Claims
- 1. An apparatus comprising:
a variable curvature mirror positioned to reflect light produced by a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator back to the VIPA generator; and a rotation axis around which the mirror is rotated to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the curvature of the mirror changes along a direction parallel to an angular dispersion direction of the VIPA generator.
- 3. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the rotation axis is perpendicular to an angular dispersion direction of the VIPA generator.
- 4. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the rotation axis is perpendicular to the angular dispersion direction of the VIPA generator.
- 5. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the rotation axis is disposed on or within the mirror.
- 6. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the rotation axis is disposed on or within the mirror.
- 7. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the rotation axis is disposed on or within the mirror.
- 8. An apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a translation path along which the rotation axis is movable to thereby provide both rotation and translation to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 9. An apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising a translation path along which the rotation axis is movable to thereby provide both rotation and translation to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 10. An apparatus as in claim 3, further comprising a translation path along which the rotation axis is movable to thereby provide both rotation and translation to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 11. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 12. An apparatus as in claim 2, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 13. An apparatus as in claim 3, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 14. An apparatus as in claim 5, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 15. An apparatus as in claim 8, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 16. An apparatus comprising:
a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator producing a light traveling from the VIPA generator; a variable curvature mirror positioned to reflect the light back to the VIPA generator; and a rotation axis around which the mirror is rotated to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 17. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the curvature of the mirror changes along a direction parallel to an angular dispersion direction of the VIPA generator.
- 18. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the rotation axis is perpendicular to an angular dispersion direction of the VIPA generator.
- 19. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the rotation axis is perpendicular to the angular dispersion direction of the VIPA generator.
- 20. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the rotation axis is disposed on or within the mirror.
- 21. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the rotation axis is disposed on or within the mirror.
- 22. An apparatus as in claim 18, wherein the rotation axis is disposed on or within the mirror.
- 23. An apparatus as in claim 16, further comprising a translation path along which the rotation axis is movable to thereby provide both rotation and translation to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 24. An apparatus as in claim 17, further comprising a translation path along which the rotation axis is movable to thereby provide both rotation and translation to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 25. An apparatus as in claim 18, further comprising a translation path along which the rotation axis is movable to thereby provide both rotation and translation to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 26. An apparatus as in claim 16, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 27. An apparatus as in claim 17, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 28. An apparatus as in claim 18, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 29. An apparatus as in claim 20, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 30. An apparatus as in claim 23, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 31. An apparatus as in claim 16, further comprising:
a lens directing the light traveling from the VIPA generator to the mirror so that the mirror reflects the light, the reflected light being directed by the lens back to the VIPA generator.
- 32. An apparatus as in claim 23, further comprising:
a lens directing the light traveling from the VIPA generator to the mirror so that the mirror reflects the light, the reflected light being directed by the lens back to the VIPA generator.
- 33. An apparatus comprising:
a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator receiving an input light at a respective wavelength and producing a corresponding output light traveling from the VIPA generator in a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light; a variable curvature mirror positioned to reflect the output light back to the VIPA generator so that the reflected output light travels through the VIPA generator, to thereby provide dispersion compensation to the input light; and a rotation axis around which the mirror is rotated to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected, to thereby vary an amount of dispersion compensation provided to the input light.
- 34. An apparatus as in claim 33, wherein the curvature of the mirror changes along a direction parallel to an angular dispersion direction of the VIPA generator.
- 35. An apparatus as in claim 33, wherein the rotation axis is perpendicular to an angular dispersion direction of the VIPA generator.
- 36. An apparatus as in claim 34, wherein the rotation axis is perpendicular to the angular dispersion direction of the VIPA generator.
- 37. An apparatus as in claim 33, wherein the rotation axis is disposed on or within the mirror.
- 38. An apparatus as in claim 33, further comprising a translation path along which the rotation axis is movable to thereby provide both rotation and translation to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 39. An apparatus as in claim 35, further comprising a translation path along which the rotation axis is movable to thereby provide both rotation and translation to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 40. An apparatus as in claim 33, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 41. An apparatus as in claim 33, further comprising:
a lens directing the output light traveling from the VIPA generator to the mirror so that the mirror reflects the output light, the reflected light being directed by the lens back to the VIPA generator.
