Method for correcting for dark current variation in TEC cooled photodiodes
US9541449B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 21, 2014 |
| Grant date | Jan 10, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 7, 2035 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J1/44
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical power meter including a photodiode having a surface for receiving a beam of light, a thermo-electric cooler for maintaining the photodiode at a predetermined temperature, and a current monitor for measuring a drive current passing through the thermo-electric cooler allows dark current drift arising from a varying thermal gradient across the active region of the photodiode to be corrected, thus improving stability of the optical power meter. More specifically, by monitoring the TEC drive current, and applying a correction factor to the optical power readings, the stability of optical power readings is improved by an order of magnitude.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.