Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for determining wavelength from coarse and fine measurements

US6859284B2 · kind B2 · utility

11Cited by
14References
48Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 2, 2002
Grant dateFeb 22, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 9, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01J9/0246
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus for determining a wavelength of an optical signal by determining a coarse wavelength response and a fine wavelength response. The coarse wavelength response is achieved by utilizing an optical filter. A suitable detector detects the wavelength-dependent response and conveys the determined coarse wavelength response to the processing logic. The fine wavelength response is achieved by utilizing an interferometer that is capable of generating an interference pattern. Two detectors are disposed in the interference pattern at a quadrature separation from each other and detect the intensity responses at their respective locations. The intensity responses are conveyed to a unit that determines the fine wavelength response. Finally, the processing logic determines the wavelength utilizing the determined coarse wavelength response and the determined fine wavelength response.

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