Patent US6697411B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6697411B2
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Modulatable multi-wavelength semiconductor external cavity laser
Assignee: Chromaplex Inc
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Filing: 2002-04-08
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Granted: 2004-02-24
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Expires: 2022-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A multi-wavelength external cavity laser system is disclosed, wherein an array of individual laser elements is placed in a shared laser cavity for all wavelengths that is defined by a free space grating, an optional reflector, and a single relay lens. Laser radiation from the cavity can be externally modulated at each wavelength and outputted as an overlapping beam having substantially all the wavelengths produced by the laser elements through a single fiber or as an array of wavelength-separated beams. A modular design facilitates the addition and/or repair of individual or several channels.
Inventors
- 👤 John Hoose
- 👤 Robert Frankel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:50
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/14; H01S5/141; H01S5/40; H01S5/4025; H01S5/4031; H01S5/4062; H01S5/4087
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
An external cavity laser source comprising: a) a free space external cavity comprising: a plurality of optical gain elements, each of the optical gain elements generating optical radiation having a unique wavelength; a first optical element having a first focal plane, the first optical element positioned to substantially place the first focal plane at the plurality of optical gain elements and to intercept the generated optical radiation emitted from a first end face of optical gain elements; and a dispersive element positioned to intercept the radiation from the first optical element and diffracting said intercepted radiation, said diffracted radiation being returned through the first optical element to the first end face of the optical gain element associated with the unique wavelength; and b) a plurality of optical modulators, each modulator associated with a respective one of the optical gain elements and adapted to intercept radiation from a second end face opposite the first end face of the respective optical gain element, wherein each of the optical modulators transmits a beam with a controllably modulated intensity and having the unique wavelength.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
An external cavity laser source comprising: a) a free space external cavity comprising: a plurality of optical gain elements, each of the optical gain elements generating optical radiation having a unique wavelength; a first optical element having a first focal plane, the first optical element positioned to substantially place the first focal plane at the plurality of optical gain elements and to intercept the generated optical radiation emitted from a first end face of optical gain elements; and a dispersive element positioned to intercept the radiation from the first optical element and diffracting said intercepted radiation, said diffracted radiation being returned through the first optical element to the first end face of the optical gain element associated with the unique wavelength; and b) a plurality of optical modulators, each modulator associated with a respective one of the optical gain elements and adapted to intercept radiation from a second end face opposite the first end face of the respective optical gain element, wherein each of the optical modulators transmits a beam with a controllably modulated intensity and having the unique wavelength.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser source of claim 1 , wherein the optical gain element comprises a semiconductor laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The laser source of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of optical gain elements comprises a semiconductor laser array.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The laser source of claim 1 , further comprising a reflecting element, wherein the dispersive element is positioned between the first optical element and the reflecting element; and wherein the reflecting element is positioned to intercept radiation from the dispersive element and to retroreflect the intercepted radiation to the dispersive element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The laser source of claim 1 , further including a beam combiner that intercepts the controllably modulated beams having the plurality of wavelengths and combines the controllably modulated beams into an overlapping beam having the plurality of wavelengths.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The laser source of claim 5 , wherein the beam combiner comprises: a second optical element having a second focal plane, the second optical element positioned to substantially place the second focal plane at the plurality of the optical modulators and to intercept the controllably modulated beams from the optical modulators; and a second dispersive element adapted to intercept radiation from the second optical element and to return through the second optical element the overlapping beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser source of claim 6 , further comprising an optical receiving element that receives in the second focal plane the overlapping beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser source of claim 7 , wherein the optical receiving element comprises an optical fiber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser source of claim 5 , wherein the beam combiner comprises an Nx1 optical coupler.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser source of claim 9 , wherein the optical coupler is a fiber coupler.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser source of claim 9 , wherein the optical coupler is an arrayed-waveguide grating (AWG) coupler.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser source of claim 9 , wherein the optical coupler is a star coupler.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser source of claim 4 , further comprising a spectral filter disposed in the external cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser source of claim 13 , wherein the spectral filter is a Fabry-Perot etalon.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
69 words
The laser source of claim 13 , wherein the spectral filter is disposed between the dispersive element and the reflective element, the laser source further comprising a wavelength locker which derives an input signal from a unique wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths and controls the dispersive element so as to collectively lock each wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths based on the input signal from the unique wavelength.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser source of claim 1 , wherein the dispersive element is a free space grating.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser source of claim 1 , wherein the dispersive element is an immersion grating.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laser source of claim 17 , wherein the immersion grating comprises silicon.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser source of claim 7 , wherein the second dispersive element is a free space grating.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser source of claim 7 , wherein the second dispersive element is an immersion grating.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
The laser source of claim 20 , wherein the immersion grating comprises silicon.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
103 words
Method for producing externally modulated multi-wavelength laser radiation, comprising: generating with a plurality of optical gain elements a plurality of free space optical beams, each beam having a unique wavelength; diffracting the plurality of free space optical beams emitted from a first facet of the gain elements; returning the diffracted beams to the first facet of the optical gain elements so that each gain element emitting the unique wavelength receives the diffracted beam having the unique wavelength; and modulating the plurality of free space optical beams emitted from a second facet of the gain elements to produce the externally modulated multi-wavelength laser radiation.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
103 words
Method for producing externally modulated multi-wavelength laser radiation, comprising: generating with a plurality of optical gain elements a plurality of free space optical beams, each beam having a unique wavelength; diffracting the plurality of free space optical beams emitted from a first facet of the gain elements; returning the diffracted beams to the first facet of the optical gain elements so that each gain element emitting the unique wavelength receives the diffracted beam having the unique wavelength; and modulating the plurality of free space optical beams emitted from a second facet of the gain elements to produce the externally modulated multi-wavelength laser radiation.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein the optical gain elements are semiconductor diode lasers.
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-02-23 | 2007-08-25 | 2008-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-02-23 | 2011-08-25 | 2012-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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