ASE swept source with self-tracking filter for OCT medical imaging
US8526472B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 8, 2010 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 7, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S2301/02
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An integrated swept wavelength tunable optical source uses a narrowband filtered broadband signal with an optical amplifier and self-tracking filter. This source comprises a micro optical bench, a source for generating broadband light, a tunable Fabry Perot filter, installed on the bench, for spectrally filtering the broadband light from the broadband source to generate a narrowband tunable signal, an amplifier, installed on the bench, for amplifying the tunable signal. The self-tracking arrangement is used where a single tunable filter both generates the narrowband signal and spectrally filters the amplified signal. In some examples, two-stage amplification is provided. The use of a single bench implementation yields a low cost high performance system. For example, polarization control between components is no longer necessary.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.