Monitoring and control assembly for wavelength stabilized optical system
AssigneeBandwidth9, Inc.
InventorsConstance J. Chang-Hasnain, Renato Dato, Peter Kner, Gabriel S. Li, Philip Worland, Rang-Chen Yu, Wupen Yuen
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Abstract
A monitoring and control assembly for an optical system includes a tunable laser. The laser generates a divergent output beam along an optical axis. A first photodetector is provided. A wavelength selective filter is tilted at an angle relative to the optical axis that provides an angular dependence of a wavelength reflection of the wavelength selective filter and directs the reflected output beam towards the first photodetector.
Claims34
A monitoring and control assembly for an optical system, comprising:
- a tunable laser selected from a VCSEL or an edge emitter generating a divergent output beam along an optical axis, the laser including an active region with first and second opposing reflectors that define a laser gain cavity;
- a first photodetector positioned outside of the laser gain cavity;
- and
- an adjustable wavelength selective filter that splits the output beam into a transmitted portion and a reflected portion, the adjustable wavelength selective filter being positioned at an angle θ relative to the optical axis to provide an angular dependence of a wavelength reflection of the wavelength selective filter and direct the reflected output beam towards the first photodetector, wherein the wavelength selective filter provides wavelength selectivity by changing the angle θ and a ratio of the transmitted and reflected portions is a function of wavelength of output beam and the angle θ.
A monitoring and control assembly for an optical system, comprising:
- a tunable laser selected from a VCSEL or an edge emitter generating a divergent output beam along an optical axis, the laser including an active region with first and second opposing reflectors that define a laser gain cavity;
- a collimating optical element positioned along the optical axis;
- a pair of photodetectors each positioned outside of the laser gain cavity;
- and
- a wavelength selective filter including a Fabry-Perot Etalon with a distributed thickness to provide a positional dependence of a wavelength reflection or transmission of the filter and transmit or reflect the beam towards the pair of detectors.
The assembly of cl aim 27, wherein the laser comprises:
- a cantilever apparatus for tuning resonance wavelength of a Fabry-Perot cavity, the Fabry-Perot cavity including a bottom reflecting member and a top reflecting member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.