SUGAR LAND, Texas, Sept. 16 -- Applied Optoelectronics Inc. (AOI), a manufacturer of laser diodes, photodetectors and optical modules for fiber optic communications systems, announced it has been issued four new US patents relating to a variety of designs for tunable lasers. Tunable lasers enable greater flexibility in the manufacture and use of laser diodes as transmitters in advanced optical networks, especially those employing dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM). "AOI has invested heavily in research during the development of its advanced laser technologies," said Wen-Yen Hwang, vice president of engineering at AOI. "The patents announced today are a significant part of a broad portfolio of technologies developed to address shortcomings in existing diode laser technology." AOI’s 29 issued patents will now include ten related to tunable laser technology, some of which involve external-cavity laser technology, including US Patent 6,263,002, which was recently acquired from Micron Optics Inc. In addition to tunable and external-cavity lasers, AOI’s patent portfolio covers other advanced fiber optic devices, including laser arrays, DBR lasers, compliant substrates, photodetectors and optoelectronic packaging and assembly methods and devices. For more information, visit: www.ao-inc.com