Output power controlled wavelength stabilizing system

An output power controlled wavelength stabilizing system comprising:

• a laser diode operable to emit a laser signal light;
• a polarization maintaining fiber operable to receive and maintain the polarization of said laser signal light emitting from said laser diode;
• a thermoelectric cooler operable to heat or cool said laser diode;
• an external modulator operable to receive said laser signal light through said polarization maintaining fiber and modulate said laser signal light;
• a first tap coupler operable to receive said laser signal light from said external modulator and split said laser signal light into a first and second laser signal light component, said first laser signal light component output through an optical output;
• a second tap coupler operable to receive said second laser signal light component from said first tap coupler and split said second laser signal light component into a third and fourth laser signal light component;
• a laser driver feedback control circuit operable to direct said laser driver to drive said laser diode, said laser driver feedback control circuit comprising:
• a first photodetector operable to receive said fourth laser signal light component from said second tap coupler and detect the current value of said fourth laser signal light component, said first photodetector further operable to convert said current output from said first photodetector to a first voltage;
• a power level controller operable to calibrate the output power of said wavelength stabilizing system;
• a digital to analog converter operable to receive and convert the digital input from said power level controller to a first reference voltage;
• and
• an output loop filter operable to receive and compare the difference between said first reference voltage from said digital to analog converter or said wavelength limiter and said first voltage from said first photodetector yielding a first offset voltage, said laser driver further operable to receive said first offset voltage from said output loop filter;
• a laser driver operable to receive said first offset voltage from said output loop filter, said laser driver further operable to drive said laser diode;
• a thermoelectric feedback control circuit operable to direct said thermoelectric cooler to either heat or cool said laser diode, said thermoelectric feedback control circuit comprising:
• a wavelength filter operable to receive said third laser signal light component, said wavelength filter having a transmittance characteristic which changes with wavelength;
• a second photodetector operable to receive said third laser signal light component from said wavelength filter and detect the current value of said third laser signal light component, said second photodetector further operable to convert said current output from said second photodetector into a second voltage;
• a third comparator operable to receive and compare said first voltage from said first photodetector with said second voltage from said second photodetector yielding a second offset voltage, said third comparator further operable to output said second offset voltage to said wavelength limiter;
• and
• a loop filter operable to receive and compare said second offset voltage from said third comparator with a second reference voltage yielding a third offset voltage;
• and
• a wavelength limiter operable to receive said second offset voltage from said comparator, minimize the wavelength variation of said laser signal light, and output said first reference voltage.

An output power controlled wavelength stabilizing method comprising the steps of:

• emitting laser signal light into a polarization maintaining fiber;
• splitting said laser signal light into a first and second laser signal light component;
• splitting said second laser signal light component of said laser signal light into a third and fourth laser signal light component;
• receiving said third laser signal light component at a thermoelectric cooler feedback control circuit;
• receiving an offset voltage at a wavelength limiter;
• using said wavelength limiter to minimize the variation of said laser signal light;
• outputting a first offset voltage from said thermoelectric cooler feedback control circuit to direct said thermoelectric cooler to either heat or cool a laser diode;
• calibrating the output power of said output power controlled wavelength transmitter by adjusting an output level controller;
• converting the digital input of said output power level controller into a voltage yielding a second reference voltage;
• minimizing the variation of said laser signal light wavelength by increasing or decreasing said output power level controller;
• receiving said fourth laser signal light component at a laser driver feedback control circuit;
• and
• detecting the input voltage of said fourth laser signal light component;
• outputting a reference voltage from said wavelength limiter to said laser driver feedback control circuit;
• comparing the difference between said reference voltage against said input voltage, yielding a second offset voltage;
• and
• outputting said offset voltage from said laser driver feedback control circuit to direct said laser driver to drive said laser diode.