Thorlabs Quantum Electronics, Inc.

Jacob Mertz

Jianfei Wang

Peter J S Heim

John V Hryniewicz

Peter Heim

John Hryniewicz

A tunable laser assembly housed in a single enclosure and a method of control is described wherein the tunable laser, pump and semiconductor optical amplifier do not share a common optical axis but are all aligned to optical waveguides on an intervening planar lightwave circuit (PLC). Wavelength monitoring circuitry is included on the PLC to enable monitoring and control of the tunable laser center wavelength and optical bandwidth. The design of the PLC does not introduce perturbations into the swept-source laser output spectrum that would cause artifacts in imaging applications such as optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Tunable laser assembly

Tunable laser assembly and method of control

Disclosed are the method and system to derive the wavelength/frequency information covering wide wavelength or frequency range. Its practical applications include both fixed wavelength optical signal and wide bandwidth tunable or non-tunable optical signal, where the wavelength/frequency information is necessary for optical signal calibration, control, and monitoring, optical communications, and data processing. The approach has a 'self-compensation' feature which is preferred to improve the accuracy of the extracted wavelength or frequency information even though there are components in the system having strong wavelength or frequency dependence in the wide wavelength or frequency range. The method is generic which can be realized in free space, fiber, or photonic integrated circuit (PIC).

Wide bandwidth optical detector comprising plural phase tuning elements respectively receiving optical signals from directional couplers

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Elkridge, MD, United States of America

Jacob Mertz