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:
Sep. 10, 2002
Filed:
Mar. 09, 1999
Scott L. Broutin, Kutztown, PA (US);
James Kevin Plourde, Allentown, PA (US);
John William Stayt, Jr., Schnecksville, PA (US);
Agere Systems Guardian Corp., Miami Lakes, FL (US);
Abstract
An apparatus controls a light source, which may be a laser. A first detector provides a first electrical signal representing an amplitude of a first light that is output by the light source. A filter receives the first light and provides a filtered light having an amplitude that depends on the amplitude and wavelength of the first light. A second detector provides a second electrical signal representing the amplitude of the filtered light. A switching device, such as a multiplexer, is capable of providing either the first electrical signal or the second electrical signal as its output signal. A common amplifier is coupled to the switching device. The common amplifier amplifies the output signal of the switching device, to alternately provide a first amplified signal and a second amplified signal, representing the first and second electrical signals, respectively. A processor receives the first and second amplified signals and generates a control signal that depends on the wavelength of the first light and is independent of the amplitude of the first light. The control signal may be, for example, a control signal for a thermoelectric cooler or a bias signal for a laser. The control signal is used to control the light source.