Attenuation device for wavelength multiplexed optical fiber communications
US5745271A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 31, 1996 |
| Grant date | Apr 28, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 31, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B2006/12142
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical signal attenuation device and associated method for selectively attenuating the signal strengths of different wavelength signals contained within a multiplexed optical transmission. The attenuation device includes a diffracting element that diffracts the multiplexed optical system and directs the different wavelength signals onto separate optical paths. A modulator array is provided that contains a plurality of optical modulators spaced at a pitch so that each modulator receives one of the different wavelength signals. Each optical modulator causes a signal to be produced that correspond to the signal it receives, except that the signal strength of the emitted signal is altered to fall within a desired range. Each signal emitted by the optical modulators is again directed toward a diffraction element. The diffraction element combines the separate wavelength signals, thereby producing a multiplexed signal where each wavelength has a signal strength that falls within a common range.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.