System Method and Apparatus for Selecting and Controlling Light Source Bandwidth

Abstract

A mechanism for bandwidth selection includes a dispersive optical element having a body including a reflective face of dispersion including an area of incidence extending in a longitudinal axis direction along the reflective face of the dispersive optical element. The body also includes a first end block, disposed at a first longitudinal end of the body and a second end block, disposed at a second longitudinal end of the body, the second longitudinal end being opposite the first longitudinal end. The bandwidth selection mechanism also includes a first actuator mounted on a second face of the dispersive optical element, the second face being opposite from the reflective face, the first actuator having a first end coupled to the first end block and a second end coupled to the second end block, the first actuator being operative to apply equal and opposite forces to the first end block and the second end block to bend the body along the longitudinal axis of the body and in a first direction normal to the reflective face of the dispersive optical element. The bandwidth selection mechanism also includes a second actuator mounted on a third face of the dispersive optical element, the third face being normal to the reflective face, the second actuator having a first end coupled to the first end block with a first flexture and a second end coupled to the second end block with a second flexture, the first actuator being operative to apply equal and opposite forces to the first end block and the second end block to bend the body along the longitudinal axis of the body, in a second direction perpendicular to the reflective face of the dispersive optical element, the second direction also being perpendicular to the first direction the second actuator including a pressurized fluid force application mechanism. A method of selecting bandwidth is also disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.