Miniature pulsed fiber laser source

US7233606B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Cubic Corporation · US

Inventors

• Deepak Varshneya · Alameda, US
• John B. Roes · San Diego, US
• Tony Maryfield · Poway, US
• Mike Roes · San Diego, US
• Lew Goldberg · Alexandria, US
• Jean Marc Delavoux · Fairfax, US
• Gabor Kulcsar · Lannion, FR

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 14, 2004
• Grant date: Jun 19, 2007
• Expiry date: Apr 10, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S2301/02
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A pulsed fiber laser and associated electronics contained in a miniature package is disclosed. The Pulsed Fiber Laser Source (PFLS) can be a single-stage high gain master oscillator power amplifier (MOPA) type fiber laser source. The PFLS can include a distributed feedback (DFB) laser, a narrowband optical filter, a broad area high-power pump diode, and Erbium/Ytterbium (Er/Yb) double cladding doped fiber. Input electrical pulses drive the DFB laser diode to emit optical pulses that are then amplified by the optical amplifier. Active and passive cooling elements may be incorporated for continuous operation without rest time. Passive cooling for intermittent pulsed applications allows the laser source to be miniaturized by eliminating active cooling elements and associated power supplies and controllers. Low duty cycle relaxes drive requirements and further reduces the size. The PFLS can be used for long distance ranging, communication by retro-modulation, and communication in presence of atmospheric attenuation.