Patent ID: 6490390
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A system, comprising:a light source operable to produce an optical beam; an acousto-optic element having a transducer to produce an acoustic wave in response to a driver signal applied to said transducer and positioned to diffract said optical beam to produce first and second diffraction beams at two different directions; an optical imaging module configured and positioned to receive and direct said first and said second diffraction beams to overlap at a selected location where said first and said second diffraction beams interfere to form a spatial interference pattern determined by a property of said acoustic wave; a positioning stage configured and positioned to hold an optical fiber at said selected location, exposing the fiber to said interference pattern to write a grating pattern in the fiber; and a controller operable to control said driver signal and thus said interference pattern by controlling said property of said acoustic wave.