Variable fiber optic attenuator using a bulk-micromachined deformable micromirror

A compact fiber variable optical attenuator (VOA) with 25-dB dynamic range is proposed and demonstrated at the 1550-nm band using a fiber collimator lens and a bulk-micromachined deformable micromirror. Three versatile VOA designs are presented that exploit the principle of 3-D beam spoiling to achieve broadband polarization insensitive attenuation using simple single-drive controls

Optical power independent optical beam profiler

To the best of our knowledge, proposed and demonstrated for the first time is an optical power independent optical beam profiler instrument. The instrument uses a pair of symmetrically located power detection photodetectors along with an electronically programmed two-dimensional digital micromirror device to implement spatial beam profiling. The instrument also features high-repeatability all-digital controls and fast millisecond reconfigurations. The instrument can have a critical impact in test, measurement, and monitoring systems for various optical beams, including high-power laser beams

Fault tolerant photonics for routing and gain controls

SMP (TM) technology is described that intelligently uses the spatial nature of light to form fiber-optic components and modules that provide fault-tolerance and improved optical signal setting speeds

The NU-POWER (TM) all-digital beam profiler - A powerful new tool for spatially characterizing laser beams.

An all-digital laser beam profiler instrument is proposed and demonstrated that for the first time can provide real-time and full-repeatability multi-technique profiling with high power (e.g., > 10 kw/cm(2)) laser beams.An all-digital laser beam profiler instrument is proposed and demonstrated that for the first time can provide real-time and full-repeatability multi-technique profiling with high power (e.g., > 10 kw/cm(2)) laser beams

Broadband optical equalizer using fault-tolerant digital micromirrors

For the first time, the design and demonstration of a near continuous spectral processing mode broadband equalizer is described using the earlier proposed macro-pixel spatial approach for multiwavelength fiber-optic attenuation in combination with a high spectral resolution broadband transmissive volume Bragg grating. The demonstrated design features low loss and low polarization dependent loss with broadband operation. Such an analog mode spectral processor can impact optical applications ranging from test and instrumentation to dynamic all-optical networks

Variable fiber optic attenuator using a bulk-micromachined deformable micromirror

A compact fiber variable optical attenuator (VOA) with 25-dB dynamic range is proposed and demonstrated at the 1550-nm band using a fiber collimator lens and a bulk-micromachined deformable micromirror. Three versatile VOA designs are presented that exploit the principle of 3-D beam spoiling to achieve broadband polarization insensitive attenuation using simple single-drive controls

Design and fabrication of a circular Digital Variable Optical Attenuator

The second generation circular digital variable optical attenuator (CDVOA) with an effective area of 1500 μm diameter has been designed and fabricated based on SOI technology. C-band incoming Gaussian light can be reflected to an outgoing fiber from a shiny circular area, which is divided into sectors that can be individually tilted and addressed electrostatically to achieve variable light attenuation. Using a delay mask process, each movable component i) has an underlying ridge frame to maintain flatness, ii) is suspended by two micro beams at a bridge structure that connects to a handle where aluminum electrode is located underneath, and iii) is separated by wall structures at the handle area to reduce crosstalk from adjacent electrodes. Critical fabrication processes including the mirror and chip release are performed using a HF vapor phase etcher. Fluidic pressure and chip-dicing shocks are avoided. Initial results show that a mirror sector suspended by two 345 μm long beams with a cross-section of about 5×5 μm2 can be tilted to 2.8° at about 18 V driving voltage. Initial interferometric measurement gives estimated individual mirror flatness after metallic reflective coating to be about λ/15. The assembled chips are ready for further testing and characterization

Optical power independent optical beam profiler

To the best of our knowledge, proposed and demonstrated for the first time is an optical power independent optical beam profiler instrument. The instrument uses a pair of symmetrically located power detection photodetectors along with an electronically programmed two-dimensional digital micromirror device to implement spatial beam profiling. The instrument also features high-repeatability all-digital controls and fast millisecond reconfigurations. The instrument can have a critical impact in test, measurement, and monitoring systems for various optical beams, including high-power laser beams