Wavelength-tunable light source

US8810901B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• LightLab Imaging, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Robert Huber · Schnaitsee, DE
• Christoph Eigenwillig · Schwanau, DE
• Benjamin Biedermann · Birkenfeld, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 3, 2009
• Grant date: Aug 19, 2014
• Expiry date: Oct 21, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/105
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In at least one embodiment of the wavelength-tunable light source (1), it comprises an output source (2), which is capable in operation of generating electromagnetic radiation (R). Furthermore, the light source (1) has a wavelength-selective first filter element (5), which is situated downstream from the output source (2). Moreover, the light source (1) contains a first amplifier medium (3), which is situated downstream from the first filter element (5) and is capable of at least partial amplification of the radiation (R) emitted by the output source (2). The light source (1) further comprises at least one wavelength-selective second filter element (6), which is situated downstream from the first amplifier medium (3), the second filter element (6) having an optical spacing (L) to the first filter element (5). The first filter element (5) and the at least one second filter element (6) are tunable via a control unit (11), which the light source (1) has. The filter elements (5, 6) are tuned for this purpose so that first filter element (5) and second filter element (6) are transparent to a partial radiation (P) of the radiation (R) in a time delay (T) to one another, the delay (T) bei…