Optical waveguides – Accessories – Attenuator
Patent
1998-02-20
1999-10-12
Palmer, Phan
Optical waveguides
Accessories
Attenuator
385 28, 385 30, G02B 600
Patent
active
059664932
ABSTRACT:
Controllable fiber optic attenuators and attenuation systems are disclosed for controllably extracting optical energy from a 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 controllable material is formed over the surface for controllably extracting optical energy according to a changeable stimulus applied thereto, which affects the refractive index thereof. In an improved embodiment, a controllable material is formed over the exposed surface for controlling the amount of optical energy extracted from the fiber optic, and a bulk material is formed over the controllable material, into which the extracted optical energy is radiated. The controllable material has a controllable index of refraction approximately matching the index of refraction of the cladding of the fiber optic, and the bulk material formed over the controllable material has a fixed index of refraction higher than the effective mode index of refraction of the fiber optic. This cladding-driven design varies the effective optical thickness of the controllable material, and therefore effects a controllable attenuation of the optical signal being transmitted in the fiber optic. Attenuation systems including these controllable attenuators, as well as control and sense sub-systems, are also disclosed.
REFERENCES:
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Ottokar, G. & Zengerle, R., "Determination of Single-Mode Fiber Coupler Design Parameters from Loss Measurements," IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. LT-3, No. 4, (1985), pp. 864-867.
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Jameson Gary O.
McCallion Kevin J.
Wagoner Gregory A.
Molecular OptoElectronics Corporation
Palmer Phan
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