HITLESS FILTER TUNING

摘要

A method is presented for controlling continuous propagation of input light through an optical device having an optical functional element of a controllably adjustable operation to affect light passing therethrough. The input light energy is distributed in a predetermined manner between first and second spatially separated paths, wherein the optical functional element is accommodated in the first path. The first and second paths are recombined downstream of the optical functional element with respect to a direction of light propagation through the device, to produce a light output of the optical device. This allows for directing substantially the entire energy of the input light through the second path, during adjustment of the operation of the functional optical element, and redirecting at least a predetermined portion of the input light to the first path to pass through the functional element, upon completion of the adjustment.