Automated precision wavelength control for fiber optic Bragg grating writing
First Claim
1. An apparatus for writing fiber optic Bragg gratings over a range of Bragg wavelengths, said apparatus comprising:
- a laser for generating an ultraviolet beam;
a prism disposed downstream of said laser such that said beam is incident on a hypotenuse of said prism;
a cylindrical lens interposed between said laser and said prism for aligning a line focus of said beam parallel with said hypotenuse of said prism;
a rotation stage coupled to said prism for rotating said prism about a pre-selected pivot point relative to an angle of incidence of said beam to vary said Bragg wavelength within said range; and
an optical fiber disposed adjacent a bottom edge of said prism for receiving a high fringe frequency interferrogram formed by said prism from said beam on a core portion thereof, said high fringe frequency interferrogram writing said Bragg grating thereon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides a computer controlled apparatus and method for producing high quality fiber optic Bragg gratings. According to the invention, the apparatus (10) preferably includes a laser (12) for generating an ultraviolet beam (18), a rotatable prism (32) disposed downstream of the laser (12) for receiving the beam (18) and an optical fiber (48) disposed adjacent a bottom edge (84) of the prism (32) for receiving a high fringe frequency interferrogram (86) formed by the prism (32). The prism (32) is coupled to a rotation stage (14) for rotating the prism (32) about a pre-selected pivot point (36) relative to the angle of incidence of the beam (18) to vary the Bragg wavelength at the fiber core.
52 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for writing fiber optic Bragg gratings over a range of Bragg wavelengths, said apparatus comprising:
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a laser for generating an ultraviolet beam; a prism disposed downstream of said laser such that said beam is incident on a hypotenuse of said prism; a cylindrical lens interposed between said laser and said prism for aligning a line focus of said beam parallel with said hypotenuse of said prism; a rotation stage coupled to said prism for rotating said prism about a pre-selected pivot point relative to an angle of incidence of said beam to vary said Bragg wavelength within said range; and an optical fiber disposed adjacent a bottom edge of said prism for receiving a high fringe frequency interferrogram formed by said prism from said beam on a core portion thereof, said high fringe frequency interferrogram writing said Bragg grating thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of writing fiber optic Bragg gratings over a range of Bragg wavelengths comprising the steps of:
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selecting a laser for generating an ultraviolet beam; positioning a prism downstream of said laser such that said beam is incident on a hypotenuse of said prism; interposing a cylindrical lens between said laser and said prism for aligning a line focus of said beam parallel with said hypotenuse of said prism; coupling a rotation stage to said prism for rotating said prism about a pre-selected pivot point relative to an angle of incidence of said beam to vary said Bragg wavelength within said range; securing an optical fiber adjacent a bottom edge of said prism for receiving a high fringe frequency interferrogram formed by said prism from said beam on a core portion thereof, said high fringe frequency interferrogram writing said Bragg grating thereon; and positioning a far field camera in radiation receiving relation to said prism for aligning said line focus on said core portion of said fiber. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification