Apparatus and method for making temperature compensated optical fiber diffraction gratings
OwnerNicholas A. Lee, Gordon Wiegandinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for temperature compensation of a region of an optical fiber includes a first member having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein at least a portion of the first member lies in a first plane, and a second member on the first member, wherein the second member has a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first member. A mount for the optical fiber is substantially normal to the first plane and extends a predetermined distance from the first plane.
Claims19
An apparatus for temperature compensation of a region of an optical fiber, wherein the apparatus comprises
- (a) a first member having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein at least a portion of the first member lies in a first plane;
- (b) a second member on the first member, wherein the second member has a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first member, and
- (c) a mount for the optical fiber, wherein the mount is substantially normal to the first plane and extends a predetermined distance from the first plane.
A method for temperature compensating a region of an optical fiber with a diffraction grating, comprising:
- (a) providing a temperature compensation apparatus comprising
- (1) a first member having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein at least a portion of the first member lies in a first plane;
- (2) a second member on the first member, wherein the second member has a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first member;
- and
- (3) a mount for the optical fiber, wherein the mount comprises a first tower and a second tower, and wherein the towers are substantially normal to the first plane and extend a predetermined distance from the first plane;
- and
- (b) attaching the optical fiber to the first and second towers such that the region lies therebetween.
The method of claim12, wherein step (b) is performed with the optical fiber under tension.
A temperature compensating package for a fiber optic Bragg grating, comprising an enclosure with a first end and a second end, an optical fiber mount on a first end of the enclosure, and a temperature compensating washer on the second end of the enclosure, wherein the washer comprises a disk with an aperture, wherein the disk comprises a first layer adjacent the second end of the enclosure and a second layer on the first layer, wherein the first layer has a positive coefficient of thermal expansion and the second layer with a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first layer.
A temperature compensating optical device, comprising:
- (a) a first member having a positive coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein at least a portion of the first member lies in a first plane;
- (b) a second member on the first member, wherein the second member has a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first member;
- (c) a mount for the optical fiber, wherein the mount comprises a first tower and a second tower, wherein the first and second towers are substantially normal to the first plane and extend a predetermined distance from the first plane;
- and
- (d) an optical fiber attached to the first and second towers, wherein a region between the first and second towers comprises a diffraction grating.
A temperature compensating optical device, comprising:
- (a) an enclosure with a first end and a second end,
- (b) an optical fiber mount on a first end of the enclosure,
- (c) a temperature compensating washer on the second end of the disclosure, wherein the washer comprises a disk with an aperture, wherein the disk comprises a first layer adjacent the second end of the enclosure and a second layer on the first layer, wherein the first layer has a positive coefficient of thermal expansion and the second layer with a coefficient of thermal expansion lower than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first layer;
- and
- (d) an optical fiber attached to the fiber mount and the washer, wherein a region of the optical fiber is within the enclosure, and wherein the region comprises a diffraction grating.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.