Patent US5128801A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5128801A
Expired / Lapsed
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Integrated optical signal amplifier
Assignee: Oclaro North America Inc
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Filing: 1991-01-30
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Granted: 1992-07-07
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Expires: 2011-01-30
Abstract
Abstract An optical signal amplifier with a waveguide path integrated into a glass body that is doped with optically active material. The signal to be amplified is transmitted through the waveguide and the pump power is coupled into the waveguide at one end. The waveguide comprises closely spaced adjacent guide lengths in the form of a spiral, zigzag paths between mirrors, or parallel paths with connecting semicircles at alternating ends of succeeding pairs of paths.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard Jansen
- 👤 Pascale LaBorde
- 👤 Christian Lerminiaux
- 👤 Carlos O. N. Benveniste
- 👤 Douglas W. Hall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:10
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
A stimulated emission optical signal amplifier comprising a glass optical waveguide path doped with an optically active material capable of producing a population inversion under a pumping radiation, means for coupling into the waveguide path at one end pump power emitted by a laser at an absorption wavelength of said active material, and means for coupling into the waveguide path signal power, modulated by the input signal to be amplified, at the emission wavelength of said active material, wherein said waveguide path is integrated by ion exchange into a glass body that is doped with said active material, the total length of said waveguide path is at least 0.5 meter, and said waveguide path is integrated in closely spaced adjacent guide lengths in order to minimize the space necessary for said at least 0.5 meter total length.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
137 words
A stimulated emission optical signal amplifier comprising a glass optical waveguide path doped with an optically active material capable of producing a population inversion under a pumping radiation, means for coupling into the waveguide path at one end pump power emitted by a laser at an absorption wavelength of said active material, and means for coupling into the waveguide path signal power, modulated by the input signal to be amplified, at the emission wavelength of said active material, wherein said waveguide path is integrated by ion exchange into a glass body that is doped with said active material, the total length of said waveguide path is at least 0.5 meter, and said waveguide path is integrated in closely spaced adjacent guide lengths in order to minimize the space necessary for said at least 0.5 meter total length.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 1, wherein said closely spaced adjacent guide lengths form a spiral path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 2, wherein said spiral path comprises successive half-circular guide lengths whose radii are in an arithmetic progression.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 1, wherein said guide lengths are coplanar and substantially parallel, and further comprising curved sections of waveguide connecting each pair of adjacent guide lengths on one side, wherein said curved sections of waveguide are formed on alternating sides of said body for successive pairs of said guide lengths.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 1, further comprising mirrors on two parallel faces of said glass body, and wherein the waveguide defines a planar optical path zigzagging between these two mirrors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 5, wherein said mirrors are integrated with said body by means of metallization of said body faces.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 1, wherein the waveguide comprises at least two paths superimposed upon each other in different planes, with means for connecting the different paths to form the waveguide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 1, further comprising coupler means integrated in the doped glass body and associated with at least one end of said waveguide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 8, wherein said coupler means comprises a coupler at one end of said waveguide for providing the pump power input to the guide, and a coupler at the other end for extracting the amplified light signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 8, wherein said coupler means comprises at least one proximity coupler.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 1, wherein said dopant comprises Erbium ions, and wherein said the wavelength of said signal power is in the range of 1540 nm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 1, further comprising photosensitive means coupled to an output end of the waveguide for monitoring the unabsorbed pump power, and wherein said glass body, said pump laser and said photodetector means are interconnected in a hybrid circuit without pigtails.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
The optical signal amplifier of claim 2, wherein said path terminates in an output segment of said waveguide path, and said output segment crosses at least one of the turns of the spiral path substantially along a diameter of said at least one turn.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-07-07 | 1996-01-06 | 1996-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-07 | 2000-01-06 | 2000-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-07 | 2004-01-06 | 2004-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |