Tunable Laser Wavelength Locking With a Single Etalon Receiver
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tunable laser wavelength locking methods require multiple light receivers and components, increasing size and cost, and struggle to efficiently obtain channel information for transmission.
Innovation Solution
A wavelength locking structure for a tunable laser that uses a single light receiver and an etalon filter to measure light intensity, with a controller adjusting the laser wavelength to maximize transmission through the filter, reducing the number of components and enabling economic, downsized operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If multiple light receivers and components are used for wavelength locking, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of multiple light receivers into a single light receiver by integrating the signal processing capabilities. The single light receiver measures the light intensity after it passes through the etalon filter, and the controller processes the signal to determine wavelength information, effectively merging what would traditionally require multiple separate receivers into one unified component.
Solution Approach 2:
The single light receiver is designed to perform multiple functions: it detects light intensity, provides feedback for wavelength locking, and enables channel information acquisition. The controller processes the single receiver's output to derive multiple pieces of information, making the receiver a multi-functional component that replaces what would traditionally require multiple specialized receivers.
2Measurement precision
If multiple light receivers are used for wavelength locking, then wavelength locking precision is improved, but the size and cost of the device increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple light receivers into a single light receiver component. This single receiver is positioned to detect light after it passes through the etalon filter, and its output is processed by the controller to achieve wavelength locking. This consolidation reduces the quantity of parts while maintaining the necessary measurement precision through intelligent signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The single light receiver system is designed to self-determine wavelength information and provide feedback for locking without requiring additional receivers. The controller analyzes the receiver's output signal to identify peak positions and generate feedback, enabling the system to perform wavelength locking functions that would traditionally require multiple separate components.
3Measurement precision
If a collimator is used in the wavelength locking structure, then light measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the collimator from the optical path. Instead of using a collimator to prepare the light before it reaches the etalon filter, the system directly sends light from the laser through the filter to the light receiver. This removal simplifies the optical component structure while the etalon filter itself performs the wavelength selection function without requiring collimated light.
Solution Approach 2:
The etalon filter acts as an intermediary element that directly processes the light from the laser without requiring collimation. The filter's unique optical properties allow it to select specific wavelengths from the laser output even without collimated light, eliminating the need for the collimator as an intermediate component in the optical path.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution allows for efficient wavelength locking with a reduced number of parts, eliminating the need for a collimator and achieving economic, downsized operation while maintaining effective channel information acquisition.
Implementation Method 1
The etalon filter 60 transmits only wavelength in a predetermined bandwidth of incident light
Implementation Method 2
a light receiver 400 that converts light that transmits the etalon filter 300 into an electrical signal
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a wavelength locking structure for a tunable laser which is small and economical in comparison to the related art, and a wavelength locking method for a tunable laser. The wavelength locking structure for a tunable laser according to the present invention includes: a tunable laser 100; a light separator 200 into which light emitted from the tunable laser 100 travels and that separates the light into transmitted light A and reflected light B; an etalon filter 300 that transmits the reflected light B in a predetermined wavelength band; a light receiver 400 that converts light that transmits the etalon filter 300 into an electrical signal; and a controller 500 that periodically changes the wavelength of light emitted from the tunable laser 100 using the electrical signal converted by the light receiver 400 so that a wavelength at which the quantity of light that transmits the etalon filter 300 is maximum, is included.