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US 4,910,741 AGranted
Laser diode source assembly
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsAllen D. Pillsbury, Michael F. Richardson, David Welford
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A frequency tunable, athermal, laser diode source assembly, having a collimating lens coupled via a thermally compensating apparatus to a laser diode, the lens and diode mounted in a temperature compensating structure. A temperature controller controls the operating temperature and frequency of the diode. The assembly is ruggedized for hostile environments.
Claims30
A laser diode source assembly comprising:
- a collimating lens,
- a laser diode,
- first apparatus for compensating for the thermal effects upon the lens and diode of selectively varying operating temperature of the diode, and
- second apparatus for controlling operating temperature of the diode,
- whereby said assembly maintains virtually the same optical wavefront quality when operating at any one of at least a plurality of selected operating temperatures.
2 more elements
An athermal, tunable laser diode source assembly comprising:
- a thermally compensated collimating lens,
- a laser diode optically coupled to said lens,
- at least one thermally compensating spacer element effectively mounted between said lens and said diode,
- a temperature control device coupled to said diode, and
- a flexure upon which said diode is mounted.
2 more elements
A frequency tunable laser diode assembly comprising:
- a frequency source,
- a thermistor for detecting information related to variations in the frequency of said source,
- a resistive heater element for maintaining a selected operating temperature of said frequency source, and
- a circuit which relates to changes in temperature detected by said thermistor to changes in current to be applied to said heater element to correct unwanted frequency variations indicated by said thermistor.
1 more element
A frequency tunable laser light assembly comprising:
- a collimating lens,
- a laser diode source,
- a first apparatus capable of controlledly heating said source,
- second apparatus for detecting information related to variations in the frequency of said source,
- third apparatus for directing said first apparatus,
- fourth apparatus for compensating for the effect of temperature changes upon the lens and diode,
- fifth apparatus for ruggedizing the assembly,
- said third apparatus directing said first apparatus to operate in response to information detected by said second apparatus, said fourth apparatus compensating for changes in temperature initiated by said third apparatus to maintain said lens focused on said source, said fifth apparatus maintaining alignment of said lens and said source even under severe vibratory stresses.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.