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:
Jun. 25, 2002
Filed:
Jan. 18, 2000
Darol Chamberlain, Ithaca, NY (US);
Gang Chen, Horseheads, NY (US);
Steven B. Dawes, Corning, NY (US);
Peter J. McNeilly, Painted Post, NY (US);
Mike X. Ouyang, Painted Post, NY (US);
Laura A. Weller-Brophy, Corning, NY (US);
Corning Incorporated, Corning, NY (US);
Abstract
The present invention relates to a tunable optical device that includes an optical fiber device having optical properties that vary with temperature and a heater . The heater is thermally coupled to the optical fiber device . The heater includes a metal layer and two electrical contacts that are electrically connected to the metal layer . The electrical contacts are spaced apart from one another along the metal layer . The electrical resistance of the portion of the metal layer between the contacts varies with temperature and serves as a resistive heater. The invention also includes a controller that is electrically connected to the heater . The controller provides electrical power to the heater and measures the electrical voltage across the heater . The controller compares the measured electrical voltage to a pre-selected reference value. The controller then regulates the amount of electrical current supplied to the heater . By regulating the amount of electrical current supplied to the heater the temperature of the heater is controlled.