Patent ID: 6901204
Filing Date: 2005-05-31
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An MEMS variable optical attenuator for attenuating an optical power of an optical beam by a variable amount of attenuation based on an electrical input signal comprising: a substrate having a planar surface; a pair of optical waveguides having an optical signal transmitting end and an optical signal receiving end, respectively, coaxially arranged on the substrate; a micro-electric actuator arranged on the substrate for providing a driving stroke along a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the optical beam; at least one lever structure arranged on the substrate for receiving the driving stroke of the micro-electric actuator at a first end thereof and transferring an amplified displacement distance to an optical shutter through a second end thereof; an optical shutter arranged on the substrate and connected to the second end of the lever structure so as to be moved by the amplified displacement distance, thereby being displaced to an attenuation position of the optical beam.