Patent ID: 8724667

Claim:
A system to combine a wavelength range of the electromagnetic output of a first electromagnetic radiation source and a second electromagnetic radiation source, the system comprising: the first electromagnetic radiation source configured to output electromagnetic radiation over a first range of wavelengths; the second electromagnetic radiation source configured to output electromagnetic radiation over a second range of wavelengths; the first and second electromagnetic radiation sources each comprising a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA); and a controller coupled to the first and second electromagnetic radiation sources, wherein the controller is adapted to: control the output of electromagnetic radiation from the first and second electromagnetic radiation sources and tune the wavelength of the outputted electromagnetic radiation; select the first or second electromagnetic radiation source as a selected radiation source and the other electromagnetic source as a non-selected source; wherein the selected radiation source outputs electromagnetic radiation at a wavelength selected by the controller, the controller de-powers the semiconductor optical amplifier associated with the non-selected radiation source to place the non-selected radiation source in a deactivated state, and the controller drives the non-selected radiation source to a predetermined wavelength range wherein the semiconductor optical amplifier extinction ratio is optimized for depowering.