Frequency Patents (Class 372/32)
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Patent number: 9083145Abstract: A system and method that can be employed to lock and scan the output of a laser cavity (2) is described. The system and method involves the use of a signal generator for generating an error signal between an output of the laser cavity (28) and the transmission (28) of the laser through a tunable external reference cavity (3). A dual piezo-actuated mirror (6b) permits processing of the error signal (26) with separate signal processing circuits (29a, 29b) used to provide an electrical feedback signal to the two piezo-electric crystals (22, 23b). When incorporated within a laser cavity the described system and methodology can be used to lock and scan the output of the laser cavity while providing the laser output with a reduced linewidth.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: M SQUARED LASERS LIMITEDInventor: William Miller
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Patent number: 9060691Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a noninvasive constituent concentration measuring apparatus and constituent concentration measuring apparatus controlling method, in which accurate measurement can be performed by superimposing two photoacoustic signals having the same frequency and reverse phases to nullify the effect from the other constituent occupying large part of the object to be measured. The constituent concentration measuring apparatus according to the invention includes light generating means for generating two light beams having different wavelengths, modulation means for electrically intensity-modulating each of the two light beams having different wavelengths using signals having the same frequency and reverse phases, light outgoing means for outputting the two intensity-modulated light beams having different wavelengths toward a test subject, and acoustic wave detection means for detecting an acoustic wave generated in the test subject by the outputted light.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: NIPPON TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE CORPORATIONInventors: Kazunori Naganuma, Takuro Tajima, Yuichi Okabe, Shoichi Sudo
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Publication number: 20150146282Abstract: Wavelength-selective external resonators can be used to greatly increase the output brightness of dense wavelength beam combining (DWBC) system beams by stabilizing the wavelengths of the beams emitted by the individual emitters of the DWBC laser source. The present invention pertains to external resonant cavities that utilize thin-film filtering elements as wavelength-selective elements in external resonators. The present invention further pertains to particular embodiments that utilize thin-film filtering elements in DWBC systems as both output beam coupling elements and wavelength selective elements. The present invention provides advantages over the prior art that include decreased cost, increased fidelity of wavelength selection, and increased wall plug efficiency.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2013Publication date: May 28, 2015Inventors: Rudolf Huber, Hagen Zimer, Alexander Killi, Christoph Tillkorn, Steffen Ried
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Patent number: 9042415Abstract: A method to tune an emission wavelength of a laser diode (LD) finely is disclosed. The method first controls a temperature of the etalon filter in T1 or T2, where the transmittance of the etalon filter becomes 40 to 50%, assuming a height between the peak and the bottom of the periodic transmittance to be 100%, at the grid wavelength ?1 or ?2, respectively. Then, the temperature of the LD is adjusted such that the intensity of light emitted from the LD and transmitted through the etalon filter becomes 40 to 50%.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2013Date of Patent: May 26, 2015Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventor: Eiichi Banno
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Publication number: 20150131686Abstract: A hybrid external cavity laser and a method for configuring the laser having a stabilized wavelength is disclosed. The laser comprises a semiconductor gain section and a volume Bragg grating, wherein a laser emission from the semiconductor gain section is based on a combination of a reflectivity of a front facet of the semiconductor gain section and a reflectivity of the volume Bragg grating and the reflectivity of the semiconductor gain section and the volume Bragg grating are insufficient by themselves to support the laser emission. The hybrid cavity laser further comprises an etalon that provides further wavelength stability.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 3, 2013Publication date: May 14, 2015Inventors: John C. Connolly, Donald E. Ackley, Scott L. Rudder, Harald R. Guenther
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Patent number: 9005261Abstract: A therapeutic laser with a source of pulsed electromagnetic radiation, a control device for controlling the intensity and/or the duration of the therapeutic laser applied to the tissue, and a detection device for detecting optoacoustic signals triggered by irradiating the living tissue with the pulsed electromagnetic radiation. The therapeutic laser is characterized by an evaluation device that acts on the control device and is used for calculating a degree of quality B(t) from the optoacoustic signals detected by the detection device for individual laser pulses applied to a predetermined laser spot and determining a fit function f(t) at a predetermined point in time ?t1, the fit function f(t) approximating the mean curve of B(t) for 0?t??t1. The intensity and/or the irradiation time of the therapeutic laser is defined by the parameters for the predetermined laser spot, the parameters being determined for the fit function f(t).Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2008Date of Patent: April 14, 2015Assignee: Medizinisches Laserzentrum Luebech GmbHInventor: Ralf Brinkmann
