Emission source spectrum stabilizer
AssigneeHoneywell Inc.
InventorsJames N. Blake, Clarence E. Laskoskie, Bogdan Szafraniec
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A spectrum stabilizer for stabilizing the wavelength of light emitted by a source for use in an optical system where the source can have that wavelength altered by varying one or more source parameters, such as source current, temperature and/or alignment of the output end of the source with an optical fiber of the optical system, and wherein light from a selected point in the optical system is coupled to a double mode waveguide for wavelength sensing.
Claims27
A spectrum stabilizer for stabilizing with respect to wavelength an emission spectrum of those source electromagnetic waves from a source which are inserted into a selected optical system to propagate at least in part therethrough to impinge on a system photodetector means for detecting electromagnetic waves, said source being capable of having said emission spectrum thereof shifted over wavelengths by varying a source parameter associated therewith, said stabilizer comprising:
- a double mode wave guide means coupled to a selected location in said optical system to receive, as input electromagnetic waves, those versions of said source electromagnetic waves that become available at said selected location due to having propagated thereto in said optical system, said double mode wave guide means being capable of having said input electromagnetic waves propagate at least in part therethrough in two different spatial modes with differing group velocities for each over at least a range of wavelengths that include at least in part said emission spectrum to thereby provide output electromagnetic waves at an output thereof;
- a stabilization photodetector means coupled to said double mode wave guide means output so as to have said output electromagnetic waves combined impinge thereon, said stabilization photodetector means being capable of providing an output signal at an output thereof representing those electromagnetic waves impinging thereon;
- and
- a source actuator means coupled to said stabilization photodetector means output to receive said stabilization photodetector means output signal as an input signal thereto, said source actuator means being capable of varying said source parameter in accord with input signals received thereby.
A source controller for controlling an emission spectrum and intensity of a source of those electromagnetic waves from a source which are introduced into a selected optical system to propagate at least in part therethrough, said source being capable of having said intensity of electromagnetic waves emitted therefrom being varied, and of having said emission spectrum thereof being shifted over wavelengths, by varying either of first and second source parameters associated with that source with said first parameter being positions of an emission facet of said source with respect to an optical fiber through which said electromagnetic waves provided by said source at said emission facet thereof are introduced into said optical system, said source controller comprising;
- a system intensity determination means capable of providing an output signal at an output thereof indicative of that intensity desired for those electromagnetic waves emitted by said source;
- a system spectrum determination means capable of providing an output signal at an output thereof indicative of that range of wavelengths desired over which said emission spectrum of those electromagnetic waves emitted by said source is to occur;
- and
- a source actuator means coupled to said system intensity determination means and to said system emission spectrum determination means at said outputs thereof to receive said output signals therefrom as input signals thereto, said source actuator means being capable of varying said first and second source parameters in accord with said input signals received thereby.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.