Patent ID: 6327405
Filing Date: 2001-12-04
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A temperature compensated fiber optic device comprising:at least one length of extended, small diameter optical fiber having a periodic index of refraction variation in a section therein, the periodicity of the variation determining the wavelength sensitivity of the device;a mount structure disposed to suspend the index of refraction section in a tensioned span, the mount structure including a base having a first thermal coefficient of expansion and a pair of spaced apart elements of a different, second thermal coefficient of expansion coupled to the base, the spacings and materials being selected with respect to the length and thermal coefficient of expansion of the span of fiber to maintain the periodicity of the index of refraction variation of the optical fiber substantially constant over the range of ambient temperatures to which the device is exposed; anda pair of end support elements, each mounted on a different one of the elements and each coupled to a different end of the span of the at least one fiber, and at least one being configured to provide axial adjustment of the length of the span through less than a full period of the variation, for fine tuning the periodicity of the index of refraction variation.