US5058124A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Semiconductor device and piezoelectric stack optical mounting assembly
Assignee: IPG Photonics Corp
•
Filing: 1989-03-29
•
Granted: 1991-10-15
•
Expires: 2009-03-29
Abstract
Abstract An external cavity laser assembly in which the laser chip is within a hermetically sealed package and the external cavity is outside the hermetic package. A collimating lens in a screw threaded mounting is disposed outside the hermetic package, the screw thread permitting focussing. The cavity is turned by rotation and translation of a grating, the position of which is electrically controlled via piezoelectric stacks. Thermal expansion of the stacks is compensated by mounting the grating on a rod of suitable material (e.g., ceramic) which also serves to reduce the cavity length while allowing maximum piezoextension. In a second embodiment the assembly is a tunable laser amplifier, with a grating being driven in a similar manner to provide the tuning.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith H. Cameron
- 👤 Richard Wyatt
- 👤 John Mellis
- 👤 Salah A. Al-Chalabi
- 👤 Michael C. Brain
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 17:25
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/14; H01S5/141; H01S3/00; H01S3/10; H01S3/105; H01S3/1055; H01S5/02; H01S5/022; H01S5/02208; H01S5/0225; H01S5/02251
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A device assembly comprising: a light emitting element emitting a light, an optical processing element, and means for mounting the optical processing element in a spaced relationship to the light emitting element so as to intercept said beam, the light emitting element being disposed within a hermetically sealed package having a transparent portion for the passage of light to said optical processing element disposed outside the hermetically sealed package, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of piezoelectric stacks arranged between said light emitting element and said optical processing element such that selective elongation and/or contraction of the piezoelectric stacks provides rotational and translational movement of the optical processing element thereby modifying said spaced relationship.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
115 words
A device assembly comprising: a light emitting element emitting a light, an optical processing element, and means for mounting the optical processing element in a spaced relationship to the light emitting element so as to intercept said beam, the light emitting element being disposed within a hermetically sealed package having a transparent portion for the passage of light to said optical processing element disposed outside the hermetically sealed package, wherein said mounting means comprises a plurality of piezoelectric stacks arranged between said light emitting element and said optical processing element such that selective elongation and/or contraction of the piezoelectric stacks provides rotational and translational movement of the optical processing element thereby modifying said spaced relationship.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device assembly according to claim 1 in which the mounting means further comprises an elongated support member extending parallel to the piezoelectric stacks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
A device assembly according to claim 2 in which the support member extends partially inwardly between the piezoelectric stacks, the optical processing element being mounted on that portion of the support member which extends between the piezoelectric stacks, whereby the support member enables compensation for thermal expansion in the opposite direction of the support member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a lens mounted externally of the sealed package in the path of light passing from the light emitting element to the optical processing element via said transparent portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device assembly according to claim 4 in which the lens has a focal length of at least 2 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device assembly according to claim 4 in which the lens is mounted in a screw threaded holder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device assembly according to claim 6 in which the threads of the holder are gold plated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device assembly according to claim 6 in which the lens holder is welded in position after focussing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
An external cavity laser assembly according to claim 4 in which the lens is constructed to compensate for aberrations due to the transparent portion of the package.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device assembly according to claim 1 in which the light emitting element is a semiconductor laser and the optical processing element is a grating defining an external cavity for the laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A device assembly according to claim 1 in which the light emitting element is a semiconductor laser amplifier and the optical processing element is a tunable filter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device assembly according to claim 1 in which the assembly external of the hermetic package is substantially symmetrical about the optical axis.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
117 words
A device assembly comprising: a light emitting element and an optical processing element disposed to intercept light emanating from said light emitting element; said optical processing element and said light emitting element being spaced apart by plural piezoelectric supports and at least one other support, said supports providing compensating thermal expansion and contraction movements so that thermally induced change in said spacing in a first direction caused by said piezoelectric supports is compensated by thermally induced change in said spacing in an opposite second direction caused by said other support, whereby the spacing between said optical processing element and said light emitting element is maintained at a more constant dimension as a function of device assembly temperature.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
117 words
A device assembly comprising: a light emitting element and an optical processing element disposed to intercept light emanating from said light emitting element; said optical processing element and said light emitting element being spaced apart by plural piezoelectric supports and at least one other support, said supports providing compensating thermal expansion and contraction movements so that thermally induced change in said spacing in a first direction caused by said piezoelectric supports is compensated by thermally induced change in said spacing in an opposite second direction caused by said other support, whereby the spacing between said optical processing element and said light emitting element is maintained at a more constant dimension as a function of device assembly temperature.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
92 words
A device assembly comprising: a semiconductor laser; a grating defining an external cavity for the laser, the laser being disposed within a hermetically sealed package having a transparent portion for the passage of light to said grating disposed outside the hermetically sealed package, said grating being supported and spaced from said transparent portion by a plurality of at least three independently controllable piezoelectric stacks disposed so that selective elongation and/or contraction of the piezoelectric stacks can provide rotational and translational movement of the grating thereby modifying its spaced relationship to the laser.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
92 words
A device assembly comprising: a semiconductor laser; a grating defining an external cavity for the laser, the laser being disposed within a hermetically sealed package having a transparent portion for the passage of light to said grating disposed outside the hermetically sealed package, said grating being supported and spaced from said transparent portion by a plurality of at least three independently controllable piezoelectric stacks disposed so that selective elongation and/or contraction of the piezoelectric stacks can provide rotational and translational movement of the grating thereby modifying its spaced relationship to the laser.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
88 words
A device assembly comprising: a semiconductor laser; a tunable filter; the laser being disposed within a hermetically sealed package having a transparent portion for the passage of light to said tunable filter disposed outside the hermetically sealed package, said tunable filter being supported and spaced from said transparent portion by a plurality of at least three independently controllable piezoelectric stacks disposed so that selective elongation and/or contraction of the prezoelectric stacks can provide rotational and translational movement of the filter thereby modifying its spaced relationship to the laser.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
88 words
A device assembly comprising: a semiconductor laser; a tunable filter; the laser being disposed within a hermetically sealed package having a transparent portion for the passage of light to said tunable filter disposed outside the hermetically sealed package, said tunable filter being supported and spaced from said transparent portion by a plurality of at least three independently controllable piezoelectric stacks disposed so that selective elongation and/or contraction of the prezoelectric stacks can provide rotational and translational movement of the filter thereby modifying its spaced relationship to the laser.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4149118A
Cited
WO1983002855A1
Cited
US4830486A
Cited
US4775211A
Cited
JPS61145876A
Cited
EP0204572A1
Cited
US4918702A
Cited
US4919532A
Cited
US4907237A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-10-14 | 1995-04-15 | 1995-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-10-14 | 1999-04-15 | 1999-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-10-14 | 2003-04-15 | 2003-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |