Supercontinuum pulse source
US8718104B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 10, 2013 |
| Grant date | May 6, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 10, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/1106
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical pulse source for generating optical supercontinuum pulses comprises an optical pump laser operable to generate optical pump pulses at a pump pulse repetition rate Rf; a nonlinear optical element comprising an optical fiber for generating optical supercontinuum pulses; an optical modulator operable to selectively control the launch of pump pulses into the optical fiber at a reduced, lower repetition rate Rr=Rf/N in order to generate optical supercontinuum pulses at a selectable and lower repetition rate; an optical fiber amplifier located between the optical modulator and the optical pump laser; wherein the optical supercontinuum pulses generated by the optical fiber have a supercontinuum spanning from below 450 nm to greater than 2000 nm; wherein the optical pulse source is provided with a microprocessor configured to determine when supercontinuum pulses are delivered; and wherein the optical pulse source is configured to provide an output trigger signal.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.