Patent ID: 9742148
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: B82Y,G02B,H01S

Claim:
1. A tunable laser with a laser output, comprising: a solid state laser medium having an optical gain region and operative to generate a coherent optical signal through a facet in response to an electrical signal; control electronics supplying an electrical signal to the solid state laser medium; a lens operative to collect the coherent optical signal and generate a collimated light beam; and components of an external cavity including a wavelength selection device and a surface operative to reflect the collimated beam back into the solid state laser medium, wherein the tunable laser is operative to: (1) use the wavelength selection device to tune to a first optical wavelength to achieve laser continuous wave output at a first wavelength of operation, (2) use the wavelength selection device to tune to a second optical wavelength, the tunable laser continuing to generate continuous wave output substantially at the first wavelength of operation, and (3) pulse the laser medium coherent optical signal to tune the laser output from the first wavelength of operation to a second wavelength of continuous wave operation substantially at the second optical wavelength.