Wavelength selective filter
AssigneeBritish Technology Group Limited
InventorsRobert Joseph Mears, Stephen Thomas Warr, Michael Charles Parker
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Abstract
A tunable optical wavelength selective filter is constituted by a dynamic holographic diffraction element (3) in combination with a fixed diffraction grating or hologram (2). The dynamic diffraction element (3) is preferably implemented as an electronically controlled image displayed on a pixelated spatial light modulator and in particular a spatial light modulating using photo-electronic integrated circuits fabricated using silicon VLSI technology and integrated with ferro-electric liquid crystals. Amongst other uses the filter can be implemented to form a digitally tunable laser.
Claims18
A tunable filter for polychromatic optical radiation comprising an electronically programmable spatial light modulator for displaying computer generated hologram patterns of data as a series combination of a first dynamically variable wavelength dispersive element, and a second static wavelength dispersive element.
A tunable laser including a tunable filter for polychromatic optical radiation within an optical cavity of said tunable laser, said tunable filter comprising an electronically programmable spatial light modulator for displaying computer generated hologram patterns of data as a series combination of a dynamically variable first wavelength dispersive element, and a second static wavelength dispersive element.
A tunable fiber ring laser including a tunable filter for polychromatic optical radiation, said tunable filter comprising an electronically programmable spatial light modulator for displaying computer generated hologram patterns of data as a series combination of a first dynamically variable wavelength dispersive element, and a second static wavelength dispersive element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.