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:
May. 29, 2007
Filed:
May. 31, 2005
Shigenori Aoki, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Kishio Yokouchi, San Jose, CA (US);
Shigenori Aoki, Sunnyvale, CA (US);
Kishio Yokouchi, San Jose, CA (US);
Fujitsu Limited, , JP;
Abstract
An apparatus for attenuating a light signal is disclosed. The apparatus causes optical attenuation in a waveguide, where the waveguide has an input port for receiving a light signal and an output port for output of an attenuated light signal. First, an electric field is generated in at least a portion of the waveguide, such that a first refractive index in that portion of the waveguide is changed to a second refractive index. Next, the light signal in the waveguide is directed from the input port to the output port through the electric field. And lastly, the light signal is attenuated as a function of the electric field. The light signal may be attenuated, for example, by changing the deflection angle, changing the beam collimation width or from emitting part of the light signal from the waveguide before the light signal reaches the output port.