Patent ID: 7197200

Claim:
A tuning and isolating support device for a tunable fiber optic component comprising: a) a fiber optic tensioning structure having at least opposing ends configured to rigidly attach to and along a common longitudinal axis with the tunable fiber optic component and formed of an electrically-active, mechanically-responsive material such that changes in dimension along the longitudinal axis arising from a voltage applied to the tensioning structure yield corresponding dimensional changes in the tunable fiber optic component to provide tunable adjustment of an optical frequency of the tunable fiber optic component; b) a first electrode electrically coupled to a first surface of the tensioning structure; c) a second electrode electrically coupled to a second surface of the tensioning structure where the first and second electrodes are configured to apply the voltage to the tensioning structure; and d) an acoustic-damping material encasing at least a portion of the tensioning structure and configured to minimize environmental vibration effects on the tunable fiber optic component.