Actuator mechanism for tuning an optical device
US6594081B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 29, 2000 |
| Grant date | Jul 15, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 29, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/022
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An actuator mechanism for a tunable optical filter unit that filters a selected wavelength band of the input light from a DWDM input light. The input light comprises a plurality of wavelength bands or optical channels of light, each of which are centered at a respective channel wavelength. The actuator mechanism exerts a substantially linear force to strain or stress a tunable optical filter element to a desire reflection wavelength(s). A controller, in accordance with a control algorithm, provides a drive signal to the actuator mechanism in response to a command signal and a feedback signal indicative of the center wavelength of the desired optical channel(s) to be filtered. The actuator mechanism includes a drive mechanism that translates linearly a slide in response to the drive signal. The linear slide includes a sloped engagement surface for engaging a flexure arm assembly that provides a substantially linear force in a direction of displacement, which is substantially perpendicular to the direction of translation of the slide, to the optical filter unit for tuning the Bragg grating of the optical filter element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.