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:
Apr. 09, 2002
Filed:
Apr. 11, 2000
Gregory A. Wagoner, Watervliet, NY (US);
Kevin J. McCallion, Albany, NY (US);
Gary O. Jameson, Saratoga Springs, NY (US);
Molecular OptoElectronics Corporation, Watervilet, NY (US);
Abstract
Controllable fiber optic attenuators and attenuation systems ( ) are disclosed for controllably extracting optical energy from a fiber optic ( ), and therefore attenuating the optical signal being transmitted through the fiber optic ( ). In one aspect, material is removed from a portion of the optical fiber ( ), thereby exposing a surface through which optical energy can be extracted. A controllable material is formed over the surface for controllably extracting optical energy according to a changeable stimulus applied thereto, which affects the refractive index thereof. In an improved embodiment, a controllable material is formed over the exposed surface for controlling the amount of optical energy extracted from the fiber optic, and a bulk material is formed over the controllable material, into which the extracted optical energy is radiated.