Patent ID: 6332055
Filing Date: 2001-12-18
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
An optical attenuator with a plurality of Mach-Zehnder-type waveguide elements arranged on a substrate, each of said plurality of Mach-Zehnder-type elements comprising:an input optical waveguide in which a light signal propagates;a first dimensional coupler with an incident end connected to said input optical waveguide and two exiting ends;two optical waveguides respectively connected to said exiting ends of said first directional coupler;a temperature regulator for regulating the temperature of at least one of said two optical waveguides;a second directional coupler with two incident ends respectively connected to said two optical waveguides and two exiting ends;an output optical waveguide connected to one of the exiting ends of said second directional coupler; andan monitoring optical waveguide connected to the other of the exiting ends of said second directional coupler,wherein the monitoring optical waveguide included in one of the Mach-Zehnder-type waveguide elements adjacent to each other within said plurality of Mach-Zehnder-type waveguide elements is arranged to cross with the output optical waveguide included in the other of the Mach-Zehnder-type waveguide element adjacent to each other.