Method and system for selecting an output of a VCSEL array

• US 6,879,442 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2002
• Issued: 04/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NeoPhotonics Corporation (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Santur Corporation (Lumentum Holdings Inc.)
• Inventors: Pezeshki, Bardia
• Primary Examiner(s): Dang, Hung Xuan
• Assistant Examiner(s): MARTINEZ, JOSEPH P
• Application Number:
  US10/216,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20030030919A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 359/196, 359/626, 359204-205, 359209-210, 359/212, 359/223, 359/225, 359/391, 359/414, 359/417, 359/418, 359/694, 359554-557, 359/813, 359/696, 385/16, 385/17, 385/22, 385/92, 385/93
• US Class Current: 359/626
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0841 the reflecting element being moved or deformed by electrostatic means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3514 the reflective optical element moving along a line so as to translate into and out of the beam path, i.e. across the beam path
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3558 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/357 Electrostatic force electrostatic forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0841
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3598 Switching means directly located between an optoelectronic element and waveguides, including direct displacement of either the element or the waveguide, e.g. optical pulse generation based on changing the optical properties of the medium G02F1/00; optical pulse generation in optical transmitters H04B10/508; optical pulse generation by controlling laser operation H01S3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4214 the intermediate optical element having redirecting reflective means, e.g. mirrors, prisms for deflecting the radiation from horizontal to down- or upward direction toward a device G02B6/4246 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4087 emitting more than one wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/423 having a vertical cavity

Abstract

A tunable laser formed using a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers. The output of the vertical cavity surface emitting lasers are re-directed by a moveable element to an optical output.

Claims

1. An optical arrangement comprising:

a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) having differing cavity lengths, each laser (VCSEL) adapted to emit light at differing wavelengths;

a single moveable optical element to direct light from any of the plurality of VCSELs towards an output path; and

an optical output configured to receive light on the output path.

2. The optical arrangement of claim 1 wherein a first of the VCSELs has a cavity length that corresponds to a second of the VCSELS and the first of the VCSELs has a cavity length that does not correspond to a third of the VCSELs.

3. The optical arrangement of claim 1 wherein the VCSELs are positioned as an array and separated from each other.

4. The optical arrangement of claim 3 wherein the VCSELs are thermally and/or electrically tunable, and the VCSELs emit light at differing wavelengths such that the VCSELs provide a continuous tuning range when thermally and/or electrically tuned.

5. The optical arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of rnetallization lines, each line coupled to a VCSEL from the VOSELs.

6. The optical arrangement of claim 1 wherein the optical element is a micro electrical mechanical system mirror and is placed about one focal length away from the collimating lens.

7. The optical arrangement of claim 1 wherein each VCSEL of the VCSELs is electrically or thermally tunable to emit light over a small range of wavelengths.

8. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the optical element is movable to direct light from each VCSEL of the VCSELs along a same optical path.

9. The optical element of claim 1 wherein the optical element is movable to direct light from each VCSEL of the VCSELs along different optical paths, and further comprising at least one second optical element configured to provide light from the optical element to a common point.

10. An optical arrangement comprising:

a plurality of lasers having differing cavity lengths, each laser configured to emit light;

collimating lens configured to receive light from each laser;

an optical element configured to direct light from the collimating lens back through the collimating lens; and

an optical output configured to receive light from the collimating lens, the collimating lens further configured to focus light into the optical output.

11. The optical arrangement of claim 10 further comprising a second optical element placed between the collimating lens and the optical element.

12. The optical element of claim 11 wherein the second optical element is configured to prevent reflections from the optical output from returning to the plurality of lasers.

13. The optical arrangement of claim 10 wherein the plurality of lasers is a plurality of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers.

14. An optical arrangement comprising:

a plurality of lasers having differing cavity lengths, each laser configured to emit light;

a movable lens configured to receive light from each laser;

an actuator configured to move the movable lens;

an optical output configured to receive light from the movable lens.

15. The optical arrangement of claim 14 wherein the actuator is a micro electrical mechanical system actuator.

16. The optical arrangement of claim 15 wherein the actuator moves the movable lens along one axis, such that light from a particular laser of the plurality of laser is directed to a into the optical output.

17. A wavelength tunable laser comprising:

a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array including a first VOSEL laser diode that generates a first beam of light in a first wavelength range and a second VOSEL diode that generates a second beam of light in a second wavelength range;

an optical waveguide; and

a single microelectromechanical (MEMS) optical element adjustable to selectively couple one of said first and second beams of light from said VCSEL array into said optical waveguide.

18. A method for providing a beam of laser light having a tunable wavelength, comprising the steps of:

providing a vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) array;

generating a first beam of light in a first wavelength range using a first VCSEL diode of said VCSEL array;

generating a second beam of light in a second wavelength range using a second VCSEL diode of said VCSEL array;

collimating at least one of said first and second beams of light; and

tilting a single mirror using a MEMS actuator to selectively couple one of said first and second beams of light from said VCSEL array into said optical waveguide.

19. A telecommunication network including a tunable laser system, the tunable laser system providing an optical signal transmitting information over a fiber optic line, the optical signal being of a wavelength selected from a plurality of predetermined wavelengths, the tunable laser comprising:

an array of vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSEL), each of the VCSELs emitting light in a predetermined wavelength range, at least some of the VCSELs emitting light in different wavelength ranges, and a single MEMS mirror moveable so as to couple light from any one of the VCSELs on a path expected to result in transmission of the light on the fiber optic line.