Patent · US Expired

Thermo-optic tunable laser apparatus

US7295582B2 · kind B2 · utility

8Cited by
10References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 30, 2005
Grant dateNov 13, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 27, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S5/141
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Thermo-optic tuning apparatuses and techniques that may be used in external cavity lasers are provided. A wavelength selection device may be placed in the external cavity and may include a thermally responsive substrate and tunable optical elements extending therefrom. Heating and heat monitoring actuators may be formed in the substrate itself, with the tunable optical elements being mechanically positioned in the recesses of the substrate for thermo-optic tuning. In some examples, a separate optical path length adjustment element is also placed in the thermally responsive substrate, or elsewhere, for separate frequency tuning. This adjustment element may be part of a control that is detangled from the normal servo controls used in laser tuning.

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