Wavelength selectable light source

• US 6,980,572 B2
• Filed: 05/28/2003
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Original Assignee: Regents of the University of California (University of California)
• Inventors: Geske, Jonathan Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Minsun Oh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phillip
• Application Number:
  US10/446,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20030231664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 944 Days
• Field of Search: 372 14- 15
• US Class Current: 372/15
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02251 using optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/02255 using beam deflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/0687 Stabilising the frequency of the laser
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4012 Beam combining, e.g. by the use of fibres, gratings, polarisers, prisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/4087 emitting more than one wavelength
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 5/423 having a vertical cavity

Abstract

A wavelength selectable light source is comprised of a two-dimensional (2-D) array of variable wavelength vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs), wherein light beams emitted from the VCSELs are coupled into an output optical fiber. The light beams emitted from the VCSELs are collimated via a 2-D array of micro-lenses, the collimated light beams impinge upon a first fixed-position mirror that points each of the collimated light beams toward a second movable mirror located at a common focal point in a common area, and the second movable mirror redirects the collimated light beams into a lens coupled to the output optical fiber. By moving the second movable mirror, different ones of the collimated light beams can be directed into the output optical fiber, so that the second movable mirror performs a wavelength selection function.

Claims

1. A wavelength selectable light source comprised of an array of variable wavelength light emitters, wherein one of a plurality of light beams emitted from the array is selected and directed in an optical output system using a mirror system with no substantial relative motion between the array and the optical output system, and wherein the mirror system comprises a first-fixed position mirror having an array of mirrors held in fixed position that reflect the light beams to a second moveable mirror that selects and redirects one of the reflected light beams to perform wavelength selection.

2. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, wherein the array of variable wavelength light emitters comprises a two-dimensional (2-D) array.

3. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, wherein the array of variable wavelength light emitters comprises a one-dimensional (1-D) array.

4. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, wherein the light emitters comprise vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).

5. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, wherein the light emitters comprise light emitting diodes.

6. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, wherein the first fixed-position mirror redirects the light beams toward a common area where the second moveable mirror is located.

7. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, wherein different ones of the light beams are redirected to the optical output system by moving the second movable mirror, so that the second movable mirror performs wavelength selection.

8. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, wherein the fixed position mirror is an array of substantially flat mirrors.

9. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 8, wherein the array of substantially flat mirrors corresponds one-to-one with the light emitters.

10. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 9, wherein each element of the array of substantially flat mirrors is substantially centered along a surface-normal central axis of each light emitter.

11. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 8, wherein the array of substantially flat mirrors corresponds one-to-many with the light emitters.

12. The wavelength selectable light source claim 11, wherein each element of the army of substantially flat mirrors is substantially centered along a surface-normal central axis of a cluster of light emitters.

13. The wavelength selectable light source claim 8, wherein the array of substantially flat mirrors deflects the beams to a common area without substantially affecting the shape of the beams.

15. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, wherein the second movable mirror comprises one or more micro-electro-mechanical (MEMs) mirrors.

16. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, wherein the mirror system comprises a first fixed-position mirror and the first fixed-position mirror redirects the light beams toward a common area where the output optical system is located.

17. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, wherein each of the light beams emitted from the array are shaped via a corresponding micro-lens.

18. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, wherein the optical output system comprises an optical output fiber.

19. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 18, wherein a lens is coupled to optical output fiber.

20. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 1, further comprising an optical pump for generating an optical pump beam that is delivered to one or more of the light emitters corresponding to a desired wavelength by following a reciprocal optical path.

21. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 20, wherein the optical pump beam is directed by the mirror system towards the light emitters.

22. The wavelength selectable light source of claim 20, wherein the optical pump beam is focused by a micro-lens into an active region of the light emitters.

14. A wavelength selectable light source comprised of an array of variable wavelength light emitters, wherein one of a plurality of light beams emitted from the array is selected and directed to an optical output system using a mirror system with no substantial relative motion between the array and the optical output system, the mirror system comprises a first fixed-position mirror and a second moveable mirror, and the first fixed position mirror is substantially parabolic in shape with the light beams aligned substantially parallel to an axis of the fixed position mirror.

23. A method of operating a wavelength selectable light source, comprising:

emitting a plurality of light beams from an array of variable wavelength light emitters;

selecting one of the light beams emitted from the array; and

directing the selected light beam to an optical output system using a mirror system with no substantial relative motion between the array and the optical output system,

wherein the mirror system comprises an array of mirrors held in a fixed position that reflect the light beams to a moveable mirror that selects and redirects one of the reflected light beams to perform wavelength selection.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the array of variable wavelength light emitters comprises a two-dimensional (2-D)-array.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the array of variable wavelength light emitters comprises a one-dimensional (1-D) array.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the light emitters comprise vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers (VCSELs).

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the light emitters comprise light emitting diodes.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein the first fixed-position mirror redirects the light beams toward a common area where the second moveable mirror is located.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein different ones of the light beams are redirected to the optical output system by moving the second movable mirror, so that the second movable mirror performs wavelength selection.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein the fixed position mirror is an array of substantially flat mirrors.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the array of substantially flat mirrors corresponds one-to-one with the light emitters.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein each element of the array of substantially flat mirrors is substantially centered along a surface-normal central axis of each light emitter.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the array of substantially flat mirrors corresponds one-to-many with the light emitters.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein each element of the array of substantially flat mirrors is substantially centered along a surface-normal central axis of a cluster of light emitters.

35. The method of claim 30, wherein the array of substantially flat mirrors deflects the beams to a common area without substantially affecting the shape of the beams.

37. The method of claim 23, wherein the second movable mirror comprises one or more micro-electro-mechanical (MEMs) mirrors.

38. The method of claim 23, wherein the mirror system comprises a first fixed-position mirror and the first fixed-position mirror redirects the light beams toward a common area where the output optical system resides.

39. The method of claim 23, wherein each of the light beams emitted from the array are shaped via a corresponding micro-lens.

40. The method of claim 23, wherein the optical output system comprises an optical output fiber.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein a lens is coupled to optical output fiber.

42. The method of claim 23, further comprising generating an optical pump beam at an optical pump, wherein the optical pump beam is delivered to one or more of the light emitters corresponding to a desired wavelength by following a reciprocal optical path.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the optical pump beam is directed by the mirror system cowards the light emitters.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the optical pump beam is focused by a micro-lens into an active region of the light emitter.

36. A method of operating a wavelength selectable light source, comprising:

emitting a plurality of light beams from an array of variable wavelength light emitters;

selecting one of the light beams emitted from the array; and

directing the selected light beam to an optical output system using a mirror system with no substantial relative motion between the array and the optical output system,

wherein the mirror system comprises a first fixed-position mirror and a second moveable mirror, and the first fixed position mirror is substantially parabolic in shape with the light beams aligned substantially parallel to an axis of the fixed position mirror.