Tunable fiber optic filter
US6459844B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 1999 |
| Grant date | Oct 1, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/141
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention provides improved optical devices, systems, and methods for controllably varying an optical characteristic of an optical signal, particularly for filtering and generating optical signals about a narrow tunable central wavelength. Thin film multi-cavity Fabry-Perot bandpass filters have film thicknesses which vary so as to vary the center wavelength of the filter's pass range. Novel micro lenses and lens arrangements avoid transmission of optical signals through a large area of the optical filter, which would widen the effective pass bandwidth and reduce coupling efficiency. These bandpass filtering techniques can be used in an external cavity laser system to provide a tunable laser source.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.