US4792956A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser diode intensity and wavelength control
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
•
Filing: 1986-05-13
•
Granted: 1988-12-20
•
Expires: 2006-05-13
Abstract
Abstract The actual values of intensity and wavelength of the optical signal output from a laser diode are compared to desired values thereof to generate intensity and wavelength error signals. The rates of change of the wavelength and intensity as functions of temperature and injection current about nominal operating values of the temperature and injection current are determined and used to calculate an injection current error signal and a temperature error signal for adjusting the injection current and temperature, respectively. The time response of the injection current and temperature are decoupled, which allows independent adjustment of the time constants of the exponential expressions for injection current and temperature. Providing independent adjustment of the time constants of the injection current and temperature variations permits the desired signal wavelength and intensity to be obtained in a time efficient manner.
Inventors
- 👤 George W. Kamin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:36
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/06; H01S5/068; H01S5/0683; H01S5/0687; H01S5/06837
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for simultaneously controlling the intensity and wavelength of an optical signal output from a laser diode, comprising the steps of: sensing the intensity of the optical signal; comparing a desired value of the intensity to the sensed intensity to produce an intensity error signal; sensing the wavelength of the optical signal; comparing a desired value of the wavelength to the sensed wavelength to produce a wavelength error signal; multiplying the wavelength error signal by a first numerical factor and a second numerical factor; multiplying the intensity error signal by a third numerical factor and a fourth numerical factor; adding the product of the wavelength error signal and the first numerical factor to the product of the intensity error signal and the third numerical factor to produce a temperature variation signal; adding the product of the wavelength error signal and the second numerical factor to the product of the intensity error signal and the fourth numerical factor to produce an injection current variation signal; adjusting the temperature of the laser diode as a function of the temperature variation signal; and adjusting the injection current of the laser diode as a function of the injection current variation signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
198 words
A method for simultaneously controlling the intensity and wavelength of an optical signal output from a laser diode, comprising the steps of: sensing the intensity of the optical signal; comparing a desired value of the intensity to the sensed intensity to produce an intensity error signal; sensing the wavelength of the optical signal; comparing a desired value of the wavelength to the sensed wavelength to produce a wavelength error signal; multiplying the wavelength error signal by a first numerical factor and a second numerical factor; multiplying the intensity error signal by a third numerical factor and a fourth numerical factor; adding the product of the wavelength error signal and the first numerical factor to the product of the intensity error signal and the third numerical factor to produce a temperature variation signal; adding the product of the wavelength error signal and the second numerical factor to the product of the intensity error signal and the fourth numerical factor to produce an injection current variation signal; adjusting the temperature of the laser diode as a function of the temperature variation signal; and adjusting the injection current of the laser diode as a function of the injection current variation signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
141 words
The method of claim 1 including the steps of: determining the first numerical factor as a function of the rate of change of intensity of the optical signal with respect to injection current of the laser diode at a predetermined operating temperature of the laser diode; determining the second numerical factor as a function of the rate of change of intensity with respect to temperature of the laser diode at a predetermined operating injection current; determining the third numerical factor as a function of the rate of change of wavelength of the optical signal with respect to injection current of the laser diode at a predetermined operating temperature of the laser diode; and determining the fourth constant as a function of the rate of change of wavelength with respect to temperature of the laser diode at a predetermined operating injection current.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
243 words
A method for simultaneously controlling the intensity and wavelength of an optical signal output from a laser diode, comprising the steps of: sensing the intensity of the optical signal; sensing the wavelength of the optical signal; comparing the selected value of the intensity to the sensed intensity to produce an intensity error signal by determining time variations of the laser diode injection current from a value of the injection current that corresponds to a selected intensity and a selected wavelength of the optical signal output from the laser diode; comparing the selected value of the wavelength to the sensed wavelength to produce a wavelength error signal; determining time variations of the laser diode operating temperature from a value of the operating temperature that corresponds to a selected intensity and a selected wavelength of the optical signal output from the laser diode; decoupling variations in the injection current as a function of time from variations in operating temperature as a function of time; producing a temperature variation signal that is a function of the wavelength and intensity error signals; adjusting the injection current and operating temperature independently of one another to maintain the intensity and wavelength of the signal output from the laser diode within predetermined limits of selected values thereof; adjusting the temperature of the laser diode as a function of the temperature variation signal; and adjusting the injection current of the laser diode as a function of the injection current variation signal.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
243 words
A method for simultaneously controlling the intensity and wavelength of an optical signal output from a laser diode, comprising the steps of: sensing the intensity of the optical signal; sensing the wavelength of the optical signal; comparing the selected value of the intensity to the sensed intensity to produce an intensity error signal by determining time variations of the laser diode injection current from a value of the injection current that corresponds to a selected intensity and a selected wavelength of the optical signal output from the laser diode; comparing the selected value of the wavelength to the sensed wavelength to produce a wavelength error signal; determining time variations of the laser diode operating temperature from a value of the operating temperature that corresponds to a selected intensity and a selected wavelength of the optical signal output from the laser diode; decoupling variations in the injection current as a function of time from variations in operating temperature as a function of time; producing a temperature variation signal that is a function of the wavelength and intensity error signals; adjusting the injection current and operating temperature independently of one another to maintain the intensity and wavelength of the signal output from the laser diode within predetermined limits of selected values thereof; adjusting the temperature of the laser diode as a function of the temperature variation signal; and adjusting the injection current of the laser diode as a function of the injection current variation signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 3, further including the steps of: determining time variations of the laser diode injection current for a fixed operating temperature; and determining time variations of the laser diode operating temperature for a fixed injection current.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
215 words
