Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Benjamin S Wheeler

David M Braun

Roger Lee Jungerman

Paul Emerson Bussard

Gregory Steven Hill

Rance M Fortenberry

An optical filter for generating a filter output signal from a filter input signal, the filter output signal consisting of light from the filter input signal in a predetermined bandwidth. The filter includes a grating, a first optical assembly and an optical signal path. A portion of the input signal traverses the optical signal path such that it is diffracted from the grating to form a first intermediate beam that is input to the first optical assembly, which generates a second intermediate beam therefrom. The second intermediate beam is directed back to the grating and is diffracted by the grating, a portion of the diffracted second intermediate beam forming a portion of the filter output signal. The second intermediate beam is the inverted image of the first intermediate beam, and hence, the second reflection from the grating compensates for the time dispersion introduced by the first reflection from the grating.

Optical monochromators having time dispersion correction

A wavelength meter for measuring the wavelength of an input light signal. The meter includes a beam splitter, a fixed mirror, and a moveable mirror, the beam splitter splits the input signal into a first input signal and a second input signal, the first and second input signals being reflected from the fixed and moveable mirrors, respectively, and being recombined by the beam splitter. The first reference light signal is reflected by the fixed mirror and the second reference light signal is reflected by the moving mirror, the beam splitter recombines the first and second reference light signals to form a combined reference light signal. The amplitude of the combined reference light signal is detected by a reference detector that generates a reference signal related to the amplitude of the combined reference light signal. The wavelength meter also includes a position circuit for generating a start signal indicating that the moveable mirror is at a first position relative to the fixed mirror and that the moveable mirror is moving in a first direction. A controller records a sequence of measurement signal values in response to the start signal and the reference signal.

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Bodega Bay, CA, United States of America

Benjamin S Wheeler