Patent · US Expired

Variable optical attenuator

US6560396B1 · kind B1 · utility

5Cited by
6References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 29, 2000
Grant dateMay 6, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 29, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02F2203/48
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

This invention is related to method for assembling an optical attenuator to attenuate an optical beam. The method includes a step of a) collimating the optical beam from an input optical waveguide into a substantially collimated beam comprising an upper segmented-portion and a lower segmented-portion. The method further includes steps of b) transmitting the collimated onto a phase shifting means comprising at least an upper phase shifting means for generating a phase difference between the upper segmented-portion and the lower segmented-portion and c) generating a self-interference between the upper segmented-portion and the lower segmented-portion of the collimated beam and focusing the collimated beam into an output optical waveguide with an attenuation resulting from the self-interference.

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