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Variable optical attenuator

An optical attenuator, variable technology, used in light guides, optics, instruments, etc., to solve problems such as low intensity, reduced device performance, misalignment of reflective elements and light

Inactive Publication Date: 2008-04-23
QINETIQ LTD
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

In addition, the strength of such devices can be relatively low and any mechanical vibrations can cause misalignment of the reflective elements with the light, degrading the performance of the device

Method used

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  • Variable optical attenuator
  • Variable optical attenuator

Examples

Experimental program
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Embodiment Construction

[0054] Referring to Fig. 1, a prior art VOA2 is shown. VOA2 includes an input fiber 4, an output fiber 6 and a reflective surface 8 installed on the mechanical execution unit 10. During use, the radiation from the input light 4 is incident on the reflective surface 8 and is received by the output fiber 6 after being reflected. By adding an appropriate control signal to the execution unit 8 to tilt the reflective surface 8, the amount of reflected light coupled into the output fiber 6 can be changed. In this way, variable light attenuation is achieved.

[0055] As described above, this type of configuration requires precise alignment of the optical fiber and the reflective surface. Obtaining this alignment and ensuring that it is maintained during the life of the VOA is complicated and expensive.

[0056] Figure 2 shows the VOA20 of the present invention. The VOA 20 includes a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate 22 on which a first hollow-core optical waveguide 24 and a second hol...

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PUM

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Abstract

A variable optical attenuator (VOA) device (20; 40; 50; 90) is described that comprises a first optical waveguide (24; 52; 80; 94; 120; 140) and a second optical waveguide (26; 42; 54; 82; 96; 122; 142). A moveable reflective element (28; 84; 106; 124; 144), such as a micro-electro mechanical system (MEMS) based component, is provided that has a controllable orientation with respect to at least one of said first and second optical waveguides. The first and second waveguides are formed as hollow core optical waveguides.

Description

Technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a variable optical attenuator (VOA) device, in particular to a VOA added with a hollow core optical waveguide formed on a semiconductor substrate. Background technique [0002] More and more telecommunications and data networks are implemented with optical components. In order to enable the power of the beam to be reduced in a controllable manner, various types of variable optical attenuators (VOA) have been developed. More specifically, in fiber optic networks and similar structures, VOA is used as a convenient way to provide power equalization. [0003] WO01 / 75503 describes a known VOA device in which a light beam is coupled from an input waveguide to an output waveguide via an optical path, the optical path including a region through which the light beam passes through free space. The MEMS shutter that interrupts the beam is located near the free space gap, and the linear movement of the shutter in and out of the beam pat...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): G02B6/35G02B6/26
CPCG02B6/3552G02B6/266G02B6/3512G02B6/3594G02B6/357G02B6/3596
Inventor M·E·麦尼R·M·詹金斯
Owner QINETIQ LTD