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AssigneeII-Vi Delaware, Inc.
InventorsMark H. Garrett, Mark Filipowicz, Siegfried Fleischer
Estimating the term…
A free space variable optical attenuator (VOA) utilizes a beamsplitter to create tap beams (of both the input signal and the beam-steered output signal) that are directed into monitoring photodiodes. The beamsplitter is configured to exhibit a non-equal splitting ratio such that the tap beams are only a relatively small portion of the input/output beams. The free space configuration eliminates the need for fiber-based couplers, splices and connections to external monitors, as required in prior art VOA monitoring systems. The VOA utilizes a voltage-controlled, MEMS-based tilt mirror to provide beam steering of the propagating, free space beam in a known manner to introduce attenuation (power reduction) in the output signal.
A free space variable optical attenuator with integrated power monitoring comprising
The free space variable optical attenuator as defined in claim wherein the monitoring arrangement comprises a split detector configuration disposed to receive the minor portion of the beam-steered output free space beam re-directed by the beam splitter, the split detector configuration comprising
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.