Blockless fiber optic attenuators and attenuation systems employing dispersion controlled polymers

An attenuator for attenuating optical energy, comprising:

• a portion of a fiber optic through which the optical energy is transmitted, having a side surface through which at least some of said optical energy can be controllably extracted;
• the portion of the fiber optic being suspended within a housing;
• a controllable material formed over the side surface of the fiber optic for controllably extracting said optical energy;
• and
• wherein the portion of the fiber optic is suspended within the housing and is substantially thermally insulated by surrounding air or other effective thermal insulator in the housing.

An attenuator for attenuating optical energy transmitted through a fiber optic, comprising:

• a housing enclosing a portion of the fiber optic, the portion of the fiber optic having a side surface through which at least some of the optical energy can be controllably extracted;
• the portion of the fiber optic being disposed within the housing;
• a controllable material formed over the side surface of the fiber optic for controllably extracting optical energy in accordance with a changeable stimulus applied thereto;
• a stimulus source mounted in the housing in operative contact with the controllable material to apply the changeable stimulus thereto;
• and
• wherein the controllable material has its optical dispersion properties tailored in accordance with those of the fiber across a given wavelength band.

A method for attenuating optical energy transmitted in a fiber optic, comprising:

• providing a portion of the fiber optic through which the optical energy is transmitted, having a side surface through which at least some of said optical energy can be controllably extracted;
• forming a controllable material over said side surface of the fiber optic for controllably extracting said optical energy;
• attenuating the optical energy by applying a changeable stimulus to the controllable material thereby controllably extracting said optical energy;
• and
• wherein the controllable material has its optical dispersion properties tailored in accordance with those of the fiber across a given wavelength band.

A method for forming an attenuator in relation to a portion of a fiber optic through which optical energy is to be transmitted, comprising:

• providing a portion of the fiber optic through which the optical energy is to be transmitted, said portion comprising a side surface through which at least some of said optical energy can be controllably extracted;
• disposing the portion of the fiber optic in a housing;
• mounting a stimulus source in the housing
• forming a controllable material on a control surface of the stimulus source, the controllable material for controllably extracting the optical energy according to a stimulus from the stimulus source;
• bringing the portion of the fiber optic into contact with the controllable material such that the side surface of the portion of the fiber optic is substantially covered by the controllable material;
• and
• wherein the controllable material has its optical dispersion properties tailored in accordance with those of the fiber across a given wavelength band.

An attenuator for attenuating optical energy transmitted through a fiber optic, comprising:

• a housing enclosing a portion of the fiber optic, the portion of the fiber optic having a side surface through which at least some of the optical energy can be controllably extracted;
• the portion of the fiber optic being suspended within the housing and being substantially thermally insulated by surrounding air or other effective thermal insulator in the housing;
• a controllable material formed over the side surface of the fiber optic for controllably extracting optical energy in accordance with a changeable stimulus applied thereto;
• and
• a stimulus source mounted in the housing in operative contact with the controllable material to apply the changeable stimulus thereto.

A method for attenuating optical energy transmitted in a fiber optic, comprising:

• providing a portion of the fiber optic through which the optical energy is transmitted, having a side surface through which at least some of said optical energy can be controllably extracted;
• suspending the portion of the fiber optic in a housing;
• forming a controllable material over said side surface of the fiber optic for controllably extracting said optical energy;
• attenuating the optical energy by applying a changeable stimulus to the controllable material thereby controllable extracting said optical energy;
• and
• wherein the portion of the fiber optic is suspended to be substantially thermally insulated by surrounding air or other effective thermal insulator in the housing.

A method for forming an attenuator in relation to a portion of a fiber optic through which optical energy is to be transmitted, comprising:

• providing a portion of the fiber optic through which the optical energy is to be transmitted, said portion comprising a side surface through which at least some of said optical energy can be controllably extracted;
• suspending the portion of the fiber optic in a housing;
• mounting a stimulus source in the housing;
• forming a controllable material on a control surface of the stimulus source, the controllable material for controllably extracting the optical energy according to a stimulus from the stimulus source;
• bringing the portion of the fiber optic into contact with the controllable material such that the side surface of the fiber optic is substantially covered by the controllable material;
• and
• wherein the portion of the fiber optic is substantially thermally insulated by surrounding air or other effective thermal insulator in the housing.