System and method for compensating thermal dependent loss in variable optical attenuators

摘要

A system having a MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) that has an improved optical shutter for regulating the optical power of an optical signal by partially intercepting incident light beams and a negative temperature coefficient component that is electrical connected in series with a voltage source that drives the MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) is disclosed.

主权项

1. A variable optical attenuator comprising:
an optical shutter; a frame surrounding an area in which said optical shutter is disposed; said frame comprising a first electrode and a second electrode; a first conductor having a first end fixedly attached to said first electrode; said first conductor being disposed at an angle from a line connecting said first electrode and said second electrode; a second conductor having a first end fixedly attached to said second electrode; said second conductor being disposed at an angle from a line connecting said first electrode and said second electrode; said first conductor and said second conductor being the two sides of a triangle; a second end of said first conductor being connected to a second end of said second conductor; and a negative temperature coefficient component configured to be electrically connected in series with a voltage source, the negative temperature coefficient component electrically connected in series with the voltage source constituting a circuit; the circuit configured to be electrically connected between said first electrode and said second electrode; said optical shutter being attached to said second end of said first conductor and said second end of said second conductor; motion of said second end of the first conductor and said second end of the second conductor resulting in motion of said optical shutter; and said optical shutter being disposed over input/output optical ports.