Radiant energy – Photocells; circuits and apparatus – Photocell controls its own optical systems
Patent
1988-06-06
1989-07-11
Nelms, David C.
Radiant energy
Photocells; circuits and apparatus
Photocell controls its own optical systems
21912178, G01J 120, B23K 900
Patent
active
048474797
ABSTRACT:
Apparatus and a related method for control of the colinearity of multiple laser output beams in a wavelength-multiplexed optical communications system. Multiple lasers of different wavelengths formed into a single composite beam by means of a diffraction grating and other optical components are subject to loss in colinearity due to wavelength drift and mechanical alignment drift. The apparatus of one disclosed embodiment of the invention includes an alignment detector for the output beam and a set of tracer modulation detectors responsive to tracer modulation signals impressed on the individual laser beams. Misalignment detected in any one or more of the laser beams contained in the output beam is corrected by temperature control of the appropriate lasers. In another disclosed embodiment of the invention, misalignment is detected by partially reflecting the output beams back through the diffraction grating and other optical components to the lasers, but at angles slightly divergent from the common plane of the lasers. Position detectors located adjacent to the lasers, but not in the same plane, receive the return beams and are coupled to temperature control devices to adjust the individual lasers' wavelength, and hence maintain the colinearity of the output beams.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4035083 (1977-07-01), Woodriff et al.
patent: 4146329 (1979-03-01), King et al.
patent: 4342906 (1982-08-01), Hyatt
patent: 4626649 (1986-12-01), Dupeyrat et al.
patent: 4703166 (1987-10-01), Bruning
Clark George L.
Heflinger Lee O.
Goldstein Sol L.
Heal Noel F.
Nelms David C.
Oen William L.
TRW Inc.
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