Patent ID: 6282213
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A system for selecting wavelength lines from a monochromatic light source, comprising:wavelength separation means for separating incoming monochromatic light emitted from said monochromatic light source, into wavelength-separated light comprising a plurality of separate component wavelengths of said incoming monochromatic light;wavelength focusing means for focusing said separate component wavelengths of said wavelength-separated light into displaced light, wherein each one of said plurality of separate component wavelengths is focused, but is displaced from, all others of said plurality of separate component wavelengths, within a common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means;locally-controllable reflectivity array means further comprising a plurality of individually-controllable localized reflective elements residing substantially within said common focal plane of said wavelength focusing means, each of said localized reflective elements corresponding to and reflecting one of said plurality of said separate component wavelengths of said displaced light;control module means for: selecting which of said separate component wavelengths is to be reflected back toward said monochromatic light source; activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is selected for reflection wherein said corresponding selected wavelength is reflected back toward said monochromatic light source; and activating each localized reflective element for which the corresponding wavelength is not selected for reflection wherein said corresponding not-selected wavelength is not reflected back toward said monochromatic light source; andomitting an interferometer for measuring and correcting wavelengths of light reflected back toward said monochromatic light source.