Optical grating devices with adjustable chirp
US6275629A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | Aug 14, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2301/04
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In accordance with the invention, an optical waveguide grating with adjustable chirp comprises a waveguide grating in thermal contact with an electrically controllable heat-transducing body which varies the temperature along the length of the grating. The heat-transducing body can generate heat on the fiber or remove heat from the fiber to establish a temperature gradient along the grating. In an exemplary embodiment, the heat-transducing body is a resistive film coating whose local resistance varies along the length of the grating. Electrical current passed through the film generates a temperature gradient along the grating approximately proportional to the local resistance of the film, and the amount of chirp can be adjusted by the current. The resulting devices are simple, compact and power efficient.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.