| Entries |
| Document | Title | Date |
|---|
| 20080219301 | Sweep Speed Compensation - A method of manipulating a laser source, includes analyzing an optical signal generated by the laser source, evaluating on the basis of the analysis an actual indicator corresponding with an actual value of a tuning velocity of the laser source, comparing the actual indicator with a desired indicator corresponding with a desired value of the tuning velocity to detect a deviation of the actual value of the tuning velocity from the desired value of the tuning velocity, and compensating the deviation if any by manipulating at least one parameter influencing the signal of the laser source. | 09-11-2008 |
| 20080232409 | Tunable Laser - [Problems] To provide a tunable laser with high reliability and high performance, and of low cost. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080232410 | METHODS, ARRANGEMENTS AND APPARATUS FOR UTILIZING A WAVELENGTH-SWEPT LASER USING ANGULAR SCANNING AND DISPERSION PROCEDURES - Exemplary systems and methods for filtering an electromagnetic radiation can be provided. For example, at least one first arrangement can be provided which is capable of receiving at least one first electro-magnetic radiation and forwarding at least one second electro-magnetic radiation at different angles with respect to a direction of incidence of the first electro-magnetic radiation. At least one second wavelength dispersion arrangement can be provided which is configured to receive the second electro-magnetic radiation, forward at least one third electro-magnetic radiation to the first arrangement and further receive at least one fourth electro-magnetic radiation. The third electro-magnetic radiation can be based on the second electro-magnetic radiation, and the fourth electro-magnetic radiation can be based on the third electro-magnetic radiation. For example, the second arrangement can be configured to forward the second electro-magnetic radiation at different angles with respect to a direction of incidence of the at least one particular electro-magnetic radiation. Exemplary embodiments of methods can be provided to implement such exemplary techniques. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080232411 | Bragg Grating Structure - A Bragg grating has a local reflection strength which varies with position along the length of the grating so as to generate a non-uniform wavelength reflection spectrum, enabling compensation for a non-uniform gain profile of the gain section of a tunable laser. In another aspect, a Bragg comb grating is modulated by an envelope function which can also compensate for a non-uniform gain profile. The comb grating may be a phase change grating, with the envelope function shape being controlled by the length between phase changes and/or size of the phase changes. | 09-25-2008 |
| 20080240174 | TUNABLE INFRARED LASERS FOR GAS-PHASE SPECTROSCOPY - Exemplary embodiments provide tunable laser devices, methods for making the laser devices and methods for tuning the laser devices. The tunable laser devices can include an optically pumped semiconductor laser heterostructure, on which a distributed-feedback (DFB) laser grating having variable grating spacings (or chirps) can be formed. The optically pumped semiconductor laser heterostructure can be an optically pumped type-II quantum well laser structure. The emission wavelength of the tunable laser devices can be tuned by changing positions of the region illuminated by the pump laser and with respect to the chirped DFB grating. The disclosed laser devices and methods can provide tunable laser emission with a combination of narrow linewidth and high output power that can be used for remote sensing applications and/or spectroscopic applications across the entire mid infrared (IR) spectral region. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080240175 | Bragg Grating Reflection Strength Control - A tunable laser comprises a gain section and two or more reflectors. At least one of the reflectors is a Bragg grating comprising a reduced strength section comprising a base order periodic pattern of marks and spaces from at which at least some of the marks or spaces are missing. This enables the reflective strength of the grating to be controlled relative to the other reflector. The Bragg grating may be a phase change grating with individual sections being reduced in strength by line removal. | 10-02-2008 |
| 20080253408 | Method and apparatus to control output spectrum bandwidth of MOPO or MOPA laser - An apparatus and method which may comprise a seed laser defining an optical cavity producing an output. An amplifier may amplify the seed laser output. A bandwidth error signal generator may provide a bandwidth error signal from measured bandwidth and a target. A bandwidth selection element, which may comprise an adjustable sized aperture external to the cavity of the seed laser may selectively alter the bandwidth of the seed laser output. A bandwidth control system may control the bandwidth control element and also selectively adjust a differential firing time between the seed laser and amplifier or another bandwidth selection actuator to cooperated (coarsely or finely) with the bandwidth selection element to control bandwidth of the laser system. | 10-16-2008 |
| 20080259971 | Method for improving high frequency operation of a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) with monolithically integrated bridge arm - A vertical cavity laser apparatus is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes an electrically responsive substrate; a support block positioned on the electrically responsive substrate; a bridge arm structure coupled to the support block, the structure having a base; a laser active area on the bridge arm structure, a tuning pad on the bridge arm structure, a laser bond pad on the bridge arm structure with traces connecting the laser bond pad to the laser active area and base. The traces are positioned and shaped to be symmetric to avoid problems due to the asymmetry of the injection current. Additionally, in this embodiment, the laser bond pad is kept at a height of the base in order to minimize device capacitance and the traces are also kept at the height of the base. Methods are also provided whereby impedance matching and high speed performance can be accomplished irregardless of the mechanical configuration of the bridge arm structure. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080259972 | WIDELY TUNABLE LASER - A Fabry-Perot laser and a micro-actuator are utilized to provide continuous tuning over a range of wavelengths. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080259973 | Wavelength converted laser apparatus - a wavelength converted laser apparatus includes a laser oscillator emitting an excitation laser beam having a first wavelength, a harmonic wave generator converting the excitation laser beam into a beam having a second wavelength lower than the first wavelength and an optical parametric oscillator converting and outputting the beam having the second wavelength into a beam having a continuously selectable specific wavelength. The optical parametric oscillator has an OPO crystal, a SHG crystal disposed at an output terminal of the optical parametric oscillator crystal to generate a second harmonic beam and a pair of high reflectivity mirrors for amplifying the beam outputted from the optical parametric oscillator. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20080267230 | Device For Wide Range Continuous Wavelength Sweeping on a Set of Tunable Laser Sources - A device for wide range continuous wavelength sweeping on a set of tunable laser sources over a predetermined global wavelength range, the device working with at least one functional pair of cooperating tunable lasers, each laser of the cooperating pair emitting over a sub range of the global wavelength range, the sub ranges of a functional pair partly overlapping each other in an overlapping wavelength zone, all the sub ranges being included within the global wavelength range and the sweeping of the output laser signal being done by the selection and tuning of one of the lasers of one of the functional pairs at a time. The device includes for a functional pair of cooperating tunable lasers an optical switch and an heterodyne optical detector. | 10-30-2008 |
| 20080279230 | Fabry-perot laser system with phase section, and method of use thereof - A laser having accurately adjustable frequency, the laser including a semiconductor material having a gain region and a phase tuning region, wherein the phase tuning region is coupled to a power source that applies current in order to alter the index of refraction of the phase tuning region. By altering the amount of current applied to the tuning section, the transmission peak of the signal from the laser can be altered. | 11-13-2008 |
| 20080285602 | Narrow-Spectrum Laser Device - A spectral purity range (E | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080285603 | TUNABLE LASER SOURCE WITH INTEGRATED OPTICAL MODULATOR - A tunable laser source with integrated optical modulator. The tunable laser source is a widely tunable semiconductor laser that is comprised of an active region on top of a thick, low bandgap, waveguide layer, wherein both the waveguide layer and the active region are fabricated between a p-doped region and an n-doped region. An electro-absorption modulator is integrated into the semiconductor laser, wherein the electro-absorption modulator shares the waveguide layer with the semiconductor laser. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080291950 | OPTICAL BEAM STEERING FOR TUNABLE LASER APPLICATIONS - A transmitter is disclosed including a laser array comprising a plurality of lasers spatially offset from one another and each having a laser output having a unique wavelength. A first prism is positioned to impart a first angular shift to the laser outputs to produce and a second prism is positioned to impart a second angular shift opposite the first angular shift on the outputs. An index modulating element is coupled to one of the first and second prisms and a controller is electrically coupled to the index modulating element to control an angle of light output form the second prism. An optical spectrum reshaper may be positioned between the second prism and the lens and have at least one transmission edge aligned with the wavelength at least one of the lasers. | 11-27-2008 |
| 20080298402 | Thermally Controlled External Cavity Tuneable Laser - The present invention relates to an external-cavity tuneable laser including a gain medium ( | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080298403 | TUNABLE NARROW LINEWIDTH LASER SOURCE - A tunable laser source has a first laser source to generate a low power continuous wave laser light having a wavelength λ | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080310463 | Tunable Lasers Locked to Whispering Gallery Mode Resonators - Techniques and devices that stabilize a laser to a whispering gallery mode optical resonator. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090022182 | Conversion efficiency expansion in wavelength converting optical packages - Particular embodiments of the present invention relate generally to altering the effective conversion efficiency curve of an optical package employing a semiconductor laser and an SHG crystal or other type of wavelength conversion device. For example, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a method of controlling an optical package is provided where the optical package is tuned such that ascending portions of a transmission curve representing a spectral filter are aligned with descending portions of a conversion efficiency curve representing a wavelength conversion device. With the filter and wavelength conversion device so aligned, the optical package is further tuned such that the wavelength of the fundamental laser signal lies within a wavelength range corresponding to aligned portions of the ascending and descending portions of the transmission and conversion efficiency curves. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090022183 | Intensity modulation in wavelength converting optical package - Particular embodiments of the present invention relate generally to methods of controlling an optical package comprising a semiconductor laser, a spectral filter, and a wavelength conversion device. The spectral filter and the wavelength conversion device collectively define a wavelength transfer function comprising a transmission bandwidth component attributable to the spectral filter and a conversion bandwidth component attributable to the wavelength conversion device. The transmission bandwidth component of the wavelength transfer function is less than one free spectral range of the semiconductor laser. The method comprises directing the native laser output through the spectral filter and the wavelength conversion device and tuning the semiconductor laser to modulate the intensity of a wavelength-converted laser output of the optical package by shifting the native wavelength spectrum by less than one free spectral range of the semiconductor laser. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090022184 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LIGHT SOURCE OF EXTERNAL RESONATOR TYPE - An improvement is made to a wavelength tunable light source of an external resonator type for selecting a wavelength of light from a semiconductor laser using a diffraction grating. The device has a prism provided between the semiconductor laser and the diffraction grating for enlarging the beam shape of the light from the semiconductor laser in the groove arrangement direction of the diffraction grating, emitting the light to the diffraction grating, and reflecting diffracted light from the diffraction grating to provide output light. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090022185 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING SEMICONDUCTOR LASER - A method of controlling a semiconductor laser having a wavelength selection portion, a refractive index of the wavelength selection portion being controllable with a heater including: a starting sequence including a first step for adjusting a heat value of the heater until the heat value of the heater reaches a given value; and a wavelength control sequence including a second step for correcting a wavelength of the semiconductor laser according to a detection result of an oscillation wavelength of the semiconductor laser after the starting sequence. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090022186 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING SEMICONDUCTOR LASER - A method of controlling a semiconductor laser that has a plurality of wavelength selection portions having a different wavelength property from each other and is mounted on a temperature control device, including: a first step of correcting a temperature of the temperature control device according to a detected output wavelength of the semiconductor laser; and a second step of controlling at least one of the wavelength selection portions so that changing amount differentials between each wavelength property of the plurality of the wavelength selection portions is reduced, the changing amount differential being caused by correcting the temperature of the temperature control device. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090028194 | TUNABLE LASER - A mode hop-free tunable laser including a gain medium, a microfabricated blazed grating, defining an external cavity of a given length, the blazed grating lying in a general plane and including a plurality of elongate beams carrying mutually parallel respective reflection surfaces spaced apart from one another with a predefined pitch, and actuating elements designed so as to allow displacements of the assembly with respect to a grating support within a plane substantially parallel to the grating general plane, and including actuation elements designed so as to apply a stretching and a displacement of the assembly in a direction transverse to said reflection surfaces, the blazed grating being arranged relative to an incident light beam provided by the gain medium so that the incident light beam impinges on the reflection surfaces with a substantially normal incident angle. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090034563 | Tunable diode laser system with external resonator - A tunable diode laser system with external resonator in Littrow or Littman configuration has an optical lattice on which the light beam from a laser diode is diffracted, a support element to hold the lattice or to hold a mirror, which reflects the light diffracted by the lattice, and an actuator to change the position of the lattice or the mirror. The tunable diode laser system enables a reliable mode-hop-free tuning and furthermore is easy and economical to realize by having the support element include a carrier, on which the lattice or the mirror is arranged, and a base body, while the actuator acts on the carrier and rests against the base body. The carrier is connected to the base body via linkages, such that a linear deflection of the actuator is transformed into a rotation of the carrier in the plane of the light beam, while the center of rotation lies outside the base body. | 02-05-2009 |
| 20090041065 | Liquid Crystal Device - A tuneable laser device comprises first and second cell walls enclosing a layer of a liquid crystal material having a helical axis substantially normal to the inner surfaces of the cell walls in the absence of an applied field. The liquid crystal contains a fluorescent, phosphorescent, luminescent or rare-earth dye. The device includes electrodes for applying a transverse electric field substantially normal to the helical axis. The invention also provides a method of electrically adjusting the peak wavelength of a photonic band edge laser comprising a chiral nematic liquid crystal material having a helical axis and a fluorescent, phosphorescent, luminescent or rare-earth dye therein and optically pumped by a suitable light source. The method comprises applying an electric field substantially perpendicular to the helical axis so as to deform the helix by means of the flexoelectric effect. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090041066 | Fast continuously wavelength tuning single frequency fiber laser using tunable polymer optical filters - A method for generating a laser projection by employing a laser gain medium for receiving an optical input projection from a laser pump. The method further includes a step of employing a mode selection filter comprising an electro-optical (EO) tunable layer disposed between two parallel reflection plates for generating a laser of a resonant peak. | 02-12-2009 |
| 20090046747 | External Cavity for Generating a Stimulus Signal and Filtering a Response Signal Received From a Dut - Deriving an optical property of a device under test includes generating a cavity light beam along a first optical path in external cavity, selecting a wavelength of the cavity light beam of light by means of a filter arrangement within the external cavity, providing an optical stimulus signal to a device under test by splitting at least a fraction of the cavity light beam, providing an optical response signal from the DUT or a signal derived there form back to the external cavity, so that said signal is passed over a second optical path passing the filter arrangement spatially different to the first optical path in order to generate a filtered optical response signal, and providing said filtered optical response signal to a detector unit. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090046748 | Light-emitting device with precisely tuned and narrowed spectral width of optical output and an optical signal source providing the same - A light-emitting device whose output wavelength is easily variable is disclosed. The device provides a light-generating portion that emits light by the carrier injection and a variable wavelength filter that sets a specific wavelength λr. The variable wavelength filter includes two ring waveguide optical coupled with each other and having optical paths different from each other and at least an electrode to apply an electrical signal to the corresponding ring waveguide. By tuning the specific wavelength λr to the wavelength emitted from the light-generating portion, the output wavelength from the light-emitting device may be narrowed. | 02-19-2009 |
| 20090059970 | Mode Hopping Swept Frequency Laser for FD OCT and Method of Operation - A frequency swept laser source that generates an optical signal that is tuned over a spectral scan band at single discrete wavelengths associated with longitudinal modes of the swept laser source. Laser hopping over discrete single cavity modes allows long laser coherence length even under dynamic very high speed tuning conditions. A ramp drive to the laser is used to linearize laser frequency tuning. A beam splitter is used to divide the optical signal between a reference arm leading to a reference reflector and a sample arm leading to a sample. A detector system detects the optical signal from the reference arm and the sample arm for generating depth profiles and images of the sample. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090059971 | Linearized Swept Laser Source for Optical Coherence Analysis System - A frequency swept laser source that generates an optical signal that is tuned over a spectral scan band at single discrete wavelengths associated with longitudinal modes of the swept laser source. Laser hopping over discrete single cavity modes allows long laser coherence length even under dynamic very high speed tuning conditions. A ramp drive to the laser is used to linearize laser frequency tuning. A beam splitter is used to divide the optical signal between a reference arm leading to a reference reflector and a sample arm leading to a sample. A detector system detects the optical signal from the reference arm and the sample arm for generating depth profiles and images of the sample. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090059972 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SWITCHING OF TUNABLE LASERS - The invention provides a method and laser system for switching from a current operating point to a new operating point of the laser, the laser operating at a particular wavelength and includes a source channel and destination channel. The system switches and locks the output wavelength of a laser at ultra fast time scales (<50 ns) and compensate for degradation in the laser, and thermal transients in the device during the switching to ensure that within a certain time the laser has switched its wavelength to another wavelength within a specific accuracy and is not dependent on the previous wavelength of the laser. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090059973 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LIGHT SOURCE, CONTROL METHOD AND CONTROL PROGRAM THEREOF, AND OPTICAL MODULE - To improve optical power detection accuracy without increasing size, etc. of a device, when controlling a plurality of light variable parts such that the sum of a plurality of optical powers becomes the minimum. Provided is a wavelength tunable light source for changing the wavelength of light by using a multiple resonator including two or more coupled resonators with different optical path lengths from each other. The light source includes: a single or more light variable part for changing transmittance of the resonators; photosensor parts which detect each light outputted from the two or more resonators by each of the resonators as optical powers being converted into electric power values; and a control unit which adds the optical powers detected by the photosensor parts by each resonator, and controls changes in the transmittance by the light variable parts such that the sum of the added optical powers becomes the minimum. | 03-05-2009 |
| 20090067455 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A PULSED LASER SOURCE EMITTING SHAPED OPTICAL WAVEFORMS - A laser system for processing a workpiece includes a tunable pulsed laser source having an output comprising a set of optical pulses. The tunable pulsed laser source includes a seed source, an optical circulator having a first port coupled to the seed source, a second port, and a third port, a modulator driver, and an amplitude modulator coupled to the modulator driver. The tunable pulsed laser source also includes a first optical amplifier characterized by an input end and a reflective end and a second optical amplifier coupled to the third port of the optical circulator. The laser system also includes a controller configured to adjust laser parameters of the tunable pulsed laser source, a supporting member configured to support the workpiece, and an optical system configured to adjust laser beams from the tunable pulsed laser source and direct them towards the workpiece. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090067456 | Tunable mode-locked laser - A tunable laser cavity for selectively emitting laser light having a first wavelength and a second wavelength using pump light emitted by a pump light source. The tunable laser cavity includes an optical resonator, the optical resonator having a configuration, optical properties and dimensions such that a first round-trip time of the laser light having the first wavelength in the optical resonator differs from a second round-trip time of the laser light having the second wavelength in the optical resonator; a gain medium inserted in the optical resonator, the gain medium being responsive to the pump light for converting the pump light to the laser light; a pump light input port optically coupled to the gain medium for receiving the pump light and conveying the pump light to the gain medium; an optical intensity modulator inserted in the optical resonator for absorbing a portion of the laser light as the laser light propagates back and forth in the optical resonator, the optical intensity modulator having a light absorption coefficient that is modulated with a modulation period, the modulation period being selectively adjustable between a first modulation period value and a second modulation period value, the first and second round-trip times being substantially equal to a respective integer multiple of respectively the first and second modulation period values; and an output port for releasing the laser light from the optical resonator. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090086773 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TUNABLE PULSED LASER SOURCE - A tunable pulsed laser source comprising a seed source adapted to generate a seed signal and an optical circulator. The optical circulator includes a first port coupled to the seed source, a second port, and a third port. The laser source also includes an amplitude modulator characterized by a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the second port of the optical circulator. The laser source further includes a first optical amplifier characterized by an input end and a reflective end including a spectral-domain reflectance filter. The input end is coupled to the second side of the amplitude modulator. Moreover, the laser source includes a second optical amplifier coupled to the third port of the optical circulator. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090086774 | CONTROL DEVICE, LASER DEVICE, WAVELENGTH CONVERTING METHOD, AND PROGRAM - A wavelength converting method of a wavelength tunable light source that is performing a phase modulation for a light output is disclosed. The wavelength converting method has an amplitude of a phase modulation have an amplitude value that is temporarily greater during a wavelength conversion than a phase modulation amount during non conversion. Therefore, an erroneous lock resulting from an abnormal oscillation wavelength can be prevented without spending the cost or time. | 04-02-2009 |
| 20090092159 | Semiconductor light-emitting device with tunable emission wavelength - The present invention is to provide a semiconductor light-emitting device with a variable output wavelength that reduces the wavelength dependence of the optical output power. The light-emitting device provides an optical cavity defined by a reflective end and a reflector. The gain waveguide and the ring resonator are set within the cavity. The reflector comprises a plurality of gratings each accompanied with an electrode. The periodicity of the refractive index in respective gratings is different from each other. The ring resonator shows a plurality of transmission maxima. The light-emitting device emits light with a wavelength defined by the transmission maxima of the ring resonator and the enhanced reflectivity region adjusted by the bias applied to electrodes of the optical reflector. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090092160 | EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER WITH A TUNABLE HOLOGRAPHIC ELEMENT - Embodiments of systems and methods are provided for a tunable laser device. The tunable laser device may include a tunable Bragg reflector that allows its wavelength to be tuned via temperature and/or pressure. This Bragg reflector may include holographic material in which a Bragg grating may be formed comprising parallel fringes of alternating index of refractions. Temperature and/or pressure changes may be effected in the Bragg reflector by, for example, a thermoelectric cooler and/or piezo transducer. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090122816 | Rapidly and electronically broadly tunable IR laser source - A laser source producing rapidly tunable emission in the infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum is disclosed. The source incorporates a Cr | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090122817 | VARIABLE-WAVELENGTH FILTER AND VARIABLE-WAVELENGTH LASER - Only the light at an overlapping wavelength of the transmission characteristics of at least two wavelength selecting filters is looped, and at least one of the wavelength selecting filters varies a selected wavelength. Since a loss due to the optical filters is small and there is not a loss caused by a highly reflecting film, the output of an external-resonator variable-wavelength laser can be increased. Optical circuit component ( | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090129414 | Wavelength control in phase region of semiconductor lasers - Particular embodiments of the present invention relate generally to semiconductor lasers and laser scanning systems and, more particularly, to schemes for controlling semiconductor lasers. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a laser is configured for optical emission of encoded data. At least one parameter of the optical emission is a function of a drive current I | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090135860 | Cross Modulation-Based Opto-Electronic Oscillator with Tunable Electro-Optic Optical Whispering Gallery Mode Resonator - Examples and implementations of photonic devices and techniques based on whispering gallery mode resonators formed of electro-optic materials to effectuate cross modulation between whispering gallery modes of different polarizations in the resonators. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090135861 | Soi-based tunable laser - A silicon-on-insulator (SOI)-based tunable laser is formed to include the gain medium (such as a semiconductor optical amplifier) disposed within a cavity formed within the SOI substrate. A tunable wavelength reflecting element and associated phase matching element are formed on the surface of the SOI structure, with optical waveguides formed in the surface SOI layer providing the communication between these components. The tunable wavelength element is controlled to adjust the optical wavelength. Separate discrete lensing elements may be disposed in the cavity with the gain medium, providing efficient coupling of the optical signal into the SOI waveguides. Alternatively, the gain medium itself may be formed to include spot converting tapers on its endfaces, the tapers used to provide mode matching into the associated optical waveguides. | 05-28-2009 |
