Title :
Tunable micromechanical optical filter using a torsional structure
Author :
Mateus, Carlos F R ; Chang, Chih-Hao ; Chang-Hasnain, Connie J. ; Yang, Steven ; Sun, Decai ; Pathak, Rajiv
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. Eng. & Comput. Sci., California Univ., Berkeley, CA, USA
Abstract :
We demonstrated a torsional micromechanical tunable optical filter with potentially far large tuning range and free of damages resulting from capacitor discharge. The tuning range is above 100 nm and was limited by the tunable source available for testing. The insertion of the filter in an optical data link causes no power penalty. The torsional MEMS design can be readily transferred to a tunable VCSEL and detector designs to lead to a wider tuning range and to eliminate the reliability issues. This program was supported by NSF and DARPA. Carlos F.R. Mateus is supported by CAPES Foundation and Brazilian Air Command.
Keywords :
micro-optics; micromechanical devices; optical communication equipment; optical filters; optical tuning; capacitor discharge; detector designs; far large tuning range; optical data link; reliability; torsional MEMS design; torsional micromechanical tunable optical filter; tunable VCSEL; tunable source; tuning range; Bit error rate; Gratings; Laser tuning; Micromechanical devices; Optical design; Optical filters; Optical modulation; Optical tuning; Tunable circuits and devices; Vertical cavity surface emitting lasers;
Conference_Titel :
Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibit, 2002. OFC 2002
Print_ISBN :
1-55752-701-6
DOI :
10.1109/OFC.2002.1036295