A system for simultaneously controlling the intensity and wavelength of an optical signal output from a laser diode, comprising: means for sensing the intensity of the optical signal; means for comparing a desired value of the intensity to the sensed intensity to produce an intensity error signal; means for sensing the wavelength of the optical signal; means for comparing a desired value of the wavelength to the sensed wavelength to produce a wavelength error signal; means for multiplying the wavelength error signal by a first numerical factor and a second numerical factor; means for multiplying the intensity error signal by a third numerical factor and a fourth numerical factor; means for adding the product of the wavelength error signal and the first numerical factor to the product of the intensity error signal and the third numerical factor to produce a temperature variation signal; means for adding the product of the wavelength error signal and the second numerical factor to the product of the intensity error signal and the fourth numerical factor to produce an injection current variation signal; means for adjusting the temperature of the laser diode as a function of the temperature variation signal; and means for adjusting the injection current of the laser diode as a function of the injection current variation signal.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
215 words
A system for simultaneously controlling the intensity and wavelength of an optical signal output from a laser diode, comprising: means for sensing the intensity of the optical signal; means for comparing a desired value of the intensity to the sensed intensity to produce an intensity error signal; means for sensing the wavelength of the optical signal; means for comparing a desired value of the wavelength to the sensed wavelength to produce a wavelength error signal; means for multiplying the wavelength error signal by a first numerical factor and a second numerical factor; means for multiplying the intensity error signal by a third numerical factor and a fourth numerical factor; means for adding the product of the wavelength error signal and the first numerical factor to the product of the intensity error signal and the third numerical factor to produce a temperature variation signal; means for adding the product of the wavelength error signal and the second numerical factor to the product of the intensity error signal and the fourth numerical factor to produce an injection current variation signal; means for adjusting the temperature of the laser diode as a function of the temperature variation signal; and means for adjusting the injection current of the laser diode as a function of the injection current variation signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
147 words
The system of claim 5 including: means for determining the first numerical factor as a function of the rate of change of intensity of the optical signal with respect to injection current of the laser diode at a predetermined operating temperature of the laser diode; means for determining the first numerical factor as a function of the rate of change of intensity with respect to temperature of the laser diode at a predetermined operating injection current; means for determining the first numerical factor as a function of the rate of change of wavelength of the optical signal with respect to injection current of the laser diode at a predetermined operating temperature of the laser diode; and means for determining the first numerical factor as a function of the rate of change of wavelength with respect to temperature of the laser diode at a predetermined operating injection current.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
278 words
A system for simultaneously controlling the intensity and wavelength of an optical signal output from a laser diode, comprising: means for sensing the intensity of the optical signal; means for sensing the wavelength of the optical signal; means for comparing the selected value of the intensity to the sensed intensity to produce an intensity error signal determining time variations of the laser diode injection current from a value of the injection current that corresponds to a selected intensity and a selected wavelength of the optical signal output from the laser diode; means for comparing the selected value of the wavelength to the sensed wavelength to produce a wavelength error signal; means for determining time variations of the laser diode operating temperature from a value of the operating temperature that corresponds to a selected intensity and a selected wavelength of the optical signal output from the laser diode; means for decoupling variations in the injection current as a function of time from variations in operating temperature as a function of time; means for producing a temperature variation signal that is a function of the wavelength and intensity error signals; means for producing an injection current variation signal that is a function of the wavelength and intensity error signals; means for adjusting the temperature of the laser diode as a function of the temperature variation signal; means for adjusting the injection current of the laser diode as a function of the injection current variation signal; and means for adjusting the injection current and operating temperature independently of one another to maintain the intensity and wavelength of the signal output from the laser diode within predetermined limits of selected values thereof.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
278 words
A system for simultaneously controlling the intensity and wavelength of an optical signal output from a laser diode, comprising: means for sensing the intensity of the optical signal; means for sensing the wavelength of the optical signal; means for comparing the selected value of the intensity to the sensed intensity to produce an intensity error signal determining time variations of the laser diode injection current from a value of the injection current that corresponds to a selected intensity and a selected wavelength of the optical signal output from the laser diode; means for comparing the selected value of the wavelength to the sensed wavelength to produce a wavelength error signal; means for determining time variations of the laser diode operating temperature from a value of the operating temperature that corresponds to a selected intensity and a selected wavelength of the optical signal output from the laser diode; means for decoupling variations in the injection current as a function of time from variations in operating temperature as a function of time; means for producing a temperature variation signal that is a function of the wavelength and intensity error signals; means for producing an injection current variation signal that is a function of the wavelength and intensity error signals; means for adjusting the temperature of the laser diode as a function of the temperature variation signal; means for adjusting the injection current of the laser diode as a function of the injection current variation signal; and means for adjusting the injection current and operating temperature independently of one another to maintain the intensity and wavelength of the signal output from the laser diode within predetermined limits of selected values thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The system of claim 7, further including: means for determining time variations of the laser diode injection current for a fixed operating temperature; and means for determining time variations of the laser diode operating temperature for a fixed injection current.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3411849A
Cited
US3697887A
Cited
US3588253A
Cited
US4101847A
Cited
US4081670A
Cited
US4181901A
Cited
US4109217A
Cited
US4153151A
Cited
GB2007015A
Cited
US4177436A
Cited
US4187475A
Cited
US4237427A
Cited
US4385387A
Cited
US4344173A
Cited
US4292606A
Cited
GB2052841A
Cited
GB2054949A
Cited
US4349906A
Cited
US4307469A
Cited
EP0093942A1
Cited
US4577320A
Cited
WO1984003592A1
Cited
US4616930A
Cited
US4583228A
Cited
GB2154787A
Cited
GB2168838A
Cited
US4612671A
Cited
US4631728A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-12-20 | 1992-06-20 | 1992-12-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-12-20 | 1996-06-20 | 1996-12-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-12-20 | 2000-06-20 | 2000-12-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |