Tunable laser having liquid crystal waveguide
US7720116B2 · kind B2 · utility
25Cited by
27References
12Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 21, 2005 |
| Grant date | May 18, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 1, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/146
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A tunable laser for providing a laser beam with a selectable wavelength. In one example, the tunable laser includes a gain medium for generating the laser beam; a waveguide for processing the laser beam, the waveguide having liquid crystal material or other electro-optic material disposed therein; an optical path length control element disposed within said waveguide for controlling an effective optical path length of the laser cavity; and a wavelength selective element for controlling the wavelength of the laser beam. The tunable laser may be designed without any moving mechanical parts if desired.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.