Tunable laser assembly
AssigneeE-Tek Dynamics, Inc.
InventorsJing-Jong Pan, Frank Y. F. Liang, Xing-Liang Jing, Ming Shih
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An assembly for tuning a laser by a stepper motor alone is provided. A diffraction grating forming a resonance cavity with an end of the laser is rotated by the stepper motor. A follower arm affixed to the rotatable grating, engages a cam, which is driven by the stepper motor. The cam and follower arm are designed so that there is a linear relationship between the rotation of the stepper motor and that of the grating.
Claims15
An assembly for tuning a laser mounted to a base, comprising
- a stepper motor mounted to said base, said motor having a rotatable shaft;
- means, responsive to control signals and connected to said stepper motor, for controlling rotation of said stepper motor shaft;
- a cam mounted to said stepper motor shaft;
- a grating rotatably mounted to said base and positioned with respect to an end of said laser to form an tuning cavity therewith;
- and
- a follower arm in fixed relationship to said grating and biased against said cam;
- whereby said cavity is tuned to vary the output of said laser by rotating said grating in response to said control signals.
In an assembly having a laser mounted to a base, said laser capable of being tuned by rotation of a grating forming a resonance cavity with an end of said laser and a rotatable grating, a subassembly for calibrating the angular position of said grating, comprising
- a light detector mounted to said base;
- and
- a plurality of mirrors mounted to said base, said mirrors arranged to form a reflective path for light from said grating to said detector when said grating is rotated to a particular position, the reception of light by said detector indicative of a calibration point for said grating.
In an improved assembly having a laser mounted to a base, a grating rotatably mounted to said base, said laser capable of being tuned by the rotation of said grating forming a resonance cavity with an end of said laser and said rotatable grating, the improvement comprising
- a stepper motor mounted to said base, said motor having a rotatable shaft;
- means, responsive to control signals and connected to said stepper motor, for controlling rotation of said stepper motor shaft;
- a cam mounted to said stepper motor shaft;
- and
- a follower arm mounted to said grating and biased against said cam;
- whereby said cavity is tuned to vary the output of said laser by rotating said grating in response to said control signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.