Patent ID: 7142735

Claim:
A method for controlling an acousto-optic-tunable filter comprising: (a) controlling an acousto-optic-tunable filter with a controller, said controlling including determining an optimum RF signal for application to an acousto-optic-tunable filter acoustic transducer for selection of a particular light wavelength, including (i) scanning a sequence of RF signals defining a first frequency spectrum to said acoustic transducer; (ii) sensing a light out parameter from said acousto-optic-tunable filter corresponding to each of said RF signals; (iii) identifying a base frequency corresponding to a most optimum said output parameter and a corresponding RF frequency as a base RF frequency; (iv) selecting a next narrower frequency spectrum around said base RF frequency and selecting a corresponding next sequence of RF signals; (v) scanning said next sequence of RF signals to said acoustic transducer; and (vi) repeating steps ii–v wherein each successive spectrum is more narrow than the previous spectrum until a minimum spectrum is reached, having a base RF frequency as an optimum base frequency to be applied to said acoustic transducer for selection of said particular light wavelength; and (b) custom interfacing said controller providing inputs to said controller, said interfacing including providing communication with a user's computer.