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Publication number: 20150092801Abstract: A method of controlling beam quality and stability of a laser apparatus, the laser apparatus comprising, a diode laser (10) providing first radiation of at least a first wavelength, and a frequency conversion unit (12) configured to frequency-convert the first radiation from the diode laser and to output the frequency-converted radiation (213), the frequency-converted radiation having at least a second wavelength different from the first wavelength, the diode laser (10) comprising at least a first and a second section (222,223), a first contact (220) for injecting a first current (I1) into the first section (222), a second contact (221) for injecting a second current (I2) into the second section (223), and means for controlling a temperature of the diode laser; wherein the method comprises monitoring a first parameter indicative of the power content of a dominant lobe of the first radiation; iteratively determining a combination of respective values of the first current, the second current and the temperatureType: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2012Publication date: April 2, 2015Inventors: Ole Bjarlin Jensen, Peter Eskil Andersen, Paul Michael Petersen, André Müller
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Patent number: 8995482Abstract: A high energy semiconductor laser capable of high optical efficiency includes a master oscillator coupled to a plurality of slave oscillators, each producing a laser beam that is substantially at the same wavelength as the output beam from the master oscillator. The outputs of the slave oscillators are then coherently combined to a single monochromatic beam having an optical power which is substantially greater than that of beam output from the master oscillator. The slave oscillators can be configured as ring resonators. A suitable ring oscillator can be built by arranging one or more semiconductor diode laser gain media, two or more reflecting mirrors, and at least one semireflective mirror in a ring configuration. A suitable ring oscillator can also be built by machining a solid block to include one or more semiconductor diode laser high gain regions.Type: GrantFiled: November 3, 2010Date of Patent: March 31, 2015Inventors: Peter Moshchansky-Livingston, Richard A. Hutchin
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Patent number: 8982450Abstract: Feedback loops can be used to shift and stabilize the carrier-envelope phase of a frequency comb from a mode-locked fibers laser or other optical source. Compared to other frequency shifting and stabilization techniques, feedback-based techniques provide a wideband closed-loop servo bandwidth without optical filtering, beam pointing errors, or group velocity dispersion. It also enables phase locking to a stable reference, such as a Ti:Sapphire laser, continuous-wave microwave or optical source, or self-referencing interferometer, e.g., to within 200 mrad rms from DC to 5 MHz. In addition, stabilized frequency combs can be coherently combined with other stable signals, including other stabilized frequency combs, to synthesize optical pulse trains with pulse durations of as little as a single optical cycle. Such a coherent combination can be achieved via orthogonal control, using balanced optical cross-correlation for timing stabilization and balanced homodyne detection for phase stabilization.Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2014Date of Patent: March 17, 2015Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of TechnologyInventors: Jonathan A. Cox, Franz X. Kaertner
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Publication number: 20150070707Abstract: One embodiment is directed towards a stabilized laser including a laser to produce light at a frequency and a resonator coupled to the laser such that the light from the laser circulates therethrough. The laser also includes Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) feedback electronics configured to adjust the frequency of the light from the laser to reduce phase noise in response to light sensed at the reflection port of the resonator and transmission port feedback electronics configured to adjust the frequency of the light from the laser toward resonance of the resonator at the transmission port in response to the light sensed at the transmission port of the resonator, wherein the transmission port feedback electronics adjust the frequency at a rate at least ten times slower than the PDH feedback electronics.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2014Publication date: March 12, 2015Inventors: Lee K. Strandjord, Tiequn Qiu, Glen A. Sanders
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Patent number: 8976822Abstract: Opto-electronic oscillator (OEO) devices include an optical resonator filter to block the strong laser light at the laser carrier frequency from entering the optical resonator filter and to select one of the weak modulation sidebands, which is in resonance with the optical resonator filter, to be coupled into the optical resonator filter. The laser light at the laser carrier frequency and other modulation sidebands bypass the optical resonator filter to reach a fast photodetector. The laser light in the selected modulation sideband in the optical resonator filter is then coupled out to mix with the laser light at the laser carrier frequency and other modulation sidebands at the fast photodetector to produce the detector output as the input to the electrical part of the opto-electronic loop to produce the OEO oscillation.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: March 10, 2015Assignee: OEwaves, Inc.Inventors: Lute Maleki, David Seidel, Vladimir Ilchenko, Danny Eliyahu, Anatoliy Savchenkov, Andrey Matsko
