Patent ID: 7215869

Claim:
A cantilever-type PLC optical attenuator, capable of controlling output light by attenuating an intensity of input light, comprising: a base substrate made of silicon; an input waveguide arranged on the base substrate to be provided between upper and lower silicon substrates so that an optical signal is input through the input waveguide; an output waveguide arranged on the base substrate to be provided between upper and lower silicon substrates, and positioned in a same plane with the input waveguide to be spaced apart from the input waveguide by a predetermined interval, with front portions of the upper and lower silicon substrates around the output waveguide being thinner than rear portions of the upper and lower silicon substrates around the output waveguide to provide a cantilever part having upper and lower cantilever substrate parts, the output waveguide receiving the optical signal transmitted from the input waveguide, prior to outputting the optical signal to an external element; a first electrode provided on a bottom of the lower cantilever substrate part; and a second electrode provided on the base substrate to electromagnetically correspond to the first electrode; wherein the cantilever part is configured to be moved up and down by a electromagnetic force occurring when a voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, thus controlling the output light; and wherein the upper cantilever substrate part has a thickness equal to the lower cantilever substrate part.