WAVELENGTH LOCKER FOR TUNABLE LASERS, DETECTORS, AND FILTERS

摘要

A wavelength locker (100, 102, 104, 106) for sue with tunable optical devices, such as tunable lasers (108, 110, 112, 114), detectors, or wavelength selection filters is described. The invention enables the determination of an optical wavelength or waveband position of a tunable device. Embodiments of the invention supply a reference wavelength which be used to tune the tunable device to a specified wavelength or waveband. The invention enables the tunable device to be locked to a desired wavelength. The invention enables discrete and continuously tunable optical wavelength determination and locking across a waveband. Applications for the invention includes utilization in optical networks. For instance, the invnetion may be utilzed to reference, tune, and lock an incoming signal at the receiving end of an optical network link. In particular, the invention may be used in tunable laser sources, tunable detectors, to tunable optical signal filters as used in optical fiber communications and DWDM applications.