Patent ID: 6195479
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
A fiberoptic reflective variable attenuator and on-off switch comprisinga sleeve having a longitudinal channel;a first pair of optical fibers in said longitudinal channel, each of said first pair of optical fibers having an end facet;a first birefringent crystal over an end facet of one of said pair of said optical fibers;second and third birefringent crystals over an end facet of the other of said pair of said optical fibers;a GRIN lens having a first end face proximate said first, second and third birefringent crystals and having a second end face;a mirror element; anda liquid crystal cell between said mirror element and said second end face of said GRIN lens, said liquid crystal cell having electrical terminals and in a first state or a second state responsive to preselected voltages applied to said electrical terminals, said end facets of said pair of optical fibers, said first, second and third birefringent crystals, said GRIN lens, said liquid crystal cell, and said mirror element arranged and oriented with respect to each other so that light from a first optical fiber of said pair passes through, and back from, said first, second and third birefringent crystals, said GRIN lens, said liquid crystal cell and said mirror element into a second optical fiber of said pair when said liquid crystal cell is in a first state, and light from said first optical fiber passes through, and back from, said first, second and third birefringent crystals, said GRIN lens, said liquid crystal cell and said mirror element, but not into said second optical fiber when said liquid crystal cell is in a second state.