Patent · US Expired

Switch/variable optical attenuator (SVOA)

US7027680B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by
5References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 24, 2003
Grant dateApr 11, 2006
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 24, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3594
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A Switch/Variable Optical Attenuator (SVOA) includes a die including at least one 2×2 optical switch and a respective integral variable optical attenuator for each of the at least one 2×2 optical switch. Each of the at least one 2×2 optical switches includes an INPUT optical port, an OUTPUT optical port, an ADD optical port, and a DROP optical port. The INPUT optical port is connected to the OUTPUT optical port in one state of the switch, and the ADD optical port is connected to the OUTPUT optical port in a second state of the switch. A single air gap exists between the ports. The VOA is mounted on the die and is associated with the switch for selectively attenuating optical signals transiting the air gap from one port to another.

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