Patent ID: 6434318
Filing Date: 2002-08-13
Classification: G02F

Abstract:
An optical attenuator device operable in a non-actuated state and an actuated state, comprising:at least one elongated core for propagating optical energy along a longitudinal axis thereof; a cladding surrounding the core, the cladding having in the non-actuated state a refractive index depressed relative to a refractive index of the core such that the optical energy is substantially confined under normal conditions to the core, the core and cladding having matched thermo-optic coefficients; a thermal source positioned above the core, the thermal source in the actuated state generating a temperature gradient along a vertical axis extending through the core sufficient to cause the refractive index within at least a portion of the core to be depressed relative to the refractive index of the cladding downwardly adjacent to the core, thereby causing a portion of the optical energy to be deflected downwardly away from the thermal source and extracted from the core.