Fiber optic mechanical/thermal tuner and isolator
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A tuning and isolating support device comprising:
- a) a fiber optic tensioning structure having a longitudinal bore configured to receive a tunable fiber optic component and having at least opposing ends configured to rigidly attach to and along a common longitudinal axis with the tunable fiber optic component and formed of an electrically-active, mechanically-responsive material such that changes in dimension along the longitudinal axis arising from an applied voltage to the tensioning structure yield corresponding dimensional changes in the tunable fiber optic component to provide tunable adjustment of an optical frequency of the tunable fiber optic component;
b) an inner electrode located on an inner surface of the fiber optic tensioning structure;
c) an outer electrode located on an outer surface of the fiber optic tensioning structure where the inner and outer electrodes are configured to apply an electrical potential radially to the fiber optic tensioning structure; and
d) an acoustic damping material encasing at least a portion of the tensioning structure and configured to minimize environmental vibration effects on the tunable fiber optic component.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A tunable fiber optic component providing environmental isolation, thermal tuning, and mechanical tuning and a method of tuning a fiber optic component using application of substantially simultaneous varying of temperature and mechanical strain is disclosed. A method of using a tunable fiber optic component, for example, a distributed feedback fiber laser, to compensate variations in an optical system, and a method of making a tunable fiber optic component are also disclosed.
-
Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A tuning and isolating support device comprising:
-
a) a fiber optic tensioning structure having a longitudinal bore configured to receive a tunable fiber optic component and having at least opposing ends configured to rigidly attach to and along a common longitudinal axis with the tunable fiber optic component and formed of an electrically-active, mechanically-responsive material such that changes in dimension along the longitudinal axis arising from an applied voltage to the tensioning structure yield corresponding dimensional changes in the tunable fiber optic component to provide tunable adjustment of an optical frequency of the tunable fiber optic component; b) an inner electrode located on an inner surface of the fiber optic tensioning structure; c) an outer electrode located on an outer surface of the fiber optic tensioning structure where the inner and outer electrodes are configured to apply an electrical potential radially to the fiber optic tensioning structure; and d) an acoustic damping material encasing at least a portion of the tensioning structure and configured to minimize environmental vibration effects on the tunable fiber optic component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A tuning and isolating support device comprising:
-
a) a fiber optic tensioning structure having at least opposing ends configured to rigidly attach to and along a common longitudinal axis with a tunable fiber optic component and formed of an electrically-active, mechanically-responsive material such that changes in dimension along the longitudinal axis arising from an applied voltage to the tensioning structure yield corresponding dimensional changes in the fiber optic component to provide tunable adjustment of an optical frequency of the fiber optic component; b) an acoustic damping material encasing at least a portion of the tensioning structure and configured to minimize environmental vibration effects on the fiber optic component; c) a tunable fiber optic component longitudinally mounted and rigidly attached to the tensioning structure wherein the tunable fiber optic component comprises a conductive jacket used to provide electrical connection to the tensioning structure. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
-
Specification