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Patent number: 8958446Abstract: A method for determining stabilization of a light output signal employed by a laser frequency stabilizing device which irradiates laser light on an absorption cell to obtain the light output signal and, based on a saturated absorption line contained in the light output signal, changes a resonator length to stabilize an oscillation frequency of the laser light to a specific saturated absorption line. The laser frequency stabilizing device includes a conversion mechanism converting the laser light that passes through the absorption cell into the light output signal, an actuator changing the resonator length, and a control mechanism controlling operation of the actuator. The method for determining stabilization includes a signal analysis step analyzing the light output signal and a stabilization determination step determining whether the light output signal is stabilized based on an analysis result from the signal analysis step, executed by the control mechanism.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2012Date of Patent: February 17, 2015Assignee: Mitutoyo CorporationInventor: Koichi Hirose
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Patent number: 8923352Abstract: One embodiment is directed towards a stabilized laser including a laser to produce light at a frequency and a resonator coupled to the laser such that the light from the laser circulates therethrough. The laser also includes Pound-Drever-Hall (PDH) feedback electronics configured to adjust the frequency of the light from the laser to reduce phase noise in response to light sensed at the reflection port of the resonator and transmission port feedback electronics configured to adjust the frequency of the light from the laser toward resonance of the resonator at the transmission port in response to the light sensed at the transmission port of the resonator, wherein the transmission port feedback electronics adjust the frequency at a rate at least ten times slower than the PDH feedback electronics.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2012Date of Patent: December 30, 2014Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Lee K. Strandjord, Tiequn Qiu, Glen A. Sanders
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Patent number: 8917986Abstract: A optical transmission system includes light sources generating light of at least two wavelengths, where any two adjacent wavelengths are separated by less than 10 nm. The wavelengths fall within the zero dispersion zone of an optical fiber, and may be shifted by 1 nm or less to reduce crosstalk effects.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2007Date of Patent: December 23, 2014Assignee: ARRIS Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Venk Mutalik, Marcel F. Schemmann, Long Zou, Zhijian Sun
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Patent number: 8897326Abstract: In a method, a gain medium is provided having an absorption coefficient that varies with wavelength. An absorption coefficient curve of the absorption coefficient or a range of wavelengths comprises peaks and valleys. A pump module is operated to output pump energy at an operating wavelength within one of the valleys, at which the absorption coefficient is approximately less than 40% of the absorption coefficient at an adjacent peak of the absorption coefficient curve defining the valley. The pump energy is directed through the gain medium. A portion of the pump energy is absorbed with the gain medium and laser light is emitted from the gain medium responsive to the absorbed pump energy. The non-absorbed pump energy (feedback pump energy) is fed back to the pump module. The operating wavelength of the pump energy is stabilized using the feedback pump energy.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2009Date of Patent: November 25, 2014Assignee: AMS Research CorporationInventors: Edward D. Reed, Jr., Raymond Adam Nemeyer
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Patent number: 8885678Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention use an external cavity laser source with dual input terminals, such as bias current for a gain section, and a voltage signal for a modulator section. An aspect of the present invention provides an ultra-low frequency noise external cavity frequency modulated (FM) semiconductor laser source frequency stabilized by a dual electronic feedback circuitry applied to semiconductor gain section and a modulation section. A further aspect of the present invention provides an optical frequency discriminator based on homodyne phase demodulation using an unbalanced Michelson interferometer with fiber optics delay and a symmetrical 3×3 optical coupler.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2013Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: Redfern Integrated Optics, Inc.Inventor: Vladimir Kupershmidt
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Patent number: 8885675Abstract: Provided is a wavelength variable laser device wherein an SOA is simplified. The wavelength variable laser device includes: an optical filter formed on a PLC; an SOA that supplies light to the optical filter; a light reflecting section that returns the light transmitted through the optical filter to the SOA via the optical filter; optical waveguides which are formed on the PLC and connect the SOA, the optical filter, and the light reflecting section; a wavelength variable section that changes a wavelength of the light transmitting through the optical filter; and a phase variable section that changes a phase of the light propagated on the optical waveguides.Type: GrantFiled: March 6, 2009Date of Patent: November 11, 2014Assignee: NEC CorporationInventor: Hiroyuki Yamazaki
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Patent number: 8879590Abstract: A laser source assembly for providing an assembly output beam includes a first MIR laser source, a second MIR laser source, and a beam combiner. The first MIR laser source emits a first MIR beam that is in the MIR range and the second MIR laser source emits a second MIR beam that is in the MIR range. Further, the beam combiner spatially combines the first MIR beam and the second MIR beam to provide the assembly output beam. With this design, a plurality MIR laser sources can be packaged in a portable, common module, each of the MIR laser sources generates a narrow linewidth, accurately settable MIR beam, and the MIR beams are combined to create a multiple watt assembly output beam having the desired power.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2012Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: Daylight Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Michael Pushkarsky, Timothy Day, David F. Arnone
