Patent · US Expired

Reflective digitally tunable laser

US5396507A · kind A · utility

27Cited by
2References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 15, 1993
Grant dateMar 7, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 15, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S5/4068
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A tunable laser formed on a semiconductive wafer comprising a plurality of monolithically integrated optical amplifiers and a planar optical multiplexer is disclosed. According to the invention, one of the optical amplifiers is activated by energy, which amplifier produces a signal. The signal is carried along a waveguide associated with the optical amplifier and enters a reflective Dragone router, which is the preferred optical multiplexer. The reflective Dragone router functions, in conjunction with the activated optical amplifier, to define a wavelength selective optically transmissive pathway to create lasing action. Facet mirrors are cleaved in the semiconductive wafer defining the lasing cavity which includes the optical amplifiers, associated waveguides and the reflective Dragone router.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.