Discreetly tunable semiconductor laser arrangement for wavelength division multiplex communication systems
US6956886B1 · kind B1 · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 31, 2002 |
| Grant date | Oct 18, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 31, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/1062
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A wavelength selection element for a tunable laser provides for a single laser structure system that can be made to generate any specific wavelength. The wavelength selection element comprises a transmission component which may include an arrangement of optical components mirrors designed to transmit (e.g. using an array of narrow band pass filters and/or mirrors), and a reflection component, which may include an array of stationary mirrors and MEM (Micro Electro Mechanical) mirrors that are adjustable under local or remote control, to reflect light of a specific wavelength such that the desired wavelength will be filtered from the light coming in from the laser and containing all the wavelength components and selectively reflected back through the semiconductor laser while light of other wavelengths not selected will not be reflected back through the laser. The wavelength selection element can be manipulated through software control wherein the position of various components such as mirrors and/or retroreflectors may be manipulated such that the desired wavelength will be selectively transmitted. Curved reflective mirrors or reflectors, as well as flat mirrors may be used in accor…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.