The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 14, 2001
Filed:
Jul. 02, 1998
Susanne Arney, Highland Park, NJ (US);
Sandra Greenberg Kosinski, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Jane Deborah LeGrange, Princeton, NJ (US);
Agere Systems Optoelectronics Guardian Corp., Miami Lakes, FL (US);
Abstract
A method and article for monitoring and controlling power drift in the output of a diode array is described. The diode array is used, for example, as a light pump for a fiber laser. In one embodiment, an improved fiber laser includes the light pump, which launches light into a laser cavity. The fiber laser further includes a sampler operable to receive at least a portion of the light before it is launched into the laser cavity. The sampled portion represents a known fraction of the total light signal generated by the light pump. In some embodiments, the sampled light is directed, via the sampler, to a photodetector. The photodetector converts the sampled light into a first electrical signal and delivers it to a processor. The processor is operable to compare the electrical signal with a set-point signal representative of a desired power output of the sampled portion of the launched light. To the extent that a differential exists between the set point signal and the first electrical signal, the desired optical power is not being launched into the lasing cavity. If such a differential exists, the processor generates and sends a control signal to a controllable current source. The control signal is operable to increase or decrease the current delivered from the controllable current source to the light pump to correct power drifts in light pump output.