REFLECTIVE VARIABLE OPTICAL ATTENUATOR USING LIQUID CRYSTALS

摘要

The present invention relates to a reflection-type variable optical attenuator using liquid crystal. An optical attenuator according to the present invention can be designed compactly by reducing a thickness significantly due to use an integrated liquid crystal cell, wherein the liquid crystal cell is formed integrally with a reflection plate, can minimize an effect caused by the external operating temperature, and can perform sufficient attenuation performance at a ratio of 10:1 or more in an operating voltage range of 10 V or less. The reflection-type variable optical attenuator using liquid crystal includes a light separation unit for separating an inputting light from an input position to different components and outputting to different positions respectively, a liquid crystal cell for conversing a polarization state of a light through wavelength lag and transmitting the inputting light when an outputting light is inputted at one position in the light separation unit, and a reflection plate for reflecting the transmitted light from the liquid crystal cell to the liquid crystal cell again.