Patent ID: 7546008

Claim:
A variable optical attenuator ( 200 ) for adjusting a power of light which is output from an output end of a first optical fiber ( 361 ) and is to be led to an input end of a second optical fiber ( 362 ), comprising: a reflection member ( 220 ) which reflects the light output from the output end of the first optical fiber; a density filter ( 204 ) which transmits the light reflected from the reflection member and controls the power of the light which is transmitted by the density filter depending on a light-transmitting position on the density filter; and an optical member ( 205 ) which reflects the light transmitted by the density filter to lead the light to the input end of the second optical fiber via the reflection member, wherein the reflection member is disposed tiltably so that the light-transmitting position of the light on the density filter is changed by adjusting the tilt of the reflection member.