Fiber optic attenuator

Arto Karppinen; Harri K. Kopola; Risto A. Myllylae

doi:10.1117/12.55181

1 January 1992 Fiber optic attenuator

Arto Karppinen, Harri K. Kopola, Risto A. Myllylae

Author Affiliations +

Journal of Electronic Imaging, Vol. 1, Issue 1, (January 1992). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.55181

Abstract

Several possibilities based on the principles of scattering and polarization of light in liquid crystals (LCs) and PLZT ceramics were studied for the replacement of mechanical shutters and attenuators in optical instruments. A scatter-mode LC was selectedas the active material, and two modules were developed for fiber optic attenuator applications. In the first, the light transmitted through an optical fiber (input fiber, Φ100/140 μm) is collimated to a beam using a graded-index microlens (0.25 P, Φ1.8 mm). This beam penetrates two LC films (7 × 12 mm²) and is received by a microlens at the output fiber. The second, for large-diameter fibers (Φ400 μm), employs conventional aspherical lenses to optimize the fiber-to-fiber coupling instead of microlenses. Components were built for both Φ100- and Φ400-μm fibers. The maximum transmission is up to 70% and maximum contrasts 10,000:1 (632.8 nm), 2000:1 (830 nm), and 700:1 (905 nm). The rise time is typically less than 1 ms and the decay time less than 5 ms, given a temperature above + 20°C. The contrast remains high from 0 to + 50°C. Both components function with ±100VAC.

Citation Download Citation

Arto Karppinen, Harri K. Kopola, and Risto A. Myllylae "Fiber optic attenuator," Journal of Electronic Imaging 1(1), (1 January 1992). https://doi.org/10.1117/12.55181

Published: 1 January 1992

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available