US Patent 7109471 Optical wavelength determination using multiple measurable features

A method and apparatus for quickly and accurately determining optical wavelengths using multiple features of an optical spectrum produced by an optical element that is configured to produce an optical spectrum having multiple resolvable features. Finding the mean of the measured values of the multiple resolvable features may provide an improved characterizing measurement of the element. Examples of optical elements suitable for use in the present invention include, but are not limited to, super-structured fiber Bragg gratings, multiple fiber Bragg gratings, Fabry-Perot etalons and gas cells.