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US4796996A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Laser temperature modulation and detection method

Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
•
Filing: 1987-08-14
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Granted: 1989-01-10
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Expires: 2007-08-14
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Abstract

Abstract Periodically modulating the temperature of a semiconductor laser while maintaining constant optical power permits very precise measurements of the operating parameters of the laser.

Inventors

  • 👤 Matthew J. Burns

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-05 21:11
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/0014; G; G01; G01D; G01D5/00; G01D5/26; G01D5/266; H01S5/06; H01S5/0607; H01S5/0612; H01S5/062; H01S5/06209; H01S5/0622; H01S5/068; H01S5/0683

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 82 words
A method of measuring a parameter of a system comprising a semiconductor laser comprising the steps of: periodically cycling the emission wavelength of said semiconductor laser; monitoring the optical power from a first face of said laser; using a feedback control system to maintain said optical power from said first face at a constant level; emitting light from said laser into an optical cavity which is optically coupled to one face of said semiconductor laser; and measuring a characteristic of said system.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 82 words
A method of measuring a parameter of a system comprising a semiconductor laser comprising the steps of: periodically cycling the emission wavelength of said semiconductor laser; monitoring the optical power from a first face of said laser; using a feedback control system to maintain said optical power from said first face at a constant level; emitting light from said laser into an optical cavity which is optically coupled to one face of said semiconductor laser; and measuring a characteristic of said system.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method as recited in claim 1 in which said cycling periodically varies the temperature of said laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
A method as recited in claim 2 in which said measuring comprises detecting the optical signal intensity from said optical cavity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 18 words
A method as recited in claim 1 in which said measuring is of bias current through said laser.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 24 words
A method as recited in claim 1 in which said measuring step further comprises measuring the distance between intensity maxima thereby determining cavity dimensions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
A method as recited in claim 1 in which said cycling varies bias current through said laser.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2982856A Cited
JPS5373985A Cited
US4373805A Cited
US4369525A Cited
US4399566A Cited
US4677632A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-01-10 1992-07-11 1993-01-10 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-01-10 1996-07-11 1997-01-10 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-01-10 2000-07-11 2001-01-10 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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