Wavelength independent variable optical attenuator
AssigneeE-Tek Dynamics, Inc.
InventorsHongwei Mao, Yi-Xin Chen, Kok Wai Chang
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Abstract
The invention provides an optical attenuator having a pair of substantially parallel mirrors that attenuate an optical signal based, at least in part, on the rotation angle of the mirrors. When the pair or mirrors is in a predetermined position, an input optical signal is directed from an input port to an output port with a minimum insertion loss. As the pair of mirrors is rotated, the optical signal is shifted parallelly, which provides increased insertion loss and an attenuated signal at the output port. The pair of mirrors can be rotated, for example, with a stepper motor, or other device.
Claims16
An attenuator comprising a pair of substantially parallel mirrors that attenuate an optical signal based, at least in part, on an angle of rotation, wherein the mirrors provide attenuation over a large angle of rotation.
An apparatus comprising:
- means for parallelly shifting an optical signal;
- and
- means for rotating the means for parallelly shifting the optical signal to attenuate the optical signal to provide an attenuated optical signal.
A method for attenuating an optical signal, the method comprising:
- receiving an optical signal;
- and
- rotating a pair of substantially parallel mirrors to attenuate the optical signal.
An optical attenuator comprising:
- an input port to collimate an optical signal;
- a first rotatable mirror, the first rotatable mirror to reflect the optical signal from the input port;
- a second rotatable mirror substantially parallel to the first rotatable mirror, the second rotatable mirror to reflect the optical signal from the first rotatable mirror;
- and
- an output port to receive the optical signal from the second rotatable mirror and to provide an output optical signal;
- wherein the first rotatable mirror and the second rotatable mirror operate to parallelly shift the optical signal to provide attenuation of the optical signal between the input port and the output port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.