Patent US5455836A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5455836A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical Q-switching to generate ultra short pulses in diode lasers
Assignee: Nortel Networks Ltd
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Filing: 1994-11-23
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Granted: 1995-10-03
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Expires: 2014-11-23
Abstract
Abstract A system for generating an ultra short optical pulse by pumping a semiconductor signal laser with an optical pulse from a semiconductor probe laser. The signal laser has dual segments each operated under different d.c. injection current levels. The probe laser is modulated with a pulsed input and the optical output thereof is coupled via optical means to the signal laser so as to Q-switch the latter. Optical pulses in the 65 ps range result.
Inventors
- 👤 Guo P. Li
- 👤 Toshi Makino
- 👤 Rongqing Hui
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/06; H01S5/0615; H01S5/0607; H01S5/0608; H01S5/062; H01S5/0625; H01S5/06255; H01S5/06258; H01S5/50; H01S5/5063
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for optically generating short width optical pulses comprising: a first semiconductor DFB laser having a MQW active region to produce a laser output of a first wavelength in response to an injected current, said first laser having a common contact of one polarity and pair of isolated contacts of an opposite polarity; means to provide separately adjustable injection current to each one of said pair of isolated contacts; a second semiconductor DFB laser having an active region to produce a laser output of a second wavelength, said second wavelength being longer than said first; means to provide a modulated input current to said second laser; and optical transfer means between the active region of said first laser and the active region of said second laser whereby the first laser is pumped with the modulated output of the second.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A system for optically generating short width optical pulses comprising: a first semiconductor DFB laser having a MQW active region to produce a laser output of a first wavelength in response to an injected current, said first laser having a common contact of one polarity and pair of isolated contacts of an opposite polarity; means to provide separately adjustable injection current to each one of said pair of isolated contacts; a second semiconductor DFB laser having an active region to produce a laser output of a second wavelength, said second wavelength being longer than said first; means to provide a modulated input current to said second laser; and optical transfer means between the active region of said first laser and the active region of said second laser whereby the first laser is pumped with the modulated output of the second.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as defined in claim 1, the first and second semiconductor lasers being prepared from a III-V alloy material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system as defined in claim 2, the III-V alloy material being InGaAsP/InP.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined in claim 3, the first DFB laser having a ridge waveguide for lateral optical confinement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system as defined in claim 4, the ridge waveguide having a transverse channel through the contact to form first and second isolated segments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system as defined in claim 5, the electrical resistance between the pair of isolated segments being greaer than 200Ω.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system as defined in claim 6 the first isolated segment being larger than the second with the free face of the first segment providing the output.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The system as defined in claim 7, the difference between the first wavelength and the second wavelength being in the range 5 to 50 nm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The system as defined in claim 7 the free face of the first segment having an antireflective coating.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system as defined in claim 4, the first DFB laser having a first order grating between the MQW and the ridge waveguide, the first order grating providing multiple Bragg modes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system as defined in claim 2, the III-V alloy material being InGaAs/InGaAsP/InP.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
The system as defined in claim 1, the first and second lasers having means to control the temperature thereof.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of generating an ultra short optical pulse by Q-switching a DFB dual segment signal laser having an MQW with the optical output of a probe DFB laser, the method comprising: operating the signal laser with first and second separately controllable injection current levels to each of said dual segments to generate an output of a first wavelength; operating a probe DFB laser with a modulating current to produce optical pulses of a second wavelength; and coupling the optical pulses from the probe laser to the signal laser so as to Q-switch the signal laser.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
96 words
A method of generating an ultra short optical pulse by Q-switching a DFB dual segment signal laser having an MQW with the optical output of a probe DFB laser, the method comprising: operating the signal laser with first and second separately controllable injection current levels to each of said dual segments to generate an output of a first wavelength; operating a probe DFB laser with a modulating current to produce optical pulses of a second wavelength; and coupling the optical pulses from the probe laser to the signal laser so as to Q-switch the signal laser.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as defined in claim 13, the second wavelength being longer than the first wavelength.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 14, the difference between the second wavelength and the first wavelength being in the range 5-50 nm.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as defined in claim 15, the optical pulses from the probe laser being coupled to the cavity of the signal laser.
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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) | 1998-10-02 | 1999-04-03 | 1999-10-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-10-02 | 2003-04-03 | 2003-10-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-10-02 | 2007-04-03 | 2007-10-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |