Tunable diode laser with fast digital line selection

A system for selecting wavelength lines from a monochromatic light source, comprising:

• wavelength separation means for separating incoming monochromatic light emitted from said monochromatic light source, into wavelength-separated light comprising a plurality of separate component wavelengths of said incoming monochromatic light;
• wavelength focusing means for focusing said separate component wavelengths of said wavelength-separated light into displaced light, wherein each one of said plurality of separate component wavelengths is focused, but is displaced from, all others of said plurality of separate component wavelengths, within a common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means;
• locally-controllable selectivity and reflectivity array means further comprising a plurality of individually-controllable localized coplanar selective and reflective elements residing substantially within said common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means, each of said localized selective and reflective elements corresponding to and selecting and reflecting one of said plurality of said separate component wavelengths of said displaced light;
• and
• control module means for:
• determining which of said separate component wavelengths is to be reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• activating each localized selective and reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is selected for reflection wherein said corresponding selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• and activating each localized selective and reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is not selected for reflection wherein said corresponding not-selected wavelength is not reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• whereby:
• because said selective and reflective elements are coplanar, each said selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source substantially perfectly along its direction of incidence, thereby eliminating the need to provide means to correct said selected wavelengths that is required when said wavelengths are not coplanar selected and reflected, and improving accuracy, timing, and power output.

A system for selecting wavelength lines from a monochromatic light source, comprising:

• wavelength separation means for separating incoming monochromatic light emitted from said monochromatic light source, into wavelength-separated light comprising a plurality of separate component wavelengths of said incoming monochromatic light;
• wavelength focusing means for focusing said separate component wavelengths of said wavelength-separated light into displaced light, wherein each one of said plurality of separate component wavelengths is focused, but is displaced from, all others of said plurality of separate component wavelengths, within a common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means;
• locally-controllable reflectivity array means further comprising a plurality of individually-controllable localized reflective elements residing substantially within said common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means, each of said localized reflective elements corresponding to and reflecting one of said plurality of said separate component wavelengths of said displaced light;
• and
• control module means for:
• selecting which of said separate component wavelengths is to be reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is selected for reflection wherein said corresponding selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• and activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is not selected for reflection wherein said corresponding not-selected wavelength is not reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• wherein:
• said locally-controllable reflectivity array means comprises micromirror array means;
• said plurality of individually-controllable localized reflective elements comprises a plurality of individually-controllable micromirrors;
• so-activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is selected for reflection wherein said corresponding selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source comprises maintaining each micromirror for which the corresponding wavelength is selected for reflection in a first +θ position wherein said corresponding selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• and
• so-activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is not selected for reflection wherein said corresponding wavelength is not reflected back toward said monochromatic light source comprises moving each micromirror for which the corresponding wavelength is not selected for reflection into a second −θ position wherein said corresponding not-selected wavelength is reflected so as to be deflected away from said monochromatic light source;
• whereby:
• because a said micromirror array means inherently selects and reflects said wavelengths in a common spatial plane, each said selected wavelength is inherently reflected back toward said monochromatic light source substantially perfectly along its direction of incidence, thereby eliminating the need to provide means to correct said selected wavelengths that is required when said wavelengths are not coplanar selected and reflected, and improving accuracy, timing, and power output.

A method for selecting wavelength lines from a monochromatic light source, comprising the steps of:

• separating incoming monochromatic light emitted from said monochromatic light source, into wavelength-separated light comprising a plurality of separate component wavelengths of said incoming monochromatic light, using wavelength separation means;
• focusing said separate component wavelengths of said wavelength-separated light into displaced light, wherein each one of said plurality of separate component wavelengths is focused, but is displaced from, all others of said plurality of separate component wavelengths, using wavelength focusing means, within a common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means;
• reflecting each one of said plurality of said separate component wavelengths of said displaced light off of a corresponding individually-controllable localized reflective element of a locally-controllable reflectivity array means residing substantially within said common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means;
• selecting which of said separate component wavelengths is to be reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is selected for reflection wherein said corresponding selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• and activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is not selected for reflection wherein said corresponding not-selected wavelength is not reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• using control module means;
• and
• omitting a step of measuring and correcting wavelengths of light reflected back toward said monochromatic light source using an interferometer.

