Wavelength monitoring and control assembly for WDM optical transmission systems

Abstract

A compact wavelength monitoring and control assembly for a laser emission source is provided comprising a narrow bandpass, wavelength selective transmission filter element, of Fabry-Perot etalon structure, through which a non-collimated beam from the laser source is directed onto two closely spaced photodetectors. For wavelength stabilization, the differential output of the two photodetectors is used in a feedback loop to stabilize the wavelength of the laser source to a desired target wavelength. Through the angular dependence of the wavelength transmission of the Fabry-Perot etalon, a wavelength variation from the source is converted to a transmission loss, which is different for the two photodetectors, so that the wavelength change is detected as a differential power change. The device functions as an optical wavelength discriminator in which the detector converts optical energy to current for a feedback loop for controlling the light source. A lens may be used to control the divergence of the light incident on the filter element to optimize power transfer. Optionally, wavelength tunability is provided by changing the angle of inclination of the Fabry-Perot etalon relative to the laser source. The system is compact and may be co-packaged within the same package as a laser emission source, overcoming coupling, space and power dissipation problems common with known external semiconductor laser wavelength control units.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.