公开(公告)号：US10481332B2

公开(公告)日：2019-11-19

申请号：US15412116

申请日：2017-01-23

Applicant: II-VI Incorporated

Inventor： Mark H. Garrett ,  Mark Filipowicz ,  Siegfried Fleischer

IPC: G02B6/26 ,  G02B6/42 ,  G01J1/04 ,  G01J1/42 ,  G02B26/08

Abstract: A free space variable optical attenuator (VOA) utilizes a beamsplitter to create tap beams (of both the input signal and the beam-steered output signal) that are directed into monitoring photodiodes. The beamsplitter is configured to exhibit a non-equal splitting ratio such that the tap beams are only a relatively small portion of the input/output beams. The free space configuration eliminates the need for fiber-based couplers, splices and connections to external monitors, as required in prior art VOA monitoring systems. The VOA utilizes a voltage-controlled, MEMS-based tilt mirror to provide beam steering of the propagating, free space beam in a known manner to introduce attenuation (power reduction) in the output signal.

公开(公告)号：US20180210151A1

公开(公告)日：2018-07-26

申请号：US15412116

申请日：2017-01-23

Applicant: II-VI Incorporated

Inventor： Mark H. Garrett ,  Mark Filipowicz ,  Siegfried Fleischer

IPC: G02B6/26 ,  G02B6/42 ,  G02B26/08 ,  G01J1/04 ,  G01J1/42 ,  G02B6/32

CPC classification number: G02B6/266 ,  G01J1/0414 ,  G01J1/0425 ,  G01J1/0437 ,  G01J1/4228 ,  G01J1/4257 ,  G02B6/4214 ,  G02B6/4286 ,  G02B26/0833

Abstract: A free space variable optical attenuator (VOA) utilizes a beamsplitter to create tap beams (of both the input signal and the beam-steered output signal) that are directed into monitoring photodiodes. The beamsplitter is configured to exhibit a non-equal splitting ratio such that the tap beams are only a relatively small portion of the input/output beams. The free space configuration eliminates the need for fiber-based couplers, splices and connections to external monitors, as required in prior art VOA monitoring systems. The VOA utilizes a voltage-controlled, MEMS-based tilt mirror to provide beam steering of the propagating, free space beam in a known manner to introduce attenuation (power reduction) in the output signal.