Tunable Fabry-Perot interferometer, and associated methods

Abstract

A miniature, fiber-coupled Fabry-Perot interferometer has a piezoelectric transducer coupled to first and second collimating lenses. The collimating lenses collimate and interfere light energy within a gap formed between the lenses as part of the interferometer. Preferably, the lenses are matched mode gradient index lenses. Light energy coupled to the collimating lens is thus collimated and interfered within the gap. The piezoelectric transducer expands or contracts to adjust the gap, thereby adjusting the free spectral range of the interferometer. An input fiber provides input to the interferometer; an output fiber carries processed light energy of the selected free spectral range to external devices and optical systems. Metal coatings may be used to provide a capacitive feedback of lens position to calibrate the gap and, thus, the free spectral range.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.