- 42. An apparatus as in claim 38, further comprising:
a lens directing the output light traveling from the VIPA generator to the mirror so that the mirror reflects the output light, the reflected light being directed by the lens back to the VIPA generator.
- 43. An apparatus comprising:
a radiation window; first and second reflecting surfaces in parallel with each other, the first reflecting surface allowing substantially no light to be transmitted therethrough and being in the same plane as the radiation window, the second reflecting surface having a reflectivity which causes a portion of light incident thereon to be transmitted therethrough, wherein
an input light at a respective wavelength travels through the radiation window and is focused into a line, and the first and second reflecting surfaces are positioned so that the input light radiates from the line to be reflected a plurality of times between the first and second reflecting surfaces and thereby cause a plurality of lights to be transmitted through the second reflecting surface, the plurality of transmitted lights interfering with each other to produce a collimated output light which travels from the second reflecting surface along a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light, and is thereby specially distinguishable from an output light formed for an input light having a different wavelength; a variable curvature mirror reflecting the output light back to the second reflecting surface to pass through the second reflecting surface and undergo multiple reflection between the first and second reflecting surfaces; and a rotation axis around which the mirror is rotated to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 44. An apparatus as in claim 43, wherein the curvature of the mirror changes along a direction parallel to a plane which includes the travel direction of collimated output light from the second reflecting surface for input light at different wavelengths.
- 45. An apparatus as in claim 43, wherein the rotation axis is perpendicular to a plane which includes the travel direction of collimated output light from the second reflecting surface for input light at different wavelengths.
- 46. An apparatus as in claim 43, wherein the rotation axis is disposed on or within the mirror.
- 47. An apparatus as in claim 43, further comprising a translation path along which the rotation axis is movable to thereby provide both rotation and translation to change the curvature of the mirror where the output light is reflected.
- 48. An apparatus as in claim 43, wherein the curvature of the mirror varies from a flat portion to a convex portion.
- 49. An apparatus as in claim 43, further comprising:
a lens directing the output light traveling from the second reflecting surface to the mirror so that the mirror reflects the output light, the reflected light being directed by the lens back to the second reflecting surface.
- 50. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of mirrors having different surface curvatures to reflect light; and a holder having a rotation axis and holding the plurality of mirrors equidistantly from the rotation axis, the holder being rotatable around the rotation axis to bring a different, respective mirror of the plurality of mirrors in position to reflect light produced by a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator back to the VIPA generator.
- 51. An apparatus as in claim 50, wherein the plurality of mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 52. An apparatus as in claim 50, wherein the plurality of mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
- 53. An apparatus comprising:
a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator producing light; a plurality of mirrors having different surface curvatures; and a holder having a rotation axis and holding the plurality of mirrors equidistantly from the rotation axis, the holder being rotatable around the rotation axis to bring a different, respective mirror of the plurality of mirrors in position to reflect the light produced by a VIPA generator back to the VIPA generator.
- 54. An apparatus as in claim 53, wherein the plurality of mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 55. An apparatus as in claim 53, wherein the plurality of mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
- 56. An apparatus as in claim 53, further comprising:
a lens focusing the light produced by the VIPA generator to the respective mirror in position to reflect the light, and directing the reflected light back to the VIPA generator.
- 57. An apparatus comprising:
a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator receiving an input light at a respective wavelength and producing a corresponding output light traveling from the VIPA generator in a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light; a plurality of mirrors having different surface curvatures; and a holder having a rotation axis and holding the plurality of mirrors equidistantly from the rotation axis, the holder being rotatable around the rotation axis to bring a different, respective mirror of the plurality of mirrors in position to reflect the output light back to the VIPA generator, to thereby provide dispersion compensation to the input light.
- 58. An apparatus as in claim 57, wherein the plurality of mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 59. An apparatus as in claim 57, wherein the plurality of mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
- 60. An apparatus as in claim 57, further comprising:
a lens focusing the output light traveling from the VIPA generator to the respective mirror in position to reflect the light, and directing the reflected light back to the VIPA generator.
