The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 11, 1992
Filed:
Aug. 13, 1990
Frederick M Ostrander, Oriskany, NY (US);
Hosain Hakimi, Utica, NY (US);
Laser Precision Corporation, Utica, NY (US);
Abstract
An improved variable rate attenuator (VOA) is disclosed, which is used in an optical signal transmission system for testing (and other) purposes. In an optical fiber data transmission system, the VOA can be used to determine how much attenuation of the light beam can be tolerated without causing excessive bit error rate (BER) in data transmission. The improved VOA is a blocker having a vane-like structure which is gradually rotated into a collimated beam to cause attenuation. Because the movement vector of the edge of the blocker perpendicular to the collimated beam gradually becomes less for a given increment of blocker rotation, resolution of the attenuation is improved.