Tektronix, Inc.

Friedrich Scheu

Duwayne R Anderson

Scott H Rumbaugh

Philip J Bos

Steve U Reinhold

Mark D Marineau

Michael D Jones

Lorimer L Twigg

William K Bucher

An remote fiber test system includes a non-blocking N.times.N optical switch having N input ports and N output ports with one of the input ports coupled to a measurement test instrument for examining any of the optical fibers coupled to the output ports. The non-blocking switch includes a plurality of N input mechanical optical switches and an plurality of N output mechanical optical switches with each of the input mechanical optical switches having an input optical transmission path representing one of the input ports and each of the output mechanical optical switches having an output optical transmission path representing one of the output ports. Each input mechanical optical switch has N output optical transmission paths which each optical transmission path being coupled to one of the input optical transmission paths of each of the output mechanical optical switches. Each output mechanical optical switch has N input optical transmission paths with each optical transmission path being coupled to one of the output optical transmission paths of each input mechanical optical switch. Interconnecting optical transmission paths may be used to couple the N output optical transmission paths of the input mechanical optical switches with the input optical transmission paths of the output mechanical optical switches.

Remote fiber test system using a non-blocking N.times.N mechanical fiber

A polarization insensitive optical attenuator (10,40) uses a polymer-dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC) film (14,56) to provide attenuation control over a wide range of attenuation values. The attenuator has a relatively low minimum attenuation and reliable light transmission with minimal insertion loss. The present invention is also adaptable for use with a temperature controller (200) that stabilizes the PDLC film, which promotes more uniform, predictable attenuation values.

Liquid crystal fiber optic attenuator and process for making same

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Bend, OR, United States of America

Friedrich Scheu