| 20090141747 | EXTERNAL CAVITY WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER DEVICE AND OPTICAL OUTPUT MODULE - In an external cavity wavelength tunable laser device including an external cavity ( | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090141748 | Tunable laser light source and controlling method of the same - The objective of the present invention is to provide with a tunable laser light source and controlling method of the same capable of detecting the degree of out-of-tune-ness, maintaining simple configuration. The tunable laser light source comprises a gain medium | 06-04-2009 |
| 20090147808 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TUNABLE PULSED LASER SOURCE - A tunable pulsed laser source comprising a seed source adapted to generate a seed signal and an optical circulator. The optical circulator includes a first port coupled to the seed source, a second port, and a third port. The laser source also includes an amplitude modulator characterized by a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the second port of the optical circulator. The laser source further includes a first optical amplifier characterized by an input end and a reflective end including a spectral-domain reflectance filter. The input end is coupled to the second side of the amplitude modulator. Moreover, the laser source includes a second optical amplifier coupled to the third port of the optical circulator. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090154505 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER DIODE USING DOUBLE COUPLED RING RESONATOR - A wavelength tunable laser diode using a double coupled ring resonator is provided. A new double coupled ring resonator structure is formed by a connection of two ring resonators having different radii so that stable laser oscillation occurs only in a resonant wavelength at which the two ring resonators are simultaneously resonated, and the effective refractive index of the two ring resonators is properly controlled differently for tunable laser oscillation wavelengths. The reproducibility of the optical coupling characteristics of the passive waveguides and the ring resonator can be assured by multi-mode couplers. This results in improved manufacturing productivity of the wavelength tunable laser diode. It is possible to amplify and output an output light without having an effect on oscillation wavelength characteristic by means of an optical amplifier integrated in an output end. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090154506 | Tunable laser module - The objective of the present invention is to provide with is to provide with a tunable laser module capable of adequately detecting the decay of the large variation in the wavelength of the light and then operating the shutter. The tunable laser module | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090168816 | STRUCTURED SUBMOUNT FOR TUNER ASSEMBLY WITH OPTIONAL PHASE ADJUST - A structured sub-mount assembly is disclosed to support a hybrid assembly of tunable filters. The sub-mount assembly is constructed to provide a high thermal resistance path and high mechanical resonance frequency. Optionally, the structured sub-mount assembly includes a temperature-controlled phase adjust component disposed approximately midway between the two tunable filters. The structured sub-mount assembly may be part of a tunable laser or other application. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090168817 | TESTING METHOD OF WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE LASER, CONTROLLING METHOD OF WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE LASER AND LASER DEVICE - A testing method of a wavelength-tunable laser having a resonator including wavelength selection portions having wavelength property different from each other includes a first step of controlling the wavelength-tunable laser so as to oscillate at a given wavelength according to an initial setting value, a second step of tuning the wavelength property of the wavelength selection portions and detecting discontinuity point of gain-condition-changing of the wavelength-tunable laser, and a third step of obtaining a stable operating point of the wavelength selection portion according to a limiting point of an oscillation condition at the given wavelength, the limiting point being a point when the discontinuity point is detected. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090185586 | WAVELENGTH TUNING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREOF - A wavelength tuning apparatus and method that maintain highest efficiency with a single angle manipulation without changing a position of input/output light. For this, the wavelength tuning apparatus and method include a transmission-type diffraction grating and a mirror that are constructed in one-body type so that a light path that enables an optimal efficiency diffraction angle of the diffraction grating can be formed, and rotates the one-body construction to obtain a desired wavelength. Accordingly, efficiency and precision of manipulation and control can be increased, and costs can be reduced. | 07-23-2009 |
| 20090207868 | Multiple-Wavelength Tunable Laser - A tunable laser includes dispersion optics for separating generated laser pulses into first and second wavelength pulses directed along first and second optical paths. First and second reflective mirrors are disposed in the first and second optical paths, respectively. The laser's output mirror is partially reflective and partially transmissive with respect to the first wavelength and the second wavelength in accordance with provided criteria. A first resonator length is defined between the output mirror and the first mirror, while a second resonator length is defined between the output mirror and the second mirror. The second resonator length is a function of the first resonator length. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20090213879 | Automated Laser Tuning - In exemplary embodiments, an ultra short pulse system comprises a laser platform which includes an optical source configured to generate an optical pulse, an optical amplifier configured to amplify the optical pulse, and a compressor configured to temporally compress the amplified optical pulse. The ultra short pulse system further comprises monitor circuitry configured to monitor one or more performance aspects of the laser platform. Additionally, the ultra short pulse system may comprise logic configured to control the one or more performance aspects of the laser platform in response to at least the monitored one or more performance aspects. | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090219956 | Device for Generating Narrowband Optical Radiation - Optical parametric generation is disclosed, wherein a bulk Bragg grating is used as an element for providing narrow wavelength bandwidth. Various embodiments for obtaining improved performance and narrow bandwidth operation are disclosed. | 09-03-2009 |
| 20090225796 | Diffraction grating device, laser diode, and wavelength tunable filter - A diffraction grating device includes a substrate with a primary surface having a plurality of grating areas that are periodically arranged with a constant period in a predetermined axis direction, the grating area including a first area and a second area, a diffraction grating structure providing a chirped grating whose pitch monotonically changes along the predetermined axis direction, a core layer that is optically coupled with the diffraction grating structure with a coupling coefficient, a plurality of grating portions including the diffraction grating structure and the core layer, the grating portion including a first portion and second portion that are arranged on the first area and the second area, respectively, of the primary surface and a perturbing layer disposed at the first portion or the second portion. The perturbing layer changes the coupling coefficient between the diffraction grating structure and core layer. A periodical change in the coupling coefficient is formed along the core layer, and this change in the coupling coefficient affects the light propagating through the core layer in the direction of the predetermined axis. | 09-10-2009 |
| 20090238217 | Method and apparatus for wavelength tuning laser diodes - A method is presented for shaping the spectral response of volume holographic grating elements by applying controlled thermal energy. The methods allow generating continuous or discontinuous grating periods from a fixed grating period. The methods are applicable to optical feedback into optical sources such as light emitting diodes, lasers and other general optical filtering applications. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090238218 | Polarization Stable Lasers - Techniques, devices and applications of polarization stable lasers to provide laser operations against changes, variations or fluctuations in optical polarization in a laser cavity. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090238219 | OPTICAL MODULE - An optical module includes a semiconductor laser for output light with a wavelength, a temperature stabilization unit arranged for adjusting temperature of the semiconductor laser, and a controller for controlling a current injected to the semiconductor leaser by the use of a first function in accordance with changing of the wavelength on the bases of heat at the time of changing of the wavelength of the outputted light of the semiconductor leaser in a predetermined first period, and controlling the current injected to the semiconductor leaser by the use of a second function in accordance with changing of the wavelength on the bases of the temperature stabilization unit in a predetermined second period after the first period. | 09-24-2009 |
| 20090245296 | Tunable Optical Resonator - An optical apparatus includes a substrate comprising a layer of thermally insulating material disposed thereon; an optical resonator disposed on the layer of thermally insulating material; and a trench in the thermally insulating material disposed around at least a portion of the optical resonator. The optical resonator is substantially thermally isolated from the substrate. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090252183 | An Optical Device for Addressing a Slave Cavity with a Wide-Band Laser Source - The invention concerns an optical device comprising an optical source for emitting a light beam in a plurality of emitting wavelengths and at least one laser, each of said at least one laser including a holographic medium (MH), means for injecting (FO, MCS, MUX, CO, IO, AV) said light beam derived from said optical source into said at least one laser, said holographic medium (MH) being adapted to generate a laser in at least one oscillation mode, said at least one oscillation mode being determined by at least one excitation wavelength among the plurality of emitting wavelengths. The invention is characterized in that said optical source comprises a light source emitting simultaneously in said plurality of emitting wavelengths. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090257460 | EXTERNAL RESONATOR VARIABLE WAVELENGTH LASER AND ITS PACKAGING METHOD - The reflectance of a semiconductor optical amplifier ( | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090257461 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR A WAVELENGTH TUNING SOURCE - An apparatus and source arrangement for filtering an electromagnetic radiation can be provided which may include at least one spectral separating arrangement configured to physically separate one or more components of the electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus and source arrangement may also have at least one continuously rotating optical arrangement which is configured to receive at least one signal that is associated with the one or more components. Further, the apparatus and source arrangement can include at least one beam selecting arrangement configured to receive the signal. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20090262762 | Laser Device and Controlling Method Therefor - A laser device capable of preventing deterioration of a light signal and a controlling method therefor are provided. A wavelength tunable laser module provided with a resonator including the wavelength tunable filter and a semiconductor light amplifier having a phase adjustment region and a light amplifying region, in which a wavelength margin between a peak transmission wavelength of a wavelength tunable filter and a mode hop occurring wavelength on a short wave side is smaller than that on a long wave side includes: a wavelength tunable laser module controller including an optical output sampling portion for detecting light intensity of light emitted from the resonator, a dither signal source for generating a dither signal for varying a phase adjustment signal to be applied to the phase adjustment region so that the detected light intensity becomes the maximum, and an FM signal source for generating an FM signal for oscillating the phase adjustment signal to be applied to the phase adjustment region with a period shorter than a variation period of the dither signal. The optical output sampling portion detects the light intensity in synchronization with oscillation of the phase adjustment signal by the FM signal. | 10-22-2009 |
| 20090268762 | Optical intergrated device - An object of the invention is to provide an optical integrated device which enables to supply a wide range of variable wavelength and to reduce the coupling loss. The optical integrated circuit chip ( | 10-29-2009 |
| 20090274177 | TURNABLE LASER DEVICE - A laser apparatus includes a first surface-emitting laser device having an active region including at least one group of two or more quantum wells configured to generate photons and having an internal mirror configured to reflect the generated photons, and first and second opposing end cavity mirrors optically coupled to each other via the internal mirror of the first surface-emitting laser device and arranged to reflect the photons generated by the first surface-emitting laser device back to the first surface-emitting laser device to form a standing wave having a single antinode coincident with said at least one group of two or more quantum wells. | 11-05-2009 |
| 20090296752 | MULTIPLE EMITTER VECSEL - An extended cavity surface emitting laser has a first laser die with a first cavity and a first gain element and a second laser die with a second cavity and a second gain element. The first and second gain elements are in series to provide optical gain and optical feedback in an extended optical cavity configuration. The first and second gain elements provide optical gain and optical feedback in a common extended cavity with the first and second gain elements operating serially as a common extended cavity optical mode. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090296753 | SEMICONDUCTOR LASER AND OPTICAL INTEGRATED SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE - A tunable distributed feedback semiconductor laser includes a substrate; an optical waveguide structure disposed on a main surface of the substrate and including an active layer and a diffraction grating, the optical waveguide structure being divided into a first DFB portion, a wavelength-tuning region, and a second DFB portion in that order; a first electrode for injecting carriers into the active layer in the first DFB portion; a second electrode for injecting carriers into the active layer in the second DFB portion; and a third electrode for supplying a wavelength tuning signal to the wavelength-tuning region. The diffraction grating extends over the first DFB portion, the wavelength-tuning region, and the second DFB portion. An optical confinement factor of the wavelength-tuning region is smaller than that of the first and second DFB portions. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090296754 | Optoelectric Device for High-Speed Data Transfer with Electrooptically Tunable Stopband Edge of a Bragg-Reflector - A device contains at least one wavelength-tunable multilayer interference reflector controlled by an applied voltage and at least one cavity. The stopband edge wavelength of the wavelength-tunable multilayer interference reflector is preferably electrooptically tuned using the quantum confined Stark effect in the vicinity of the cavity mode (or a composite cavity mode), resulting in a modulated transmittance of the multilayer interference reflector. A light-emitting medium is preferably introduced in the cavity or in one of the cavities permitting the optoelectronic device to work as an intensity-modulated light-emitting diode or diode laser by applying an injection current. The device preferably contains at least three electric contacts to apply forward or reverse bias and may operate as a vertical cavity surface-emitting light emitter or modulator or as an edge-emitting light emitter or modulator. Using a multilayer interference reflector containing tunable section allows also obtaining a wavelength-tunable laser or a wavelength-tunable resonant cavity photodetector in the case where the optical field profile in the active cavity or cavities is affected by the stopband wavelength shift. Adding additional modulator sections enables applications in semiconductor optical amplifiers, frequency converters or lock-in optical amplifiers. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090304034 | Electrically Pumped Broadly Tunable Mid-Infrared Lasers based on Quantum Confined Transition Metal Doped Semiconductors - Electrically pumped mid-IR semiconductor lasers that are operable at room temperature and possess a range of tunability up to 1100 nm, which constitutes a revolutionary (1-2 orders of magnitude) improvement in the range of tunability over existing semiconductor laser technology utilizing Doped quantum confined host material (DQCH) with characteristic spatial dimension of the confinement tuned to enable the overlap of the discrete levels of the host and impurity ions and efficient energy transfer from the separated host carriers to the impurity, wherein: said DQCH material has the formula TM:MeZ and/or MeX | 12-10-2009 |
| 20090310629 | Optical locking based on optical resonators with high quality factors - Techniques and devices for providing optical locking of optical resonators and lasers. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090310630 | SEMICONDUCTOR INTEGRATED DEVICE - A semiconductor integrated device includes a plurality of wavelength tunable lasers, provided on a semiconductor substrate, and having oscillation wavelength ranges different from each other. Each of the wavelength tunable lasers includes an optical waveguide including, alternately in an optical axis direction, a gain waveguide portion and a wavelength controlling waveguide portion, and a diffraction grating provided over both the gain waveguide portion and the wavelength controlling waveguide portion. A value obtained by dividing a width of the wavelength controlling waveguide portion by a width of the gain waveguide portion in one of the plurality of wavelength tunable lasers is larger than a value obtained by dividing a width of the wavelength controlling waveguide portion by a width of the gain waveguide portion in a different one of the wavelength tunable lasers, which oscillates on a shorter wavelength side with respect to an oscillation wavelength range of the one wavelength tunable laser. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20090323737 | System and devices for improving external cavity diode lasers using wavelength and mode sensors and compact optical paths - External cavity laser (ECL) systems and methods for measuring the wavelength of the ECL by using a portion of the positional light received by the position sensitive detector (PSD) to determine the position of a wavelength tuning element (such as a diffraction grating or an etalon), for determining the longitudinal laser mode or power output of the laser from a portion of the laser light received by a beam-shearing mode sensor, and by using a non-output beam(s) from a transmissive diffraction grating in the ECL to monitor the external cavity laser. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20090323738 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING A TUNABLE LASER BEAM - Systems and methods of generating a tunable laser beam are disclosed. An example method includes: generating coherent optical beams from a plurality of semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs); combining the coherent optical beams into a combined coherent optical beam; and tuning the combined beam to a selected frequency range to output a coherent optical beam having only the selected frequency range. In some embodiments, the SOAs are arranged in parallel within a resonant cavity, and each coherent optical beam has a different center wavelength that overlaps in bandwidth with another one of the coherent optical beams. | 12-31-2009 |
| 20100002734 | CONTINUOUS WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER SOURCE WITH OPTIMUM POSITIONING OF PIVOT AXIS FOR GRATING - A laser source ( | 01-07-2010 |
| 20100014544 | Narrow Spectrum Light Source - An apparatus and method are disclosed for decreasing the spectral bandwidth of a semiconductor laser, such as a vertical cavity surface emitting laser. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100014545 | ATHERMAL EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER - Provided is an athermal external cavity laser (ECL), whose output optical power and output wavelength can be kept regular irrespective of temperature changes without using additional temperature controlling components. The ECL comprises: a semiconductor amplifier; an optical fiber comprising a core in which a Bragg grating is formed and a cladding surrounding the core; and a thermosetting polymer that fixes the optical fiber to a ferrule and has a negative thermooptical coefficient, wherein the thickness of the cladding surrounding the core in which the Bragg grating is formed is smaller than the portion of the cladding surrounding the portion of the core where the Bragg grating is not formed, and the thermosetting polymer the negative thermooptical coefficient surrounds the cladding. The ECL does not need additional temperature controlling components and thus can be manufactured compact and at low cost, and thus can be used as a light source of a dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) system in designing economical WDM passive optical networks (PON). | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100034224 | TUNABLE LASER MODULE, TUNABLE LASER APPARATUS AND CONTROLLING METHOD FOR TUNABLE LASER - A tunable laser module includes a tunable laser section including a gain medium and a wavelength filter having a periodic characteristic which brings about a discontinuous variation of an oscillation wavelength, and a monitoring section adapted to output a monitoring signal which periodically varies in response to the oscillation wavelength of the tunable laser section. The monitoring section includes a monitoring wavelength filter having a periodic characteristic which defines the monitoring signal. The relationship between the period of the wavelength filter and the period of the monitoring wavelength filter is set such that the monitoring signal varies when the oscillation wavelength varies discontinuously. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100046562 | TUNABLE LASER DEVICE AND A METHOD FOR PRODUCING LIGHT OF RESPECTIVE SELECTABLE WAVELENGTHS - A tunable laser device ( | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100067554 | Fast wavelength tuning techniques for external cavity lasers - An apparatus comprising a laser source configured to emit a light beam along a first path, an optical beam steering component configured to steer the light beam from the first path to a second path at an angle to the first path, and a diffraction grating configured to reflect back at least a portion of the light beam along the second path, wherein the angle determines an external cavity length. Included is an apparatus comprising a laser source configured to emit a light beam along a first path, a beam steering component configured to redirect the light beam to a second path at an angle to the first path, wherein the optical beam steering component is configured to change the angle at a rate of at least about one Kilohertz, and a diffraction grating configured to reflect back at least a portion of the light beam along the second path. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100074281 | Thulium Laser Pumped Mid-IR Source With Multi-Spectral Line Output - A Thulium laser ( | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100074282 | WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER - Provided is a tunable external cavity laser. The tunable external cavity laser includes that a bragg grating hermetically packaged in a TO can, a superluminescent diode (SLD) using an optical source signal and an optical fiber. A lasing wavelength is decided when the optical source signal emitted from the SLD is reflected by the bragg grating and the lasing wavelength is output to the optical fiber through the SLD. | 03-25-2010 |
| 20100085991 | Optical resonator and tunable laser - An optical resonator has a Y-branched waveguide including first, second, and third optical waveguides interconnected at a single point. The first optical waveguide leads toward a reflector. The second and third optical waveguides are optically interconnected by a curved extension of the second and third optical waveguides, or by an independent ring waveguide to which the second and third optical waveguides are directionally coupled. At least one wavelength selector such as a Mach-Zehnder interferometer is formed in one or both of the second and third optical waveguides. This optical resonator is small in size and can be tuned by means of a single parameter. A tunable laser can be formed by inserting an optical amplifier between the first optical waveguide and the reflector. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100085992 | Arbitrary Optical Waveform Generation Utilizing Optical Phase-Locked Loops - This invention relates to opto-electronic systems using semiconductor lasers driven by optical phase-locked loops that control the laser's optical phase and frequency. Feedback control provides a means for precise, wideband control of optical frequency and phase, augmented further by four wave mixing stages and digitally stitched independent optical waveforms for enhanced tunability. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20100091804 | PHASE CONTROL BY ACTIVE THERMAL ADJUSTMENTS IN AN EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER - The present invention relates to a wavelength tuneable external-cavity laser module, the laser being tuneable across a predetermined wavelength range and comprising: a thermally stabilised substrate; a gain medium for emitting an optical beam passing through the external cavity along an optical axis, said gain medium being placed in thermal contact with the thermally stabilised substrate; an end mirror for receiving and reflecting the optical beam within the external cavity, and a phase element for controlling the phase of the optical beam and being positioned within the external cavity between the gain medium and the end mirror, wherein said phase element comprises a material having a refractive index that varies in response to changes in temperature and has a transmissivity substantially independent of wavelength across said predetermined wavelength range. The thermally-controllable phase element in the laser external cavity is configured so as to induce a phase variation that compensates the drop in the output power due to ageing or to external temperature variation. According to a preferred embodiment, a heating element is placed in thermal contact to the phase element. The temperature of the phase element can be increased to “bring back” the output power to a value very close to the initial value. Preferably, the phase element is a silicon plate. By thermally controlling an intra-cavity phase element it is possible to vary continuously the output power as a function of the injection current. Therefore, the solution has the advantage that it is possible to configure the ECL to laser at a desired value of the output power selected along a mono tonic function of the injection current. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100103962 | LIGHT SOURCE DEVICE, OBSERVATION DEVICE, AND PROCESSING DEVICE - A light source device | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100103963 | Wavelength Tunable Semiconductor Laser Device, Controller for the Same, and Control Method for the Same - An object is to provide a wavelength tunable semiconductor laser device, a controller for the same and a control method for the same, which prevent wavelength drifts. The wavelength tunable semiconductor laser device includes an active region for oscillating a laser beam, and a wavelength tuning region for shifting a wavelength of the laser beam. In this device, a thermal compensation region for converting most of the inputted electric power to heat is provided adjacent to the wavelength tuning region, and the sum of an electric power inputted into the wavelength tuning region and an electric power inputted into the thermal compensation region is always kept constant. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100103964 | Tunable Laser - A tunable laser includes an optical gain medium, a first resonator, a periodically tunable optical filter, and a second resonator in which light of a laser wavelength exhibits a round trip time T. The optical filter is arranged between the first resonator and the second resonator and is tuned with a period t. The period t is governed by t=(n/m) T, where n and m are integers and m/n is not an integer. | 04-29-2010 |
