ASE swept source with self-tracking filter for OCT medical imaging
First Claim
1. An optical coherence analysis system, comprising:
- a swept source including a tunable filter for spectrally filtering light from a broadband source, which generates a broadband optical signal, to generate a tunable optical signal that is spectrally tuned over a scanband and an optical amplifier for amplifying the tunable optical signal with the amplified tunable optical signal being returned to be again filtered by the tunable filter while preventing lasing and formation of a resonator; and
an interferometer for dividing the amplified tunable optical signal between a reference arm and a sample arm and generating an interference signal by combining the optical signal from the reference arm and the sample arm; and
a detector system for detecting the interference signal.
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Abstract
An integrated swept wavelength tunable optical source uses a narrowband filtered broadband signal with an optical amplifier and self-tracking filter. This source comprises a micro optical bench, a source for generating broadband light, a tunable Fabry Perot filter, installed on the bench, for spectrally filtering the broadband light from the broadband source to generate a narrowband tunable signal, an amplifier, installed on the bench, for amplifying the tunable signal. The self-tracking arrangement is used where a single tunable filter both generates the narrowband signal and spectrally filters the amplified signal. In some examples, two-stage amplification is provided. The use of a single bench implementation yields a low cost high performance system. For example, polarization control between components is no longer necessary.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. An optical coherence analysis system, comprising:
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a swept source including a tunable filter for spectrally filtering light from a broadband source, which generates a broadband optical signal, to generate a tunable optical signal that is spectrally tuned over a scanband and an optical amplifier for amplifying the tunable optical signal with the amplified tunable optical signal being returned to be again filtered by the tunable filter while preventing lasing and formation of a resonator; and an interferometer for dividing the amplified tunable optical signal between a reference arm and a sample arm and generating an interference signal by combining the optical signal from the reference arm and the sample arm; and a detector system for detecting the interference signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method for generating a tunable optical signal, comprising:
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spectrally filtering a broadband optical signal of a broadband source to generate a tunable optical signal with a tunable filter that is spectrally tuned over a scanband; amplifying the tunable optical signal to generate an amplified tunable optical signal; spectrally filtering the amplified tunable optical signal again with the same tunable filter while preventing lasing and formation of a resonator; sending the filtered amplified tunable optical signal to an interferometer, which generates an interference signal; and detecting the interference signal. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification