Patent ID: 6621957
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: G02B,G02F,H01S

Abstract:
A temperature compensated optical device, comprising:an optical element, having at least one grating disposed therein along a longitudinal axis of said optical element, said grating having a characteristic wavelength that varies with ambient temperature and upon the exertion of axial compressive force applied to said optical element, said optical element being made of an element material having an element coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE); a spacer disposed adjacent to an axial end of said optical element and made of a spacer material having a spacer CTE that is larger than the element CTE; a housing arranged with said spacer and said optical element such that at least a portion of said spacer and said optical element are in compression over an operational temperature range, said housing having a housing CTE that is less than said spacer CTE; and said characteristic wavelength changing less than a predetermined amount over said operational temperature range.