US5295209A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Spontaneous emission source having high spectral density at a desired wavelength
Assignee: Ciena Corp
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Filing: 1992-11-10
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Granted: 1994-03-15
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Expires: 2012-11-10
Abstract
Abstract A spontaneous emission source has a high spectral density at a desired wavelength. An integrated guided wave optical path is formed in either a semiconductor or silica substrate. An active medium and grating are provided within the optical path. The optical path is pumped to pass energy across the grating and active medium. The pump energy excites the active medium without lasing to output spontaneous emissions at a wavelength established by the grating. The source is particularly useful for reducing nonlinear effects in an optical fiber used for communicating AM or other information signals.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Huber
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:42
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25; H04B10/2507; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/06795; H01S3/10; H01S3/10084; H01S3/10092; H01S5/00; H01S5/06; H01S5/0607; H01S5/0608; H01S5/062; H01S5/06209; H01S5/06213; H04B10/2537; H01S2301/00; H01S2301/03; H01S3/005; H01S3/0085; H01S3/0602; H01S3/0604; H01S3/0627; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094003; H01S5/005; H01S5/0085; H01S5/065; H01S5/0651; H01S5/0652; H01S5/40; H01S5/4006; H01S5/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
144 words
An optical source for providing an output signal with a broad linewidth comprising: a laser for outputting an optical signal having a longitudinal mode; a spontaneous emission source for generating spontaneous emissions at or near the wavelength of said longitudinal mode, said spontaneous emission source including: an integrated guided wave optical path formed in a semiconductor substrate, a grating within said optical path, an active medium within said optical path, and means for passing optical energy across said grating and active medium within said optical path, said optical energy exciting said active medium without lasing to output spontaneous emissions from said optical path at a wavelength established by said grating; and means external of said laser for inputting spontaneous emissions output from said spontaneous emission source to said laser; wherein the spontaneous emissions input to said laser increase the effective linewidth of said mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
144 words
An optical source for providing an output signal with a broad linewidth comprising: a laser for outputting an optical signal having a longitudinal mode; a spontaneous emission source for generating spontaneous emissions at or near the wavelength of said longitudinal mode, said spontaneous emission source including: an integrated guided wave optical path formed in a semiconductor substrate, a grating within said optical path, an active medium within said optical path, and means for passing optical energy across said grating and active medium within said optical path, said optical energy exciting said active medium without lasing to output spontaneous emissions from said optical path at a wavelength established by said grating; and means external of said laser for inputting spontaneous emissions output from said spontaneous emission source to said laser; wherein the spontaneous emissions input to said laser increase the effective linewidth of said mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 1 wherein said grating is in the active medium portion of said optical path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 2 wherein said active medium comprises a rare earth doped portion of said semiconductor substrate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 1 wherein said active medium comprises a rare earth doped portion of said semiconductor substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 1 wherein: said laser is responsive to pump energy for outputting said optical signal; and said means external f said laser combine the spontaneous emissions with said pump energy for input to said laser.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
143 words
An optical source for providing an output signal with a broad linewidth comprising: a laser for outputting an optical signal; a spontaneous emission source for generating spontaneous emissions at or near the wavelength of a longitudinal mode of said optical signal, said spontaneous emission source including: an integrated guided wave optical path formed in a substrate, a grating within said optical path, an active medium within said optical path, and means for passing optical energy across said grating and active medium within said optical path, said optical energy exciting said active medium without lasing to output spontaneous emissions from said optical path at a wavelength established by said grating; and means external of said laser for inputting spontaneous emissions output from said spontaneous emission source to said laser; wherein the spontaneous emissions input to said laser increase the effective linewidth of said mode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
143 words
An optical source for providing an output signal with a broad linewidth comprising: a laser for outputting an optical signal; a spontaneous emission source for generating spontaneous emissions at or near the wavelength of a longitudinal mode of said optical signal, said spontaneous emission source including: an integrated guided wave optical path formed in a substrate, a grating within said optical path, an active medium within said optical path, and means for passing optical energy across said grating and active medium within said optical path, said optical energy exciting said active medium without lasing to output spontaneous emissions from said optical path at a wavelength established by said grating; and means external of said laser for inputting spontaneous emissions output from said spontaneous emission source to said laser; wherein the spontaneous emissions input to said laser increase the effective linewidth of said mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 6 wherein said grating is in the active medium portion of said optical path.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 7 wherein said active medium comprises a rare earth doped portion of said substrate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 8 wherein said guided wave optical path comprises a planar waveguide.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 7 wherein said guided wave optical path comprises a planar waveguide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 6 wherein said active medium comprises a rare earth doped portion of said substrate.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 11 wherein said guided wave optical path comprises a planar waveguide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 6 wherein said guided wave optical path comprises a planar waveguide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 6 wherein said substrate is a silica substrate.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 6 wherein said substrate is a polymer substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical source in accordance with claim 6 wherein: said laser is responsive to pump energy for outputting said optical signal; and said means external of said laser combine the spontaneous emissions with said pump energy for input to said laser.
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