Patent ID: 6690690
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: H01S

Abstract:
A wavelength tuning system for adjusting the external cavity of a laser comprising:a laser mount for supporting the laser, which emits a wavelength-tunable output beam from the external cavity; a mounting arm supporting both a diffractive optic and a reflective optic in a fixed orientation with respect to each other; a flexural member forming at least part of a connection between the mounting arm and the laser mount in a relative orientation for optically coupling the diffractive optic to the laser within the external cavity; an actuator that pivots the mounting arm with respect to the laser mount about a pivot axis for varying a wavelength of a diffracted portion of the output beam returned to the laser without significantly varying an angular orientation of the output beam with respect to the laser mount as reflected from the reflective optic; and the flexural member supporting a limited rotation of the mounting arm with respect to the laser mount about the pivot axis while providing resistance to a similar limited rotation of the mounting arm with respect to the laser mount about an orthogonal rotational axis.