Patent ID: 6850353

Claim:
A MEMS attenuator formed on an integrated MEMS chip for regulating the power level in an individual light beam to produce a regulated light beam, the MEMS attenuator comprising at least one light blocking optical component, each light blocking optical component comprising: a moveable stage assembly comprising: a moveable stage; a guide plate formed on the integrated MEMS chip on which the moveable stage can laterally slide; and an actuator mechanism formed on the integrated MEMS chip and moveably coupled to the moveable stage, the corresponding actuator mechanism being configured to be controlled to move laterally on the integrated MEMS chip so as to cause the moveable stage to laterally slide on the guide plate; and an element structure on the moveable stage comprising: a support plate; and a light blocking optical element formed on the support plate, the light blocking optical element being aligned for intersection of the individual light beam; wherein the power level of the individual light beam is regulated by controlling the actuator mechanism to move laterally so that the light blocking optical element intersects the individual light beam a corresponding amount and blocks a corresponding portion of the individual light beam from passing.