IP Library Granted Patent US 10,935,727
Granted Patent B2
US 10,935,727 · App. 16/791,793 · Granted Mar 2, 2021

Tunable filter

Inventor: Yasuki Sakurai (Aichi, JP)
Assignee: Santec Corporation
G02B6/2931G02B6/29368G02B6/3512G02B6/4298G02B6/283
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,935,727
App. No.
16/791,793
Granted
Mar 2, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A variable wavelength filter includes: an input optical fiber; a diffraction grating that disperses input light from the input optical fiber; a variable mirror that has a reflective surface, wherein an angle of the reflective surface is adjustable, the variable mirror reflects the input light dispersed by the diffraction grating, the input light reflected by the variable mirror passes through a normal optical path, the input light that passes through the normal optical path has a wavelength band defined based on the angle of the reflective surface, and the defined wavelength band has a center wavelength corresponding to the angle of the reflective surface; an output optical fiber that outputs a portion of the input light that has passed through the normal optical path; and an optical detector disposed on a propagation path of the input light from the input optical fiber to the output optical fiber.

Claims (42)

1. A variable wavelength filter, comprising:

an input optical fiber;

a diffraction grating that disperses input light from the input optical fiber;

a variable mirror that has a reflective surface, wherein

an angle of the reflective surface is adjustable,

the variable mirror reflects the input light dispersed by the diffraction grating,

the input light reflected by the variable mirror passes through a normal optical path,

the input light that passes through the normal optical path has a wavelength band defined based on the angle of the reflective surface, and

the defined wavelength band has a center wavelength corresponding to the angle of the reflective surface;

a separation filter disposed at a focal position where the light of the defined wavelength band on the normal optical path is condensed;

an output optical fiber that outputs a portion of the input light that has passed through the normal optical path; and

an optical detector disposed on a propagation path of the input light from the input optical fiber to the output optical fiber,

wherein the optical detector detects a light intensity of a portion of the input light.

2. The variable wavelength filter according to claim 1 , wherein

the optical detector receives and detects light of a wavelength band separated from the center wavelength, and

the wavelength band separated from the center wavelength is different from the defined wavelength band.

3. The variable wavelength filter according to claim 2 , wherein

the separation filter guides the light of the wavelength band separated from the center wavelength to the optical detector.

4. The variable wavelength filter according to claim 2 , further comprising: a reflective mirror on the normal optical path, wherein

the reflective mirror has an aperture that allows the light of the defined wavelength band to pass through,

the reflective mirror reflects the light of the wavelength band separated from the center wavelength, and

the light of the wavelength band separated from the center wavelength propagates outward in a radial direction of the aperture toward the optical detector.

5. A variable wavelength filter, comprising:

an input optical fiber;

a diffraction grating that disperses input light from the input optical fiber;

a variable mirror that has a reflective surface, wherein

an angle of the reflective surface is adjustable,

the variable mirror reflects the input light dispersed by the diffraction grating,

the input light reflected by the variable mirror passes through a normal optical path,

the input light that passes through the normal optical path has a wavelength band defined based on the angle of the reflective surface, and

the defined wavelength band has a center wavelength corresponding to the angle of the reflective surface;

an output optical fiber that outputs a portion of the input light that has passed through the normal optical path;

an optical detector disposed on a propagation path of the input light from the input optical fiber to the output optical fiber, wherein the optical detector detects a light intensity of a portion of the input light; and

a wavelength selection reflector disposed on the normal optical path, wherein

the wavelength selection reflector selectively reflects a portion of the light of the defined wavelength band reflected by the variable mirror and that passed through the normal optical path toward the output optical fiber, and

the optical detector receives the light of the wavelength band separated from the center wavelength that:

is not reflected by the wavelength selection reflector; and

propagates on a downstream side in a progression direction of the input light to the wavelength selection reflector.

6. The variable wavelength filter according to claim 5 , wherein

reflectivity in a center region of the wavelength selection reflector is higher than reflectivity in a surrounding region of the wavelength selection reflector around the center region,

the surrounding region has a reflective surface that is permeable to the input light, and

the wavelength selection reflector reflects a wavelength component of the light of the defined wavelength band at a higher reflectivity the closer the wavelength component is to the center wavelength.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 22, 2024
From: SANTEC CORPORATION
To: SANTEC HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066530/0591 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2020
From: SAKURAI, YASUKI
To: SANTEC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 051967/0745 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP JP2019-016107 · Jan 31, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20200249399A1 · Aug 6, 2020
Cited By (1)
US 12,704,667