Patent ID: 7720328
Filing Date: 2010-05-18
Classification: G01J,G02B

Abstract:
1. An integrated optical device, comprising: an optical component having an optical wavelength response that is a function of temperature of the optical component, the optical component comprising at least one selected from the group consisting of waveguides, optical couplers, splitters, three dimensional optical memory devices, Bragg gratings, optical attenuators, optical splitters, optical filters, optical switches, lasers, modulators, interconnects, optical isolators, optical add-drop multiplexers, optical amplifiers, optical polarizers, optical circulators, phase shifters, optical mirrors/reflectors, optical phase-retarders, or optical detectors; a heating element disposed in proximity to the optical component to be capable of inducing temperature elevation of the optical component; a temperature-sensing element capable of generating indications of temperature at location of the temperature-sensing element, wherein temperature elevations induced at the location by the heating element exceed corresponding temperature elevations induced in at least one region of the optical device by the heating element; and a temperature controller coupled to the heating element and to the temperature-sensing element to receive the indications of temperature and to set power dissipated in the heating element based on the indications of temperature received from the temperature-sensing element so as to drive the optical wavelength response to a predetermined wavelength, wherein: indications of temperature generated by the temperature-sensing element during stable thermal state of the optical device vary as a first substantially linear function of the power dissipated in the heating element; effective temperature of the optical component during stable thermal state varies as a second substantially linear function of the power dissipated in the heating element; the first substantially linear function is characterized by a first thermal constant that is the rate of increase in the indications of temperature with the power dissipated in the heating element; the second substantially linear function is characterized by a second thermal constant that is the rate of change in the optical wavelength response with the power dissipated in the heating element; the temperature controller is capable of estimating global temperature (T the optical wavelength response of the optical component is substantially equal to the predetermined wavelength at a first effective temperature of the optical component; and the temperature controller is capable of determining a set-point to which the temperature controller drives temperature indications of the temperature-sensing element during a second period that follows the first period by