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:
Jul. 08, 2003
Filed:
Oct. 04, 2001
Vladimir I. Vaganov, Los Gatos, CA (US);
Megasense, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Abstract
A variable optical attenuator, or VOA, includes a movable focusing mirror and an actuator integrated on a substrate or within a MEMS. The actuator moves the mirror within a range of motion to reflect, focus and steer a light beam. One embodiment further includes an input and an output photonic component, such as wave guides or optical fibers. The wave guides or optical fibers may have angled endfaces and be positioned to reduce the required operating range of motion of the mirror. The mirror may be a Fresnel mirror, a concave mirror, a diffractive mirror or a concave diffractive mirror. In certain embodiments the mirror is moved in at least two dimensions to steer the light beam to form a trajectory having at least two dimensions.