Patent · US Expired

Variable optical attenuator

US4591231A · kind A · utility

38Cited by

3References

2Claims

0Family size

Assignee

International Standard Electric Corporation · US

Inventors

Manfred Kaiser · Karben, DE
Wolfgang Stiepek · Stuttgart, DE

Key dates

Filing date	May 28, 1985
Grant date	May 27, 1986
Priority date	—
Expiry date	May 28, 2005

Classification

Technology area (CPC G)Physics
CPC primaryG02B26/02
WIPO fieldOptics
WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

The variable optical attenuator (1) comprises two spherical lenses (7, 8), one at the input end and one at the output end, between which a bundle of parallel rays is present. A disk (4) having areas (9) with neutral density filters (10) of different attenuation is rotatable through the bundle of rays. A locking mechanism (13, 14, 15) acts on a stub shaft (11) at the disk (4), and its stop positions correspond to the locations of the areas (9). This permits the attenuation of the attenuator (1) to be adjusted in steps.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.