IP Library Granted Patent US 12663667
Granted Patent B2
US 12663667 · App. 18/007,863 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Wavelength tunable device

Inventors: Yurina Tanaka (Tokyo, JP); Yuichi Akage (Tokyo, JP); Takashi Sakamoto (Tokyo, JP); Soichi Oka (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: NTT, INC.
G02F1/0305G02F1/213G02F1/23
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12663667
App. No.
18/007,863
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A temperature regulating unit is attached to a first incident surface of a first component through a first transparent electrode. The temperature regulating unit is composed of a Peltier element. The temperature regulating unit includes an opening through which the target light can pass. The temperature regulating unit has, for example, a rectangular parallelepiped outer shape in which a surface perpendicular to an optical axis is square-shaped. The opening is formed to penetrate through the temperature regulating unit in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis and has a circular shape in a plan view.

Claims (55)

1 . A wavelength tunable device comprising:

a first component having a plate-like shape, and being made of material that has an electrostrictive effect and configured to allow light to pass through, the first component including a first incident surface and a first emission surface on an opposite side of the first component to the first incident surface, and the first incident surface and the first emission surface being arranged on an optical axis;

a second component having a plate-like shape, and being made of material that is configured to allow the light to pass through, the second component including a second incident surface and a second emission surface on an opposite side of the second component to the second incident surface, the second incident surface and the second emission surface being arranged on the optical axis, and a distance between the first incident surface and the second incident surface on the optical axis being constant between the first component and the second component;

a first reflective film on the first emission surface and configured to partially reflect the light;

a first transparent electrode on the first incident surface;

a second transparent electrode between the first emission surface and the first reflective film;

a second reflective film on the second incident surface and configured to partially reflect the light; and

a temperature regulator including a Peltier element, the temperature regulator being attached to the first incident surface via the first transparent electrode, wherein:

the first emission surface and the second incident surface are arranged in parallel to face each other,

a distance between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode is smaller than a beam diameter of the light,

the first reflective film and the second reflective film constitute a Fabry-Perot interferometer, and

the temperature regulator includes an opening that is configured to allow the light to pass through.

2 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the temperature regulator is attached to the first incident surface via the first transparent electrode by a jig that transfers heat between the first component and the temperature regulator; and

the jig includes an opening that allows the light to pass through.

3 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a container including a Peltier element and accommodating the first component and the second component, wherein side surfaces of the second component that are sandwiched between the second incident surface and the second emission surface are arranged in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the container.

4 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 3 , further comprising:

a third part having a plate-like shape, being made of a material that is configured to allow the light to pass through, and including a third incident surface on a side of the third part and a third emission surface on a side of the third part opposite to the third incident surface, the third incident surface and the third emission surface being arranged on the optical axis, the third part being arranged proximate to the first incident surface of the first component and being accommodated in the container, wherein side surfaces of the third part that are sandwiched between the third incident surface and the third emission surface are arranged in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container.

5 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first component is made of either KTN [KTa 1-α Nb α O 3 (0<α<1)] crystal or KLTN [K 1-β Li β Ta 1-α Nb α O 3 (0<α<1, 0<β<1)] crystal with lithium added.

6 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 1 , further comprising another temperature regulator including a Peltier element and being attached to the second emission surface, wherein:

the second component is made of either KTN [KTa 1-α Nb α O 3 (0<α<1)] crystal or KLTN [K 1-β Li β Ta 1-α Nb α O 3 (0<α<1, 0<β<1)] crystal with lithium added; and

the other temperature regulator includes an opening that is configured to allow the light to pass through.

7 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode are made of indium tin oxide.

8 . A wavelength tunable device comprising:

a first component having a plate-like shape, and being made of a material that has an electrostrictive effect and configured to allow light to pass through, the first component including a first incident surface and a first emission surface on an opposite side of the first component to the first incident surface, and the first incident surface and the first emission surface being arranged on an optical axis;

a second component having a plate-like shape, and being made of material that is configured to allow the light to pass through, the second component including a second incident surface and a second emission surface on an opposite side of the second component to the second incident surface, the second incident surface and the second emission surface being arranged on the optical axis, and a distance between the first incident surface and the second incident surface on the optical axis being constant between the first component and the second component;

a first reflective film on the first emission surface, the first reflective film being configured to partially reflect the light;

a first transparent electrode on the first incident surface;

a second transparent electrode between the first emission surface and the first reflective film;

a second reflective film on the second incident surface, the second reflective film being configured to partially reflect the light; and

a first temperature regulator including a Peltier element and being attached to the first incident surface via the first transparent electrode, wherein

the first emission surface and the second incident surface are arranged in parallel to face each other,

the first reflective film and the second reflective film constitute a Fabry-Perot interferometer, and

the first temperature regulator includes an opening configured to allow the light to pass through.

9 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 8 , wherein a distance between the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode is smaller than a beam diameter of the light.

10 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a jig configured to attach the first temperature regulator on the first incident surface via the first transparent electrode and transfer heat between the first component and the first temperature regulator.

11 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 10 , wherein the jig includes an opening configured to allow the light to pass through.

12 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a container including a Peltier element and accommodating the first component and the second component, wherein side surfaces of the second component that are sandwiched between the second incident surface and the second emission surface are arranged in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the container.

13 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 12 , further comprising:

a third part having a plate-like shape, being made of material that is configured to allow the light to pass through, and including a third incident surface on a side of the third part and a third emission surface on a side of the third part opposite to the third incident surface, the third incident surface and the third emission surface being arranged on the optical axis, the third part being arranged proximate to the first incident surface of the first component and being accommodated in the container, wherein

side surfaces of the third part that are sandwiched between the third incident surface and the third emission surface are arranged in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the container.

14 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 8 , wherein: the first component is made of either KTN [KTa 1-α Nb α O 3 (0<α<1)] crystal or KLTN [K 1-β Li β Ta 1-α Nb α O 3 (0<α<1, 0<β<1)] crystal with lithium added.

15 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 8 , wherein:

the second component is made of either KTN [KTa 1-α Nb α O 3 (0<α<1)] crystal or KLTN [K 1-β Li β Ta 1-α Nb α O 3 (0<α<1, 0<β<1)] crystal with lithium added.

16 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 8 , further comprising:

a second temperature regulator including a Peltier element and being attached to the second emission surface.

17 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 16 , wherein:

the second temperature regulator includes an opening configured to allow the light to pass through.

18 . The wavelength tunable device according to claim 8 , wherein:

the first transparent electrode and the second transparent electrode are made of indium tin oxide.