- 61. An apparatus comprising:
a radiation window; first and second reflecting surfaces in parallel with each other, the first reflecting surface allowing substantially no light to be transmitted therethrough and being in the same plane as the radiation window, the second reflecting surface having a reflectivity which causes a portion of light incident thereon to be transmitted therethrough, wherein
an input light at a respective wavelength travels through the radiation window and is focused into a line, and the first and second reflecting surfaces are positioned so that the input light radiates from the line to be reflected a plurality of times between the first and second reflecting surfaces and thereby cause a plurality of lights to be transmitted through the second reflecting surface, the plurality of transmitted lights interfering with each other to produce a collimated output light which travels from the second reflecting surface along a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light, and is thereby specially distinguishable from an output light formed for an input light having a different wavelength; a plurality of mirrors having different surface curvatures; and a holder having a rotation axis and holding the plurality of mirrors equidistantly from the rotation axis, the holder being rotatable around the rotation axis to bring a different, respective mirror of the plurality of mirrors in position to reflect the output light back to the second reflecting surface to pass through the second reflecting surface and undergo multiple reflection between the first and second surfaces.
- 62. An apparatus as in claim 61, wherein the plurality of mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 63. An apparatus as in claim 61, wherein the plurality of mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
- 64. An apparatus as in claim 61, further comprising:
a lens focusing the output light traveling from the second reflecting surface to the respective mirror in position to reflect the output light, and directing the reflected light back to the second reflecting surface.
- 65. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of fixed mirrors having different surface curvatures to reflect light; and a rotating mirror rotatable about a rotation axis to reflect light produced by a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator to a respective fixed mirror of the plurality of fixed mirrors, and to reflect the light reflected by the respective fixed mirror back to the VIPA generator.
- 66. An apparatus as in claim 65, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 67. An apparatus as in claim 65, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
- 68. An apparatus comprising:
a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator producing light; a plurality of fixed mirrors having different surface curvatures to reflect light; and a rotating mirror rotatable about a rotation axis to reflect light produced by the VIPA generator to a respective fixed mirror of the plurality of fixed mirrors, and to reflect the light reflected by the respective fixed mirror back to the VIPA generator.
- 69. An apparatus as in claim 68, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 70. An apparatus as in claim 68, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
- 71. An apparatus as in claim 68, further comprising:
a lens directing the light produced by the VIPA generator to rotating mirror, and directing the light from the fixed mirror and reflected by the rotating mirror back to the VIPA generator.
- 72. An apparatus comprising:
a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator receiving an input light at a respective wavelength and producing a corresponding output light traveling from the VIPA generator in a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light; a plurality of fixed mirrors having different surface curvatures to reflect light; and a rotating mirror rotatable about a rotation axis to reflect the output light traveling from the VIPA generator to a respective fixed mirror of the plurality of fixed mirrors, and to reflect the light reflected by the respective fixed mirror back to the VIPA generator, to thereby provide dispersion compensation to the input light.
- 73. An apparatus as in claim 72, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 74. An apparatus as in claim 72, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
- 75. An apparatus as in claim 72, further comprising:
a lens focusing the output light traveling from the VIPA generator to the rotating mirror, and directing the light from the fixed mirror and reflected by the rotating mirror back to the VIPA generator.
- 76. An apparatus comprising:
a radiation window; first and second reflecting surfaces in parallel with each other, the first reflecting surface allowing substantially no light to be transmitted therethrough and being in the same plane as the radiation window, the second reflecting surface having a reflectivity which causes a portion of light incident thereon to be transmitted therethrough, wherein
an input light at a respective wavelength travels through the radiation window and is focused into a line, and the first and second reflecting surfaces are positioned so that the input light radiates from the line to be reflected a plurality of times between the first and second reflecting surfaces and thereby cause a plurality of lights to be transmitted through the second reflecting surface, the plurality of transmitted lights interfering with each other to produce a collimated output light which travels from the second reflecting surface along a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light, and is thereby specially distinguishable from an output light formed for an input light having a different wavelength; a plurality of fixed mirrors having different surface curvatures to reflect light; and a rotating mirror rotatable about a rotation axis to reflect the output light traveling from the second reflecting surface to a respective fixed mirror of the plurality of fixed mirrors, and to reflect the light reflected by the respective fixed mirror back to the second reflecting surface to pass through the second reflecting surface and undergo multiple reflection between the first and second reflecting surfaces.
