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. 07, 2007
Filed:
Mar. 11, 2004
John A. Moon, Wallingford, CT (US);
James S. Sirkis, Wallingford, CT (US);
Ralph Jones, Guilford, CT (US);
Charles R. Winston, Glastonbury, CT (US);
David R. Fournier, Ashford, CT (US);
Joseph Pinto, Wallingford, CT (US);
Robert N. Brucato, Southington, CT (US);
James R. Dunphy, South Glastonbury, CT (US);
Christopher J. Chestnut, Ellington, CT (US);
John A. Moon, Wallingford, CT (US);
James S. Sirkis, Wallingford, CT (US);
Ralph Jones, Guilford, CT (US);
Charles R. Winston, Glastonbury, CT (US);
David R. Fournier, Ashford, CT (US);
Joseph Pinto, Wallingford, CT (US);
Robert N. Brucato, Southington, CT (US);
James R. Dunphy, South Glastonbury, CT (US);
Christopher J. Chestnut, Ellington, CT (US);
CiDRA Corporation, Wallingford, CT (US);
Abstract
An optical spectrum analyzer (OSA)sequentially or selectively samples (or filters) a spectral band(s)of light from a broadband optical input signaland measures predetermined optical parameters of the optical signal (e.g., spectral profile) of the input light. The OSAis a free-space optical device that includes a collimator assembly, a diffraction gratingand a mirror. A launch pigtail emits into free space the input signal through the collimator assemblyand onto the diffraction grating, which separates or spreads spatially the collimated input light, and reflects the dispersed light onto the mirror. A λ/4 plateis disposed between the mirrorand the diffraction grating. The mirror reflects the separated light back through the λ/4 plateto the diffraction grating, which reflects the light back through the collimating lens. The lensfocuses spectral bands of light (λ–λ) at different focal points in space. One of the spectral bandsis focused onto a receive pigtail, which then propagates to a photodetector. A pivoting mechanismpivots the diffraction gratingor mirrorabout a pivot pointto sequentially or selectively focus each spectral bandto the receive pigtail. A position sensordetects the displacement of the diffraction gratingor mirror.