| 20100111119 | EXTERNAL RESONATOR TYPE WAVELENGTH VARIABLE SEMICONDUCTOR LASER - In an external resonator type semiconductor wavelength tunable laser apparatus using a wavelength tunable mirror or a wavelength tunable filter which uses a refractive index change of liquid crystal, a resonant frequency is set as FR, when a response of the refractive index change to a drive voltage frequency of liquid crystal becomes maximum. A frequency F | 05-06-2010 |
| 20100128745 | Current Driven Frequency-Stepped Radiation Source and Methods Thereof - A wavelength tunable system including: a laser having a lasing cavity and an external cavity; a frequency-adjuster in the external cavity; and an adjustable current source to adjust the laser diode current, and a method of use as defined herein. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100128746 | Littman Configured Frequency Stepped Laser - A wavelength tunable system including a laser having a lasing cavity and an external cavity, the cavities having a common optical axis; a reflective grating fixed in the external cavity; a collimating lens between the lasing cavity and the reflective grating; and an adjustable reflective mirror defining one end of the external cavity and optically coupled to the fixed reflective grating, the adjustable reflective mirror pivots about the fixed reflective grating, and a method of use as defined herein. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100135342 | System and Method for Tuning Adjusting the Central Frequency of a Laser While Maintaining Frequency Stabilization to an External Reference - A method and system for stabilizing a laser to a frequency reference with an adjustable offset. The method locks a sideband signal generated by passing an incoming laser beam through the phase modulator to a frequency reference, and adjusts a carrier frequency relative to the locked sideband signal by changing a phase modulation frequency input to the phase modulator. The sideband signal can be a single sideband (SSB), dual sideband (DSB), or an electronic sideband (ESB) signal. Two separate electro-optic modulators can produce the DSB signal. The two electro-optic modulators can be a broadband modulator and a resonant modulator. With a DSB signal, the method can introduce two sinusoidal phase modulations at the phase modulator. With ESB signals, the method can further drive the optical phase modulator with an electrical signal with nominal frequency Ω | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100135343 | LASER OSCILLATOR - A first optical base having a high-reflection mirror and a second optical base having a partial-reflection mirror are arranged in parallel to each other on both sides of an oscillator housing. A guide light source emits a guide light for aligning optical components in an optical path of a laser light emitted from an optical resonator and adjusting a processing point on a target object. An optical-component supporting unit includes optical components that guide the laser light in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical resonator. The guide light source is arranged on the second optical base. | 06-03-2010 |
| 20100142567 | BRANCHED WAVEGUIDE MULTISECTION DBR SEMICONDUCTOR LASER - The present invention concerns tunable distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) semiconductor lasers, in particular a DBR laser with a branched optical waveguide | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100142568 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE FILTER AND WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER MODULE - Disclosed are a wavelength tunable filter and a wavelength tunable laser module that are of a codirectional coupler type whose characteristics do not significantly vary with a process error. They are structured so as to include a semiconductor substrate which has a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide. The first and the second optical waveguide are extended from a first side of the semiconductor substrate to an opposing second side thereof. The first optical waveguide includes a first core layer, which has a planar layout having periodic convexes and concaves, and a pair of electrodes, which vertically sandwich the first core layer. The second optical waveguide includes a second core layer, which has a lower refractive index than the first core layer. Further, a layer having the same composition and film thickness as the second core layer is placed under the first core layer. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100150184 | Alignment and Wavelength Selection In External Cavity Lasers - A method of operating a laser projection system is provided. The projection system comprises an external cavity laser, an optical intensity monitor, laser projection optics, and a controller. The external cavity laser comprises a laser diode, an intra-cavity wavelength conversion device, and a wavelength selective element. According to the method, the position of the wavelength selective element is adjusted relative to an optical axis Z of the external cavity laser to optimize output intensity. Specifically, the position of the wavelength selective element is adjusted by (i) tilting the wavelength selective element about its wavelength selective axis Y to reflect a wavelength of interest along an optimum path in an XZ plane of the external laser cavity and (ii) tipping the wavelength selective element about its wavelength insensitive axis X to reflect the wavelength of interest along an optimum path in a YZ plane of the external laser cavity. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100150185 | MULTI-VARIABLE CONTROL METHODS FOR OPTICAL PACKAGES - According to one embodiment of the present invention, an optical package comprises one or more semiconductor lasers coupled to a wavelength conversion device with adaptive optics. The optical package also comprises a package controller programmed to operate the semiconductor laser and the adaptive optics based on modulated feedback control signals supplied to the wavelength selective section of the semiconductor laser and the adaptive optics. The wavelength control signal supplied to the wavelength selective section of the semiconductor laser may be adjusted based on the modulated wavelength feedback control signal such that the response parameter of the wavelength conversion device is optimized. Similarly, the position control signals supplied to the adaptive optics may be adjusted based on the modulated feedback position control signals such that the response parameter of the wavelength conversion device is optimized. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100172382 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR GENERATING FREQUENCY-VARIABLE SIGNAL - An apparatus for generating a frequency-variable signal includes a light source; first and second resonators, to which the optical signals from the light source are input; a structure optically connected to the first resonator so as to be deformable by strain; a first and a second optical fiber gratings located on the structure to filter optical signals of a first wavelength and a second wavelength, respectively; and a photoelectric converter optically connected to the first resonator to generate a signal of a frequency corresponding to an interval between the first wavelength and the second wavelength. The interval between the first wavelength and the second wavelength corresponds to a degree of deformation of the structure. | 07-08-2010 |
| 20100177793 | Passive Phase Control in an External Cavity Laser - An external-cavity laser module includes a package defining an enclosure, the package including a base having a surface internal to the enclosure, a thermoelectric cooler within the enclosure, the thermoelectric cooler including an upper carrier plate and a lower carrier plate, the lower carrier plate being placed on the internal surface of the base and the thermoelectric cooler (TEC) being configured to stabilise the temperature of the upper carrier plate at a substantially constant temperature. The laser module further includes a laser assembly housed within the enclosure, including a gain medium for emitting an optical beam into the external cavity and an end mirror. Variations of the environmental temperature with respect to the thermally stabilised temperature cause mechanical deformations of the TEC upper carrier plate that is in thermal coupling with the laser assembly. The mechanical deformations in turn induce variations in the optical path length of the laser cavity. Thermal bridge of the gain medium to the environmental temperature is achieved by the use of a thermal bridge element for conducting heat either from or to the gain medium. | 07-15-2010 |
| 20100183038 | Magnetic damping of tuning arm in an external cavity laser - The present application is directed to a tuning arm system for use in a tunable external cavity diode laser system and includes a tuning arm body, at least one prism support coupled to the tuning arm body, at least one component support coupled to the prism support and configured to support at least one optical component therein, the component support manufactured from a magnetic material, and at least one magnetic device positioned proximate to the component support. | 07-22-2010 |
| 20100189142 | SURFACE-EMITTING EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER DEVICE - A surface-emitting extended cavity laser with intracavity frequency conversion is provided with at least one surface-emitting laser element ( | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100189143 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER - A wavelength tunable laser includes a first facet including a high reflection coating film; a gain region disposed adjacent to the first facet, the gain region including two or more light emitting devices that are arranged parallel to one another; an optical wavelength multiplexer optically connected to the light emitting devices; and an optical reflector disposed adjacent to a second facet opposite the first facet, the optical reflector having a reflection spectrum with periodic reflection peaks. The optical wavelength multiplexer is disposed between the gain region and the optical reflector, and the optical reflector and the first facet including the high reflection coating film form a laser cavity. | 07-29-2010 |
| 20100208756 | TUNABLE LASER MODULE BASED ON POLYMER WAVEGUIDES - The present invention relates to a laser module based on a waveguide tunable in a broad wavelength band. More specifically, the laser module comprises: a broadband light source based on an external resonator that generates optical signals; a waveguide; at least one Bragg grating formed on the waveguide; an optical lens provided between the light source and the waveguide; a first temperature controlling device configured of a thin film heater; and a second temperature controlling device that includes a temperature sensor and a thermoelectric cooler, wherein the light output from the light source being condensed through the optical lens and input to the waveguide, and a reflecting band of the Bragg grating is controlled by a thermo-optic effect, and an oscillation wavelength is controlled by a second temperature controlling device independently of external temperature environment. | 08-19-2010 |
| 20100232458 | Wavelength Tunable External Cavity Laser - Provided is a wavelength tunable external cavity laser comprising: a semiconductor laser diode that outputs multi-wavelength optical signals and is mounted on a first substrate; and a wavelength tunable reflection filter that is mounted on a second substrate, outputs single wavelength optical signals among the multi-wavelength optical signals using resonance of external cavity formed between a semiconductor laser diode and a Bragg-grating having a predetermined period, and tunes the wavelength of the output single wavelength optical signal by varying the refractive index of the Bragg-grating. The wavelength tunable Bragg-grating reflection filter and the semiconductor laser diode are mounted on separate substrates, and the optical coupling efficiency between the semiconductor laser diode and the waveguide type Bragg-grating reflection filter is increased using an active alignment method to increase the optical output power and enable a stable oscillation mode. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100246613 | SEMICONDUCTOR LASER, METHOD FOR GENERATING LASER BEAM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING A SPECTRAL LINE-WIDTH OF LASER BEAM - A semiconductor laser is provided capable of generating very narrow laser beams and having stable characteristics, a method for generating the laser beams and a method for reducing a spectral line-width of the laser beams. The semiconductor laser includes a semiconductor active layer, a photonic crystal optical waveguide forming a periodic structure of two-dimensional refractive index within a plane perpendicular to a semiconductor laminate direction directly or indirectly connected to the semiconductor active layer; and an optical cavity that contains the semiconductor active layer and the photonic crystal optical waveguide and oscillates light that is generated from the semiconductor active layer and is guided through the photonic crystal optical waveguide as laser. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100246614 | WAVELENGTH VARIABLE LIGHT SOURCE SYSTEM - There is provided a wavelength variable light source system capable of changing wavelength and intensity of output signal light and of improving preset accuracy and stability of the wavelength and strength of the output signal light. The system determines the both or either one of a target value for controlling wavelength and a target value for controlling intensity of output signal light of a wavelength variable light source by correlating a combination of the target wavelength and the target light output intensity specified from a higher-level device and controls operation states of the wavelength variable light source so that output values of monitoring circuit s for monitoring the operation state of the wavelength variable light source converge to the target values. | 09-30-2010 |
| 20100254414 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR A WAVELENGTH TUNING SOURCE - An apparatus and source arrangement for filtering an electromagnetic radiation can be provided which may include at least one spectral separating arrangement configured to physically separate one or more components of the electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus and source arrangement may also have at least one continuously rotating optical arrangement which is configured to receive at least one signal that is associated with the one or more components. Further, the apparatus and source arrangement can include at least one beam selecting arrangement configured to receive the signal. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100254415 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UTILIZATION OF A HIGH-SPEED OPTICAL WAVELENGTH TUNING SOURCE - Exemplary embodiments of apparatus, source arrangement and method for, e.g., providing high-speed wavelength tuning can be provided. According to one exemplary embodiment, at least one arrangement can be provided which is configured to emit an electromagnetic radiation that (i) has a spectrum whose mean frequency changes at an absolute rate that is greater than about 6000 (or 2000) terahertz per millisecond, (ii) whose mean frequency changes over a range that is greater than about 10 terahertz, and/or (iii) has an instantaneous line width that is less than about 15 gigahertz. According to another exemplary embodiment, at least one arrangement can be provided configured to, periodically and as a function of time, select at least one first electro-magnetic radiation based on a mean frequency of the at least one first electro-magnetic radiation, with the periodic selection being performed at a first characteristic period. The mean frequency can vary linearly over time, wherein the apparatus can emit at least one second electromagnetic radiation that has a spectrum whose mean frequency changes periodically as a function of time with a second characteristic period. Further, the first characteristic period can be greater than the second characteristic period. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100254416 | TUNABLE LASER SOURCE AND LINEWIDTH NARROWING METHOD - A tunable laser source includes a resonator filter which includes a multiple optical resonator having a plurality of optical resonators different in optical path length, an optical amplifier which amplifies output light from the resonator filter, a temperature control element provided for the resonator filter, an optical output level detection unit which detects an output level of light output from the optical amplifier, and a temperature control unit which controls the state of the temperature control element so as to maximize the output level detected by the optical output level detection unit. | 10-07-2010 |
| 20100265973 | EXTERNAL CAVITY TUNABLE LASER WITH AN AIR GAP ETALON COMPRISING WEDGES - A tunable narrow linewidth laser is provided, wherein an adjustable etalon structure is employed to simultaneously tune the wavelength of the laser transmission and the length of the laser cavity. The etalon structure is an effective, relatively thick shear plate comprised of transparent matched wedge-shaped substrates and a pair of parallel, partially transmissive mirrors with a space therebetween. Rotation of the etalon structure relative to the laser input changes the angle of incidence to the first substrate and the etalon angle, thereby changing the wavelength of the laser light and also changing the length of the external laser cavity. Thus, reliable frequency tuning is achieved, without mode hopping. | 10-21-2010 |
| 20100272133 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER - A wavelength tunable laser includes a DFB portion including a first optical waveguide provided with a first grating; a DBR portion including a second optical waveguide that is optically coupled to the first optical waveguide and is provided with a plurality of second gratings continuously arranged in a waveguide direction; and a phase shift portion including a third optical waveguide that is optically coupled to the first and second optical waveguides. Each of the second gratings has a grating formation area in which a grating is formed, and a grating phase shift area which shifts the phase of the grating adjacent thereto in the second grating. | 10-28-2010 |
| 20100278201 | WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXING SYSTEM - A wavelength division multiplexing system has an array of wavelength-tunable lasers with at least two wavelength-tunable lasers emitting laser light at mutually different wavelengths, a first diffraction grating, an optical fiber, a second diffraction grating, and an array of photodetectors. The laser light emitted by the different wavelength-tunable lasers wavelengths impinges upon the first diffraction grating where it is reflected so as to impinge on an input end of the optical fiber. The light then propagates in the optical fiber and comes out from an output end of the optical fiber. Then the laser light having at least two different wavelengths further impinges on a second diffraction grating, whereupon it is reflected such that laser light having a first wavelength impinges on a first photodetector, and laser light having a second wavelength impinges on a second photodetector, which is different from the first photodetector. | 11-04-2010 |
| 20100296532 | LASER DEVICE AND LASER DEVICE CONTROL DATA - A laser device includes a resonator having a gain region, a first wavelength selection portion having a periodical peak in wavelength characteristics and a second wavelength selection portion having a periodical peak in wavelength characteristics in a wavelength range smaller than a variable range of an oscillation wavelength at a period different from the first wavelength selection portion, the oscillation wavelength selected with a single direction changing of a refractive index of the second wavelength selection portion changing in a single direction; a storing portion storing a setting value of a refractive index of the second wavelength selection portion for selecting an oscillation wavelength according to an oscillation wavelength to be attained within an extent from a maximum value to a minimum value of the refractive index over the plurality of the ranges; and a controller giving the setting value to the resonator. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100303107 | Methods for Obtaining Stabilized Output Beams from Frequency Converted Light Sources and Frequency Converted Light Sources Utilizing the Same - A method for operating a frequency converted light source includes sweeping a wavelength control signal of a semiconductor laser over an initial signal range and measuring an optical power of an output beam emitted from a wavelength conversion device coupled to the semiconductor laser. The wavelength control signal of the semiconductor laser may then be swept over at least one truncated signal range and the optical power of the resulting output beam is measured. The at least one truncated signal range may be centered on a point corresponding to a maximum power of the output beam of the sweep of the wavelength control signal over the preceding signal range. An operational signal range for the wavelength control signal is determined such that a midpoint of the operational signal range corresponds to the maximum optical power of the resulting output beam of the sweep over the preceding signal range. Closed-loop feedback control of the wavelength control signal in the operational signal range may then be initiated. | 12-02-2010 |
| 20100309937 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE SEMICONDUCTOR LASER APPARATUS - A semiconductor laser apparatus is provided which can vary an output wavelength of a light source. A semiconductor laser diode and one or more heat source devices arranged around the semiconductor laser diode are integrated on one substrate. The semiconductor laser diode is configured to be uniformly heated by the heat source device. An output wavelength of the semiconductor laser diode can be easily and quickly varied. | 12-09-2010 |
| 20100322269 | TUNABLE LASER - A tunable laser has a gain material and a mirror defining an external resonant cavity. A tunable Fabry-Perot etalon disposed along the optical path between the mirror and the gain material includes a liquid crystal layer having a variable refractive index to tune the transmission peaks of the etalon and the resonant frequency of the laser resonant cavity. A second etalon having a fixed set of transmission peaks can also be included in the laser resonant cavity. The tunable etalon is then tuned to select a resonant frequency corresponding to one of the transmission peaks of the fixed etalon. | 12-23-2010 |
| 20100329290 | LITHOGRAPHIC APPARATUS, EXCIMER LASER AND DEVICE MANUFACTURING METHOD - A CD-pitch dependency for a lithographic pattern printing process is related to the spectral intensity distribution of radiation used for projecting the pattern. A CD-pitch dependency can vary from one system to another. This can result in an iso-dense bias mismatch between systems. The invention addresses this problem by providing a lithographic apparatus including an illumination system for providing a projection beam of radiation, a projection system for projecting a patterned beam onto a target portion of a substrate, and a substrate table for holding the substrate, with a controller to provide an adjustment of the spectral distribution of radiant intensity of the projection beam. The adjustment of the spectral intensity distribution is based on data relating to an iso dense bias, and comprises a broadening of the spectral bandwidth or a change of shape of the spectral intensity distribution. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110002349 | WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE LASER APPARATUS AND WAVELENGTH CHANGING METHOD THEREOF - An object is to provide a wavelength-tunable laser apparatus that prevents a grid-hopping upon wavelength change, and a wavelength changing method thereof. A wavelength-tunable laser apparatus | 01-06-2011 |
| 20110019702 | METHOD OF TUNING A SEMICONDUCTOR LASER DEVICE HAVING COUPLED CAVITIES - An array of optically coupled cavities (called micro-cavities) of a semiconductor laser are defined by either an etch and/or by a native oxide of an aluminum-bearing III-V semiconductor material and are arranged serially end-to-end along the longitudinal direction. An etch and/or native oxide defines a refractive index change for the longitudinal optical mode and confines the optical field within the micro-cavities, resulting in reflection and optical feedback distributed periodically along the laser stripe in the form of an optically coupled micro-cavity. The wavelength of emission of the laser is controlled by a combination of the length of the optical micro-cavities and the spacing between adjacent optical micro-cavities. Single-longitudinal-mode operation is exhibited over an extended drive current range. In one embodiment, two or more linear arrays of end-coupled micro-cavities are arranged in the longitudinal axis of the laser cavity to obtain a tunable laser. The device, with multiple reflectors constructed out of optical micro-cavities, is tuned either thermally or by current injection partitioned among the elements. The tunable laser exhibits a vernier tuning amongst resonances of the two or more optically-coupled micro-cavities. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110019703 | Wavelength Tunable Semiconductor Laser Having Multiple Sets of Intercavity Spacings - An array of optically coupled cavities (called micro-cavities) of a semiconductor laser are defined by either an etch and/or by a native oxide of an aluminum-bearing III-V semiconductor material and are arranged serially end-to-end along the longitudinal direction. An etch and/or native oxide defines a refractive index change for the longitudinal optical mode and confines the optical field within the micro-cavities, resulting in reflection and optical feedback distributed periodically along the laser stripe in the form of an optically coupled micro-cavity. The wavelength of emission of the laser is controlled by a combination of the length of the optical micro-cavities and the spacing between adjacent optical micro-cavities. Single-longitudinal-mode operation is exhibited over an extended drive current range. In one embodiment, two or more linear arrays of end-coupled micro-cavities are arranged in the longitudinal axis of the laser cavity to obtain a tunable laser. The device, with multiple reflectors constructed out of optical micro-cavities, is tuned either thermally or by current injection partitioned among the elements. The tunable laser exhibits a vernier tuning amongst resonances of the two or more optically-coupled micro-cavities. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20110032955 | Small Packaged Tunable Laser - According to one embodiment, the present application includes a tunable laser configured in a small package. The tunable laser includes a housing with a volume formed by exterior walls. An electrical input interface is positioned at the first end of the housing and configured to receive an information-containing electrical signal. An optical output interface is positioned at the second end of the housing and configured to transmit a continuous wave optical beam. A tunable semiconductor laser is positioned in the interior space and operable to emit a laser beam having a selectable wavelength. A focusing lens assembly is positioned in the interior space along an optical path of the laser beam to operatively couple the laser beam to the optical output interface. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110032956 | WIDE TEMPERATURE RANGE (WiTR) OPERATING WAVELENGTH-NARROWED SEMICONDUCTOR LASER - The present invention provides a wide temperature range (WiTR) operating wavelength-narrowed and wavelength-stabilized semiconductor laser having a wide bandwidth gain medium imbedded in a waveguide layer comprising a plurality of quantum dots or quantum wells wherein each quantum dot or quantum well has a different gain peak-wavelength that provides gain at different temperatures as the junction temperature of the laser changes. Therefore, the wavelength defined by an appropriate grating to lock the wavelength and narrow the emission-bandwidth can be realized over a much wider operating temperature range than possible with gain medium that comprises just single quantum well or quantum dot or a plurality of quantum wells or quantum dots that have the same gain peak-wavelength. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110032957 | COMPACT MULTIMODE LASER WITH RAPID WAVELENGTH SCANNING - In accordance with the present invention, a compact laser system with nearly continuous wavelength scanning is presented. In some embodiments, the compact laser system can be scanned over a broad range. In some embodiments, the compact laser system can be scanned at high scan rates. In some embodiments, the compact laser system can have a variable coherence length. In particular, embodiments with wavelength scanning over 140 nm with continuously variable scan rates of up to about 1 nm/μs, and discrete increase in scan rates up to about 10 nm/μs, and variable coherence lengths of from 1 mm to about 30 mm can be achieved. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110044359 | Intracavity Conversion Utilizing Narrow Band Reflective SOA - An external cavity laser source is provided comprising an external laser cavity, a tunable distributed Bragg reflector (DBR), a DBR tuning element, an output reflector, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), a frequency-selective optical coupler/reflector, and a wavelength conversion device. The tunable DBR, the DBR tuning element, the SOA, and the output reflector are configured to generate a fundamental laser signal characterized by a fundamental bandwidth that is narrower than the QPM bandwidth of the wavelength conversion device and can be tuned to a fundamental center wavelength within the QPM bandwidth. The frequency-selective optical coupler/reflector is configured for substantially non-reflective two-way transmission of optical signals at the fundamental center wavelength and is further configured for substantially complete reflection of wavelength-converted optical signals generated by the wavelength conversion device. The output reflector is configured for substantially non-reflective transmission of wavelength-converted optical signals generated by the wavelength conversion device and for substantially complete reflection of optical signals at the fundamental center wavelength. Additional embodiments are disclosed and claimed. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110069727 | BRAGG GRATING STRUCTURE - A Bragg grating has a local reflection strength which varies with position along the length of the grating so as to generate a non-uniform wavelength reflection spectrum, enabling compensation for a non-uniform gain profile of the gain section of a tunable laser. In another aspect, a Bragg comb grating is modulated by an envelope function which can also compensate for a non-uniform gain profile. The comb grating may be a phase change grating, with the envelope function shape being controlled by the length between phase changes and/or size of the phase changes. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110075689 | TUNING METHOD OF EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER DIODE, VARIABLE WAVELENGTH LASER MODULE, AND PROGRAM OF EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER DIODE TUNING - A tuning methods of an External Cavity Laser Diode (ECLD), comprises steps of: (1) providing a laser light to a grating so as to tilt the grating to an optical axis of a collimated laser light, (2) adjusting the orientation of the grating relative to the collimated laser light, (3) monitoring singleness of longitudinal mode and optical power of a light emitted from the grating, (4) calculating an orientation of the grating to exhibit intended optical power at which the singleness of longitudinal mode shows at least predetermined value, (5) adjusting the grating orientation or the optical axis of the collimated laser light to the calculated grating orientation. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20110085572 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HYBRID INTEGRATION OF A TUNABLE LASER - A tunable laser includes a substrate comprising a silicon material and a gain medium coupled to the substrate. The gain medium includes a compound semiconductor material. The tunable laser also includes a waveguide disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the gain medium, a first wavelength selective element characterized by a first reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate, and a second wavelength selective element characterized by a second reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate. The tunable laser further includes an optical coupler disposed in the substrate and joining the first wavelength selective element, the second wavelength selective element, and the waveguide and an output mirror. | 04-14-2011 |
