Optical attenuator and method of manufacture
US7567745B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jul 28, 2009 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 23, 2024 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2551
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In the manufacture of an optical attenuator having a desired value of the optical loss end regions of two optical fibers are placed with an offset in the traverse direction in relation to each other and having their end surface at each other. Thereafter the region at end surfaces is heated to make the ends melt to each other and the heating is then further continued. To achieve the desired loss in the finished attenuating splice the further heating is stopped for an optical loss exceeding the desired loss by a calculated value. This value can be obtained from measurements in real time of the loss for the splice during the continued heating. The measurements can be made at the beginning and end of an interrupt of the further heating. An attenuator manufactured in this way obtains an attenuation that accurately agrees with the desired value.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.