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Patent number: 8879588Abstract: A method and device are provided for fast, continuous tuning of an optical source. A first pump signal with a first pump frequency is input into a mixer along with a first seed signal having a first seed frequency. Within the mixer, the first pump signal and the first seed signal generate at least one idler having an idler frequency defined as two times the pump frequency minus the seed frequency. Shifting the pump signal across a frequency range at a sweep rate causes the idler frequency to be shifted by two times the frequency range at two times the sweep rate. The shifted at least one idler is mixed with the shifted pump signal to generate a first mix product that has two times the sweep rate and frequency range of the pump signal.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2011Date of Patent: November 4, 2014Assignee: The Regents of the University of CaliforniaInventor: Stojan Radic
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Publication number: 20140321487Abstract: Embodiments of an ultra-stable frequency reference generating system and methods for generating an ultra-stable frequency reference using a two-photon Rubidium transition are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a cavity-stabilized reference laser comprising a laser source is locked to a stabilized cavity. A Rubidium cell is interrogated by a stabilized laser output to cause at least a two-photon Rubidium transition and a detector may detect fluorescence resulting from spontaneous decay of the upper state Rubidium transition. The output of the detector is provided at a wavelength of the fluorescence to lock the cavity-stabilized reference laser to generate a stabilized laser output. A frequency comb stabilizer may be locked to the stabilized laser output to generate a super-continuum of optical wavelengths for use in generating an ultra-stable frequency reference.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 14, 2014Publication date: October 30, 2014Inventors: Steven R. Wilkinson, Todd O. Clatterbuck, Matthew T. Cashen, Gabriel N. Price, Jeffrey L. Sabala
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Patent number: 8873594Abstract: A modular ultrafast pulse laser system is constructed of individually pre-tested components manufactured as modules. The individual modules include an oscillator, pre-amplifier and power amplifier stages, a non-linear amplifier, and a stretcher and compressor. The individual modules can typically be connected by means of simple fiber splices.Type: GrantFiled: April 6, 2010Date of Patent: October 28, 2014Assignee: IMRA America, Inc.Inventors: Zhenlin Liu, Gyu Choen Cho, Xinhua Gu, Otho E. Ulrich, Jr., Donald J. Harter
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Patent number: 8867586Abstract: A diode laser is provided with wavelength stabilization and vertical collimation of the emitted radiation, which allows a small distance of the volume Bragg grating from the emitting surface, a small vertical diameter of the collimated beam and also compensation for manufacturing tolerances affecting the shape of the grating and the lens. The diode laser comprises an external frequency-selective element for wavelength stabilization of the laser radiation, wherein the external frequency-selective element comprises an entry surface facing the exit facet and an exit surface facing away from the exit facet and is designed as a volume Bragg grating; and wherein the external frequency-selective element is designed in such a manner that the divergence of the radiation emitting from the exit facet is reduced during passage through the external frequency-selective element.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Forschungsverbund Berlin E.V.Inventor: Bernd Eppich
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Patent number: 8867579Abstract: A laser device (100) includes a laser (110; 210; 310; 410; 510) in turn including at least one Distributed Bragg Reflector (DBR) section (111), at least one phase section (112) and at least one gain section (113), further including a laser control element (150), a feedback control element (140) and a frequency noise discriminator (130,131), which feedback control element is arranged to feed a variable feedback signal to at least one of the at least one DBR section and the at least one phase section of the laser, so that the output laser frequency is altered in response to a variation in the feedback signal or the combination of respective feedback signals, whereby the feedback signal or combination of respective feedback signals is varied as a function of the detected frequency fluctuation so as to counteract the detected frequency fluctuation.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Finisar Sweden ABInventors: Edgard Goobar, Urban Eriksson, Jan-Olof Wesstrom
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Patent number: 8848752Abstract: Signal generating systems and methods are described. One signal generation system includes first and second lasers configured to generate first and second laser beams having respective frequencies wherein a difference in the respective frequencies corresponds to an output frequency, a photodetector configured to produce a signal at the output frequency, and first and second electro-optic modulators configured to respectively electro-optically modulate the first and second laser beams using the signal to produce respective first and second modulated optical signals, each of the first and second modulated optical signals having a respective sideband corresponding to the frequency of the other one of the first and second laser beams. The first laser is seeded with the respective sideband of the second modulated optical signal and the second laser is seeded with the respective sideband of the first modulated optical signal to phase-lock the first and second laser beams to each other.Type: GrantFiled: January 18, 2012Date of Patent: September 30, 2014Assignee: Phase Sensitive Innovations, Inc.Inventors: Dennis W. Prather, Garrett Schneider, Janusz Murakowski
