Dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) fiberoptic source
First Claim
1. A light generation structure comprising:
- a sealed enclosure;
a light source disposed within the enclosure;
a waveguide having an entrance disposed within the enclosure in an optical path from the light source;
a reference gas contained by the enclosure, the reference gas imposing a reference characteristic on light from the light source, wherein the enclosure inhibits leakage of the reference gas;
a frequency-adjustable etalon in another optical path from the light source, the etalon generating interference fringes at a plurality of discretely separated frequencies; and
an etalon feedback control loop coupled to the etalon to stabilize the discretely separated frequencies of the etalon in response to the reference characteristic.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical light source for use in wavelength division multiplexed and dense wavelength division multiplexed systems may include a reference gas contained by a hermetically sealed enclosure which also protects a plurality of light generating structures. A frequency grid generator, typically in the form of an optical etalon, can be frequency referenced to an absolute reference point provided by the reference gas. An electronic feedback control system acts upon injection current to keep the laser frequency coincident with that of the referencing structure. An active, feedback based, thermal management systems provides control of the laser frequency ranges and etalon operating point. Electronic control over a number of separate lasers (and the grid) may be effected using a multiplexed digital controller.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A light generation structure comprising:
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a sealed enclosure;
a light source disposed within the enclosure;
a waveguide having an entrance disposed within the enclosure in an optical path from the light source;
a reference gas contained by the enclosure, the reference gas imposing a reference characteristic on light from the light source, wherein the enclosure inhibits leakage of the reference gas;
a frequency-adjustable etalon in another optical path from the light source, the etalon generating interference fringes at a plurality of discretely separated frequencies; and
an etalon feedback control loop coupled to the etalon to stabilize the discretely separated frequencies of the etalon in response to the reference characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An optical fiber source comprising:
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a sealed enclosure;
a first variable-frequency laser disposed within the enclosure;
an optical fiber having an entrance disposed within the enclosure in an optical path from the laser, the fiber extending out from the enclosure;
a reference gas contained by the enclosure, the reference gas imposing a reference frequency on light from the laser, wherein the enclosure inhibits leakage of the reference gas;
feedback control circuitry comprising light sensors coupling the light with the reference frequency to the laser so as to control a frequency of the light in response to the reference frequency;
a plurality of additional frequency adjustable lasers producing additional light signals having signal frequencies, wherein the signal frequencies are adjusted in response to the reference frequency;
a frequency-adjustable etalon in another optical path from at least one of the lasers, the etalon generating interference fringes at a plurality of discretely separated frequencies;
an etalon feedback control loop coupled to the etalon to stabilize the discretely separated frequencies of the etalon in response to the reference frequency; and
the feedback control circuitry including a plurality of control loops coupled to the additional lasers for adjusting of the signal frequencies in response to the discretely separated frequencies of the etalon. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. An optical fiber source comprising:
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an enclosure;
a plurality of lasers disposed within the enclosure, each laser having a cavity with a first end and a second end;
a plurality of optical fiber entrances, each entrance in a first optical path from an associated laser adjacent the first end of the cavity;
a reference gas contained by the enclosure, the reference gas imposing a reference characteristic on light from an associated laser, wherein the enclosure inhibits leakage of the reference gas;
a plurality of light sensors, each light sensor disposed in a second optical path from an associated laser;
a controller coupling the light sensors to the lasers so as to effect independent feedback control over light generated by the lasers;
at least one beamsplitter disposed in the second optical path between the lasers and the light sensors;
a etalon disposed in a third optical path from the beamsplitter, the etalon coupled to the controller for maintaining separation between frequencies of light from the lasers by stabilizing each laser to the top of a selected etalon fringe. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification