Variable fiber optic attenuator

An electronically variable fiber optic attenuator is disclosed for adjustably extracting optical energy from a single, side-polished fiber optic, and therefore attenuating the optical signal being transmitted through the fiber optic. In one aspect, material is removed from a portion of the fiber opt...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors SHAPIRO ANDREW, MENRRICK MARK, TATAR ROBERT, LAURIE MATTHEW, LAWRENCE BRIAN L, CHAN KWOK PONG, FRIELLO RENATO
Format Patent
LanguageEnglish
Published 18.09.2003
Edition7
Subjects
OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS
OPTICS
PHYSICS
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Summary:An electronically variable fiber optic attenuator is disclosed for adjustably extracting optical energy from a single, side-polished fiber optic, and therefore attenuating the optical signal being transmitted through the fiber optic. In one aspect, material is removed from a portion of the fiber optic, thereby exposing a surface through which optical energy can be extracted. A slab of material is positioned over the exposed surface of the fiber optic with a liquid overlay disposed therebetween. An actuator applies a force to the slab of material to deform or bend the slab of material into and out of the evanescent field of the fiber optic for extracting the optical energy.
Bibliography:Application Number: US20020100694