Method and system for controlling optical wavelength based on optical frequency pulling

An apparatus for controlling optical wavelengths of control target lights outputted from N variable wavelength light sources, where N is an integer, the apparatus comprising:

• a periodic modulation signal generation unit for generating N periodic modulation signals in mutually different frequencies, according to which the control target lights are to be modulated;
• an optical diffraction unit for diffracting the control target lights modulated at the mutually different frequencies into directions respectively corresponding to the optical wavelengths of the control target lights;
• a periodic signal generation unit for detecting diffraction lights diffracted by the optical diffraction unit and collectively generating N periodic signals with phases varied according to diffraction directions of the diffraction lights;
• a control signal generation unit for generating N control signals respectively from the N periodic modulation signals and N reference signals having phases respectively corresponding to reference optical wavelengths for the N variable wavelength light sources;
• and
• a phase detection unit for detecting N phase differences between phases of respective ones of the N periodic signals and phases of respective ones of the N control signals, and controlling the N variable wavelength light sources by feeding back the N phase differences to the N variable wavelength light sources respectively such that the optical wavelengths of the control target lights are controlled by an optical frequency pulling with respect to the reference optical wavelengths according to the N phase differences respectively.

A method for controlling optical wavelengths of control target lights outputted from N variable wavelength light sources, where N is an integer, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating N periodic modulation signals in mutually different frequencies, according to which the control target lights are to be modulated;
• scanning at a prescribed period the control target lights modulated at the mutually different frequencies and obtaining N optical pulses having phases respectively corresponding to the optical wavelengths of the control target lights;
• generating N control signals respectively from the N periodic modulation signals and N reference signals having phases respectively corresponding to reference optical wavelengths for the N variable wavelength light sources;
• detecting N phase differences between phases of respective ones of the N optical pulses and phases of respective ones of the N control signals;
• and
• controlling the N variable wavelength light sources by feeding back the N phase differences to the N variable wavelength light sources respectively such that the optical wavelengths of the control target lights are controlled by an optical frequency pulling with respect to the reference optical wavelengths according to the N phase differences respectively.

A method for controlling optical wavelengths of control target lights outputted from N variable wavelength light sources, where N is an integer, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating N periodic modulation signals in mutually different frequencies, according to which the control target lights are to be modulated;
• diffracting the control target lights modulated at the mutually different frequencies into directions respectively corresponding to the optical wavelengths of the control target lights;
• detecting diffraction lights diffracted by the optical diffraction unit and collectively generating N periodic signals with phases varied according to diffraction directions of the diffraction lights;
• generating N control signals respectively from the N periodic modulation signals and N reference signals having phases respectively corresponding to reference optical wavelengths for the N variable wavelength light sources;
• and
• detecting N phase differences between phases of respective ones of the N periodic signals and phases of respective ones of the N control signals, and controlling the N variable wavelength light sources by feeding back the N phase differences to the N variable wavelength light sources respectively such that the optical wavelengths of the control target lights are controlled by an optical frequency pulling with respect to the reference optical wavelengths according to the N phase differences respectively.