VARIABLE OPTICAL ATTENUATOR USING POLYMER LENS AND OPTICAL FIBER

摘要

A variable optical attenuator for optical communications comprises: a substrate on which a plurality of alignment grooves are patterned; an input optical fiber aligned in one of the alignment grooves (151,152) and receiving an optical signal; a reflector (140) formed on the substrate (150) so as to move to change a path of an optical signal which has passed through the input optical fiber (110); an output optical fiber (112) aligned in one of the alignment grooves and outputting an optical signal whose path has been changed; a first lens (120) aligned in one of the alignment grooves between the input/output optical fibers and the reflector (140) so as to collimate an optical signal in a direction perpendicular to the substrate; and a second lens (130a,130b) patterned on the substrate between the input/output optical fibers and the reflector so as to collimate an optical signal in a direction horizontal to the substrate, thereby facilitating an assembly process, reducing an alignment error, and miniaturizing its entire size. IMAGE