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Patent number: 8842704Abstract: An RF power-supply for driving a carbon dioxide CO2 gas-discharge laser includes a plurality of power-oscillators phase-locked to a common reference oscillator. Outputs of the phase-locked power-oscillators are combined by a power combiner for delivery, via an impedance matching network, to discharge-electrodes of the laser. In one example the powers are analog power-oscillators. In another example, the power-oscillators are digital power-oscillators.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2011Date of Patent: September 23, 2014Assignee: Coherent, Inc.Inventors: David P. Schmelzer, W. Shef Robotham, Jr., Frederick W. Hauer, Joel Fontanella
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Patent number: 8831056Abstract: Techniques and devices based on optical resonators made of nonlinear optical materials and nonlinear wave mixing to generate optical combs that are stabilized relative to an atomic reference.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2012Date of Patent: September 9, 2014Assignee: OEwaves, Inc.Inventors: Anatoliy A. Savchenkov, Lute Maleki, Andrey B. Matsko, David Seidel
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Patent number: 8811436Abstract: A laser apparatus may include a master oscillator configured to output a laser beam, at least one amplifier disposed in a beam path of the laser beam from the master oscillator, at least one power source for applying a high-frequency voltage to the at least one amplifier, and a controller for varying the high-frequency voltage to be applied to the at least one amplifier from the at least one power source.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2012Date of Patent: August 19, 2014Assignee: Gigaphoton IncInventors: Kenichi Miyao, Motoki Niwano, Osamu Wakabayashi
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Publication number: 20140226686Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide a direct indication of the presence and concentration of an analyte within the external cavity of a laser device that employ the compliance voltage across the laser device. The systems can provide stabilization of the laser wavelength. The systems and methods can obviate the need for an external optical detector, an external gas cell, or other sensing region and reduce the complexity and size of the sensing configuration.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 13, 2014Publication date: August 14, 2014Applicant: BATTELLE MEMORIAL INSTITUTEInventors: Matthew S. Taubman, Mark C. Phillips
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Patent number: 8804231Abstract: Techniques, devices and systems that stabilize an RF oscillator by using an optical resonator that is stabilized relative to a master RF oscillator with acceptable frequency stability performance. In the examples described, the optical resonator is stabilized relative to the master RF oscillator by using a frequency stability indicator based on two different optical modes of the optical resonator. The RF oscillator to be stabilized is then locked to the stabilized optical resonator to achieve the acceptable RF stability in the RF oscillator.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2012Date of Patent: August 12, 2014Assignee: OEwaves, Inc.Inventors: Anatoliy A. Savchenkov, Andrey B. Matsko, Lute Maleki, David Seidel, Vladimir S. Ilchenko
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Patent number: 8798468Abstract: A laser system includes an array of lasers that emit light at a number of different, fixed wavelengths. A group of optical transport systems connect to the laser system. Each of the optical transport systems is configured to modulate data signals onto the light from the laser system to create optical signals and transmit the optical signals on one or more optical fibers.Type: GrantFiled: November 27, 2013Date of Patent: August 5, 2014Assignee: Juniper Networks, Inc.Inventor: Pradeep Sindhu
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Patent number: 8792524Abstract: This invention relates to opto-electronic systems using semiconductor lasers driven by optical phase-locked loops that control the laser's optical phase and frequency. Feedback control provides a means for precise, wideband control of optical frequency and phase, augmented further by four wave mixing stages and digitally stitched independent optical waveforms for enhanced tunability.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignees: Telaris Inc., California Institute of TechnologyInventors: George Rakuljic, Naresh Satyan, Arseny Vasilyev, Amnon Yariv
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Patent number: 8792792Abstract: [PROBLEM] Providing an optical source that outputs optical frequency modulated light having a constant output optical intensity. [MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM] Provided is a light source apparatus that outputs an optical signal having an optical frequency corresponding to a frequency control signal, the light source apparatus including a laser light source section that outputs laser light having an optical frequency corresponding to the frequency control signal; and an optical intensity adjusting section that compensates for intensity change of the laser light to output laser light in which the intensity change caused by a change in the optical frequency is restricted.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2011Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignee: Advantest CorporationInventors: Shin Masuda, Kazunori Shiota
