Two path digital wavelength stabilization
US6384947B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 9, 1999 |
| Grant date | May 7, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 9, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04B10/506
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for stabilizing the wavelength of a laser are disclosed. The invention provides a way to stabilize a laser for applications in dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) systems where frequency spacing is crucial. The invention accomplishes laser stabilization by generating an optical path which is passed through a filter to obtain a signal which is a function of frequency. A second optical path which does not contain a filter is generated to obtain a signal which is a function of power. The signals are then converted from optical to electrical and from analog to digital, and a microcontroller is used to normalize the frequency path with respect to the optical power path, process the signals via software code, and generate a signal which provides feedback to the laser for stabilization. By using a microcontroller; elements that lead to wavelength or frequency drift, or manufacturing component variations can be taken into account and the input signal to the laser can be adjusted accordingly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.