- 77. An apparatus as in claim 76, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 78. An apparatus as in claim 76, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
- 79. An apparatus as in claim 76, further comprising:
a lens focusing the output light traveling from the second reflecting surface to the rotating mirror, and directing the light from the fixed mirror and reflected by the rotating mirror back to the second reflecting surface.
- 80. An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of fixed mirrors having different surface curvatures to reflect light; and an off-axis parabolic mirror rotatable about a rotation axis to reflect light produced by a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator to a respective fixed mirror of the plurality of fixed mirrors, and to reflect the light reflected by the respective fixed mirror back to the VIPA generator.
- 81. An apparatus as in claim 80, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 82. An apparatus as in claim 80, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
- 83. An apparatus comprising:
a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator producing light; a plurality of fixed mirrors having different surface curvatures to reflect light; and an off-axis parabolic mirror rotatable about a rotation axis to reflect light produced by the VIPA generator to a respective fixed mirror of the plurality of fixed mirrors, and to reflect the light reflected by the respective fixed mirror back to the VIPA generator.
- 84. An apparatus as in claim 83, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 85. An apparatus as in claim 83, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
- 86. An apparatus comprising:
a virtually imaged phased array (VIPA) generator receiving an input light at a respective wavelength and producing a corresponding output light traveling from the VIPA generator in a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light; a plurality of fixed mirrors having different surface curvatures to reflect light; and an off-axis parabolic mirror rotatable about a rotation axis to reflect the output light traveling from the VIPA generator to a respective fixed mirror of the plurality of fixed mirrors, and to reflect the light reflected by the respective fixed mirror back to the VIPA generator, to thereby provide dispersion compensation to the input light.
- 87. An apparatus as in claim 86, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 88. An apparatus as in claim 86, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
- 89. An apparatus comprising:
a radiation window; first and second reflecting surfaces in parallel with each other, the first reflecting surface allowing substantially no light to be transmitted therethrough and being in the same plane as the radiation window, the second reflecting surface having a reflectivity which causes a portion of light incident thereon to be transmitted therethrough, wherein
an input light at a respective wavelength travels through the radiation window and is focused into a line, and the first and second reflecting surfaces are positioned so that the input light radiates from the line to be reflected a plurality of times between the first and second reflecting surfaces and thereby cause a plurality of lights to be transmitted through the second reflecting surface, the plurality of transmitted lights interfering with each other to produce a collimated output light which travels from the second reflecting surface along a direction determined by the wavelength of the input light, and is thereby specially distinguishable from an output light formed for an input light having a different wavelength; a plurality of fixed mirrors having different surface curvatures to reflect light; and an off-axis parabolic mirror rotatable about a rotation axis to reflect the output light traveling from the second reflecting surface to a respective fixed mirror of the plurality of fixed mirrors, and to reflect the light reflected by the respective fixed mirror back to the second reflecting surface to pass through the second reflecting surface and undergo multiple reflection between the first and second reflecting surfaces.
- 90. An apparatus as in claim 89, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are separate, non-contiguous mirrors.
- 91. An apparatus as in claim 89, wherein the plurality of fixed mirrors are portions of a single mirror surface of continuously varying curvature.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/576,541, filed May 23, 2000, which is incorporated herein by reference.
[0002] The subject matter of the present application is related to U.S. application Ser. No. 09/461,277, filed Dec. 14, 1999; U.S. application Ser. No. 08/796,842, filed Feb. 7, 1997; U.S. application Ser. No. 08/685,362, filed Jul. 24, 1996; and U.S. Ser. No. application 08/910,251, filed Aug. 13, 1997; which are incorporated herein by reference.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09576541 |
May 2000 |
US |
Child |
09727450 |
Dec 2000 |
US |