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Patent number: 8792525Abstract: Compact optical frequency sources are described. The comb source may include an intra-cavity optical element having a multi-material integrated structure with an electrically controllable active region. The active region may comprise a thin film. By way of example, the thin film and an insulating dielectric material disposed between two electrodes can provide for rapid loss modulation. In some embodiments the thin film may comprise graphene. In various embodiments of a frequency comb laser, rapid modulation of the CEO frequency can be implemented via electric modulation of the transmission or reflection loss of an additional optical element, which can be the saturable absorber itself. In another embodiment, the thin film can also be used as a saturable absorber in order to facilitate passive modelocking. In some implementations the optical element may be formed on a cleaved or polished end of an optical fiber.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2012Date of Patent: July 29, 2014Assignees: The Regents of the University of Colorado, a body corporate, Imra America, Inc.Inventors: Martin E. Fermann, Thomas R. Schibli, Ingmar Hartl
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Patent number: 8787412Abstract: Method for calibrating and tuning a part wise monotonically, continuously tunable semiconductor laser having a phase section and a first Bragg reflector section, through which sections a phase current and a first reflector current, respectively, are applied, which laser is not actively cooled, includes a) a calibration step, including obtaining at least two tuning lines along which tuning lines all combinations of phase and Bragg currents are stable operating points, identifying at least one reference stable operating point along a first one of the identified tuning lines at which operating point the laser emits light at a certain reference frequency, and storing at least one reference stable operating point; and b) a subsequent tuning step, during which the output frequency of the laser in relation to the reference frequency is controlled to a desired output frequency by translating the operating point of the laser along the first tuning line.Type: GrantFiled: October 5, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Syntune ABInventors: Urban Eriksson, Robert Lewén, Jan-Olof Wesström, Filip Öhman
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Patent number: 8786924Abstract: A system includes a light source and a grating cube. The grating cube includes a transmission volume holographic grating positioned between two prisms. The transmission volume holographic grating diffracts part of a light source emission toward a reflective surface, producing diffracted light. At least some of the diffracted light is reflected off of the reflective surface, producing feedback light. The feedback light is fed back to the light source, thereby causing the light source emission to have the same wavelength as the feedback light.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2011Date of Patent: July 22, 2014Assignee: Wasatch Photonics, Inc.Inventor: Gerald Lee Heidt
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Patent number: 8780948Abstract: Embodiments of an ultra-stable frequency reference generating system and methods for generating an ultra-stable frequency reference using a two-photon Rubidium transition are generally described herein. In some embodiments, a cavity-stabilized reference laser comprising a laser source is locked to a stabilized cavity. A Rubidium cell is interrogated by a stabilized laser output to cause at least a two-photon Rubidium transition and a detector may detect fluorescence resulting from spontaneous decay of the upper state Rubidium transition. The output of the detector is provided at a wavelength of the fluorescence to lock the cavity-stabilized reference laser to generate a stabilized laser output. A frequency comb stabilizer may be locked to the stabilized laser output to generate a super-continuum of optical wavelengths for use in generating an ultra-stable frequency reference.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 2012Date of Patent: July 15, 2014Assignee: Raytheon CompanyInventors: Steven R. Wilkinson, Todd O. Clatterbuck, Matthew T. Cashen, Gabriel N. Price, Jeffrey L. Sabala
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Publication number: 20140192830Abstract: There is discussed an optical system comprising a laser device that outputs a divergent light beam. A first portion of the divergent light beam, including a central portion, passes through an etalon device, which acts as a wavelength discriminator, and then the central portion is incident on a first monitor photodiode, which generates a wavelength-dependent detection signal. A second portion of the divergent light beam is incident on a second monitor photodetector, without passing through the etalon device, to generate a wavelength-independent detection signal. A processor processes the wavelength-dependent detection signal and the wavelength-independent detection signal to determine a control signal for controlling the wavelength of the laser device. By accurately positioning a photodetector at the central fringe of the divergent light beam following transmission through the etalon device, a compact and cost-effective wavelength locking arrangement is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: Emcore CorporationInventors: Henry A. Blauvelt, Kerry Vahala
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Publication number: 20140185635Abstract: Feedback loops can be used to shift and stabilize the carrier-envelope phase of a frequency comb from a mode-locked fibers laser or other optical source. Compared to other frequency shifting and stabilization techniques, feedback-based techniques provide a wideband closed-loop servo bandwidth without optical filtering, beam pointing errors, or group velocity dispersion. It also enables phase locking to a stable reference, such as a Ti:Sapphire laser, continuous-wave microwave or optical source, or self-referencing interferometer, e.g., to within 200 mrad rms from DC to 5 MHz. In addition, stabilized frequency combs can be coherently combined with other stable signals, including other stabilized frequency combs, to synthesize optical pulse trains with pulse durations of as little as a single optical cycle. Such a coherent combination can be achieved via orthogonal control, using balanced optical cross-correlation for timing stabilization and balanced homodyne detection for phase stabilization.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2014Publication date: July 3, 2014Inventors: Jonathan A. COX, Franz X. KAERTNER
