Tunable optical filter
US6816636B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 12, 2001 |
| Grant date | Nov 9, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02F2203/055
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tunable filter having a top mirror, a bottom mirror, and one or more intervening layers. The one or more intervening layers preferably have a refractive index that changes with temperature. By heating the one or more intervening layers, the wavelength that is selected by the optical filter can be controlled. The one or more intervening layers are preferably heated by passing current through the one or more intervening layers, or by passing current through a separate resistive layer that is thermally coupled to the one or more intervening layers. Such a filter can provide a high degree of wavelength selectivity in a robust and stable manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.