Variable optical attenuator

Details Variable optical attenuator Variable optical attenuator

2005-09-20

2005-09-20

Ullah, Akm Enayet (Department: 2874)

Optical waveguides

Accessories

Attenuator

C385S018000, C385S031000, C359S291000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06947657

ABSTRACT:
A variable optical attenuator for providing a new light attenuation mechanism based on using at least one of tilted mirrors to change and control the beam direction of reflected light beam toward output optical port in a two dimensional light path configuration is demonstrated to achieve the light attenuation in terms of changing and controlling the coupling loss among input optical port, reflective tilted mirrors, and output optical port. The tilted mirror is supported and connected by a suspended flexure spring at one side. This suspended spring is connected with tilted mirror at one side and is anchored on a substrate at the other side via a post (or a pivot). When the tilted mirror is driven by an actuator to generate movement including rotational mirror deflection and parallel mirror shifted displacement, the reflected light beam path is changed according to the particular mirror positions. The attenuation value is modified and controlled by the coupled light of reflected light beam to output port. The structure and materials of variable optical attenuator is designed and chose to be robust to environment mechanical and thermal noise.

REFERENCES:
patent: 5668655 (1997-09-01), Schweizer et al.
patent: 6137941 (2000-10-01), Robinson
patent: 6333584 (2001-12-01), Jerman
patent: 6459845 (2002-10-01), Lee
patent: 6469415 (2002-10-01), Jerman
patent: 6501600 (2002-12-01), Godil
patent: 6538816 (2003-03-01), Fuchs
patent: 6628856 (2003-09-01), Costello
patent: 6628882 (2003-09-01), Vaganov
patent: 2003/0026582 (2003-02-01), Hout et al.
patent: 2004/0037493 (2004-02-01), Lee et al.
patent: 2004/0061417 (2004-04-01), Hwang
Kim et al, “MEMS Reflective Type Variable Optical Attenuator Using Off-Axis Misalignment” School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Seoul National University, pp. 55-56.
Yeh et al, “Full-Range Linearization of Rotary Combdrive-Actuated Micro-Mirrors for Optical Telecommunication” Dep't of Power Mechanical Engineering, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, pp. 93-94.
Grade et al, “MEMS Electrostatic Actuators for Optical Switching Applications”.
Toshiyoshi et al, “A 5-Volt Operated MEMS Variable Optical Attenuator” 2003 IEEE pp. 1768-1771.
Chen et al, “Development and Application of Lateral Comb-Drive Actuator” 2003 The Japan Society of Applied Physics, Jpn. J. Appl. Phys. vol. 42 2003, pp. 4059-4062.
Chen et al, “Novel VOA Using In-Plane Reflective Micromirror and Off-Axis Light Attenuation” IEEE Optical Communications 2003, pp. 516-520.
Bashir et al, “A MEMS-Based VOA With Very Low PDL” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 16, No. 4, 2004, pp. 1047-1049.
Barber et al, “A Fiber Connectorized MEMS Variable Optical Attenuator” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 10, No. 9 1998, pp. 1262-1264.
Marxer et al, “A Variable Optical Attenuator Based on Silicon Micromechanics” IEEE Photonics Technology Letters, vol. 11, No. 2, 1999, pp. 233-235.
Andersen et al, “MEMS Variable Optical Attenuator for DWDM Optical Amplifiers” Lucent Technologies, Optoelectronics Center, Breinigsville, PA, pp. 260-262.
Lee, “Challenges in Optical MEMS commercialization and MEMS Foundry” Asia Pacific Microsystems, Inc., 2002.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Variable optical attenuator does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Variable optical attenuator, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Variable optical attenuator will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3414743