Fiber device having variable refractive index region proximal the core
AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.
InventorsRolando Patricio Espindola, Jefferson Lynn Wagener, Robert Scott Windeler
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Abstract
A device for changing the power levels of signals transmitted by an optical fiber, along with signal modulation and wavelength routing, comprises a length of optical fiber in which for a predetermined section of the length of the fiber, the fiber core is surrounded by a cladding having one or more variable refractive index (VRI) regions disposed therein in close proximity to the core. The VRI regions are fabricated with a material having an index of refraction higher than that of the cladding and may comprise a variable attenuator.
Claims20
An article including an optical fiber device, the device comprising:
- a length of optical fiber having a core fabricated with a material having a predetermined refractive index and a cladding surrounding the core having a refractive index less than the refractive index of the core;
- and
- at least one variable refractive index (VRI) region disposed within the cladding in close proximity to the core for a predetermined section of the length of optical fiber, the VRI region having a refractive index higher than that of the cladding for modifying the index of the mode propagated along the core.
A device for attenuating a signal propagated along the core of an optical fiber, the device comprising:
- an optical fiber section comprising a core fabricated with a material having a predetermined refractive index, a cladding surrounding the core having a refractive index less than the refractive index of the core, and at least one variable refractive index (VRI) region disposed within the cladding in close proximity to the core, the VRI region having a refractive index higher than that of the cladding for modifying the index of the mode of the signal propagated along the core and attenuating the signal.
A method of attenuating a signal propagated along the core of an optical fiber, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an attenuator device comprising a core fabricated with a material having a predetermined refractive index, a cladding surrounding the core having a refractive index less than the refractive index of the core, and at least one variable refractive index (VRI) region disposed within the cladding in close proximity to the core, the VRI region having a refractive index higher than that of the cladding for modifying the index of the mode of the signal propagated along the core and thereby attenuating the signal;
- and
- varying the refractive index of the VRI region to control the degree of attenuation of the signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.