Planar hybrid optical amplifier
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for amplifying an optical signal, comprising:
- (a) A substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a selected thickness between said top and bottom surfaces;
(b) A first groove at a first end of said substrate and a second groove at a second end of said substrate, said grooves having optical fibers disposed therein;
(c) A optical waveguide optically connecting said optical fibers;
(d) A laser mounted on said substrate, said laser connected to said optical waveguide by a first coupling waveguide; and
(e) An optical detector mounted on said substrate, said monitor optically coupled to said first coupling waveguide, whereby light from said laser is transmitted to said waveguide and at least one of said fibers and a portion of said light is transmitted to said detector for monitoring said laser.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A planar hybrid optical amplifier is fabricated on a single crystal substrate. The components that are common to a variety of optical amplifier circuits are mounted on the substrate and the planar device that results is readily interchanged in various applications. In one embodiment the multiplexed signal consisting of light from a pump laser and an optical signal are introduced into a rare earth doped fiber which amplifies the input signal through stimulated emission of radiation.
92 Citations
7 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for amplifying an optical signal, comprising:
-
(a) A substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a selected thickness between said top and bottom surfaces; (b) A first groove at a first end of said substrate and a second groove at a second end of said substrate, said grooves having optical fibers disposed therein; (c) A optical waveguide optically connecting said optical fibers; (d) A laser mounted on said substrate, said laser connected to said optical waveguide by a first coupling waveguide; and (e) An optical detector mounted on said substrate, said monitor optically coupled to said first coupling waveguide, whereby light from said laser is transmitted to said waveguide and at least one of said fibers and a portion of said light is transmitted to said detector for monitoring said laser. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. An apparatus for amplifying an optical signal, comprising:
-
(a) A substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface, and a selected thickness between said top and bottom surfaces; (b) A first groove at a first end of said substrate and a second groove at a second end of said substrate, said grooves having optical fibers disposed therein; (c) A optical waveguide optically connecting said optical fibers; (d) A pump laser mounted on said substrate, said laser connected to said optical waveguide by a first coupling waveguide; (e) An optical detector mounted on said substrate, said monitor optically coupled to said first coupling waveguide; (f) An input optical signal transmitted via said first optical fiber to said waveguide; and (g) A multiplexer for multiplexing said light from said pump laser with said optical signal, said multiplexed signal transmitted via said second waveguide to a gain medium external to said substrate, whereby said pump laser light pumps said gain medium and said optical signal is amplified via stimulated emission resulting from said pumping of said gain medium. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
-
Specification