Temperature tuning the wavelength of a semiconductor laser using a variable thermal impedance
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for tuning a wavelength of a semiconductor laser comprising:
- a semiconductor laser, wherein a wavelength of an optical beam produced by the semiconductor laser varies as a function of a temperature of the semiconductor laser;
an adjustable heat sink thermally coupled to the semiconductor laser, the heat sink having an adjustable thermal impedance, wherein a temperature of laser varies according to θ
Δ
W+Δ
T, wherein θ
is the thermal impedance of the heat sink and Δ
W is change in power consumption and Δ
T is change in temperature of the heat sink, and for substantially constant temperature of the heat sink, the temperature of the laser is adjustable by adjusting θ
, the heat sink comprisinga first heat sink portion thermally coupled to the semiconductor laser; and
a second heat sink portion capable of being switchably thermally coupled or decoupled to the first heat sink portion; and
a controller for adjusting the thermal impedance of the heat sink by adjusting a duty cycle of the thermal coupling of the second heat sink portion to the first heat sink portion to maintain the wavelength of the optical beam at a given wavelength.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is described in which the temperature of a semiconductor laser (or other device) can be set to a desired value by using the heat generated by the laser itself in conjunction with an adjustable thermal impedance heat sink to effect the desired temperature rise.
8 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An apparatus for tuning a wavelength of a semiconductor laser comprising:
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a semiconductor laser, wherein a wavelength of an optical beam produced by the semiconductor laser varies as a function of a temperature of the semiconductor laser; an adjustable heat sink thermally coupled to the semiconductor laser, the heat sink having an adjustable thermal impedance, wherein a temperature of laser varies according to θ
Δ
W+Δ
T, wherein θ
is the thermal impedance of the heat sink and Δ
W is change in power consumption and Δ
T is change in temperature of the heat sink, and for substantially constant temperature of the heat sink, the temperature of the laser is adjustable by adjusting θ
, the heat sink comprisinga first heat sink portion thermally coupled to the semiconductor laser; and a second heat sink portion capable of being switchably thermally coupled or decoupled to the first heat sink portion; and a controller for adjusting the thermal impedance of the heat sink by adjusting a duty cycle of the thermal coupling of the second heat sink portion to the first heat sink portion to maintain the wavelength of the optical beam at a given wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22)
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11. An apparatus for tuning a wavelength of a semiconductor laser comprising:
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a semiconductor laser, wherein a wavelength of an optical beam produced by the semiconductor laser varies as a function of a temperature of the semiconductor laser; a heat sink thermally coupled to the semiconductor laser, the heat sink comprising a first heat sink portion thermally coupled to the semiconductor laser; a second heat sink portion capable of being switchably thermally coupled or decoupled to the first heat sink portion; and an actuator for making and breaking mechanical contact between the first heat sink portion and the second heat sink portion, thereby switchably thermally coupling and decoupling the first heat sink portion and the second heat sink portion; a controller for adjusting the thermal impedance of the heat sink by adjusting a duty cycle of the thermal coupling of the second heat sink portion to the first heat sink portion to maintain the wavelength of the optical beam at a given wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for tuning a wavelength of a semiconductor laser comprising:
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a semiconductor laser, wherein a wavelength of an optical beam produced by the semiconductor laser varies as a function of a temperature of the semiconductor laser; a heat sink thermally coupled to the semiconductor laser, the heat sink comprising a first heat sink portion thermally coupled to the semiconductor laser; and a second heat sink portion in thermal contact with the first heat sink portion, wherein an area of the thermal contact is adjustable over a range of areas; and a controller for adjusting the thermal impedance of the heat sink to maintain the wavelength of the optical beam at a given wavelength, and wherein the controller adjusts the thermal impedance of the heat sink by adjusting the area of the thermal contact. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for tuning a wavelength of a semiconductor laser comprising:
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a semiconductor laser, wherein a wavelength of an optical beam produced by the semiconductor laser varies as a function of a temperature of the semiconductor laser; a heat sink having an adjustable thermal impedance, the heat sink comprising a second heat sink portion; and a first heat sink portion thermally coupling the semiconductor laser to the second heat sink portion, wherein the first heat sink portion is otherwise thermally insulated by glass partially filled with air; and a controller for adjusting the thermal impedance of the heat sink to maintain the wavelength of the optical beam at a given wavelength.
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19. An apparatus for tuning a wavelength of a semiconductor laser comprising:
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a semiconductor laser, wherein a wavelength of an optical beam produced by the semiconductor laser varies as a function of a temperature of the semiconductor laser; a heat sink having an adjustable thermal impedance, the heat sink comprising a first heat sink portion thermally coupled to the semiconductor laser, wherein the first heat sink portion is part of an integrated assembly also comprising conductive traces for making electrical connection to the semiconductor laser; and a second heat sink portion capable of being adjustably thermally coupled to the first heat sink portion; and a controller for adjusting the thermal impedance of the heat sink to maintain the wavelength of the optical beam at a given wavelength. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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23. An apparatus for controlling a temperature of a semiconductor laser comprising:
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a semiconductor laser; an adjustable heat sink thermally coupled to the semiconductor laser, the heat sink having an adjustable thermal impedance, wherein a temperature of laser varies according to θ
Δ
W+Δ
T, wherein θ
is the thermal impedance of the heat sink and Δ
W is the change in power consumption and Δ
T is change in temperature of the heat sink, and for substantially constant temperature of the heat sink, the temperature of the laser is adjustable by adjusting θ
, the heat sink comprisinga first heat sink portion thermally coupled to the semiconductor laser, and a second heat sink portion capable of being switchably thermally coupled or decoupled to the first heat sink portion; and a controller for adjusting the thermal impedance of the heat sink by adjusting a duty cycle of the thermal coupling of the second heat sink portion to the first heat sink portion to maintain the temperature of the semiconductor laser at a given temperature. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification