Patent ID: 7075656
Filing Date: 2006-07-11
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
1. A method of stabilizing an operating wavelength of a laser, comprising: illuminating an optical element with light output from the laser to produce an interference pattern, the optical element being a non-parallel etalon, the interference pattern arising from interference between optical surfaces of the etalon that are not parallel to each other, the interference pattern being reflected by the optical element to a detector unit; detecting at least three different portions of the interference pattern with at least three detector elements of the detector unit, and with at least three respective additional detector elements, the additional detector elements detecting phase portions of the interference pattern corresponding to the phase positions of the interference pattern detected by the at least three detector elements; summing signals from each of the at least three detector elements with signals from their respective additional detection elements to produce at least three detection signals; generating a feedback signal using the at least three detection signals; and adjusting the operating wavelength of the laser in response to the feedback signal.