US 7,580,183 B2
Light generator, optical amplifier, and optical communication system
Motoki Kakui, Yokohama (Japan); Toshiaki Okuno, Yokohama (Japan); and Masayuki Nishimura, Yokohama (Japan)
Assigned to Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Osaka (Japan)
Filed on Mar. 03, 2003, as Appl. No. 10/377,104.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/364085, filed on Mar. 15, 2002.
Claims priority of application No. P2002-056042 (JP), filed on Mar. 01, 2002.
Prior Publication US 2003/0210913 A1, Nov. 13, 2003
Int. Cl. G02B 26/00 (2006.01); H01S 3/105 (2006.01); H01S 3/23 (2006.01); H04B 10/12 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 359—334  [359/238; 359/239; 372/20; 372/23; 372/26; 372/28] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A light generator comprising:
a single light source being capable of changing the wavelength of pumping light to be emitted, said single light source including: a semiconductor light emitting device having a light reflecting surface and a light outputting surface on both sides of a photoactive layer which generates light with supply of a drive current; and an optical feedback device being separated from said semiconductor light emitting device and constituting a resonator together said light reflecting surface of said semiconductor light emitting device;
a change signal source for outputting change signals to control the wavelength change of the pumping light to be emitted;
changing means, in accordance with the change signals outputted from said change signal source, for repeatedly changing a wavelength of light outputted from said single light source or that of light existing in said single light source by repeatedly changing reflection wavelength of said optical feedback device as time goes on, whereby said single light source outputs wavelength-changed pumping light resulting from change of the wavelength by said changing means; and
a memory that stores wavelength change patterns each for repeatedly changing wavelength of the light outputted from said semiconductor light emitting device.