Tunable external cavity laser
US6480513B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 3, 2000 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 29, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/0612
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tunable laser system comprises an externalcavity laser diode in combination with an optically coupled waveguide having a Bragg grating formed therein. The laser diode provides a gain medium characterized by a first band of wavelengths. A portion of the fiber and the grating help define an external resonant cavity. The grating limits the wavelengths exiting the external cavity to a second band that is typically much narrower than the first band. The grating region of the waveguide is thermally coupled to a heating element having an associated temperature controller for controllably varying the temperature of the grating region and thus changing the optical pitch of the grating and thus the second band. The grating region of the waveguide can alternatively, or additionally, be subjected to acoustic energy to change the optical pitch of the grating.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.