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Patent number: 8767783Abstract: A light source device is provided with a coherent light source for emitting the coherent light, and a pattern changer for changing an interference pattern of the coherent light on a surface of the illumination object. The pattern changer includes a photorefractive crystal which is arranged between the coherent light source and the illumination object and on an optical path of the coherent light and exhibits a photorefractive effect, and a changer for changing at least one of a light intensity distribution, a polarization direction, a wavelength and an intensity of coherent light incident on the photorefractive crystal. The illumination object is illuminated with the coherent light.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2009Date of Patent: July 1, 2014Assignee: Panasonic CorporationInventors: Koichi Kusukame, Tetsuro Mizushima, Kazuhisa Yamamoto, Hiroyuki Furuya, Shinichi Kadowaki, Kiminori Mizuuchi
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Patent number: 8743920Abstract: There is provided a wavelength variable light source system capable of changing wavelength and intensity of output signal light and of improving preset accuracy and stability of the wavelength and strength of the output signal light. The system determines the both or either one of a target value for controlling wavelength and a target value for controlling intensity of output signal light of a wavelength variable light source by correlating a combination of the target wavelength and the target light output intensity specified from a higher-level device and controls operation states of the wavelength variable light source so that output values of monitoring circuits for monitoring the operation state of the wavelength variable light source converge to the target values.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2010Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyuki Koshi, Koji Horikawa
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Patent number: 8743918Abstract: A device and a method enabling the enhancing of the modulation efficiency of lasers by matching the modulation frequency and the FSR of the laser. This is optionally achieved by eliminating the internal cavity of a laser diode (103) placed in an external cavity and matching the FSR of the external cavity to the modulation frequency. The modulation index is enhanced to and beyond the point of complete carrier suppression even at high modulation frequency and high beam intensities. The external cavity comprises a grating (107), the cavity length being adjusted with a PZT (108) and a translation stage (109). The laser diode (103) is driven by a bias current (110) from a driver (115) and a modulation current (111) from a modulation driver (116).Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2009Date of Patent: June 3, 2014Assignee: Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Research and Development AuthorityInventors: Menachem Givon, Amir Waxman
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Patent number: 8736845Abstract: A laser stabilization system includes laser source having first and second ends; first waveguide portion having first and second ends, first end of first waveguide portion coupled to first end of laser source; second waveguide portion having first and second ends, first end of second waveguide portion coupled to second end of laser source; micro-cavity coupled between second end of first waveguide portion and second end of second waveguide portion, micro-cavity having resonant frequency; and electronic locking loop coupled between micro-cavity and laser source, wherein electronic locking loop electronically locks laser source to resonant frequency of micro-cavity; wherein first waveguide portion is optical locking loop coupled between micro-cavity and laser source, wherein optical locking loop optically locks laser source to resonant frequency of micro-cavity; micro-cavity stabilization loop coupled with micro-cavity, wherein micro-cavity stabilization loop stabilizes resonant frequency of micro-cavity to refType: GrantFiled: April 27, 2012Date of Patent: May 27, 2014Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.Inventors: Jianfeng Wu, Jennifer S. Strabley, Tiequn Qiu, Glen A. Sanders
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Patent number: 8731011Abstract: The invention relates to a precision optical frequency tunable laser. The laser includes: a laser gain medium, an intracavity collimating lens, an active optical phase modulator, a tunable acousto-optic filter and an intracavity total reflection mirror all arranged sequentially in a laser cavity, and the tunable laser further includes an active polarization rotator, a polarization beam splitter, two etalons, a temperature control system attached to the etalons, two total reflection mirrors, a radio frequency signal source, a laser pumping source, an active optical phase modulator drive source, an active polarization rotator drive source and a laser drive control circuit. Through the temperature control system attached to the etalons, stable laser output and the precision optical frequency tuning less than 1 GHz within a wide spectrum range can be realized, thereby greatly reducing the bandwidth requirements in achieving narrowband filtering for the tunable acousto-optic filter.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2013Date of Patent: May 20, 2014Assignee: GP Photonics Inc.Inventor: Peiliang Gao
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Patent number: 8718108Abstract: According to the repetition frequency control device, a master laser outputs a master laser light pulse the repetition frequency of which is controlled to a predetermined value. A slave laser outputs a slave laser light pulse. A reference comparator compares a voltage of a reference electric signal the repetition frequency of which is the predetermined value and a predetermined voltage with each other, thereby outputting a result thereof. A measurement comparator compares a voltage based on a light intensity of the slave laser light pulse and the predetermined voltage with each other, thereby outputting a result thereof. A phase difference detector detects a phase difference between the output from the reference comparator and the output from the measurement comparator. A loop filter removes a high-frequency component of an output from the phase difference detector.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2011Date of Patent: May 6, 2014Assignee: Advantest CorporationInventors: Tomoyu Yamashita, Akiyoshi Irisawa
