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:
Mar. 05, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 04, 1999
Timothy C. Munks, Crystal Lake, IL (US);
Paul E. Dunn, Westfield, MA (US);
David J. Allie, Storrs, CT (US);
Uniphase Telecommunications Products, Inc., Bloomfield, CT (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and methods for monitoring the wavelength of laser radiation and that provide a temperature-corrected error signal responsive to the deviation of the wavelength of the laser radiation from a nominal wavelength is disclosed. The apparatus includes a least one optical filter for filtering the laser radiation according to at least one spectral filter function to produce filtered laser radiation and at least one optical detector for detecting the filtered laser radiation to produce a first detected signal. The apparatus also includes a temperature sensor for sensing temperature characteristic of at least the optical filter and processing circuitry for providing a temperature-corrected output signal responsive to the deviation of the wavelength of the laser radiation from the nominal wavelength. The processing circuitry includes an error circuit for providing, responsive to at least the first detected signal, an uncorrected error signal responsive the deviation of the wavelength of the laser radiation from the nominal wavelength and a memory for providing offset values corresponding to selected temperatures. The processing circuitry, responsive to the temperature sensor, modifies the uncorrected signal based on at least one offset value to produce the temperature-corrected error signal. The laser wavelength monitoring apparatus can be advantageously combined with a laser and a laser wavelength control to provide a laser having a regulated or tunable wavelength.