Patent · US Expired

Tunable optical filter with retained complementary output

US6362904B1 · kind B1 · utility

13Cited by
10References
13Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 20, 2000
Grant dateMar 26, 2002
Priority date—
Expiry dateNov 20, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3512
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A tunable interference add/drop filter system combines an interference filter or the like with a mirror attached adjacent to the filter at an angle under 180° to form a reflector assembly. The reflector assembly is rotated to tune the filter system. The dropped output passes through the filter, while the passed output reflects off of the filter and the mirror. The direction of the passed output beam is a fixed angle from the input beam, and the beam is translated sideways by a fixed amount, no matter how much the reflector assembly is rotated. Thus the dropped output (or complementary output) can be retained. A null state switch prevents light from reaching the filter while the filter system is tuning.

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