Pirelli & C. S. P. A.

Google Inc.

Stmicroelectronics N.v.

Alberto Rampulla

Giacomo Antonio Rossi

Guido Oliveti

Francesco Martini

Pietro Montanini

An external-cavity tuneable laser includes a gain medium and a tuneable mirror wherein at least the tuneable mirror is in thermal contact with a thermally conductive platform. The tuneable mirror lays substantially horizontally on the thermally conductive platform significantly improving the thermal contact of the tuneable mirror with the platform. A laser beam from the gain medium is directed onto the tuneable mirror, which is mounted substantially horizontally with respect to the thermally conductive platform, by means of a deflector that deflects the beam or a large part of it toward one of the principal surfaces of the tuneable mirror. The resulting laser cavity is a folded cavity. The thermally conductive platform is preferably thermally coupled to a TEC that provides thermal control for the platform. The deflector may be a beam splitter that deflects part of the incoming light and transmits the remaining part. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the portion of light transmitted through the beam splitter forms the output laser beam, i.e., the external-cavity laser outputs a laser beam on the side of the wavelength selective elements (the tuneable mirror and, if any, the channel grid), i.e., on the side of the front facet of the laser diode.

Thermally controlled external cavity tuneable laser

A coupling structure for coupling optical radiation, i.e., light, between an optical fibre and an optical device, e.g., a laser diode or a photodiode. The coupling structure has an optical through-via which guides the optical radiation to or from the optical fibre. Light exiting the fibre travels through a guidance channel so it remains substantially confined to a narrow optical path that mimics the fibre core. Conversely, light enters the fibre after having traveled through the guidance channel. The guidance channel has a first core region, the 'channel core', having first refractive index surrounded by a second region, the 'channel cladding' having a second refractive index smaller than the first refractive index. The coupling structure, including the guidance channel, is preferably made of semiconductor-based material, more preferably of silicon-based material. The guidance channel is preferably silicon oxide. The coupling structure further has a fibre drive-in element, which facilitates insertion and alignment of the optical fibre to the guidance channel.

Coupling structure for optical fibres and process for making it

A connector for optical fiber is described. The connector has a main body having a first fiber supporting element for supporting, within a fiber supporting seat, a first portion of at least one optical fiber and leaving an end portion of the at least one optical fiber project from the main body. The connector further has a second fiber supporting element for supporting the end potion of the at least one optical fiber. The second fiber supporting element is slidably associated with the main body and mobile between a first operational position wherein the end portion of the at least one optical fiber is supported by the second fiber supporting element and a second operational position wherein at least an end part of said end portion projects from said connector. The main body comprises a seat for hosting the second fiber supporting element when the second fiber supporting element is moved from the first operational position to the second operational position. The seat is located below the fiber supporting seat of the first fiber supporting element.

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Milan, Italy

Alberto Rampulla