Wavelength tunable light sources and methods of operating the same
US7197208B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 13, 2004 |
| Grant date | Mar 27, 2007 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 10, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/0654
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Wavelength tunable light sources and methods of operating the same are described. In one aspect, a wavelength tunable light source includes a resonant light path, an optical gain medium, an optical grating, a first acousto-optic deflector, and a second acousto-optic deflector. In another aspect, a light source has a resonant light path containing first and second acousto-optic devices for tuning an output light beam over a specified frequency range with an output wavelength profile. The first acousto-optic device is driven with a first signal having a first time-varying frequency profile. The second acousto-optic device is driven with a second signal having a second time-varying frequency profile, wherein the second time-varying frequency profile differs from the first time-varying frequency profile by an amount substantially proportional to a time rate is of change of the output wavelength profile. In this way, the output light beam is tunable over the specified frequency range without observable hopping between longitudinal modes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.