| 20110096799 | SEMICONDUCTOR LIGHT EMITTING ELEMENT AND TUNABLE WAVELENGTH LASER LIGHT SOURCE - The present invention provides a semiconductor light emitting element that can obtain oscillation at desired wavelengths. The semiconductor light emitting element comprises a semiconductor substrate | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110096800 | LASER SOURCE THAT GENERATES A PLURALITY OF ALTERNATIVE WAVELENGTH OUTPUT BEAMS - A laser source ( | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110096801 | METHOD FOR REDUCING CAPACITANCE AND IMPROVING HIGH FREQUENCY PERFORMANCE IN VERTICAL CAVITY SURFACE EMITTING LASERS (VCSELS) - A VCSEL structure is provided. The VCSEL structure comprises a substrate. The structure may also include one or more conducting layers positioned on the substrate. There may be void spaces positioned between portions of the conducting layers to electrically isolate the portions. A method for fabricating the VCSEL structure is also provided. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20110103412 | Tunable Quantum Cascade Lasers and Photoacoustic Detection of Trace Gases, TNT, TATP and Precursors Acetone and Hydrogen Peroxide - Methods and apparatus for broad tuning of single wavelength quantum cascade lasers and the use of light output from such lasers for highly sensitive detection of trace gases such as nitrogen dioxide, acetylene, and vapors of explosives such as trinitrotoluene (TNT) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP) and TATP's precursors including acetone and hydrogen peroxide. These methods and apparatus are also suitable for high sensitivity, high selectivity detection of other chemical compounds including chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals. A quantum cascade laser (QCL) system that better achieves single mode, continuous, mode-hop free tuning for use in L-PAS (laser photoacoustic spectroscopy) by independently coordinating gain chip current, diffraction grating angle and external cavity length is described. An all mechanical method that achieves similar performance is also described. Additionally, methods for improving the sensor performance by critical selection of wavelengths are presented. | 05-05-2011 |
| 20110110387 | OPTICAL LOCKING BASED ON OPTICAL RESONATORS WITH HIGH QUALITY FACTORS - Techniques and devices for providing optical locking of optical resonators and lasers. | 05-12-2011 |
| 20110122898 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING LIGHT SOURCE - Because a reflector that reflects a fundamental wave generated from a solid-state laser element and forms an optical resonator is disposed on an exit surface of a wavelength conversion element, the fundamental wave cannot be resonated and amplified in a stage before the wavelength conversion element is joined to the solid-state laser element. As a result, a problem is created in that the solid-state laser element emits low level light output, so that a relative position of the semiconductor laser and the solid-state laser element cannot properly be adjusted. In order to overcome the above problem, even in the stage before joining the wavelength conversion element to the solid-state laser element, the invention enables the semiconductor laser and the solid-state laser element to be joined by properly adjusting the relative position of the laser and the laser element. A second reflector is provided that is located opposite a first reflector of the solid-state laser element and that partially transmits through the fundamental wave emitted from the solid-state laser element and reflects the rest of the wave. The semiconductor laser and the solid-state laser element are joined together at a relative position such that the output of light having passed through the second reflector reaches or exceeds a predetermined value. | 05-26-2011 |
| 20110142084 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR STABLE AND TUNABLE HIGH POWER PULSED LASER SYSTEM - A laser system includes an injection laser source having an output and operable to provide a laser output characterized by a first wavelength, a first linewidth, an output power. The laser system also includes a tunable pulsed source characterized by a gain bandwidth. The tunable pulsed source is operable to provide an output signal having an average power. The output signal includes a plurality of optical pulses. Each of the plurality of optical pulses is characterized by a second wavelength, a second linewidth, and a peak power. The laser system further includes an optical combiner having a first port coupled to the output of the injection laser source, a second port coupled to the tunable pulsed source, and a third port. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110142085 | Coupled Cavity Laser Diode for Generating Chaotic Signals - A chaotic light generator device comprises laser structures integrated on a common substrate. Each laser structure comprises a ridge of light amplifying material that forms a waveguide extending between at least partly reflective surfaces. Each laser structure comprises an injection electrode for injecting electric current into the ridge of light amplifying material. The laser structures are mutually coupled for exchanging light. A current feed circuit is coupled to the electrodes and configured to apply mutually different current densities to the electrodes of the laser structures. Choosing different lengths of the laser structures and suitable current densities, chaotic light emission is achieved suitable for telecommunication. Ultrashort pulses result from coupling of Eigenmodes with relaxation oscillations. | 06-16-2011 |
| 20110150014 | ANALOG TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR TUNABLE LASERS - An analog circuit including a voltage divider for providing a first voltage corresponding to an actual temperature of said thermal tuning element of the laser; an analog comparator generating an analog output current for comparing the first voltage with a reference voltage, the reference voltage being representative of a temperature of said thermal tuning element of the laser corresponding to a desired wavelength of the laser; and a heating element thermally coupled to said thermal tuning element, wherein the analog comparator increases said analog current to the heating element, when the first voltage is less than the reference voltage; and decreases said analog current to the heating element, when the first voltage is larger than the second reference voltage. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110150015 | Generation of frequency-pre-selectable radiation by using more than one cascaded frequency conversion processes of resonantly enhanced beams - The invention describes methods and apparatus for the generation of laser radiation with pre-selectable frequency, which could be bigger or smaller than its fundamental beam frequency, through a combination of two or more intracavity frequency conversion processes of two or more resonantly enhanced beams. These techniques are particularly useful for generating continuous wave tunable frequency radiation in uv, visible and infrared wavelength ranges. These processes can be a combination of an intracavity fundamental beam pumped optical parametric oscillation (OPO) and an intracavity sum- or difference-frequency-mixing of the fundamental laser beam with an OPO generated beam and an intracavity frequency doubling the optical parametrical generated signal or idler beam to desirable frequencies for continuous wave. These plural intracavity nonlinear processes can be a combination of an intracavity or resonantly cavity-build-up fundamental beam pumped OPO and another frequency conversion within this OPO and the fundamental cavity. These intracavity enhanced frequency conversion processes allow for minimizing the parent frequency beams' losses and increasing the final conversion and, particularly, highly efficient conversion for continuous waves. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110150016 | TUNABLE LASER MODULE - Provided is a tunable laser module emitting an optical signal having high speed, high power and wideband wavelength tuning. The tunable laser module includes a laser array configured to emit an optical signal having a plurality of different lasing wavelengths, a temperature controller configured to change a temperature of the laser array, and an optical integration device configured to modulate or amplify the optical signal at a side of the laser array opposing the temperature controller. | 06-23-2011 |
| 20110182305 | Small Packaged Tunable Laser with Beam Splitter - According to one embodiment, the present application includes a tunable laser configured in a small package. The tunable laser includes a housing with a volume formed by exterior walls. An electrical input interface is positioned at the first end of the housing and configured to receive an information-containing electrical signal. An optical output interface is positioned at the second end of the housing and configured to transmit a continuous wave optical beam. A tunable semiconductor laser is positioned in the interior space and operable to emit a laser beam having a selectable wavelength. A focusing lens assembly is positioned in the interior space along an optical path of the laser beam to operatively couple the laser beam to the optical output interface. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110200062 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE LASER - A method of controlling a wavelength-tunable laser selecting an oscillation wavelength with a combination of a plurality of wavelength selection portions of which wavelength peak is different from each other, comprising: a first step of confirming a control direction of the wavelength selection portion in a case where a setting value is changed from a first setting value for achieving the first wavelength to a second setting value for achieving the second wavelength; a second step of setting a setting value that is shifted from the second setting value in a direction that is opposite of a pre-determined changing direction on the wavelength selection portion as a prepared setting value, when the control direction confirmed in the first step is opposite to the pre-determined changing direction; and a third step of changing the prepared setting value set in the second step to the second setting value. | 08-18-2011 |
| 20110211599 | THERMAL CONTROL OF OPTICAL FILTER WITH LOCAL SILICON FRAME - Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a thermally controlled optical filter comprises a frame coupled to an etalon where the frame includes a resistive thermal device disposed on the frame to obtain thermal measurements of the etalon during operation. The frame may be generally L-shaped or generally square-shaped. The frame may include a fillet that is generally planar, generally beveled or trapezoidal, or generally circular in shape. A heater may be additionally disposed on the frame. The etalon and frame subassembly may be bonded to a micro hot plate that is capable of heating the etalon to an operational temperature. | 09-01-2011 |
| 20110216789 | SEMICONDUCTOR LASER DEVICE - The present invention is directed to a semiconductor laser device comprising a first resonator section for resonating an optical resonator signal for providing an optical output signal at an output of said laser device, wherein said first resonator section is arranged for selectively resonating at a plurality of discrete output wavelengths, and wherein said laser device further comprises a second resonator section operatively connected to said first resonator section, said second resonator section being arranged for providing an optical feedback signal at a feedback wavelength to said first resonator section for locking said first resonator section into resonating at a selected output wavelength of said discrete output wavelengths, which selected output wavelength corresponds to said feedback wavelength for providing said optical output signal. | 09-08-2011 |
| 20110222563 | WAVELENGTH TUNING SOURCE BASED ON A ROTATABLE REFLECTOR - An apparatus and source arrangement for filtering an electromagnetic radiation can be provided which may include at least one spectral separating arrangement configured to physically separate one or more components of the electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus and source arrangement may also have at least one continuously rotating optical arrangement, e.g., polygonal scanning mirror and spinning reflector disk scanner, which is configured to receive at least one signal that is associated with the one or more components. Further, the apparatus and source arrangement can include at least one beam selecting arrangement configured to receive the signal. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110222564 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING TERAHERTZ RADIATION - Apparatus and methods for generating radiation via difference frequency generation (DFG). In one exemplary implementation, a quantum cascade laser (QCL) has a significant second-order nonlinear susceptibility (χ | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110228800 | METHOD FOR TUNING SEMICONDUCTOR LASER - A method for tuning a semiconductor laser including a plurality of wavelength selection portions, each of which has a periodic wavelength characteristic, including: controlling a value of a refractive index controlling means of the wavelength selection portions to achieve a desired output wavelength of the laser; and shifting the value when the value is equal to or excess of a predetermined value to a basal value side until achieving the desired output wavelength, the basal value being a value without applying refractive index variation by the refractive index controlling means, the predetermined value being a value for shifting one period of the periodic wavelength characteristic. | 09-22-2011 |
| 20110235659 | SEMICONDUCTOR LASER - A semiconductor laser includes a light emission end facet; a first optical waveguide extending in a predetermined optical-axis direction, the first optical waveguide being optically coupled to the light emission end facet; a ring resonator having a plurality of periodic transmittance peak wavelengths, the ring resonator being optically coupled to the first optical waveguide; a plurality of gain waveguides that generate light by injection of current; an optical coupler portion that optically couples the first optical waveguide to each of the plurality of gain waveguides; and a plurality of second optical waveguides including diffraction gratings, the plurality of second optical waveguides being respectively optically coupled to the plurality of gain waveguides. Also, each of the diffraction gratings in the plurality of second optical waveguides has a different reflection band. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110235660 | DRIVER CIRCUIT FOR TUNABLE LD - An LD driver is disclosed where the power dissipation is reduced without enlarging the circuit scale. The LD driver, which drives a tunable LD including a SG-DGB region, a CSG-DBR region, and an SOA region, includes a DC/DC converter connected to current sources or voltage sources each coupled with at least two regions of the SG-DFB, CSG-DBR and SOA regions, and a voltage controller to control the output of the DC/DC converter which is commonly provided to the current sources or the voltage sources. The voltage controller independently monitors the bias conditions of the at least two regions above, and sets the output of the DC/DC converter so as to exceed a largest voltage among voltages currently provided to respective regions by a preset margin to operate the current sources or the voltage sources normally. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110243159 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TUNABLE PULSED LASER SOURCE - A tunable pulsed laser source comprising a seed source adapted to generate a seed signal and an optical circulator. The optical circulator includes a first port coupled to the seed source, a second port, and a third port. The laser source also includes an amplitude modulator characterized by a first side and a second side. The first side is coupled to the second port of the optical circulator. The laser source further includes a first optical amplifier characterized by an input end and a reflective end including a spectral-domain reflectance filter. The input end is coupled to the second side of the amplitude modulator. Moreover, the laser source includes a second optical amplifier coupled to the third port of the optical circulator. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110243160 | FREQUENCY TUNEABLE LASER DEVICE - A frequency tuneable or chirped laser device is described that includes a laser cavity formed from a plurality of optical components. The optical components include a laser source for generating a beam of light, a spectral tuning element and one or more further optical components for directing the beam of light on to the spectral tuning element. At least one of the plurality of optical components is moveable in a first degree of freedom; such movement simultaneously altering the effective optical path length of the laser cavity and the tuning frequency of the spectral tuning element. The effective optical path length and the tuning frequency of the device are substantially insensitive to any movement of said at least one moveable optical component in degrees of freedom other than the first degree of freedom. This provides frequency tuning in which mode hopping is suppressed. | 10-06-2011 |
| 20110249690 | EXTERNAL CAVITY WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER DEVICE AND OPTICAL OUTPUT MODULE - In an external cavity wavelength tunable laser device including an external cavity ( | 10-13-2011 |
| 20110255561 | APPARATUS CONFIGURED TO PROVIDE A WAVELENGTH-SWEPT ELECTRO-MAGNETIC RADIATION - Exemplary embodiments of apparatus according to the present disclosure are provided. For example, an apparatus for providing electromagnetic radiation to a structure can be provided. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus can provide at least one electromagnetic radiation, and include at least one first arrangement which can be configured to generate the electromagnetic radiation(s) having at least one wavelength that varies over time. The exemplary apparatus can also include at least one second arrangement which can be configured to power the first arrangement(s) independently from an external power source. In another exemplary embodiment the apparatus can include at least one particular arrangement which is configured to generate the electromagnetic radiation(s) having at least one wavelength that varies over time. The particular arrangement(s) can include a resonant cavity that has a roundtrip optical transit time of approximately less than 0.7 nsec. | 10-20-2011 |
| 20110261843 | GRATING EXTERNAL-CAVITY SEMICONDUCTOR LASER AND QUASI-SYNCHRONOUS TUNING METHOD THEREOF - A method for quasi-synchronous tuning of wavelength or frequency of grating external-cavity semiconductor laser and a corresponding semiconductor laser are provided. A grating or mirror is rotated around a quasi-synchronous tuning point (Pq) as rotation center, so as to achieve the frequency selections by grating and resonance cavity in quasi-synchronous tuning, wherein the angle of the line between the quasi-synchronous tuning point (Pq) and a conventional synchronous tuning point (P0) with respect to the direction of light incident on the grating is determined according to the angle difference between the incidence angle and diffraction angle of light on the grating. According to present invention, approximately synchronous tuning of laser is achieved with a simple and flexible design. | 10-27-2011 |
| 20110274126 | METHOD OF SWITCHING LASER EMISSION OF A SOLID STATE LASER BETWEEN DIFFERENT EMISSION WAVELENGTHS AND CORRESPONDING SOLID STATE LASER DEVICE - The present invention relates to a method of switching laser emission of a solid state laser between different emission wavelengths, said different emission wavelengths being based on different electronic transitions in a solid state laser medium ( | 11-10-2011 |
| 20110292953 | Tunable Multi-Wavelength Semiconductor Laser Array For Optical Communications Based On Wavelength Division Multiplexing - Techniques, devices and systems for optical communications based on wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) that use tunable multi-wavelength laser transmitter modules. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110292954 | AUTOMATED BANDWIDTH / WAVELENGTH ADJUSTMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SHORT PULSE LASERS AND OPTICAL AMPLIFIERS - Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for adjusting a wavelength, bandwidth or both. Such systems and methods may be applicable to laser beams within a laser cavity or amplifier. For some embodiments, such systems and methods may be used to allow a user to set a desired wavelength and bandwidth of a short pulse laser system for operation at those parameters without further adjustment by the user. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110292955 | TUNABLE SEMICONDUCTOR LASER DIODE - A tunable LD with reduced number of the butt joint is disclosed. The tunable LD includes the reflector and a waveguide core. The reflector includes a plurality of segments each having a grating region and a space region adjacent to the grating region. The waveguide core includes a gain region extending in two segments adjacent to each other and a tuning region extending in two segments adjacent to each other and also adjacent to the segment for the gain region. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20110310916 | SEMICONDUCTOR LASER MODULE - A semiconductor laser module includes a semiconductor device including a semiconductor laser and a bending waveguide through which a laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser propagates, a beam splitter splitting the laser light into a first laser light and a second laser light, a plurality of detectors respectively arranged at different positions in a cross section of a light flux of the second laser light to detect the second laser light, and a waveform shaping unit provided on an optical path of the laser light. The waveform shaping unit is configured to make a relation between an output of the semiconductor laser and detection values of the detectors approach a linear relation. | 12-22-2011 |
| 20120002686 | PROCESS AND APPARATUS FOR A WAVELENGTH TUNING SOURCE - An apparatus and source arrangement for filtering an electromagnetic radiation can be provided which may include at least one spectral separating arrangement configured to physically separate one or more components of the electromagnetic radiation based on a frequency of the electromagnetic radiation. The apparatus and source arrangement may also have at least one continuously rotating optical arrangement which is configured to receive at least one signal that is associated with the one or more components. Further, the apparatus and source arrangement can include at least one beam selecting arrangement configured to receive the signal. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120002687 | Laser System - A method and apparatus may comprise a line narrowed pulsed excimer or molecular fluorine gas discharge laser system which may comprise a seed laser oscillator producing an output comprising a laser output light beam of pulses which may comprise a first gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser chamber; a line narrowing module within a first oscillator cavity; a laser amplification stage containing an amplifying gain medium in a second gas discharge excimer or molecular fluorine laser chamber receiving the output of the seed laser oscillator and amplifying the output of the seed laser oscillator to form a laser system output comprising a laser output light beam of pulses, which may comprise a ring power amplification stage. | 01-05-2012 |
| 20120008650 | HYBRID INTEGRATED TUNEABLE LASER - A hybrid integrated tuneable optical laser device, suitable for tuning to different wavelengths via a piezo micromotor ( | 01-12-2012 |
| 20120014398 | WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER MODULE - Provided is a wavelength-tunable external cavity laser module. The wavelength-tunable external cavity laser module includes: a gain medium generating light; an optical waveguide combined with the gain medium and including a Bragg grating and a thin film heater adjusting a temperature of the Bragg grating; and a high frequency transmission medium delivering a high frequency signal to the gain medium, wherein the high frequency transmission medium controls an operating speed of the light. | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120014399 | Grating External-Cavity Laser and Quasi-Synchronous Tuning Method Thereof - A method for quasi-synchronous tuning of laser wavelength or frequency of grating external-cavity laser and a corresponding laser are provided. A grating or mirror is rotated around a quasi-synchronous tuning point (P | 01-19-2012 |
| 20120033688 | Single longitudinal mode fiber laser apparatus - The present invention provides a single frequency fiber laser apparatus. The fiber laser apparatus includes a Faraday rotator mirror. A piece of erbium doped fiber is inside the laser cavity. A wavelength selective coupler is connected to the erbium doped fiber. A pump source is coupled via the wavelength selective coupler. At least one sub-ring cavity component and/or an absorb component are inserted into the cavity for facilitating suppressing laser side modes to create a single longitudinal mode fiber laser. A partial reflectance fiber Bragg grating (FBG) is used as the front cavity end for this fiber laser. | 02-09-2012 |
| 20120039346 | Feedback-enhanced self-Injection locking of lasers to optical resonators - Techniques and devices that lock and stabilize a laser to an optical resonator via self-injection locking based on a reflection feedback. A whispering gallery mode optical resonator can be implemented to provide both the optical filtering and injection feedback based on the reflection feedback from feedback optics outside the optical resonator. | 02-16-2012 |
| 20120057609 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HYBRID INTEGRATION OF A TUNABLE LASER AND A MACH ZEHNDER MODULATOR - A tunable pulsed laser includes a substrate comprising a silicon material and a gain medium coupled to the substrate. The gain medium includes a compound semiconductor material. The tunable pulsed laser also includes a waveguide disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the gain medium, an optical modulator optically coupled to the gain medium, a first wavelength selective element characterized by a first reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate, and a second wavelength selective element characterized by a second reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate. The tunable pulsed laser further includes an optical coupler disposed in the substrate and joining the first wavelength selective element, the second wavelength selective element, and the waveguide and an output mirror. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120057610 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HYBRID INTEGRATION OF A TUNABLE LASER AND A PHASE MODULATOR - A tunable laser includes a substrate comprising a silicon material and a gain medium coupled to the substrate. The gain medium includes a compound semiconductor material. The tunable laser also includes an optical modulator optically coupled to the gain medium, a phase modulator optically coupled to the optical modulator, and a waveguide disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the gain medium. The tunable laser further includes a first wavelength selective element characterized by a first reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate, a second wavelength selective element characterized by a second reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate, an optical coupler disposed in the substrate and joining the first wavelength selective element, the second wavelength selective element, and the waveguide, and an output mirror. | 03-08-2012 |
