Apparatus for holding and tuning a thin-film optical assembly

摘要

An apparatus for holding and tuning a thin film optical assembly is presented in which a housing receives a cylindrical thin film optical assembly which can be rotated to adjust the wavelength at which it passes or reflects an optical signal. The thin film optical assembly is composed of a thin film optical filter mounted on a cylindrical unit having a flat mounting face and an aperture for the transmission of light. The housing has a light path machined through it which permits light to pass to each thin film optical assembly, where one wavelength is separated by transmission and the remaining wavelengths are reflected to a subsequent filter. Each thin film optical assembly can be rotated within the housing to permit wavelength tuning. Once the thin film optical assembly is tuned it can be held in place using solder applied between the thin film optical assembly and the housing. Optical fibers are coupled to the housing using ferrules and graded rod index lenses. Each fiber optic assembly can be held in place by solder applied between the ferrule and the housing. The invention can also be used to separate polarizations using optical filters which angular polarization dependence.