Patent · US Expired

Tunable electro-absorption modulator and tunable laser

US6665457B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
8References
50Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 10, 2001
Grant dateDec 16, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 7, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S5/0607
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electro-absorption modulator is tunable along with the laser. Tuning the electro-absorption modulator permits optimum detuning to be maintained, even though the laser is tuned over several tens of nm. One approach to tuning the electro-absorption modulator is to heat the electro-absorption modulator. A semiconductor laser device includes a semiconductor laser positioned on a substrate. The semiconductor laser produces output light that is tunable over a tuning range between a first wavelength and a second wavelength. An electro-absorption modulator is disposed to modulate the light produced by the semiconductor laser. The operating temperature of the electro-absorption modulator is tunable so as to maintain constant detuning over at least a portion of the tuning range.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.