IP Library › Granted Patent US 12699227
Granted Patent B2
US 12699227 · App. 18/135,022 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Optical assembly with an optical element to suppress a parasitic etalon response

Inventors: Colin Smith (Paignton, GB); Stuart Conley (Newton Abbot, GB); Samuel Justin Jones (Paignton, GB)
Assignee: Lumentum Technology UK Limited
G02B6/29359G01J3/26G01J3/42G02B27/00G02B27/0018G02B27/0025G02B27/0037
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12699227
App. No.
18/135,022
Granted
Aug 4, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

In some implementations, an optical assembly includes a first etalon, a second etalon, and an optical element disposed between the first etalon and the second etalon. The first etalon is configured to transmit a collimated light beam from an input surface of the first etalon to an output surface of the first etalon, and to allow the collimated light beam to propagate from an output surface of the first etalon to the optical element. The optical element is configured to receive the collimated light beam, to change the collimated light beam to a de-collimated light beam, and to allow the de-collimated light beam to propagate from the optical element to an input surface of the second etalon. The second etalon is configured to transmit the de-collimated light beam from the input surface of the second etalon to an output surface of the second etalon.

Claims (79)

1 . An optical assembly, comprising:

an etalon;

an optical cavity between a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface; and

an optical element disposed between the etalon and the optical cavity, wherein:

the etalon is configured to transmit a collimated light beam from an input surface of the etalon to an output surface of the etalon, and to allow the collimated light beam to propagate from the output surface of the etalon to the optical element,

the optical element is configured to receive the collimated light beam, to change the collimated light beam to a de-collimated light beam, and to allow the de-collimated light beam to propagate from the optical element to the first reflection surface,

the optical element includes a lens,

the optical element is positioned to reduce reflections within the optical cavity,

the optical element is positioned to reduce reflections between the optical cavity and the etalon, and

the optical cavity is configured to allow the de-collimated light beam to propagate from the first reflection surface to the second reflection surface.

2 . The optical assembly of claim 1 ,

wherein the optical element is disposed on at least one of:

the output surface of the etalon, or

the first reflection surface.

3 . The optical assembly of claim 1 ,

wherein the optical element is at least one of:

separated from the output surface of the etalon by a first gap, or

separated from the first reflection surface by a second gap.

4 . The optical assembly of claim 1 ,

wherein the optical element further includes at least one of:

a reflective optical component,

a refractive optical component, or

a diffractive optical component.

5 . The optical assembly of claim 1 ,

wherein a distance between the optical element and the first reflection surface is greater than or less than a focal length of the lens.

6 . The optical assembly of claim 1 ,

wherein the optical cavity is part of a photodiode.

7 . The optical assembly of claim 1 ,

wherein the optical assembly is to be included in an optical frequency monitor and the optical cavity is part of a monitor photodiode that is to be included in the optical frequency monitor.

8 . The optical assembly of claim 7 ,

wherein the optical frequency monitor is configured to monitor a range from 179 terahertz (THz) to 240 THz.

9 . An optical assembly, comprising:

an etalon;

an optical cavity between a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface; and

an optical element disposed between the etalon and the optical cavity, wherein:

the etalon is configured to allow a collimated light beam to propagate from an output surface of the etalon to the optical element,

the optical element is configured to receive the collimated light beam, to change the collimated light beam to a de-collimated light beam, and to allow the de-collimated light beam to propagate from the optical element to the first reflection surface,

the optical element includes a lens,

the optical element is positioned to reduce reflections within the optical cavity, and

the optical element is positioned to reduce reflections between the optical cavity and the etalon.

10 . The optical assembly of claim 9 ,

wherein the optical element is disposed on at least one of:

the output surface of the etalon, or

the first reflection surface.

11 . The optical assembly of claim 9 ,

wherein the optical element and at least one of the etalon or the optical cavity are integrated to form a monolithic component.

12 . The optical assembly of claim 9 ,

wherein the optical element is further configured to at least one of:

reduce etalon responses, including feedback, from the optical cavity to the etalon,

reduce resonances between the etalon and the optical cavity, or

decouple the etalon from the optical cavity.

13 . The optical assembly of claim 9 ,

wherein the optical element further includes at least one of:

a reflective optical component,

a refractive optical component, or

a diffractive optical component.

14 . The optical assembly of claim 9 ,

wherein a distance between the optical element and the first reflection surface is greater than or less than a focal length of the lens.

15 . The optical assembly of claim 9 ,

wherein the optical element further includes a diffractive grating.

16 . The optical assembly of claim 9 ,

wherein the optical assembly is to be included in an optical frequency monitor and the optical cavity is part of a monitor photodiode.

17 . An optical assembly, comprising:

an etalon;

a monitor photodiode; and

an optical element, wherein:

the etalon is configured to provide a collimated light beam to the optical element,

the optical element is configured to change the collimated light beam to a de-collimated light beam, and to provide the de-collimated light beam to the monitor photodiode,

the optical element includes a lens,

the optical element is positioned to reduce reflections within the monitor photodiode, and

the optical element is positioned to reduce reflections between the monitor photodiode and the etalon.

18 . The optical assembly of claim 17 ,

wherein at least some of a structure of the monitor photodiode forms an optical cavity between a first reflection surface and a second reflection surface.

19 . The optical assembly of claim 17 ,

wherein the optical assembly is to be included in an optical frequency monitor.

20 . The optical assembly of claim 17 ,

wherein the optical element is disposed on at least one of:

the etalon, or

the monitor photodiode.