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Patent number: 8710470Abstract: An infrared laser source system that combines laser emitters through an optical waveguide. Each emitter is coupled to a port of the optical waveguide and the waveguided signal is combined to provide a spatially combined laser source with a single common exit aperture. The materials used for waveguiding allow the propagation of wavelengths in the infrared. The system can be used for combining multiple laser emitters to increase the total output power and/or for combination of multiple emitters with different wavelength for increased spectral coverage out of the laser system.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2013Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: The United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Rafael R. Gattass, Leslie Brandon Shaw, Jasbinder S. Sanghera, Ishwar D. Aggarwal, Lynda E Busse
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Patent number: 8712252Abstract: To efficiently apply jitter to an optical signal using a simple configuration, provided is an optical signal output apparatus that outputs an optical pulse pattern signal including jitter, the optical signal generating apparatus comprising a light source section that outputs an optical signal having an optical frequency corresponding to a frequency control signal; an optical modulation section that modulates the optical signal output by the light source section, according to a designated pulse pattern; and an optical jitter generating section that delays an optical signal passed by the optical modulation section according to the optical frequency, to apply jitter to the optical signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 18, 2011Date of Patent: April 29, 2014Assignee: Advantest CorporationInventors: Shin Masuda, Kazunori Shiota
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Patent number: 8693867Abstract: A system and method for stabilizing a plurality of output frequencies (wavelengths) of a plurality of lasers (106). The laser beams are combined using optical multiplexer (110) and coupled into length-imbalanced (armlength-mismatched) Mach-Zehnder interferometer (MZI) (114) having an optical modulator (e.g. AOM) (122) in one of its arms. The output of the MZI is divided into corresponding beams via optical demultiplexer (128) and each beam is detected by a respective photo-diode (PD) (134). The individual electric signals, so generated, are demodulated using a corresponding plurality of phase-responsive devices (138) and the resulting phase-signals are directed to a plurality of servo-controllers (148) to control the central frequency of the respective lasers (106) via a corresponding plurality of feedback loop circuits (150). The lasers (106) can have different central frequencies which can also be individually tunned using offset modules (141) in the phase-responsive devices (138).Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2009Date of Patent: April 8, 2014Assignee: The Australian National UniversityInventors: Ian C. M. Littler, Jong H. Chow, Malcolm B. Gray, David E. McClelland
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Patent number: 8687667Abstract: To improve a laser system comprising at least one externally stabilizable semiconductor laser, from the laser active zone of which a laser radiation field can be coupled out, and a feedback element, disposed externally in the laser radiation field, which couples out, from the laser radiation field, a feedback radiation field having a defined wavelength and bandwidth, and couples back same into the active laser zone for determining the wavelength and bandwidth of the laser radiation field, in such a way that the wavelength stabilization may be achieved more cost-effectively, it is proposed that the feedback element is a resonant waveguide grating which reflects back a portion of the laser radiation field lying within an angular acceptance range.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2012Date of Patent: April 1, 2014Assignee: Universitaet Stuttgart Institut fuer StrahlwerkzeugeInventors: Marwan Abdou Ahmen, Andreas Voss
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Patent number: 8675696Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed that provide a direct indication of the presence and concentration of an analyte within the external cavity of a laser device that employ the compliance voltage across the laser device. The systems can provide stabilization of the laser wavelength. The systems and methods can obviate the need for an external optical detector, an external gas cell, or other sensing region and reduce the complexity and size of the sensing configuration.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2012Date of Patent: March 18, 2014Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Matthew S. Taubman, Mark C. Phillips
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Patent number: 8665919Abstract: A semiconductor laser module includes a semiconductor device including a semiconductor laser and a bending waveguide through which a laser light emitted from the semiconductor laser propagates, a beam splitter splitting the laser light into a first laser light and a second laser light, a plurality of detectors respectively arranged at different positions in a cross section of a light flux of the second laser light to detect the second laser light, and a waveform shaping unit provided on an optical path of the laser light. The waveform shaping unit is configured to make a relation between an output of the semiconductor laser and detection values of the detectors approach a linear relation.Type: GrantFiled: March 17, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tatsuya Kimoto, Kazuaki Kiyota