Method to sense laser array power and wavelength and reduce drift for wavelength selection and stabilization
AssigneeAgere Systems Guardian Corp.
InventorsJohn W. Stayt, Jr., James K. Plourde, Scott L. Broutin
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Abstract
The output of a dedicated control laser element in a laser array, which closely tracks the output of the array, is directed to a discriminator and feedback control means through a closed loop feedback-based system to provide both wavelength stability and power control of the array without reducing the optical power output from the array. The output of a dedicated control laser element in a laser array is also directed to a discriminator and synchronous detection means and is frequency modulated with a local oscillator to reduce the electronic drift and stabilize the wavelength of the dedicated laser source.
Claims40
A method for sensing and stabilizing power of a laser array and controlling wavelength while optimizing power output of the laser array,
- wherein the laser array has a power source and comprises a plurality of single laser elements,
- wherein each laser element comprises a front side and a back side, comprising:
- a) emitting a control optical source from at least one predetermined laser element of the laser array, wherein output of the control optical source of the predetermined laser element approximates output of the laser array;
- b) directing output of the control optical source from the predetermined laser element to a discriminator as optical source input;
- c) generating a driving signal from the discriminator;
- d) directing the driving signal from the discriminator as input to a feedback system,
- e) generating an error signal from the feedback system;
- f) directing the error signal from the feedback system as input to a temperature controller for the predetermined laser element, whereby output of the control optical source is stabilized.
A method for reducing drift in a wavelength stabilized laser array source, wherein the laser array has a power source and comprises a plurality of single laser elements,
- wherein each laser element comprises a front side and a back side, by frequency modulating the power source from output of a local oscillator, comprising:
- a) emitting a control optical source from at least one predetermined laser element of the laser array, wherein output of the control optical source of the predetermined laser element approximates output of the laser array;
- b) directing output of the control optical source from the predetermined laser element to a discriminator as optical source input;
- c) generating a driving signal from the discriminator;
- d) directing the driving signal from the discriminator as input to a phase sensitive detection means, whereby drift is filtered from the driving signal;
- e) generating a current signal from the phase sensitive detection system;
- f) directing the current signal from the phase sensitive detection system to a local oscillator;
- and
- g) frequency modulating the power source of the predetermined laser element.
A method for sensing and stabilizing power of a laser array and controlling wavelength while optimizing power output of the laser array, wherein said laser array has a power source and comprises a plurality of laser elements, and wherein each of said laser elements comprises a front side and a back side, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) emitting a control optical source from at least one predetermined laser element of said laser array, wherein an output of said control optical source of said predetermined laser element approximates output of said laser array;
- b) directing said output of said control optical source from said predetermined laser element to a discriminator as optical source input;
- c) generating a driving signal from said discriminator;
- d) directing said driving signal from said discriminator as input to a feedback system comprising a pair of turning mirrors, a pair of photodetectors, and an error control means;
- e) generating an error signal from said feedback system;
- f) directing said error signal back from said feedback system as input to a temperature controller for said predetermined laser element whereby output of said optical source is stabilized.
A method for sensing and stabilizing power of a laser array and controlling wavelength while optimizing power output of said laser array, said laser array having a power source and comprising a plurality of single laser elements, wherein each of said laser element comprises a front side and back side and wherein at least one element of said laser array has a wavelength of a value different from another element of the array, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) emitting a control optical source from at least one predetermined laser element of said laser array, where an output of said control optical source of said predetermined laser element approximates output of the laser array;
- b) directing said output of the control optical source from said predetermined laser element to a discriminator as optical source input;
- c) generating a driving signal from said discriminator;
- d) directing said driving signal from said discriminator as input to a feedback system;
- e) generating an error signal from the feedback system;
- f) directing said error signal back from said feedback system as input to a temperature controller for said predetermined laser element whereby output of said optical source is stabilized.
A method for sensing and stabilizing power of a laser array and controlling wavelength while optimizing power output of said laser array, said laser array having a power source and comprising a plurality of single laser elements, wherein each said laser element comprises a front side and a back side, and wherein a plurality of said elements of said laser array have wavelengths of values different from other elements of said array, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) emitting a control optical source from at least one predetermined laser element of said laser array, where an output of said control optical source of said predetermined laser element approximates output of the laser array;
- b) directing output of said control optical source from said predetermined laser element to a discriminator as optical source input;
- c) generating a driving signal from said discriminator;
- d) directing said driving signal from said discriminator as input to a feedback system;
- e) generating an error signal from said feedback system;
- f) directing said error signal back from said feedback system as input to a temperature controller for said predetermined laser element whereby output of said optical source is stabilized.
A method for sensing and stabilizing power of a laser array controlling wavelength while optimizing power output of said laser array, said laser array having a power source and comprising a plurality of single laser elements, wherein each of said laser element comprises a front side and a back side, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) emitting a control optical source generated from a plurality of predetermined laser elements of said laser array by splitting a portion of the output from each of the outputs of said predetermined laser elements, wherein output of said control optical source approximates output of said laser array;
- b) directing said output of said control optical source from said predetermined laser element to a discriminator as optical source input;
- c) generating a driving signal from said discriminator;
- d) directing said driving signal from said discriminator as input to a feedback system;
- e) generating an error signal from said feedback system;
- f) directing said error signal back from said feedback system as input to a temperature controller for said predetermined laser element whereby output of said optical source is stabilized.
A method for sensing and stabilizing power of a laser array controlling wavelength while optimizing power output of said laser array, said laser array having a power source and comprising a plurality of single laser elements, wherein each of said laser element comprises a back side and a back side, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) emitting a control optical source generated from a plurality of predetermined laser elements of said laser array by splitting a portion of the output from each of the outputs of said predetermined laser elements, wherein output of said control optical source approximates output of said laser array;
- b) directing said output of said control optical source from said predetermined laser element to a discriminator as optical source input;
- c) generating a driving signal from said discriminator;
- d) directing said driving signal from said discriminator as input to a feedback system;
- e) generating an error signal from said feedback system;
- f) directing said error signal back from said feedback system as input to a temperature controller for said predetermined laser element whereby output of said optical source is stabilized.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.