| 20120063474 | Low White Frequency Noise Tunable Semiconductor Laser Source - A low white frequency noise tunable semiconductor laser source is presented. The laser source includes a single-mode semiconductor laser assembly which generates a laser beam having a tunable frequency over a spectral range of interest. An optical filter is provided in the path of the laser beam. The optical filter has multiple spectral features distributed over the entire spectral range of interest. Each spectral feature has a narrow spectral range. A locking mechanism is further provided and is controllable for locking a spectral alignment between the frequency of the laser beam and any selected one of the spectral features of the optical filter. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120076160 | CONTINUOUS WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER SOURCE WITH OPTIMUM ORIENTATION OF GRATING AND GAIN MEDIUM - An external cavity laser assembly ( | 03-29-2012 |
| 20120093178 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER GENERATING DEVICE - Provided is a wavelength tunable external cavity laser generating device. The wavelength tunable external cavity laser generating devices includes: an optical amplifier, a comb reflector, and an optical signal processor connected in series on a first substrate; and an external wavelength tunable reflector disposed on a second substrate adjacent to the first substrate and connected to the optical amplifier, wherein the comb reflector includes: a waveguide disposed on the first substrate; a first diffraction grating disposed at one end of the waveguide adjacent to the optical amplifier; and a second diffraction grating disposed at the other end of the waveguide adjacent to the optical signal processor, wherein the optical amplifier, the comb reflector, and the optical signal processor constitute a continuous waveguide. | 04-19-2012 |
| 20120099611 | EXTERNAL CAVITY TUNABLE LASER MODULE - Provided is a wavelength tunable external cavity semiconductor laser module by a thermo-optic effect of a semiconductor optical waveguide. The wavelength tunable external cavity semiconductor laser module includes: a light source generating wideband light; a semiconductor optical waveguide having one end optically coupled to the light source; a Bragg grating formed on the optical waveguide; a thin film heater provided at an upper portion of the Bragg grating and controlling a reflection band of the Bragg grating by a thermo-electric effect; a first temperature sensor provided at an upper portion of the optical waveguide; a thermoelectric cooler (TEC) provided at a lower portion of the optical waveguide; a heat insulating layer provided between the optical waveguide and the TEC; and an optical fiber optically coupled to the other end of the optical waveguide. | 04-26-2012 |
| 20120106578 | WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER GENERATING DEVICE - A wavelength-tunable external cavity laser generating device is provided. The wavelength-tunable external cavity laser generating device includes a reflection-type multi-mode interferometer, an optical amplifier disposed between the reflection-type multi-mode interferometer and an external wavelength-tunable reflector to amplify light, and an optical signal processor configured to process light from the reflection-type multi-mode interferometer. The reflection-type multi-mode interferometer includes a multi-mode waveguide, an input waveguide connecting the optical amplifier and one end of the multi-mode waveguide, and an output waveguide configured to connect the optical signal processor and the other end of the multi-mode waveguide. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120106579 | Precise Broadband Frequency Modulated Laser - A method, apparatus and computer-readable storage medium are described for a tunable laser source that produces a desired frequency modulated optical waveform with a precision within 0.01 percent over a bandwidth greater than about 50 gigaHertz. An apparatus includes a tunable laser having one or more drive inputs for affecting an optical frequency of light output by the laser; and an optical detector. Multiple optical paths are configured to direct light output by the laser onto the optical detector. A laser controller is configured to provide to a drive input a loopback signal based on a measured or predetermined difference in optical dispersion among the plurality of optical paths and a detector signal output from the optical detector. In some embodiments, a ranging device includes the tunable laser source. | 05-03-2012 |
| 20120120972 | Quantum Cascade Lasers with Electrically Tunable Emission Wavelengths - The present invention provides a QCL device with an electrically controlled refractive index through the Stark effect. By changing the electric field in the active area, the energy spacing between the lasing energy levels may be changed and, hence, the effective refractive index in the spectral region near the laser wavelength may be controlled. | 05-17-2012 |
| 20120140783 | Wavelength-Tunable Laser Source Apparatus - A wavelength-tunable laser source apparatus is provided, having first and second Fabry-Perot laser diodes, a tunable bandpass filter and an optical coupler. One of the first and second Fabry-Perot laser diodes outputs a light source to be injected into the other of the first and second Fabry-Perot laser diodes. The tunable bandpass filter is coupled between the first and second Fabry-Perot laser diodes to adjust the light source to a desired wavelength mode. The optical coupler couples the light source, wherein a gain resonance cavity is formed by the first and second Fabry-Perot laser diodes, the tunable bandpass filter and the optical coupler, and the optical coupler outputs light in the gain resonance cavity to serve as a laser source. | 06-07-2012 |
| 20120189025 | MONOLITHIC LASER SOURCE USING RING-RESONATOR REFLECTORS - In a laser source, a first optical waveguide includes a gain medium, and a second optical waveguide includes a phase tuner which adjusts a phase value of the phase tuner to specify the wavelength of the laser source. Furthermore, the laser source includes a first ring resonator and a second ring resonator, which, respectively, are optically coupled to the first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide at opposite ends of the laser source. In particular, coupling wavelengths of the first and second ring resonators may match a wavelength of the optical signal, thereby defining an optical resonance cavity in the laser source and selecting a laser mode of the laser source which is associated with the wavelength. Additionally, the laser source includes an optical amplifier that receives and amplifies the optical signal output from the optical resonance cavity. | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120189026 | TUNABLE RESONATORS - Various embodiments of the present invention relate to electronically tunable ring resonators. In one embodiment of the present invention, a resonator structure ( | 07-26-2012 |
| 20120195331 | LASER PROCESSING OF CONDUCTIVE LINKS - A laser system for processing conductive link structures includes a seed laser generating a seed laser beam. The seed laser is sliced by a modulator into a user configurable series of pulses and the pulses are optically amplified and applied to a conductive link structure. Preferably, the bandwidth of the seed laser is less than 1 nm with an IR center frequency, and the frequency of the laser light of the pulses is doubled or quadrupled prior to application to the conductive structure. Preferably, the pulses are about 1-18 nanosecond pulsewidth and are separated by 100-400 nanoseconds. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120195332 | EXTERNAL CAVITY WIDELY TUNABLE LASER USING A SILICON RESONATOR AND MICROMECHANICALLY ADJUSTABLE COUPLING - A widely tunable laser is described where a compound semiconductor gain chip is coupled to a waveguide filter fabricated on silicon. The filter has two resonators with different free-spectral-ranges, such that Vernier tuning between the filters can be used to provide a single wavelength of light feedback into the gain chip, where the wavelength is adjustable over a wide range. The coupling between the gain chip and the filter is realized through a microlens whose position can be adjusted using micromechanics and locked in place. | 08-02-2012 |
| 20120219022 | WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE LIGHT SOURCE - A wavelength-tunable light source includes a quantum cascade laser that emits light from a first end and a second end, an optical system that collimates the light emitted from the first end, a first reflecting section on which the light collimated by the optical system is made incident, and a second reflecting section that partially reflects the light emitted from the second end of the quantum cascade laser and transmits the remaining light. The first reflecting section includes a plurality of diffractive gratings whose diffractive properties are different from each other and whose lattice plane directions are variable, and the first reflecting section diffracts a light at a particular wavelength corresponding to the diffractive property and the lattice plane direction of the selected diffractive grating in the direction opposite to the incident direction. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120219023 | Tunable Laser - A tunable laser includes an optical cavity comprising a first and second mirror. A gain medium is positioned in the optical cavity that generates stimulated emission in the optical cavity when biased. A thermally tunable optical filter is positioned in the optical cavity that is heated to a temperature that selects a desired optical mode of the optical cavity. A thermally tunable optical phase retarder is positioned in the optical cavity that is heated to a temperature which changes an optical path length in the optical cavity by an amount corresponding to a resonant frequency of the tunable optical filter so that a phase-matching condition of the optical cavity is shifted to the desired optical mode of the optical cavity selected by the thermally tunable optical filter. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120219024 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER DEVICE, OPTICAL MODULE, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER - Provided is a power saving and highly reliable wavelength tunable laser device. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120219025 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING A TUNABLE LASER OF AN OPTICAL NETWORK ELEMENT - A method and a device are provided for adjusting a tunable laser of an optical network element. A wavelength of the tunable laser is adjusted by varying a current driving the tunable laser. The wavelength of the tunable laser is adjusted by varying a temperature of the tunable laser or at least a portion thereof relative to an environmental temperature. | 08-30-2012 |
| 20120224594 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE FILTER AND WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER MODULE - A wavelength tunable filter and a wavelength tunable laser module are a codirectional coupler type whose characteristics do not vary significantly with a process error. They are structured so as to include a semiconductor substrate which has a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide. The first and the second optical waveguides are extended from a first side of the semiconductor substrate to an opposing second side thereof. The first optical waveguide includes a first core layer, which has a planar layout having periodic convexes and concaves, and a pair of electrodes, which vertically sandwich the first core layer. The second optical waveguide includes a second core layer, which has a lower refractive index than the first core layer. Further, a layer having the same composition and film thickness as the second core layer is placed under the first core layer. | 09-06-2012 |
| 20120236883 | Methods, Systems, and Devices for Timing Control in Electromagnetic Radiation Sources - In one embodiment, the invention relates to systems, methods and devices for improving the operation of an electromagnetic radiation source or component thereof. In one embodiment, the source is a laser source. A Fourier domain mode locked laser can be used in various embodiments. The sources described herein can be used in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system such as a frequency domain OCT system. In one embodiment, laser coherence length is increased by compensating for dispersion. A frequency shifter can also be used in one embodiment to compensate for a tunable filter induced Doppler shift. | 09-20-2012 |
| 20120281722 | ANGULAR BEAM ADJUSTMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LASER SYSTEMS - Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for correcting lateral and angular displacement of laser beams within a laser cavity. For some embodiments, such systems and methods are used to correct angular displacement of laser beams within a laser cavity that result from varying the lasing wavelength in a tunable laser system. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20120281723 | WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER - Provided is a wavelength-tunable external cavity laser. The wavelength-tunable external cavity laser includes a housing, a planar lightwave circuit (PLC) device disposed within the housing, a pump light source disposed at a side of the PLC device within the housing, and a modulation part disposed at the other side of the PLC device facing the pump light source within the housing. | 11-08-2012 |
| 20120287952 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR HIGH VOLTAGE AMPLIFICATION WITH LOW NOISE - Apparatus and methods for high voltage amplification with low noise are provided. In one implementation, a high voltage low noise amplification apparatus includes a low noise broadband amplification circuit configured to amplify a first component of an input signal, the first component comprising a first subset of frequencies; an output isolator configured to create an isolated signal, the isolated signal being the input signal referenced against a broadband output of the low noise broadband amplification circuit; a low frequency amplification circuit configured to amplify a second component of the signal, the second component comprising a second subset of frequencies, wherein the second subset of frequencies is lower than the first subset; and a combination circuit configured to combine the broadband output with a low frequency output of the low frequency amplification circuit. | 11-15-2012 |
| 20120294320 | TUNABLE LASER SYSTEM AND METHOD - According to the invention there is provided a tunable laser system for use in an optical communication system, said tunable laser system comprising a multi-section laser separated by at least two slots to define a plurality of sections, each section adapted to provide an optical gain. Each section comprises a separate control means to provide an adjustable optical gain in each section. The tunable laser system and method of the present invention provides a wide tuning range, narrow linewidth and fast switching times. | 11-22-2012 |
| 20120294321 | THERMO-OPTICALLY TUNABLE LASER SYSTEM - A tunable laser has a solid state laser medium having an optical gain region and generates coherent radiation through a facet. A lens collects the coherent radiation and generates a collimated light beam. Components of an external cavity include a reflective surface and an optical filter, the reflective surface reflecting the collimated beam back to the lens and the laser medium, the optical filter positioned between the reflective surface and the lens and having two surfaces with a thermally tunable optical transmission band within the optical gain region of the laser medium. The optical filter ( | 11-22-2012 |
| 20130003762 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER DIODE - A wavelength tunable laser diode (LD) is disclosed. The LD provides a SG-DFB region and a CSG-DBR region. The SG-DFB region shows a gain spectrum with a plurality of gain peaks, while, the CSG-DBR region shows a reflection spectrum with a plurality of reflection peaks. The LD may emit light with a wavelength at which the one of the gain peaks and one of the reflection peaks coincides. In the present LD, both the gain spectrum and the reflection spectrum are modified by adjusting the temperature of the SG-DFB region and that of the CSG-DBR region independently. | 01-03-2013 |
| 20130016744 | LASER SOURCE WITH TUNABLE-GRATING-WAVEGUIDE REFLECTIONSAANM Li; GuoliangAACI San DiegoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Li; Guoliang San Diego CA USAANM Zheng; XuezheAACI San DiegoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Zheng; Xuezhe San Diego CA USAANM Krishnamoorthy; Ashok V.AACI San DiegoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Krishnamoorthy; Ashok V. San Diego CA USAANM Luo; YingAACI San DiegoAAST CAAACO USAAGP Luo; Ying San Diego CA US - A laser source includes an optical cavity having a length exceeding a first predefined distance (such as 6 mm), where a wavelength spacing between optical modes associated with the optical cavity is less than a second predefined distance (such as 100 pm). Moreover, a gain medium in the laser source amplifies the optical signal. Furthermore, tunable-grating waveguides in the laser source, which are optically coupled to ends of the optical cavity, reflect a portion of the optical signal back into the optical cavity, and at least one of the tunable-grating waveguides transmits a remainder of the optical signal out of the optical cavity. | 01-17-2013 |
| 20130022062 | TUNABLE LASER - A tunable laser, including: a laser resonant cavity; a laser gain medium; an intra-cavity collimating lens; an acousto-optic tunable filter; a device exciting sound waves in an acousto-optic crystal; a radio frequency signal source providing radio frequency energy for the energy transducer and adjusting the oscillation wavelength of the laser resonant cavity by changing radio signal frequency; an optical phase modulator disposed between the intra-cavity collimating lens and the acousto-optic crystal; an optical etalon disposed between the optical phase modulator and the laser gain medium; a wavelength locker disposed at one of zero-order diffraction optical paths of intra-cavity light; a pigtailed collimator coupling laser output light to an optical fiber; a pumping source exciting the laser gain medium; a phase modulator driver for driving the optical phase modulator; and a signal control processing circuit. | 01-24-2013 |
| 20130039370 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE LASER - A method of controlling a wavelength-tunable laser selecting an oscillation wavelength with a combination of a plurality of wavelength selection portions of which wavelength peak is different from each other, comprising: a first step of confirming a control direction of the wavelength selection portion in a case where a setting value is changed from a first setting value for achieving the first wavelength to a second setting value for achieving the second wavelength; a second step of setting a setting value that is shifted from the second setting value in a direction that is opposite of a pre-determined changing direction on the wavelength selection portion as a prepared setting value, when the control direction confirmed in the first step is opposite to the pre-determined changing direction; and a third step of changing the prepared setting value set in the second step to the second setting value. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130039371 | TUNABLE LASER - A tunable laser, including: a laser resonant cavity including first and second total reflection mirrors within a laser spectral range; first and second wavelength-adjustable laser gain mediums disposed in the laser resonant cavity; first and second intra-cavity collimating lenses; an acousto-optic tunable filter; a device exciting sound waves in an acousto-optic crystal and including a sound wave energy transducer bonded on a selected surface of the crystal; a radio frequency signal source; an optical phase modulator; an optical etalon disposed between the optical phase modulator and the laser gain medium; a wavelength locker disposed at one of zero-order diffraction optical paths of intra-cavity light; a pigtailed collimator coupling laser output light to an optical fiber; first and second pumping devices exciting the first and second laser gain mediums respectively; an optical phase modulator driver for driving the phase modulator; and a signal control processing circuit. | 02-14-2013 |
| 20130044771 | System and Method for Optimization of Coherence Length of Tunable Laser Sources - A system and method for adjusting the coherence length of a tunable laser to optimize measurements and reduce artifacts. A tuning element of the laser system modulates, adjusts, or controls parameters associate with the tunable laser, such that the output wavelength of the tunable laser is modulated or adjusted over a wavelength range within a time interval. Modulation of the parameter has the effect of increasing a linewidth of the tunable laser. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130044772 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MULTIPLE LASER SOURCES USING HIGH SEMICONDUCTOR OPTICAL AMPLIFIER EXTINCTION - A system and method for passive combination of two or more laser sources (e.g., sampled grating distributed Bragg reflector (SG-DBR) lasers) into a single sweep that encompasses the combined range of the wavelengths of each laser source. | 02-21-2013 |
| 20130058365 | TUNABLE LASER SYSTEM HAVING FINE AND COARSE WAVELENGTH DISCRIMINATION - A tunable laser system having fine and coarse wavelength discrimination is provided. The tunable laser system includes a first filter having a first free spectral range (FSR) and a second filter having a second FSR different from the first FSR. The first filter provides a first series of pulses from a first portion of a laser output, and a second filter provides a second series of pulses from a second portion of the laser output. A processing system compares the first series of pulses and the second series of pulses to identify a series of markers, in which the markers are separated by a beat period of the first series of pulses and the second series of pulses. Advantageously, the series of markers may be used for mode-hop detection and/or for wavelength referencing. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20130070794 | Dynamical Fabry-Perot Tuneable Filter Device - A Fabry-Pérot tuneable filter device is described with reflecting elements separated by an optical path length to form an optical resonator cavity. A first actuator means is directly or indirectly coupled with a first reflecting element. And the first actuator means is configured to modulate the optical path length between first and second reflecting elements by a modulation amplitude to thereby sweep the optical resonator cavity through a band of optical resonance frequencies with a sweep frequency of 70 kHz or more. And the mechanical coupling between selected elements of the arrangement is sufficiently low such that when operated at the sweep frequency, the selected elements act as a system of coupled oscillating elements. In addition or alternatively, the first actuator means is directly or indirectly coupled with the first reflecting element so as to substantially drive the first reflecting element only. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130070795 | METHOD TO SWITCH EMISSION WAVELENGTH OF TUNABLE LASER DIODE - The method to change the emission wavelength of a tunable LD is disclosed. In an ordinary state, the method monitors conditions not only relating to determine the emission wavelength but conditions independent of the emission wavelength by an ordinary A/D-C implemented within the controller. Responding to an instruction to switch the emission wavelength, the controller only monitors the former conditions affecting the determination of the emission wavelength. The sampling rate of the ordinary A/D-C is equivalently enhanced without installing an additional A/D-C. | 03-21-2013 |
| 20130083815 | TUNABLE LASER WITH INTEGRATED WAVELENGTH REFERENCE - In the prior art, tunable lasers utilizing silicon-based tunable ring filters and III-V semiconductor-based gain regions required the heterogeneous integration of independently formed silicon and III-V semiconductor based optical elements, resulting in large optical devices requiring a complex manufacturing process (e.g., airtight packaging to couple the devices formed on different substrates, precise alignment for the elements, etc.). Embodiments of the invention eliminate the need for bulk optical elements and hermetic packaging, via the use of hybridized III-V/silicon gain regions and silicon optical components, such as silicon wavelength filters and silicon wavelength references, thereby reducing the size and manufacturing complexity of tunable lasing devices. For example, embodiments of the invention may utilize hybridized III-V/silicon gain regions with ring filters on silicon form a tunable laser with efficient gain from the III-V region, while providing wide tunability, efficient tunability, and narrow linewidth due to the nature of the silicon rings. | 04-04-2013 |
| 20130094527 | WAVELENGTH MONITOR, WAVELENGTH LOCKABLE LASER DIODE AND METHOD FOR LOCKING EMISSION WAVELENGTH OF LASER DIODE - A wavelength monitor monolithically integrated with a tunable LD is disclosed. The wavelength monitor includes at least two filters, each having a periodic transmission spectrum but a period between nearest neighbor periods is different from the other. A transmittance of the first filter and another transmittance of the second filter at a grid wavelength attributed to the WDM system forms a combination which is specific to the grid wavelength bur different from other combinations at other grid wavelengths. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130094528 | METHOD TO CONTROL EMISSION WAVELENGTH OF TUNABLE LASER DIODE - A method to control the emission wavelength of a tunable laser diode (LD) is disclosed. The method measures the first derivative of the wavelength against the first stimulus, typically a current injected in the SG-DFB region, and the second derivative of the wavelength against the power supplied to the heater in the CSG-DBR region. The method adjusts the current so as to coincide the emission wavelength with the target wavelength, then, corrects the target power for the heater based on the derivative of the current multiplied by a ratio of two derivatives measured in advance to the control of the heater current. | 04-18-2013 |
| 20130107899 | LASER APPARATUS | 05-02-2013 |
| 20130114628 | MULTI-WAVELENGTH DBR LASER - A multi-wavelength distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) laser diode is provided including front and rear DBR sections and a plurality of dedicated tuning signal control nodes. The front DBR section includes a plurality of front wavelength selective grating sections defining a plurality of distinct grating periodicities λ | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130114629 | ENCLOSURE FOR A LASER PACKAGE - An enclosure for a laser package the enclosure being configured to receive a laser component within the enclosure, and further configured to receive for a driver integrated circuit (IC) ( | 05-09-2013 |
| 20130128905 | BROADBAND LASER SOURCE FOR LASER THERMAL PROCESSING AND PHOTONICALLY ACTIVATED PROCESSES - A laser that emits light at all available frequencies distributed throughout the spectral bandwidth or emission bandwidth of the laser in a single pulse or pulse train is disclosed. The laser is pumped or seeded with photons having frequencies distributed throughout the superunitary gain bandwidth of the gain medium. The source of photons is a frequency modulated photon source, and the frequency modulation is controlled to occur in one or more cycles timed to occur within a time scale for pulsing the laser. | 05-23-2013 |
| 20130156052 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR TEMPERATURE TUNING OF SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS - The present technology relates to a fast and efficient heating element based on a thick heterostructure which is monolithically integrated in close proximity to one or more components of a photonic or an electronic circuit. Inventive embodiments also relate to methods of use illustrative heating elements to control or tune the characteristics of the electronic or photonic component(s). Inventive embodiments may be particularly useful in the fast spectral tuning of the emission wavelength of single mode QCLs. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20130163620 | FREQUENCY REFERENCING FOR TUNABLE LASERS - The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for referencing an optical frequency of a tunable laser. Light from a reference laser and the tunable laser is injected into a length of an optical waveguide from opposite ends thereof. When the optical frequency of the tunable laser is swept, SBS induced positive and negative peaks in the optical power of light transmitted through the waveguide are used to provide an accurate frequency change reference. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130163621 | EXTERNAL CAVITY TUNABLE LASER MODULE - Disclosed is an external cavity tunable laser module including a substrate; a mirror surface that is formed on the substrate to reflect a laser incoming from the outside; a transmissive liquid crystal filter that is formed at a rear side of the mirror surface to select and tune a wavelength of the laser reflected through the mirror surface; and a light source chip that is formed at a rear side of the transmissive liquid crystal filter to reflect the laser that passes through the transmissive liquid crystal filter at a specific wavelength interval to form a plurality of channels and tune wavelengths of the channels. | 06-27-2013 |
| 20130177033 | TUNABLE EXTERNAL RESONATOR LASER - Disclosed is an ASE-free continuously tunable external resonator laser in which reduction in tuning range and decrease in output are suppressed. The external resonator laser comprises: a fixed support body which has a half mirror that partially reflects incident light and partially transmits incident light fixed therein; and a rotatory support body which is rotatably supported by the fixed support body by way of a shaft, and which has a laser chip that emits light, a collimator lens that collimates light emitted from the laser chip, and a diffraction grating that diffracts light emitted from the laser chip, fixed therein. | 07-11-2013 |
| 20130177034 | SMALL PACKAGED TUNABLE LASER ASSEMBLY - A tunable laser configured in a small package coupled to a printed circuit board. The tunable laser includes a housing with a volume formed by exterior walls. An electrical input interface is positioned at the first end of the housing. An optical output interface is positioned at the second end of the housing and configured to transmit a continuous wave optical beam. A beam splitter and photodiode is disposed in the path of the laser beam for determining the emitted intensity of the laser beam, and an optical isolator is positioned downstream of the beam splitter to prevent the incoming light from the beam splitter from reflecting back though the beam splitter and into the cavity of the laser. | 07-11-2013 |
| 20130182728 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER - In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a wavelength tunable laser and a method for wavelength tuning a laser is disclosed. The wavelength tunable laser can include an active portion including a photonic integrated circuit including an optical waveguide including an optical gain section, a grating section, a phase control section and an anti-reflection coating arranged at opposite ends of the optical waveguide; a passive portion including an optical etalon and a reflective mirror arranged to provide feedback to the active portion to generate beam of laser light; and a controller arranged to control the active portion, the passive portion or both the active portion and the passive portion to generate tuning of the lasing wavelength. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130182729 | WAVELENGTH LOCKER DESIGN FOR PRECISE CHANNEL LOCKING OF A WIDELY TUNABLE LASER - In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a method is disclosed. The method includes controlling an operational wavelength of a wavelength tunable laser by receiving radiation from the laser at first photo-detector including a first optical element having a partially reflective coating on a front surface of the first optical element; receiving at least a portion of the radiation partially reflected from the front surface of the first optical element at an etalon; receiving radiation from the etalon at a second photo-detector including a second optical element having an anti-reflection coating on a front surface of the second optical element; determining, by processor, a control signal to be applied to the laser to control the operational wavelength of the radiation based on data from the first and the second photo-detectors; and transmitting the control signal to the laser to, control the operational wavelength of the radiation. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130182730 | SLOT WAVEGUIDE STRUCTURE FOR WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER - Exemplary embodiments provide a wavelength tunable laser device and methods using the wavelength tunable laser device for a laser tuning. An exemplary wavelength tunable laser device can include an active gain element, a slot waveguide structure, and a wavelength tuning structure including heating elements disposed around the grating structure for a wavelength selection. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130182731 | Fast Wavelength Switching - There is described a laser assembly for providing light at a switchable output wavelength. The assembly comprises first and second tuneable lasers, each configurable to emit light at a laser wavelength chosen from a range of wavelengths. Light is transmitted from the first laser while the second laser is retuned to change the chosen laser wavelength thereof. Each laser comprises one or more thermally sensitive control components for controlling the operation of the laser and an additional component electrode located adjacent to at least one of the one or more control components. The laser is configured so that the sum of electrical currents supplied to each control component and its corresponding additional component remains substantially constant in use. | 07-18-2013 |
| 20130195129 | PHASE-CONTINUOUS TUNABLE LASER - A tunable laser comprises a first tuner configured to select an emission wavelength of the laser a second tuner configured to adjust a cavity mode of the laser by modifying the cavity optical path length. The second tuner is constrained by a finite tuning range. The tunable laser also comprises a controller configured to control the first and second tuners to select the emission wavelength and adjust the cavity mode in synchronization to perform phase-continuous tuning across a range larger than supported by the finite tuning range of the second tuner. | 08-01-2013 |
| 20130223459 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FAST TUNING OF OPTICAL SOURCES - A method and device are provided for fast, continuous tuning of an optical source. A first pump signal with a first pump frequency is input into a mixer along with a first seed signal having a first seed frequency. Within the mixer, the first pump signal and the first seed signal generate at least one idler having an idler frequency defined as two times the pump frequency minus the seed frequency. Shifting the pump signal across a frequency range at a sweep rate causes the idler frequency to be shifted by two times the frequency range at two times the sweep rate. The shifted at least one idler is mixed with the shifted pump signal to generate a first mix product that has two times the sweep rate and frequency range of the pump signal. | 08-29-2013 |
| 20130230064 | MASTER OSCILLATOR SYSTEM AND LASER APPARATUS - A master oscillator system may include a grating configured to function as one resonator mirror in an optical resonator, a spectral bandwidth tuning unit configured to tune the spectral bandwidth of a laser beam transmitted within the optical resonator, a storage unit configured to store a control value of the spectral bandwidth tuning unit corresponding to a desired spectral bandwidth and a controller configured to control the spectral bandwidth tuning unit based on the control value stored in the storage unit. | 09-05-2013 |
| 20130230065 | BEAM DIAGNOSTICS AND FEEDBACK METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SPECTRALLY BEAM-COMBINED LASERS - Apparatus and method for control of lasers (which use an array of optical gain fibers) in order to improve spectrally beam-combined (SBC) laser beam quality along the plane of the SBC fiber array via spectral-to-spatial mapping of a portion of the spectrally beam-combined laser beams, detection of optical power in each of the spatially dispersed beams and feedback control of the lasers for wavelength-drift correction. The apparatus includes a diffractive element; a source of a plurality of substantially monochromatic light beams directed from different angles to a single location on the diffractive element, wherein the diffractive element spectrally combines the plurality of light beams into a single beam. A controller adjusts characteristics of the light beams if one of the light beams has become misadjusted. In some embodiments, the controller adjusts the wavelength tuning of the respective fiber laser. | 09-05-2013 |
| 20130235890 | TUNABLE HYBRID LASER WITH CARRIER-INDUCED PHASE CONTROL - A tunable laser includes a substrate comprising a silicon material, a gain medium coupled to the substrate, wherein the gain medium includes a compound semiconductor material, and a waveguide disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the gain medium. The tunable laser also includes a first wavelength selective element characterized by a first reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate and a carrier-based phase modulator optically coupled to the first wavelength selective element. The tunable laser further includes a second wavelength selective element characterized by a second reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate, an optical coupler disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the first wavelength selective element, the second wavelength selective element, and the waveguide, and an output mirror. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130235891 | WAVELENGTH MONITOR, WAVELENGTH LOCKABLE LASER DIODE AND METHOD FOR LOCKING EMISSION WAVELENGTH OF LASER DIODE - A wavelength monitor monolithically integrated with a tunable LD is disclosed. The wavelength monitor includes at least two filters, each having a periodic transmission sptectrum but a period between nearest neighbor periods is different from the other. A transmittance of the first filter and another transmittance of the second filter at a grid wavelength attributed to the WDM system forms a combination which is specific to the grid wavelength bur different from other combinations at other grid wavelengths. | 09-12-2013 |
| 20130243013 | TUNABLE LASER MODULE - The present disclosure relates to a tunable laser module including a light gain area unit for outputting an optical signal; an optical distributor for separating the optical signal output from the light gain area unit; two comb reflection units for reflecting a part of optical signals separated by the optical distributor and allow a part of the optical signals to penetrate; two phase units for changing phases of the optical signals penetrating the two comb reflection units; an optical coupler for combining the optical signals of which the phases are changed by the two phase units; and an optical amplifier for amplifying the optical signal combined by the optical coupler, wherein the light gain area unit oscillates a laser by totally reflecting the optical signals reflected by the two comb reflection units. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130243014 | METHOD FOR CALIBRATING A TUNABLE LASER - Method for calibrating and tuning a part wise monotonically, continuously tunable semiconductor laser having a phase section and a first Bragg reflector section, through which sections a phase current and a first reflector current, respectively, are applied, which laser is not actively cooled, includes a) a calibration step, including obtaining at least two tuning lines along which tuning lines all combinations of phase and Bragg currents are stable operating points, identifying at least one reference stable operating point along a first one of the identified tuning lines at which operating point the laser emits light at a certain reference frequency, and storing at least one reference stable operating point; and b) a subsequent tuning step, during which the output frequency of the laser in relation to the reference frequency is controlled to a desired output frequency by translating the operating point of the laser along the first tuning line. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130243015 | METHOD FOR CALIBRATING A TUNABLE LASER - Method for calibrating a tunable semiconductor laser having a phase section and a first Bragg reflector section, through which sections a phase current and a first reflector current, respectively, is applied, includes: a) selecting a phase current; b) identifying a range of reflector currents that achieves emission of light from the laser within a desired frequency band; c) scanning the reflector current(s) over the range of reflector currents, for each of at least two different phase currents, and reading the relative output power of the laser for each point scanned; d) identifying one stable operating point; e) identifying and storing one stable, continuous tuning line as constructed by interpolating; f) calibrating the laser frequency and observing a fed back signal from a target for the light emitted from the laser; g) measuring the temperature of the laser; and h) storing temperature and one operating point along the tuning line. | 09-19-2013 |
| 20130250979 | STABILIZING BEAM POINTING OF A FREQUENCY-CONVERTED LASER SYSTEM - A beam-stabilized laser system using optical frequency conversion in a nonlinear optical crystal is disclosed. An optimal phase-matching angle in the crystal depends on both wavelength and temperature. If the crystal temperature changes, the optimal phase-matching direction will change as well. A different wavelength can be selected so that the optimal phase-matching occurs along the original beam path and returns the output beam to the original direction. Thus, a central wavelength of the laser beam illuminating the nonlinear optical crystal can be slightly adjusted to compensate for the pointing drift. Since the illuminating wavelength can normally be tuned much faster than the crystal temperature, a more agile and responsive pointing stabilization can be achieved. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130250980 | SMALL PACKAGED TUNABLE LASER TRANSMITTER - A tunable laser transmitter configured in a small package subassembly coupled to a printed circuit board such as an ITLA assembly. The tunable laser transmitter includes a housing with a volume formed by exterior walls. An electrical input interface is positioned at the first end of the housing. An optical output interface is positioned at the second end of the housing and configured to transmit a modulated optical beam. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130250981 | Array Comprising a Plurality of Adjustable Optical Devices - An adjustable array includes a plurality of optical devices. Each adjustable array device has an optical light output therefrom and is configured whereby the corresponding optical lights of the plurality of optical devices have a predefined nonequivalent relationship relative to one another with respect to an output parameter. In response to a drive signal, the plurality of optical devices are further configured to adjust the corresponding optical lights with respect to the output parameter while substantially maintaining the predefined nonequivalent relationship. | 09-26-2013 |
| 20130259071 | BROADBAND OPTICAL ACCUMULATOR AND TUNABLE LASER USING A SUPERCONTINUUM CAVITY - A broadband optical accumulator and tunable narrowband optical source use a microstructured optical fiber into which optical energy is coupled at a first wavelength. The input optical energy is spectrally broadened as it propagates through the fiber, and the output signal is directed to a wavelength separator such as a Bragg grating. A narrowband portion of the output signal is redirected by the grating, while the remainder is reinjected into the fiber. Adjustment of the output wavelength band may be accomplished by changing the incidence angle of the output signal by pivoting the grating. The grating may be located in a housing and surrounded by index matching fluid, and the narrowband portion of the output signal isolated by the grating may be redirected to an output location by a reflector that moves with pivoting of the grating. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130259072 | TUNABLE OPTO-ELECTRONIC OSCILLATOR HAVING OPTICAL RESONATOR FILTER OPERATING AT SELECTED MODULATION SIDEBAND - Opto-electronic oscillator (OEO) devices include an optical resonator filter to block the strong laser light at the laser carrier frequency from entering the optical resonator filter and to select one of the weak modulation sidebands, which is in resonance with the optical resonator filter, to be coupled into the optical resonator filter. The laser light at the laser carrier frequency and other modulation sidebands bypass the optical resonator filter to reach a fast photodetector. The laser light in the selected modulation sideband in the optical resonator filter is then coupled out to mix with the laser light at the laser carrier frequency and other modulation sidebands at the fast photodetector to produce the detector output as the input to the electrical part of the opto-electronic loop to produce the OEO oscillation. | 10-03-2013 |
| 20130294467 | LASER-BASED SOURCE FOR TERAHERTZ AND MILLIMETER WAVES - A multi-wavelength VECSEL includes an active region comprising a plurality of semiconductor quantum wells having an intrinsically broadened gain with a wavelength selective filter disposed within the cavity to provide a laser output that oscillates at two or more separated wavelengths simultaneously. A non-linear crystal may be provided in the cavity to emit radiation at a frequency in the THz range that is the difference of the frequencies associated with two of the separated wavelengths. | 11-07-2013 |
| 20130308663 | APPARATUS AND METHOD TO ENABLE PRECISION AND FAST LASER FREQUENCY TUNING - An apparatus and method is provided to enable precision and fast laser frequency tuning. For instance, a fast tunable slave laser may be dynamically offset-locked to a reference laser line using an optical phase-locked loop. The slave laser is heterodyned against a reference laser line to generate a beatnote that is subsequently frequency divided. The phase difference between the divided beatnote and a reference signal may be detected to generate an error signal proportional to the phase difference. The error signal is converted into appropriate feedback signals to phase lock the divided beatnote to the reference signal. The slave laser frequency target may be rapidly changed based on a combination of a dynamically changing frequency of the reference signal, the frequency dividing factor, and an effective polarity of the error signal. Feed-forward signals may be generated to accelerate the slave laser frequency switching through laser tuning ports. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20130308664 | Method and Apparatus for Reducing the Amplitude Modulation of Optical Signals in External Cavity Lasers - A laser apparatus includes an external cavity laser (ECL) where the optical signal is modulated by an electrical modulation signal for modulating in frequency the laser output signal. The modulation in frequency produces a modulation of intensity (power) of the laser output signal, also denoted amplitude modulation (AM). A method of controlling the AM amplitude of a signal emitted by an ECL includes a gain medium, a phase element with variable transmissivity induced by the modulation, and a spectrally selective optical filter that selects and keeps the AM amplitude below a certain desired value or minimizes such value. A control method and a laser apparatus are also described in which the reduction of the AM component of the output power is achieved by acting on the gain of the gain medium of the ECL. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20130308665 | TUNABLE SEMICONDUCTOR LASER DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A TUNABLE SEMICONDUCTOR LASER DEVICE - A tunable semiconductor laser device includes a semiconductor structure, a longitudinal structure provided on the top surface of the semiconductor structure, a first longitudinal interdigitated transducer, wherein the first IDT is arranged on one lateral side of the longitudinal structure and at a distance along the lateral axis from said structure and parallel to the longitudinal structure. | 11-21-2013 |
| 20130315268 | TUNABLE OPTICAL FILTER AND OPTICAL SOURCE - Disclosed are a wavelength tunable optical filter and an optical source which can achieve a wideband, a high speed wavelength tuning and a consecutive variation, and can be simply manufactured. The wavelength tunable optical filter according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure includes a first optical deflector driven by an electrical signal and configured to control the propagation direction of an incident light and a Fabry-Perot (FP) filter configured to filter the incident light having passed through the first optical deflector to output a selected light having a particular wavelength. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130315269 | TUNABLE MULTI-WAVELENGTH SEMICONDUCTOR LASER ARRAY FOR OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS BASED ON WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXING - Techniques, devices and systems for optical communications based on wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) that use tunable multi-wavelength laser transmitter modules. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130315270 | LASER APPARATUS - A laser apparatus may include an optical resonator, a laser chamber, an optical loss adjustment mechanism, and a spectral line width adjustment mechanism. The optical resonator includes a mirror configured to reflect a part of light and a grating. The laser chamber is provided in the optical resonator and contains a laser gain medium, configured to emit a laser beam. The optical loss adjustment mechanism is provided in the optical resonator and configured to adjust an optical loss of the laser beam. The spectral line width adjustment mechanism is provided in the optical resonator and configured to adjust a spectral line width of the laser beam. | 11-28-2013 |
| 20130322472 | WAVELENGTH SELECTIVE AND TUNABLE LASER DEVICE - Exemplary embodiments provide wavelength selective and tunable laser devices and a method for tuning the laser devices. An exemplary laser device, which can be operated in a single-wavelength lasing mode at a selectable and tunable lasing wavelength, includes a multi-mode laser, a feedback portion, and a wavelength tuning structure. The laser generates an optical emission having a spectrum that peaks at a plurality of discrete wavelengths. The feedback portion includes an optical etalon arranged to provide wavelength selective feedback to the laser to generate a beam of laser light at a lasing wavelength selected from the plurality of discrete wavelengths. The wavelength tuning structure provides tuning of the lasing wavelength by locally adjusting a refractive index of the channel waveguide to adjust the spectrum of the optical emission, where the wavelength tuning structure adjusts the spectrum of the optical emission to overlap a transmission spectrum of the etalon at the lasing wavelength. | 12-05-2013 |
| 20130336344 | COHERENTLY PHASE COMBINED, HIGH CONTRAST, PULSED OPTICAL FIBER AMPLIFIER ARRAY - A pulsed fiber array laser system that has actively stabilized coherent beam combination (CBC) is disclosed. The active stabilization is accomplished using both piston phase control and intra-pulse phase control, allowing a much greater increase in pulse energy. Further stabilization using intra-pulse amplitude control is also disclosed. A chirp profile can be written on the output pulse to enable specific applications. An amplitude profile of the amplifier array may optionally be tailored to match to a reference electrical pulse. Using the current invention, a much smaller number of amplifier chains will be needed to achieve certain pulse energy, resulting in a system with lower complexity, lower cost, smaller size, less weight, and higher reliability. | 12-19-2013 |
| 20130343411 | METHOD TO TUNE EMISSION WAVELENGTH OF SEMICONDUCTOR LASER DIODE - A method to tune an emission wavelength of a laser diode (LD) finely is disclosed. The method first controls a temperature of the etalon filter in T | 12-26-2013 |
| 20130343412 | External Cavity Tunable Laser With 25 GHZ Frequency Interval - The invention relates to an external cavity tunable laser with 25 GHz frequency interval. The laser comprise a laser cavity end mirror directly plated on a laser gain medium, and the laser gain medium, an intracavity collimating lens, an active optical phase modulator, a tunable acousto-optic filter and an intracavity total reflection mirror all arranged inside a laser cavity sequentially. The laser further comprises: an active polarization rotator arranged on the opposite side of the tunable acousto-optic filter from the intracavity total reflection mirror, a polarization beam splitter arranged behind the active polarization rotator, a first etalon, a first total reflection mirror, a second etalon, a second total reflection mirror, a drive source for the tunable acousto-optic filter, a pumping source for the laser gain medium, a drive source for the active optical phase modulator, a drive source for the active polarization rotator and a laser drive control circuit. The invention is compact with high performance, low cost for volume production and installation, achieves high spectral density, narrow spectral bandwidth and stable tunable laser output within a wide spectrum range. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20130343413 | External Cavity Tunable Laser - The invention relates to an external cavity tunable laser. The laser comprises an extracavity collimating lens arranged outside a laser cavity, and a laser output mirror, a laser gain medium, an intracavity collimating lens, an active optical phase modulator and a tunable optical filter all arranged sequentially inside the laser cavity. The laser further comprises an active polarization rotator arranged behind the tunable optical filter, a polarization beam splitter arranged behind the active polarization rotator, a first etalon and a first total reflection mirror arranged in the direction vertical to the optic axis of a laser cavity output lens, a second etalon and a second total reflection mirror arranged in the direction of the optic axis of the laser cavity output lens, and a laser drive and control circuit. The invention is compact with high performance and low cost for volume production and easy installation, achieves high spectral density, narrow spectral bandwidth and tunable stable laser output within a wide spectrum range, and significantly reduces the difficulty in manufacturing the tunable optical filter and the etalons. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20130343414 | External Cavity Wideband Tunable Laser with Dual Laser Gain Media Coupled by a Thin Film Filter Including - The invention relates to an external cavity wideband tunable laser with dual laser gain media coupled by a thin film filter. The laser comprises: a first laser gain medium, a first laser cavity end mirror arranged on the first laser gain medium, a first intracavity collimating lens, an active optical phase modulator, a tunable acousto-optic filter, an intracavity reflection mirror, an etalon and a total reflection mirror, which are all arranged sequentially inside the laser cavity. The laser further comprises a second laser gain medium, a second laser cavity end mirror arranged on the second laser gain medium, a second intracavity collimating lens, a thin film optical filter for coupling the output light beams emitted from the first laser gain medium and the second laser gain medium, a radio frequency signal source, pumping sources for the two laser gain media, an active optical phase modulator drive source and a laser drive control circuit. The invention expands the output spectrum range of a single tunable laser and is capable of covering C and L spectrum bands. The laser has reliable performance with stable output and compact size, low cost for volume production and easy installation. | 12-26-2013 |
| 20140036940 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER, CONTROL DATA STRUCTURE OF WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER, AND WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER - A method of controlling a wavelength tunable laser to control an oscillation wavelength based on a difference between a detection result of a wavelength by a wavelength detecting unit and a target value, the method includes: acquiring a first drive condition of the wavelength tunable laser to make the wavelength tunable laser oscillate at a first wavelength from a memory; calculating a second drive condition to drive the wavelength tunable laser at a second wavelength by referring to the first drive condition and a wavelength difference between the first wavelength and the second wavelength, the second wavelength differing from the first wavelength; and driving the wavelength tunable laser based on the second drive condition calculated at the calculating of the second drive condition. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140036941 | Methods, Systems, and Devices for Timing Control in Electromagnetic Radiation Sources - In one embodiment, the invention relates to systems, methods and devices for improving the operation of an electromagnetic radiation source or component thereof. In one embodiment, the source is a laser source. A Fourier domain mode locked laser can be used in various embodiments. The sources described herein can be used in an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system such as a frequency domain OCT system. In one embodiment, laser coherence length is increased by compensating for dispersion. A frequency shifter can also be used in one embodiment to compensate for a tunable filter induced Doppler shift. | 02-06-2014 |
| 20140050236 | DISCRETELY TUNABLE LASER DEVICE - A discretely tunable laser device is provided. The discretely tunable laser device comprises: a laser comprising a plurality of discrete output modes; an optical filter for receiving output from the laser but otherwise optically isolated from the laser, the optical filter comprising a plurality of transmission peaks, each separated by a transmission spacing different from a spacing of the plurality of discrete output modes such that only one discrete output mode can predominantly align with one transmission peak when the plurality of discrete output modes are tuned; and, a control apparatus for tuning the discrete output modes of the laser to align a given output mode of the plurality of discrete output modes with a given transmission peak of the plurality of transmission peaks, such that the given output mode comprises a dominant output of the optical filter. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140050237 | DISCRETELY TUNABLE LOCALLY SEEDED LASER DEVICE - A discretely tunable locally seeded laser device is provided. The discretely tunable locally seeded laser device comprises: a first tunable laser comprising first discrete output modes; and, a second tunable laser arranged to receive output from the first tunable laser, but otherwise optically isolated from the first tunable laser, the second tunable laser comprising second discrete output modes, such that one first discrete output mode can optically seed an aligned second discrete output mode in a given position of one or more of the first discrete output modes and the second discrete output modes, the aligned second discrete output mode comprising a dominant output. | 02-20-2014 |
| 20140064306 | COMPACT EXTERNAL CAVITY TUNABLE LASER APPARATUS - The present disclosure relates to a compact external cavity tunable laser apparatus. The laser apparatus includes a substrate, an external cavity tunable reflecting unit that reflects laser light entering from the outside on the substrate and selects and varies a wavelength of the reflected laser light, an optical fiber that outputs the laser light on the substrate; and an highly integrated light source that integrates the laser light input from the external cavity tunable reflecting unit using inclined input and output waveguides, a curved waveguide, and a straight waveguide to output the integrated laser light to the optical fiber in order to match an optical axis formed with the external cavity tunable reflecting unit with an optical axis formed with an optical fiber. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140079082 | TUNABLE OPTICAL SYSTEM WITH HYBRID INTEGRATED LASER - A tunable optical system with hybrid integrated semiconductor laser is provided. The optical system includes a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate; a first optical waveguide tunable comb filter formed at the first side of the SOI substrate; a second optical waveguide tunable comb filter with detuned filter response formed at the first side of the SOI substrate; an etched laser pit at the first side of the SOI substrate; a plurality of spacers formed on the bottom surface of the laser pit near the plane of the first side of the SOI substrate; a plurality of bumping pads formed on the bottom surface of the laser pit near the plane of the first side of the SOI substrate; and a laser chip flip-chip bonded at the first side of the SOI substrate supported by the spacers. Heating sections may be provided on the filters to tune the filters. | 03-20-2014 |
