Optical spectroscopy incorporating a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL)
First Claim
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1. A subassembly for use in optical spectroscopy comprising:
- a) an interferometer including optical components for receiving light and passing the light along a defined light path, the optical components including a beamsplitter separating the light into two portions and means for introducing a path length difference between the portions;
b) a vertical cavity surface emitting laser, including electronics to drive the vertical cavity surface emitting laser to project a beam therefrom, operatively mounted with the interferometer with a portion of the beam generally following the defined light path and a portion of the beam interacting with a defined response element and then to a detector, the vertical cavity surface emitting laser including an operating parameter control system for controlling an operating parameter of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser responsive to a signal from the detector.
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Abstract
A vertical cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) package useful in interferometry. The present invention comprises methods and apparatuses that allow use of multimode VCSELS, and that provide for wavelength control and stability. The present invention contemplates the use of a defined response element, such as an etalon, in combination with control of the operating environment of the VCSEL to monitor and control the output wavelength of the VCSEL.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A subassembly for use in optical spectroscopy comprising:
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a) an interferometer including optical components for receiving light and passing the light along a defined light path, the optical components including a beamsplitter separating the light into two portions and means for introducing a path length difference between the portions;
b) a vertical cavity surface emitting laser, including electronics to drive the vertical cavity surface emitting laser to project a beam therefrom, operatively mounted with the interferometer with a portion of the beam generally following the defined light path and a portion of the beam interacting with a defined response element and then to a detector, the vertical cavity surface emitting laser including an operating parameter control system for controlling an operating parameter of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser responsive to a signal from the detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 23)
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11. An optical spectrometer, comprising:
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a) a vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem;
b) an interferometer, in optical communication with the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem;
c) an etalon subsystem, mounted in an optical path from the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem to the interferometer;
d) a detector, in optical communication with the interferometer;
e) a wavelength control processor, responsive to a signal from the detector and adapted to control an operating parameter of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. An optical spectrometer, comprising:
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a) a vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem, adapted to provide collimated output light;
b) an interferometer in optical communication with the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem;
c) a detector in optical communication with the interferometer;
d) an etalon subsystem mounted in an optical path from the interferometer to the detector;
e) a wavelength control processor, responsive to a signal from the detector and adapted to control an operating parameter of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A subsystem generating output light for use with an optical spectrometer, comprising:
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a) a vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem, adapted to provide collimated light;
b) an auxiliary beam splitter in optical communication with the vertical cavity surface emitting laser, defining an output optical path and a feedback optical path;
c) a detector receiving light along the feedback optical path;
d) an etalon subsystem mounted in an optical path from the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem to the detector;
e) a wavelength control processor responsive to a signal from the detector and adapted to control an operating parameter of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An optical spectrometer, comprising:
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a) a vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem;
b) an etalon having a transmission axis therethrough, in optical communication with the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem and with the transmission axis oriented non-parallel with light from the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem;
c) a beam splitter in optical communication with the etalon, directing light from the etalon along first and second optical paths;
d) a first detector in optical communication with the beam splitter along the first optical path;
e) an interferometer in optical communication with the beam splitter along the second optical path, wherein light along the second optical path encounters the interferometer at an input port thereof, and wherein light exiting the interferometer via an exit port thereof does not encounter the beam splitter;
f) a second detector in optical communication with the exit port of the interferometer;
g) a wavelength control system, responsive to a signal from the first detector and adapted to control an operating parameter of the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. An optical spectrometer, comprising:
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a) a vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem;
b) an interferometer in optical communication with the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem;
c) an auxiliary beam splitter in an optical path from the vertical cavity surface emitting laser to the interferometer, defining a first optical path to the interferometer and a second optical path;
d) an auxiliary detector in the second optical path;
e) an etalon subsystem in an optical path from the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem to the auxiliary detector;
f) a wavelength control system, responsive to a signal from the auxiliary detector, adapted to modulate a drive current to the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem, and adapted to control the drive current such that the optical energy passed through the etalon is substantially maximized. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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21. An optical spectrometer, comprising:
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a) a vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem;
b) an interferometer in optical communication with the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem;
c) a detector in optical communication with an output port of the interferometer;
d) an etalon subsystem in an optical path from the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem to the detector;
e) a wavelength control system, responsive to a signal from the detector, adapted to modulate a drive current to the vertical cavity surface emitting laser subsystem, and adapted to control the drive current such that the optical energy passed through the etalon is substantially maximized. - View Dependent Claims (22)
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24. A method of providing a source of energy having a stable wavelength for optical spectroscopy, comprising:
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a) providing a VCSEL;
b) providing a detector in optical communication with the VCSEL;
c) providing a defined response element in a path from the VCSEL to the detector, where the defined response element has a minimum absorbance at a desired wavelength;
d) adjusting the operating environment of the VCSEL to change the wavelength of the VCSEL output over a range including the desired wavelength, e) monitoring the energy received by the detector, and f) maintaining the operating environment of the VCSEL where the monitored energy is at a maximum. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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27. A light source, comprising:
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a) a multimode VCSEL, emitting light at a plurality of VCSEL wavelengths over a range of wavelengths;
b) an etalon, in optical communication with the VCSEL, providing output light from transmission of light in a plurality of etalon passbands, where at least one of the VCSEL wavelengths is within at least one of the etalon passbands. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification