Power monitor for fiber gain medium
US6424663B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 16, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jul 23, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 16, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/06754
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fiber optic gain system has output power monitoring and control using the detected level of side light emitted through the cladding of the gain fiber. The fiber is wound on a spool that is provided with an opening adjacent to the fiber cladding. A photodetector is mounted to the spool at an opposite side of the opening, and detects side light that is transmitted through the opening. An output signal from the photodetector is indicative of the output power or the gain of the system, and may be used for monitoring and/or to adjust the power generated by a pumping source for the system. This allows feedback control of the system that helps to stabilize the output power or gain. A filtering element may also be used to exclude certain undesired wavelengths from the side light being detected.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.