| 20140098828 | WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE LIGHT SOURCE AND WAVELENGTH VARIATION METHOD - A wavelength-tunable light source includes light sources having differing variable wavelength regions, where light sources having adjacent wavelength regions are distributed to different systems. The light sources are each set such that an end portion of the variable wavelength region of the light source overlaps an end portion of the variable wavelength region of another light source. A control unit selects and drives a first light source of a first system, varies a wavelength of the first light source, selects a second light source that is of a second system among the different systems and that has a wavelength region overlapping the variable wavelength region of the first light source, drives the second light source concurrently with the first light source and subsequently switches to the output light of the second light source, causing wavelength variation and executing continuous wavelength variation over a wide range. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140098829 | LIGHT SOURCE, AND OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY MODULE - An optical module includes a light source. The light source can be a swept wavelength light source, and optical module includes a wavemeter. The wavemeter includes a wavemeter tap capable of directing a wavemeter portion of light produced by the light source away from a main beam, a wavelength selective filter arranged to receive the wavemeter portion, a first wavemeter detector arranged to measure a transmitted radiation intensity of radiation transmitted through the filter, and a second wavemeter detector arranged to measure a non-transmitted radiation intensity of radiation not transmitted through but reflected by the filter. In addition, an optical coherence tomography apparatus includes the optical module. | 04-10-2014 |
| 20140126589 | GRATING EXTERNAL-CAVITY SEMICONDUCTOR LASER AND QUASI-SYNCHRONOUS METHOD THEREOF - A method for quasi-synchronous tuning of wavelength or frequency of grating external-cavity semiconductor laser and a corresponding semiconductor laser are provided. A grating or mirror is rotated around a quasi-synchronous tuning point (Pq) as rotation center, so as to achieve the frequency selections by grating and resonance cavity in quasi-synchronous tuning, wherein the angle of the line between the quasi-synchronous tuning point (Pq) and a conventional synchronous tuning point (P0) with respect to the direction of light incident on the grating is determined according to the angle difference between the incidence angle and diffraction angle of light on the grating. According to present invention, approximately synchronous tuning of laser is achieved with a simple and flexible design. | 05-08-2014 |
| 20140133502 | WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE OPTICAL TRANSMISSION APPARATUS - A wavelength-tunable optical transmission apparatus including an optical array unit comprising a plurality of light sources whose wavelengths are changed, an optical driving unit configured to receive an electrical signal transmitted from an external circuit, generate the current and input the generated current to the optical array unit, and a control unit configured to control the magnitude of current input to the optical array unit by controlling the optical driving unit. | 05-15-2014 |
| 20140177659 | SEMICONDUCTOR LASER DEVICE - A laser device ( | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140177660 | WAVELENGTH STABILIZATION - Systems and methods of the invention generally relate to feedback loops for wavelength stabilization. According to certain aspects, a method of the invention includes filtering light through a tunable filter configured to deliver a target wavelength of light, measuring the wavelength of the filtered light, detecting a change between the target wavelength and the filtered wavelength, and adjusting the tunable filter based on the detected change so that the filtered wavelength matches the target wavelength. | 06-26-2014 |
| 20140192827 | RESONATOR, VARIABLE WAVELENGTH OPTICAL FILTER, AND VARIABLE WAVELENGTH LASER DIODE - A variable wavelength diode according to the inventive concept includes a resonator and a plurality of cylindrical lenses. The resonator includes slab waveguides of which resonance lengths are different from each other. The slab waveguides are disposed on a planar light wave circuit (PLC). Thus, the variable wavelength diode realizes a high variation speed and a continuous variation of a beam at the same time. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140192828 | TUNABLE LASER AND PHOTOACOUSTIC DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - A tunable laser includes a resonator including a highly reflecting mirror and a partially reflecting mirror; a gain medium disposed in the resonator; a birefringence filter disposed in the resonator; and an excitation device that excites the gain medium. In the tunable laser, light that passes through the birefringence filter oscillates between the highly reflecting mirror and the partially reflecting mirror. An oscillation wavelength is switched by rotating the birefringence filter. The birefringence filter includes a first birefringent plate and a second birefringent plate, which have principal dielectric axes parallel to optical surfaces thereof. An absolute value of an angle formed by the principal dielectric axis of the first birefringent plate and the principal dielectric axis of the second birefringent plate is larger than zero. | 07-10-2014 |
| 20140233593 | MULTI-WAVELENGTH LASER - The multi-wavelength laser is a ring laser source working at room temperature. The laser has an inner cavity disposed in an outer cavity. A pair of circulators disposed in the inner cavity is configured to assure counter-propagation of light between the inner cavity and the outer cavity. A gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifier (GC-SOA) is formed by combining a SOA and a Fiber Fabry-Perot Tunable Filter (FFP-TF) with the circulator pair. This configuration in the laser cavity results in an improvement in terms of transient gain excursions by applying an optical feedback. This attribute of the GC-SOA enables realizing a stable multi-wavelength laser source. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140247843 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR ACTUATING A WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE LASER DIODE IN A SPECTROMETER - Method in which, in order to actuate a wavelength-tunable laser diode in a spectrometer, a power-time function is predetermined instead of a current-time function, wherein the laser diode is tuned periodically over a wavelength range in accordance with the power-time function. For this purpose, a current profile (i) with which the laser diode is actuated is determined from the power-time function and measured values of the voltage (u) present at the laser diode. | 09-04-2014 |
| 20140254617 | TUNABLE LASER DIODE DEVICE WITH AMZI-FP FILTER - The tunable light source structure proposed in the present invention has an advantage in that a limitation on a typical technology not simultaneously satisfying high-speed tuning and wide range tuning is overcome and thus it is possible to simultaneously satisfy high-speed tuning slower than or equal to several ns and 100 nm-level wide range tuning. Also, a driving method is simpler than that of a typical technology, a stable operation is possible, and it is possible to lower a manufacturing cost of all modules including a driving circuit. In implementing the SLD and the AMZI-FP that are key components of the tunable light source structure of the present invention, an Si or polymer optical waveguide as well as III-group to V-group materials (GaAs, InP and GaSb) may also be employed. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140254618 | CHIRPED QUASI PHASE-MATCHED OPTICAL PARAMETRIC AMPLIFIER/DIFFERENCE FREQUENCY GENERATOR (CQPM OPA/DFG)-BASED OPTICAL TUNING METHOD, APPARATUS, AND APPLICATIONS - A method for wavelength tunable output from a broadband spectrum using a quasi phase-matched optical parametric amplifier/difference frequency generator (CQPM OPA/DFG)-based apparatus involves changing the relative timing of a pump pulse with respect to a seed pulse. The temporal variation varies the location of the spatial/temporal overlap of the spectrally narrow pump pulse over the spectrally broad seed spectrum occurring within the CQPM nonlinear medium. This overlap position determines the portion of the seed pulse that is phase-matched as the signal in the OPA or the seed for DFG. Piezo-electric fiber stretchers may be employed to vary the relative pulse timing and enables tuning of the output from the OPA or DFG without the use of any moving parts. Associated apparatus is disclosed. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140269790 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INCREASING COHERENCE LENGTH IN LIDAR SYSTEMS - Various implementations of the invention compensate for “phase wandering” in tunable laser sources. Phase wandering may negatively impact a performance of a lidar system that employ such laser sources, typically by reducing a coherence length/range of the lidar system, an effective bandwidth of the lidar system, a sensitivity of the lidar system, etc. Some implementations of the invention compensate for phase wandering near the laser source and before the output of the laser is directed toward a target. Some implementations of the invention compensate for phase wandering in the target signal (i.e., the output of the laser that is incident on and reflected back from the target). Some implementations of the invention compensate for phase wandering at the laser source and in the target signal. | 09-18-2014 |
| 20140294024 | TUNABLE DEVICE, METHOD OF MANUFACTURE, AND METHOD OF TUNING AN ELECTRICAL DEVICE - This description relates to an apparatus, a method of manufacturing, and a method of tuning optical and/or electrical parameters of semiconductor devices and materials, thin film materials, or other devices. In one example, a laser is tuned to produce an adjustable output wavelength by coupling the laser to a tuning material or base such as, for example, a piezoelectric base using a suitable attachment method. The laser includes of a tunable material that is sensitive to stress and/or strain. Stress and/or strain applied to the laser from the tuning material results in an electronically variable output wavelength. As an example, applying a voltage to a piezoelectric base that serves as a tuning material can cause the base to expand or contract, and the expansions and contractions from the base are coupled to the tunable material of the laser, thus varying the wavelength of the output light from the laser. Additionally, other devices that are sensitive to stress and/or strain can be adjoined in a similar manner and can result in an electronically variable output of the devices. Examples of other embodiments are also disclosed herein. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20140301416 | Monolithically Integrated Tunable Semiconductor Laser - A monolithically integrated, tunable semiconductor laser with an optical waveguide, comprising epitaxial layers on a substrate and having first and second reflectors bounding an optical gain section and a non-driven region, wherein at least one of the reflectors is a distributed Bragg reflector section configured to have a tunable reflection spectrum, wherein control electrodes are provided to at least the optical gain section, and the distributed Bragg reflector section, and wherein the non-driven region has a length of at least 100 μm, is without an electrical contact directly contacting onto the epitaxially grown side of the non-driven region, and the non-driven region is without a reflective Bragg grating within the epitaxial layers of the non-driven region. | 10-09-2014 |
| 20140307752 | APPARATUS AND METHOD WHICH CAN INCLUDE CENTER-WAVELENGTH SELECTABLE, BANDWIDTH ADJUSTABLE, SPECTRUM CUSTOMIZABLE, AND/OR MULTIPLEXABLE SWEPT-SOURCE LASER ARRANGEMENT - Systems, methods and computer-accessible mediums for providing a radiation(s) can be provided. For example, a hardware arrangement can be configured to provide the radiation(s) that can have a wavelength(s) that continuously changes over time and over a predetermined bandwidth with a predetermined envelope in a single sweep. The hardware arrangement can include a gain arrangement and a controller arrangement, and the controller arrangement can be configured to electronically control the gain arrangement such that the wavelength(s) provided by the hardware arrangement (i) spans a subset of the predetermined bandwidth, or (ii) changes a wavelength dependent distribution in the single sweep. | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140307753 | System and Method of Dynamic and Adaptive Creation of a Wavelength Continuous and Prescribed Wavelength versus Time Sweep from a Laser | 10-16-2014 |
| 20140314107 | External Cavity Wideband Tunable Laser with Dual Laser Gain Media Coupled by a Polarization Beam Combiner - The invention relates to an external cavity wideband tunable laser with dual laser gain media coupled by a polarization beam combiner. The laser comprises a first laser gain medium, a first laser cavity end mirror arranged on the first laser gain medium, a first intracavity collimating lens, an active optical phase modulator, a tunable acousto-optic filter, an intracavity reflection mirror, an etalon and a total reflection mirror which are arranged on the opposite side of the tunable acousto-optic filter from the intracavity reflection mirror inside a laser cavity. The laser further comprises a second laser gain medium, a second laser cavity end mirror arranged on the second laser gain medium, a second intracavity collimating lens, a passive polarization rotator, and a polarization beam combiner for coupling the output light beams emitted from the first laser gain medium and the second laser gain medium, a radio frequency signal source, pumping sources for the two laser gain media, an active optical phase modulator drive source and a laser drive control circuit. The invention can significantly expand the output spectrum range of a single tunable laser to cover C and L band. The laser has reliable performance with stable output and compact size, low cost for volume production and easy installation. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140314108 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE COMB SOURCE - The present application provides an optical comb source in which the comb is produced by seeding a gain switched Fabry-Pérot laser with light from a single mode laser, whilst at the same time driving the Fabry-Pérot laser with a DC bias and RF signal. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140348187 | Laser with Full C-Band Tunability and Narrow Linewidth - A laser comprises a front mirror (FM), a gain section coupled to the FM, a phase section coupled to the gain section such that the gain section is positioned between the phase section and the FM, and a back mirror (BM) comprising an interferometer and coupled to the phase section such that the phase section is positioned between the BM and the gain section. A method comprises splitting a first light into a second light and a third light, reflecting the second light to form a second reflected light, reflecting the third light to form a third reflected light, and causing the second reflected light and the third reflected light to interfere and combine to form a combined light to narrow a reflectivity peak spectrum width. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140348188 | LASER APPARATUS AND EXTREME ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT GENERATION SYSTEM - A laser apparatus may include a master oscillator, an optical unit provided in a beam path of a laser beam from the master oscillator, a beam adjusting unit provided upstream from the optical unit in a beam path of the laser beam and configured for adjusting at least one of a beam path and a wavefront of the laser beam, a first detection unit provided between the beam adjusting unit and the optical unit in a beam path of the laser beam and configured for detecting the laser beam, a second detection unit provided downstream from the optical unit in a beam path of the laser beam and configured for detecting the laser beam, and a controller configured for controlling the beam adjusting unit based on outputs from the first and second detection units. | 11-27-2014 |
| 20140369368 | Thermal Locker - An assembly includes an etalon assembly for dynamically locking a frequency of an optical beam to a set frequency, the etalon assembly being external to a laser source assembly that outputs the optical beam. The etalon assembly includes an etalon that receives the optical beam and generates via interference effects a transmission beam, the etalon having a thermal tuning range greater than one half of a free spectral range of the etalon. The etalon assembly also includes an etalon heater mounted to the etalon such that the etalon heater is configured to adjust the temperature of the etalon. The assembly includes a controller configured to retrieve calibration data based on the set frequency, calculate a set temperature for the etalon using a thermal tuning algorithm and the calibration data, and control the etalon heater such that the etalon has a temperature equal to the calculated set temperature. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20140369369 | APPARATUS FOR OUTPUT LIGHT WITH WAVELENGTH TUNABLE FUNCTION AND METHOD TO DETERMINE OSCILLATION WAVELENGTH OF WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER DIODE - An apparatus for output light with a wavelength tunable function, includes: a semiconductor laser diode (LD) including regions to determine an oscillation wavelength, the regions providing respective diffraction gratings and electrodes to control refractive index of the regions; a temperature controller for mounting the LD thereon to control a temperature of the LD; and a controller configured to vary the refractive index of the regions by providing control signals to the electrodes and another control signal to the temperature controller for varying the temperature of the LD to coincide the oscillation wavelength with a target wavelength. | 12-18-2014 |
| 20150030041 | CONTROL OF SPATIAL MODE DISTRIBUTION OF A LARGE-CORE LASER DIODE SYSTEM - System and method for operating a single unit of light-amplifying medium, structured to produce light with a complex spatial spectrum including multitude of high-order spatial modes, in external cavity configured, in conjunction with an optical etalon installed intra-cavity, to reduce spatial spectrum of such light to provide an output containing smaller number of high-order spatial modes and, optionally, only the lowest spatial mode at power levels on the order of 1 W or higher (for example, tens or hundreds of Watts). | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150030042 | WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE LASER APPARATUS HAVING WAVELENGTH MEASURING FUNCTION - The present invention relates to a wavelength-tunable laser apparatus which can measure a wavelength in a wavelength-tunable laser diode package structure for dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) having a transistor outline (TO) type appearance. The wavelength-tunable laser apparatus of the present invention is a TO-can type wavelength-tunable laser apparatus comprising: a laser diode chip for emitting a laser beam; a collimator lens for collimating the laser beam; a wavelength-selective filter through which the selected wavelength passes; and a reflecting mirror having an inclined reflective surface, wherein the laser beam is split into a beam which is emitted from the laser diode chip ( | 01-29-2015 |
| 20150036704 | SMALL PACKAGED TUNABLE TRAVELING WAVE LASER ASSEMBLY - A tunable laser configured in a small package coupled to a printed circuit board. The tunable laser includes a housing with a volume formed by exterior walls. An electrical input interface is positioned at the first end of the housing. An optical output interface is positioned at the second end of the housing and configured to transmit a continuous wave optical beam. A semiconductor optical amplifier or gain chip produces an optical output beam, and an optical isolator is positioned directly downstream of the gain chip to prevent the incoming light from the downstream optics from reflecting back though the isolator and into the cavity of the laser. A beam splitter directs a portion of the light transmitted through the isolator back into the other end of the gain chip. | 02-05-2015 |
| 20150063382 | CMOS-COMPATIBLE GERMANIUM TUNABLE LASER - A semiconductor light emitter device, comprising a substrate, an active layer made of Germanium, which is configured to emit light under application of an operating voltage to the semiconductor light emitter device, wherein a gap is arranged on the substrate, which extends between two bridgeposts laterally spaced from each other, the active layer is arranged on the bridgeposts and bridges the gap, and wherein the semiconductor light emitter device comprises a stressor layer, which induces a tensile strain in the active layer above the gap. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150063383 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TUNABLE WAVELENGTH LASER - A driving condition for causing the tunable wavelength laser to conduct laser oscillation at a first wavelength is acquired. a driving condition for causing the tunable wavelength laser to conduct laser oscillation at the second wavelength is calculated. The tunable wavelength laser is driven based on the driving condition of the second wavelength, feedback control that changes the driving condition of the tunable wavelength laser based on a difference between an output of the wavelength sensing unit and the target value is performed, and the tunable wavelength laser is caused to oscillate at the second wavelength. The driving condition of the tunable wavelength laser obtained by the feedback control when oscillation has occurred at the second wavelength is stored in the memory. Thereafter, the tunable wavelength laser is driven with reference to the stored driving condition of the tunable wavelength laser. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150063384 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TUNABLE WAVELENGTH LASER - In the method for controlling a tunable wavelength laser, information designating an oscillation wavelength is inputted. A driving condition for causing laser oscillation at a first wavelength is acquired from a memory. A control value of wavelength characteristics of the etalon and a difference between the first wavelength and a second wavelength are referred to, and a control value of wavelength characteristics of the etalon for causing laser oscillation at the second wavelength is calculated. The control value of wavelength characteristics of the etalon are assigned to the tunable wavelength laser, and a wavelength is controlled so that a wavelength sensing result becomes a first target value. Information indicating a wavelength shift amount from the designated oscillation wavelength is inputted. The wavelength sensing result is calculated as a second target value. The wavelength is controlled so that the wavelength sensing result becomes the second target value. | 03-05-2015 |
| 20150071314 | Obtaining Narrow Line-width, Full C-band Tunability Mirror for Monolithic or Hybrid Integrated Lasers - An apparatus comprising an optical medium, a power splitter coupled to the optical medium, a first delay line coupled to the power splitter such that the power splitter is positioned between the first delay line and the optical medium, a first comb reflector coupled to the first delay line such that the first delay line is positioned between the first comb reflector and the power splitter, and a second comb reflector coupled to the power splitter but not the first comb reflector and not the first delay line. A method comprising receiving an optical signal, splitting the optical signal into a first split optical signal and a second split optical signal, delaying the first split optical signal, tuning the delayed first split optical signal, tuning the second split optical signal, and delaying the tuned second split optical signal. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150071315 | Precise Broadband Frequency Modulated Laser - A method and apparatus are described including a laser with a plurality of internal or external actuators for affecting an optical frequency of light output by the laser, wherein the plurality of actuators have a corresponding plurality of different frequency response bands for changing optical properties of the laser and a corresponding plurality of actuation ranges of optical frequencies affected. Also included is an optical detector, and a plurality of optical paths configured to direct light output by the laser onto the detector. A laser controller is configured to provide a plurality of inputs to the plurality of actuators based on a detector signal output from the optical detector and the corresponding frequency response bands and actuation ranges. | 03-12-2015 |
| 20150078408 | MICRO-INTEGRATABLE TUNABLE LASER ASSEMBLY - According to an embodiment of the invention, there is provided a micro integratable tunable laser assembly (m-ITLA) which includes an electrical interface for interfacing with a host, a tunable laser module for conducting optical communication, and a control unit, for at least controlling operation of the tunable laser module according to information received from the host via the electrical interface. The m-ITLA can have a length of about 37 mm or less and a width of about 20 mm or less. | 03-19-2015 |
| 20150085886 | ANGULAR BEAM ADJUSTMENT SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR LASER SYSTEMS - Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for correcting lateral and angular displacement of laser beams within a laser cavity. For some embodiments, such systems and methods are used to correct angular displacement of laser beams within a laser cavity that result from varying the lasing wavelength in a tunable laser system. | 03-26-2015 |
| 20150092798 | METHOD TO DETERMINE OPERATING CONDITIONS OF WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER DIODE AND TO CONTROL OPTICAL TRANSMITTER PROVIDING WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER DIODE - A method to control a wavelength tunable laser diode (tunable LD) is disclosed. The tunable LD includes a SG-DFB region and a CSG-DBR region to tune the emission wavelength thereof. The CSG-DBR region includes three segments, where the refractive indices of respective segments are variable by heaters provided therein. When the electrical power supplied to two segments is optionally selected, the power supplied to the rest segment is corrected by an offset from a value reflecting physical dimensions of the heaters. The offset is determined such that the tunable LD shows the best side mode suppression ratio (SMSR). | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150092799 | OPTICAL SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICE AND METHOD OF FABRICATING THE SAME - An optical semiconductor device comprises: a first insulating film provided on a semiconductor layer; a heater provided on the first insulating film; a second insulating film provided on the heater; and an electrode provided on the heater. The electrode extends on the second insulating film; the electrode is in contact with the heater; the second insulating film includes a first region on which the electrode is located; and a thickness of the first region of the second insulating film is greater than that of the first insulating film. | 04-02-2015 |
| 20150098478 | MINIATURE TUNABLE DYE LASER - A miniature tunable dye laser comprises a pair of mirrors opposed along an optical axis and shaped to provide an optical cavity with stable resonance in at least one mode and having a cavity length of at most 50 μm. A laser dye is inside the optical cavity. A laser pump illuminates the dye with pump EM radiation having a band of wavelengths that is wider than the mode of said cavity An actuator system moves move the mirrors relative to each other along the length of the optical cavity for tuning the wavelength of the mode of said cavity. | 04-09-2015 |
| 20150103851 | THERMO-OPTICALLY TUNABLE LASER SYSTEM - A tunable laser has a solid state laser medium having an optical gain region and generates coherent radiation through a facet. A lens collects the coherent radiation and generates a collimated light beam. Components of an external cavity include a reflective surface and an optical filter, the reflective surface reflecting the collimated beam back to the lens and the laser medium, the optical filter positioned between the reflective surface and the lens and having two surfaces with a thermally tunable optical transmission band within the optical gain region of the laser medium. The optical filter (1) transmits a predominant portion of the collimated beam at a desired wavelength of operation, and (2) specularly reflects a remaining portion of the collimated beam from each surface, the collimated beam being incident on the optical filter such that the reflected collimated beams propagate at a non-zero angle with respect to the incident collimated beam. | 04-16-2015 |
| 20150110137 | SINGLE-MODE QUANTUM CASCADE LASERS WITH ENHANCED TUNING RANGE - In one aspect, semiconductor lasers are provided. A semiconductor laser described herein comprises substrate and a cavity formed on the substrate, the cavity comprising an asymmetric Mach-Zehnder (AMZ) interferometer structure positioned between two straight waveguide segments, the straight waveguide segments and first and second arms of the AMZ interferometer structure comprising epitaxial semiconductor layers, wherein the second arm of the AMZ interferometer structure has a temperature control architecture independent of the first arm. | 04-23-2015 |
