical energy from entering the waveguide; and, the corresponding end of the upper waveguide terminates at an input facet. The combination of a gain section and the monolithically tunable wavelength selective coupler forms a broadly tunable laser which is an important source of optical energy for a number of applications such as wavelength division multiplexed networks and switching systems. The laser frequency is determined by that wavelength .lambda.o which satisifies the forward coupling phase match condition, .lambda.…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.