Continuous wavelength tunable laser source with optimum positioning of pivot axis for grating
US7733925B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 7, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jun 8, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 7, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S5/3235
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A laser source (10) for generating a continuously wavelength tunable light (12) includes a gain media (16), an optical output coupler (36F), a cavity collimator (38A), a diffraction grating (30), a grating beam (54), and a beam attacher (56). The diffraction grating (30) is spaced apart from the cavity collimator (38A) and the grating (30) cooperates with the optical output coupler (36F) to define an external cavity (32). The grating (30) includes a grating face surface (42A) that is in a grating plane (42B). The beam attacher (56) retains the grating beam (54) and allows the grating beam (54) and the grating (30) to effectively pivot about a pivot axis (33) that is located approximately at an intersection of a pivot plane (50) and the grating plane (42B). As provided herein, the diffraction grating (30) can be pivoted about the unique pivot axis (33) to move the diffraction grating (30) relative to the gain media (16) to continuously tune the lasing frequency of the external cavity (32) and the wavelength of the output light (12) so that the output light (12) is mode hop free.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.