| 20150117478 | METHOD FOR TESTING TUNABLE WAVELENGTH LASER DEVICE AND TUNABLE WAVELENGTH LASER DEVICE - A method for testing a tunable wavelength laser device, which can suppress any error of light transmission characteristics of an etalon, and a tunable wavelength laser device are provided. The method for testing a tunable wavelength laser device is a method for testing a tunable wavelength laser device including a tunable wavelength laser and a wavelength sensing unit having an etalon. The testing method includes a fast step of measuring a free spectral range interval of the etalon, a second step of acquiring a driving condition by tuning a wavelength to a target value provided between a top and a bottom of the free spectral range interval, and a third step of storing the driving condition in a memory. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150117479 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER - A method for controlling a wavelength tunable laser is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: calculating a lasing wavelength from two or more kinds of parameters, the parameters designating the target lasing wavelength; acquiring a driving condition from a memory, the wavelength tunable laser being operable to generate a laser beam of a first wavelength in the driving condition; and calculating another driving condition from the driving condition thus acquired and a wavelength difference between the first wavelength and a second wavelength, the second wavelength corresponding to the lasing wavelength, the wavelength tunable laser being operable to generate a laser beam of the second wavelength in the another driving condition, the wavelength tunable laser being driven in the another driving condition. | 04-30-2015 |
| 20150139256 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR HYBRID INTEGRATION OF A TUNABLE LASER - A cable television transmitter includes a substrate including a silicon material, control electronics disposed in the substrate, and a gain medium coupled to the substrate. The gain medium includes a compound semiconductor material. The cable television transmitter also includes an optical modulator optically coupled to the gain medium and electrically coupled to the control electronics, a waveguide disposed in the substrate and optically coupled to the gain medium, a first wavelength selective element characterized by a first reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate, and a second wavelength selective element characterized by a second reflectance spectrum and disposed in the substrate. The cable television transmitter further includes an optical coupler disposed in the substrate and joining the first wavelength selective element, the second wavelength selective element, and the waveguide and an output mirror. | 05-21-2015 |
| 20150311664 | METHOD AND APPLICATIONS OF THIN-FILM MEMBRANE TRANSFER - The disclosure relates to method and apparatus for micro-contact printing of micro-electromechanical systems (“MEMS”) in a solvent-free environment. The disclosed embodiments enable forming a composite membrane over a parylene layer and transferring the composite structure to a receiving structure to form one or more microcavities covered by the composite membrane. The parylene film may have a thickness in the range of about 100 nm-2 microns; 100 nm-1 micron, 200-300 nm, 300-500 nm, 500 nm to 1 micron and 1-30 microns. Next, one or more secondary layers are formed over the parylene to create a composite membrane. The composite membrane may have a thickness of about 100 nm to 700 nm to several microns. The composite membrane's deflection in response to external forces can be measured to provide a contact-less detector. Conversely, the composite membrane may be actuated using an external bias to cause deflection commensurate with the applied bias. Applications of the disclosed embodiments include tunable lasers, microphones, microspeakers, remotely-activated contact-less pressure sensors and the like. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150311665 | EXTERNAL CAVITY SYSTEM GENERATING BROADLY TUNABLE TERAHERTZ RADIATION IN MID-INFRARED QUANTUM CASCADE LASERS - A broadly tunable terahertz source constructed as an external cavity system using a difference-frequency generation quantum cascade laser source. The external cavity system includes an external diffraction grating configured to tune and reflect mid-infrared emission at a first wavelength. The laser includes a mid-infrared feedback grating defined in the laser waveguide of the laser to fix mid-infrared lasing at a second wavelength. Alternatively, two external diffraction gratings may be configured to tune and reflect mid-infrared emission at a first wavelength and a second wavelength. Tunable terahertz radiation is then generated at frequency ω | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150311672 | WIDELY TUNABLE LASER CONTROL - A tunable laser has a first binary super grating (BSG), a second BSG, and a phase adjuster. The first BSG, the second BSG, and the phase adjuster are optically tuned by changing temperatures of respective heating elements. The tunable laser also includes three temperature sensors, a first sensor to measure the temperature of the first BSG; a second sensor to measure the temperature of the second BSG, and a third sensor to measure the temperature of the phase adjuster. A lasing frequency is determined by a set of values of the three temperature sensors. In some embodiments, instead of a third temperature sensor, a pilot tone is applied to the phase adjuster to lock to a maximum of an aligned pair of peaks. | 10-29-2015 |
| 20150333475 | Tunable U-Laser Transmitter With Integrated Mach-Zehnder Modulator - According to the present invention, a monolithically integrated laser | 11-19-2015 |
| 20150340837 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING WAVELENGTH OF LASER BEAM AND LASER APPARATUS - There is provided a method of controlling the wavelength of a laser beam. The method includes measuring an absolute wavelength of the laser beam; calculating a difference between a reference wavelength and the absolute wavelength of the laser beam; and adjusting the reference wavelength of the laser beam based on the difference between the reference wavelength and the absolute wavelength of the laser beam, at an interval shorter than an interval for which the absolute wavelength of the laser beam is measured. | 11-26-2015 |
| 20150349485 | System and Method to Compensate for Frequency Distortions and Polarization Induced Effects in Optical Systems - The invention provides a system and a method for wavelength referencing and polarization mitigation. An optical wavelength tunable laser source is swept in a number of contiguous, overlapping sweep segments. A coarse reference wavelength section produces a reference signal that defines at least one absolute wavelength within a sweep segment. A fine wavelength reference section produces a periodic wavelength reference signal that defines a plurality of equidistant wavelengths within each sweep segment with an indeterminate offset relative to the absolute wavelength(s) of the coarse reference wavelength section. The free spectral range of the fine wavelength reference section is smaller than the spacing between subsequent absolute reference wavelengths of the coarse reference wavelength section. This arrangement allows reducing the minimum required overlap between contiguous sweep segments. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150349492 | EXTERNAL RESONATOR LASER - To provide a tunable external resonator laser with mode-hop-free for broadband. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150349493 | SEMICONDUCTOR LASER WITH EXTERNAL CAVITY HAVING NON-STRAIGHT WAVEGUIDE - The present invention relates to a semiconductor laser with an external cavity having a non-straight waveguide, in which a semiconductor laser diode used as an optical gain medium has a nonreflective coated side, light emitted from the laser diode chip is collected to a waveguide type of waveguide-selective filter and light having a wavelength selected by a grating on the waveguide is fed back to the laser diode chip, and the wavelength of emitted light is changed by electrically or thermally changing the properties of the waveguide. | 12-03-2015 |
| 20150364899 | BRAGG GRATING EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER - A Bragg grating external cavity laser apparatus may comprise the combination of a slider and an external cavity laser. The slider includes a waveguide that delivers light to a recording media. The external cavity laser includes an active region with a reflective back facet and a front facet that is externally coupled to the waveguide of the slider. The external cavity laser additionally includes a Bragg grating within the waveguide of the slider where the reflective back facet and the Bragg grating operate to define a single resonator within the external cavity. | 12-17-2015 |
| 20150372448 | THERMO-ELECTRIC COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR COOLING ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A thermo-electric cooling (TEC) system is presented for cooling of a device, such a laser for example. The TECT system comprises first and second heat pumping assemblies, and a control unit associated at least with said second heat pumping assembly. Each heat pumping assembly has a heat source from which heat is pumped and a heat drain through which pumped heat is dissipated. The at least first and second heat pumping assemblies are arranged in a cascade relationship having at least one thermal interface between the heat source of the second heat pumping assembly and the heat drain of the first heat pumping assembly, the heat source of the first heat pumping assembly being thermally coupled to the electronic device which is to be cooled by evacuating heat therefrom. The control unit is configured and operable to carry out at least one of the following: (i) operating said second heat pumping assembly to provide a desired temperature condition such that temperature of the heat drain of said first heat pumping assembly is either desirably low or by a certain value lower than temperature of the heat source of said first heat pumping assembly; and (ii) operating said second heat pumping assembly to maintain predetermined temperature of said thermal interface. | 12-24-2015 |
| 20150380893 | LASER DEVICE, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING ACTUATOR - A laser device ( | 12-31-2015 |
| 20160006211 | COMPACT TUNABLE LASER DEVICE - The present invention relates to a compact tunable laser device that can change the oscillation laser wavelength. The laser device includes: a laser diode chip | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160006212 | LASER APPARATUS AND METHOD TO RE-TUNE EMISSION WAVELENGTH OF WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LD - A laser apparatus for tuning the emission wavelength of a wavelength tunable laser diode will be described. The apparatus includes a tunable LD with heaters to tune the emission wavelength of the tunable LD, and a controller to control the power supplied to the heaters. A feature of the laser apparatus is that the controller supplies pre-emphasis power to the heaters before the supplement of the power corresponding to the re-tuned emission wavelength to accelerate the stability of the temperature of the heaters. | 01-07-2016 |
| 20160013609 | INTEGRATED HIGH-POWER TUNABLE LASER WITH ADJUSTABLE OUTPUTS | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160013610 | BROADBAND LASER SOURCE FOR LASER THERMAL PROCESSING AND PHOTONICALLY ACTIVATED PROCESSES | 01-14-2016 |
| 20160020575 | TUNABLE LIGHT SOURCE - Provided herein is an external-cavity type wavelength tunable laser including gain medium configured to generate an optical signal and amplify the generated optical signal based on a bias current applied; an external reflector configured to be coupled optically with the gain medium; a second thermistor provided on the side of the gain medium and configured to measure a temperature of the gain medium; a first thermistor provided on the external reflector and configured to measure a temperature of the external reflector; and a thermoelectric cooler configured to transfer generated heat based on the temperatures measured by the first and second thermistors. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160028207 | AMPLIFIED WIDELY TUNABLE SHORT CAVITY LASER - An amplified tunable source includes a short-cavity laser coupled to an optical amplifier for high power, spectrally shaped operation. The short-cavity laser is coupled to a quantum well semiconductor optical amplifier with two quantum states for broadened gain. Two preferred wavelength ranges of the amplified tunable source include 1200-1400 nm and 800-1100 nm. Also disclosed is the short cavity tunable laser coupled to a fiber amplifier. Various combinations of tunable optical filters with the amplified tunable source to reduce noise or improve spectral purity are presented. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160028208 | POLARIZATION STABLE WIDELY TUNABLE SHORT CAVITY LASER - A tunable source includes a short-cavity laser optimized for performance and reliability in SSOCT imaging systems, spectroscopic detection systems, and other types of detection and sensing systems. A short cavity laser with a large free spectral range cavity, fast tuning response and single transverse, longitudinal and polarization mode operation is disclosed. Methods for obtaining polarization stable operation of the tunable source are presented. | 01-28-2016 |
| 20160036199 | METHOD TO DETERMINE OPERATING CONDITIONS OF WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER DIODE AND TO CONTROL OPTICAL TRANSMITTER PROVIDING WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER DIODE - A method to control a wavelength tunable laser diode (tunable LD) is disclosed. The tunable LD includes a SG-DFB region and a CSG-DBR region to tune the emission wavelength thereof. The CSG-DBR region includes three segments, where the refractive indices of respective segments are variable by heaters provided therein. When the electrical power supplied to two segments is optionally selected, the power supplied to the rest segment is corrected by an offset from a value reflecting physical dimensions of the heaters. The offset is determined such that the tunable LD shows the best side mode suppression ratio (SMSR). | 02-04-2016 |
| 20160049767 | Low Noise, High Power, Multiple-Microresonator Based Laser - This invention provides ultra-low noise lasers with exceptional performance through the use of ultra-low loss microresonator based filters/reflectors including multiple (≧3) microresonator rings with different ring radii. The ultra-low loss microresonators provide a long effective laser cavity length enabling very narrow linewidth laser operation, with multiple (≧3) microresonators providing extremely high selectivity of the lasing mode over a very wide wavelength range; supporting single wavelength and widely tunable wavelength laser operation. The highly selective and also low loss filter/reflector supports high output power operation of the lasers. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160049768 | EXTERNAL CAVITY LASER - Embodiments of systems and methods are provided for a tunable laser device. The tunable laser device may include a diffraction grating connected to a pivot arm that pivots the diffraction grating about a pivot point to tune the laser device. In pivoting the diffraction grating about the pivot point, both the wavelength to which the diffraction grating is tuned and the length of the optical cavity may be changed. The length of the pivot arm may be selected to reduce the number of mode hops of the tunable laser device when tuning the laser device over its tuning range. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160049769 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPLEMENTING TUNABLE LIGHT SOURCE - Provided herein is a method and apparatus for implementing a tunable light source, the method including performing a first calibration of obtaining a tuning curve representing changes of a wavelength as a function of a heater power up to a wavelength range where the external cavity type tunable light source is tunable; performing a second calibration of obtaining a detuning curve of the tunable wavelength range; and setting a wavelength by performing a wavelength locking. | 02-18-2016 |
| 20160056604 | METHOD TO TUNE EMISSION WAVELENGTH OF WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER APPARATUS AND LASER APPARATUS - A method to tune an emission wavelength of a wavelength tunable laser apparatus is disclosed. The laser apparatus implements, in addition to a wavelength tunable laser diode (t-LD) integrating with a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA), a wavelength monitor including an etalon filter. The current emission wavelength is determined by a ratio of the magnitude of a filtered beam passing the etalon filter to a raw beam not passing the etalon fitter. The method first sets the SOA in an absorbing mode to sense stray component disturbing the wavelength monitor, then correct the ratio of the beams by subtracting the contribution from the stray component. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160056608 | WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE LASER - The present invention relates to a wavelength-tunable laser, which can tune an oscillating laser wavelength and can be manufactured in a small size, comprising: a laser diode chip ( | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160056613 | WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE VERTICAL CAVITY SURFACE EMITTING LASER FOR SWEPT SOURCE OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY SYSTEM - A wavelength-tunable vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) with the use of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology is provided as a swept source for Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). The wavelength-tunable VCSEL comprises a bottom mirror of the VCSEL, an active region, and a MEMS tunable upper mirror movable by electrostatic deflections. The bottom mirror comprising a GaAs based distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) stack, and the active region comprising multiple stacks of GaAs based quantum dot (QD) layers, are epitaxially grown on a GaAs substrate. The MEMS tunable upper mirror includes a membrane part supported by suspension beams, and an upper mirror comprising a dielectric DBR stack. The MEMS tunable quantum dots VCSEL can cover an operating wavelength range of more than 100 nm, preferably with a center wavelength between 250 and 1950 nm, and the sweeping rate can be from a few kHz to hundreds of kHz, and up to a few MHz. | 02-25-2016 |
| 20160064896 | PACKAGING STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF PACKAGING TUNABLE LASER DEVICE, AND TUNABLE LASER DEVICE - The present disclosure provides a packaging structure and a method of packaging an tunable laser device, and an tunable laser device. The packaging structure of the tunable laser device may include a TO tube base and a TO tube cap, wherein a first thermal sink is disposed on the TO tube base, a semiconductor laser chip is disposed on a vertical side of the first thermal sink, an aspheric lens is disposed on the TO tube cap, and the semiconductor laser chip is disposed on a central axis of the aspheric lens; and wherein the vertical side of the first thermal sink is a side of the first thermal sink perpendicular to the TO tube base. The tunable laser device according to the present disclosure may be applicable to communication over an optical fiber. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160079732 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WAVELENGTH-TUNABLE LASER - The method for controlling a wavelength-tunable laser comprises a first step of acquiring a driving condition of the wavelength-tunable laser for laser oscillation at a first wavelength, and a second step of calculating according to the driving condition of the first wavelength and a wavelength difference between the first wavelength and a second wavelength different from the first wavelength a control value or target value of a wavelength characteristic of the second wavelength in the wavelength detection unit, so as to calculate a driving condition for driving the wavelength-tunable laser, the second step including a step of selecting according to the wavelength difference one of etalon slopes having respective gradients identical and opposite to a gradient of an etalon slope used for controlling the first wavelength. | 03-17-2016 |
| 20160087396 | WAVEGUIDE LASER - A laser includes a wavelength selecting element | 03-24-2016 |
| 20160094012 | LASER BEAM GENERATING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING A WAVELENGTH OF A LASER BEAM - The current invention concerns a laser beam generating device and a method for adjusting a wavelength of a laser beam. | 03-31-2016 |
| 20160111848 | TUNABLE OPTICAL PARAMETRIC OSCILLATOR - A new principle for a tunable optical parametric oscillator (OPO) and a related method are disclosed. An OPO is tuned by setting the temperature of a non-linear element to select a desired signal/idler combination, and narrow-band operation is effected by tuning a birefringent filter in the OPO to a temperature setting at which the filter matches the selected signal/idler combination, wherein broad and stable tunability is obtained by virtue of at least two different temperature settings of the non-linear element being matched to a single common temperature setting of the birefringent filter. | 04-21-2016 |
| 20160118763 | EXTERNAL CAVITY TUNABLE LASER WITH DUAL BEAM OUTPUTS - The invention relates to an external cavity tunable laser with dual beam outputs. The first laser cavity of the tunable laser comprises a first laser cavity mirror, a laser gain medium, an intracavity collimating lens, an active optical phase modulator, a tunable acousto-optic filter, a tunable Fabry-Perot tunable filter, a second reflection mirror all disposed inside a laser cavity sequentially, and a laser driver and control system. The laser cavity beam reflected by the first laser cavity mirror enters the tunable acousto-optic filter to generate a zeroth order diffracted beam as the first laser output beam. The laser cavity beam reflected by the second laser cavity mirror enters the tunable acousto-optic filter to generate a zeroth order diffracted beam as the second laser output beam. The tunable laser further comprises a wavelength locker outside the laser cavity. The second laser cavity of the tunable laser has a Fabry-Perot etalon disposed in the first laser cavity to further compress the spectrum width of the laser output beams. The invention is compact with high performance without mechanical moving parts, stable laser output, low cost for volume production and installation. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160118772 | TUNABLE LASER WITH HIGH THERMAL WAVELENGTH TUNING EFFICIENCY - A monolithically integrated thermal tunable laser comprising a layered substrate comprising an upper surface and a lower surface, and a thermal tuning assembly comprising a heating element positioned on the upper surface, a waveguide layer positioned between the upper surface and the lower surface, and a thermal insulation layer positioned between the waveguide layer and the lower surface, wherein the thermal insulation layer is at least partially etched out of an Indium Phosphide (InP) sacrificial layer, and wherein the thermal insulation layer is positioned between Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) etch stop layers. | 04-28-2016 |
| 20160134080 | SINGLE LONGITUDINAL MODE LASER DIODE SYSTEM - A semiconductor laser diode system may include a single longitudinal mode laser diode and a feedback system that monitors and controls the emission characteristics of the laser diode. The laser diode may include a gain medium and an optical feedback device. The feedback system may include a wavelength discriminator, an optical detector, a microprocessor, and a laser controller. Such a semiconductor laser diode system may be used to produce laser light having coherence length, wavelength precision, and wavelength stability that is equivalent to that of a gas laser. Accordingly, such a semiconductor laser diode system may be used in place of a traditional gas laser. | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160134082 | TUNABLE SEMICONDUCTOR LASER BASED ON RECONSTRUCTION-EQUIVALENT CHIRP AND SERIES MODE OR SERIES AND PARALLEL HYBRID INTEGRATION, AND PREPARATION THEREOF - A tunable distributed feedback (DFB) semiconductor laser based on a series mode or a series and parallel hybrid mode. A grating structure of the laser is a sampling Bragg grating based on the reconstruction-equivalent chirp technology. DFB lasers with different operating wavelengths based on the reconstruction-equivalent chirp technology are integrated together by a sampling series combination mode or a series/parallel hybrid mode, one of the lasers is selected to operate via a current, and the operating wavelength of the laser can be controlled by adjusting the current or the temperature, so that the continuous tuning of the operating wavelengths of the lasers can be realized. Various wavelength signals in parallel channels are coupled and then output from the same waveguide. An electrical isolation area ( | 05-12-2016 |
| 20160149373 | LASER STABILIZATION WITH AN ACTIVELY CONTROLLED FABRY-PEROT RESONANCE CAVITY - Tuning of an optical resonator, e.g., a Fabry-Perot resonant etalon, is carried out. The length of the resonator is actively controlled through the frequency of an identical length microwave resonant cavity. The length is tunable over a several micron range with the precision and stability of the microwave source frequency. | 05-26-2016 |
| 20160157721 | SYSTEM, APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UTILIZING OPTICAL DISPERSION FOR FOURIER-DOMAIN OPTICAL COHERENCE TOMOGRAPHY - An apparatus can be provided which can include a laser arrangement which can be configured to provide a laser radiation, and can include an optical cavity. The optical cavity can include a dispersive optical first arrangement which can be configured to receive and disperse at least one first electro-magnetic radiation so as to provide at least one second electro-magnetic radiation. Such cavity can also include an active optical modulator second arrangement which can be configured to receive and modulate the at least one second radiation so as to provide at least one third electro-magnetic radiation. The optical cavity can further include a dispersive optical third arrangement which can be configured to receive and disperse at least one third electro-magnetic radiation so as to provide at least one fourth electro-magnetic radiation. For example, actions by the first, second and third arrangements can cause a spectral filtering of the fourth electro-magnetic radiation(s) relative to the first electro-magnetic radiation(s). The laser radiation can be associated with the fourth radiation(s), and a wavelength of the laser radiation can be controlled by the spectral filtering caused by the actions by the first, second and third arrangements. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160164246 | TUNABLE SOI LASER - A wavelength tunable silicon-on-insulator (SOI) laser comprising: a laser cavity including: a semiconductor gain medium having a front end and a back end, wherein a mirror of the laser cavity is located at the back end of the semiconductor gain medium; and a phase-tunable waveguide platform coupled to the front end of the semiconductor gain medium, the phase-tunable waveguide platform comprising: a first resonator and a second resonator; at least one resonator being a phase-tunable resonator; wherein the first resonator is any one of: an MMI device including a pair of reflective surfaces defining a resonator cavity therebetween such that the device is configured to act as a Fabry-Perot filter; a ring resonator; or a waveguide Fabry-Perot filter; and wherein the second resonator is any one of: an MMI device including a pair of reflective surfaces defining a resonator cavity therebetween such that the device is configured to act as a Fabry-Perot filter; a ring resonator; or a waveguide Fabry-Perot filter. | 06-09-2016 |
| 20160172824 | Laser, Laser Modulation Method and Laser Combination System | 06-16-2016 |
| 20160190765 | VARIABLE-WAVELENGTH LIGHT SOURCE - A variable-wavelength light source is provided with a first laser medium, a first optical resonator constituted of a total reflection mirror and a half-mirror, a second laser medium, a second optical resonator constituted of a total reflection mirror and the half-mirror, a first filter having a pair of first mirrors configured to cause first light and second light to be transmitted and reflected selectively, a second filter having a pair of second mirrors configured to cause the first light and the second light to be transmitted and reflected selectively, a first drive mechanism configured to operate the first mirror and the second mirror in conjunction with each other, and a second drive mechanism configured to operate the second mirror. | 06-30-2016 |
| 20160204569 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE OPTICAL TRANSMITTER | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160204576 | Tunable Laser with a Cascaded Filter and Comb Reflector | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160204578 | RING-MODULATED LASER | 07-14-2016 |
| 20160254644 | FAST CALIBRATION AND PROGRAMMING OPTICAL COMPONENTS | 09-01-2016 |
| 20160254647 | TUNABLE LASER WITH DIRECTIONAL COUPLER | 09-01-2016 |
| 20160380404 | METHOD AND APPLICATIONS OF THIN-FILM MEMBRANE TRANSFER - The disclosure relates to method and apparatus for micro-contact printing of micro-electromechanical systems (“MEMS”) in a solvent-free environment. The disclosed embodiments enable forming a composite membrane over a parylene layer and transferring the composite structure to a receiving structure to form one or more microcavities covered by the composite membrane. The parylene film may have a thickness in the range of about 100 nm-2 microns; 100 nm-1 micron, 200-300 nm, 300-500 nm, 500 nm to 1 micron and 1-30 microns. Next, one or more secondary layers are formed over the parylene to create a composite membrane. The composite membrane may have a thickness of about 100 nm to 700 nm to several microns. The composite membrane's deflection in response to external forces can be measured to provide a contact-less detector. Conversely, the composite membrane may be actuated using an external bias to cause deflection commensurate with the applied bias. Applications of the disclosed embodiments include tunable lasers, microphones, microspeakers, remotely-activated contact-less pressure sensors and the like. | 12-29-2016 |
| 20160380408 | QUANTUM DOT SOA-SILICON EXTERNAL CAVITY MULTI-WAVELENGTH LASER - A hybrid external cavity multi-wavelength laser using a QD RSOA and a silicon photonics chip is demonstrated. Four lasing modes at 2 nm spacing and less than 3 dB power non-uniformity were observed, with over 20 mW of total output power. Each lasing peak can be successfully modulated at 10 Gb/s. At 10 | 12-29-2016 |
| 20180026426 | WAVELENGTH TUNABLE LASER DEVICE AND LASER MODULE | 01-25-2018 |
