All-fiber precision variable optical attenuator

Abstract

The invention discloses an all-fiber precision variable optical attenuator, which comprises a curved shell, and a plurality of side A deformation teeth and a plurality of side B deformation teeth which are arranged continuously; and the side A deformation teeth and the side B deformation teeth are arranged in a staggered way, and a light guide optical fiber is clamped between the side A deformation teeth and the side B deformation teeth. Distances between the plurality of side A deformation teeth and the plurality of side B deformation teeth, which are distributed along the curved shell, can be changed simultaneously by changing a space between two ends of the curved shell, so that a bending radius of the light guide optical fiber clamped between the side A deformation teeth and the side B deformation teeth can be changed, namely a bending loss coefficient of the light guide optical fiber is changed; therefore, an attenuation amplitude of an input optical signal is changed. The all-fiber precision variable optical attenuator disclosed by the invention is simple in structure, rational in design, convenient to process and manufacture, flexible in using manner, high in sensitivity, low in cost and good in use effect, and has wide market application prospect.

Description

technical field [0001] The invention relates to optical fiber communication, in particular to a continuously adjustable all-fiber precision optical fiber attenuator. Background technique [0002] Optical fiber attenuator is a very important optical passive device in the field of optical communication. It is mainly used in the evaluation, research, adjustment and correction of optical communication lines and systems. The existing optical fiber attenuators are mainly of fixed type and adjustable type. Fixed attenuators have a fixed attenuation ratio. However, in optical fiber systems, it is often necessary to precisely control the optical signal value in each component of the system. For example, in the testing and characterization stages of system applications, system evaluation, measurement and calibration, etc., adjustable optical fiber attenuators are required. Most of the current adjustable optical fiber attenuators cut the optical fiber, which is realized by changing t...

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Problems solved by technology

[0007] Chinese patents 01217692.3, 01271511.5 and 03277454.0 provide all-fiber attenuator solutions based on the macrobending loss of the optical fiber to realize the adjustable optical attenuator, and only use a small part of the optical fiber to realize the bending loss. According to the above formula, which limits the dynamic range and accuracy of the fiber attenuator

[0008] The solution provided by Chinese patent 200520025797.7 is to realize the adjustable optical attenuator mainly based on the microbending loss of the optical fiber, which makes full use of the length of the optical fiber used to realize the bending loss, but because it is realized by two upper and lower plates, the flat plate The size of the fiber attenuator cannot be too large, so that the length of the fiber that can be bent is limited, which hinders the improvement of the dynamic range and accuracy of this type of fiber attenuator

In addition, the adjustable distance of the relative movement of the two plates is only a few hundred microns at most, and the two plates must be kept basically parallel during the movement, so this type of attenuator has high requirements for the mechanical structure of the adjustment, which not only increases the implementation cost, It also limits the improvement of the dynamic range and precision of this type of fiber attenuator

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