Integrated tunable optical filter
USRE36710E · kind E · reissue
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 17, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 23, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 17, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC —)General
Abstract
An integrated tunable optical filter comprising a substrate made of a semiconducting material. The substrate includes first and second sections. The first section forms a tunable transmission filter, based on a codirectional coupler having a low selectivity. The second section forms a reflection filter with a reflection spectrum containing a number of peaks. A first injector, designed for current injection into said first section, is provided. Thus, the filter response of the first section is shifted in wavelength over a large wavelength range. There is also a second injector, designed for current injection into the second section. As a result, the reflective spectrum of the second section is slightly shifted in wavelength, in such a way that one reflection peak of the reflection spectrum corresponds to the coupling wavelength of the first section. Consequently, the total filter response has a very narrow bandwidth and wide tunability.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.