A method for selecting wavelength lines from a monochromatic light source, comprising the steps of:

• displacing away from one another, a plurality of separate component wavelengths of incoming monochromatic light emitted from said monochromatic light source;
• selecting which of said plurality of said separate component wavelengths is to be reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• reflecting each separate component wavelength selected for reflection back toward said monochromatic light source;
• and
• reflecting each separate component wavelength not selected for reflection so as to be deflected away from said monochromatic light source;
• and
• omitting a step of measuring and correcting wavelengths of light reflected back toward said monochromatic light source using an interferometer.

A method for selecting wavelength lines from a monochromatic light source, comprising the steps of:

• displacing away from one another, a plurality of separate component wavelengths of incoming monochromatic light emitted from said monochromatic light source;
• selecting which of said plurality of said separate component wavelengths is to be reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• reflecting each separate component wavelength selected for reflection back toward said monochromatic light source spatially coplanar with said step of selecting;
• and
• reflecting each separate component wavelength not selected for reflection so as to be deflected away from said monochromatic light source;
• whereby:
• because said selecting and reflecting steps are coplanar, each said selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source substantially perfectly along its direction of incidence, thereby eliminating the need to provide means to correct said selected wavelengths that is required when said wavelengths are not coplanar selected and reflected, and improving accuracy, timing, and power output.

A method for selecting wavelength lines from a monochromatic light source, comprising the steps of:

• separating incoming monochromatic light emitted from said monochromatic light source, into wavelength-separated light comprising a plurality of separate component wavelengths of said incoming monochromatic light, using wavelength separation means;
• focusing said separate component wavelengths of said wavelength-separated light into displaced light, wherein each one of said plurality of separate component wavelengths is focused, but is displaced from, all others of said plurality of separate component wavelengths, using wavelength focusing means, within a common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means;
• selecting and reflecting each one of said plurality of said separate component wavelengths of said displaced light off of a corresponding individually-controllable localized coplanar selective and reflective element of a locally-controllable selectivity and reflectivity array means residing substantially within said common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means;
• and
• determining which of said separate component wavelengths is to be reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• activating each localized selective and reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is selected for reflection wherein said corresponding selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• and activating each localized selective and reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is not selected for reflection wherein said corresponding not-selected wavelength is not reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• using control module means;
• whereby:
• because said selecting and reflecting steps are coplanar, each said selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source substantially perfectly along its direction of incidence, thereby eliminating the need to provide means to correct said selected wavelengths that is required when said wavelengths are not coplanar selected and reflected, and improving accuracy, timing, and power output.

A method for selecting wavelength lines from a monochromatic light source, comprising the steps of:

• separating incoming monochromatic light emitted from said monochromatic light source, into wavelength-separated light comprising a plurality of separate component wavelengths of said incoming monochromatic light, using wavelength separation means;
• focusing said separate component wavelengths of said wavelength-separated light into displaced light, wherein each one of said plurality of separate component wavelengths is focused, but is displaced from, all others of said plurality of separate component wavelengths, using wavelength focusing means, within a common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means;
• reflecting each one of said plurality of said separate component wavelengths of said displaced light off of a corresponding individually-controllable localized reflective element of a locally-controllable reflectivity array means residing substantially within said common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means;
• and
• selecting which of said separate component wavelengths is to be reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is selected for reflection wherein said corresponding selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• and activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is not selected for reflection wherein said corresponding not-selected wavelength is not reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• using control module means;
• further:
• said locally-controllable reflectivity array means comprising micromirror array means;
• said plurality of individually-controllable localized reflective elements comprising a plurality of individually-controllable micromirrors;
• the step of so-activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is selected for reflection wherein said corresponding selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source comprising maintaining each micromirror for which the corresponding wavelength is selected for reflection in a first +θ position wherein said corresponding selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source;
• and
• the step of so-activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is not selected for reflection wherein said corresponding wavelength is not reflected back toward said monochromatic light source comprising moving each micromirror for which the corresponding wavelength is not selected for reflection into a second −θ position wherein said corresponding not-selected wavelength is reflected so as to be deflected away from said monochromatic light source;
• whereby:
• because a said micromirror array means inherently selects and reflects said wavelengths in a common spatial plane, each said selected wavelength is inherently reflected back toward said monochromatic light source substantially perfectly along its direction of incidence, thereby eliminating the need to provide means to correct said selected wavelengths that is required when said wavelengths are not coplanar selected and reflected, and improving accuracy, timing, and power output.