| 摘要 |
<p><P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a variable optical attenuator which is miniaturized, simplified, and highly accurately controlled, and in which energy saving is achieved. <P>SOLUTION: A filter 18 in which transmissivity of light has in-plane distribution changing continuously in the plane is inserted in the optical path of a propagated light beam which is emitted from a first optical fiber 10a and made incident on a second optical fiber 10b. In an actuator 24 to move the filter 18, a piezoelectric element 26 is expanded and contracted according to a pulse signal from a supply circuit 28, a shaft 32 is minutely moved in the axial direction in corresponce with the expansion and contraction, and a movable frame 34 slidably attached to the shaft 32 is minutely moved. Accordingly, the filter 18 fixed on the movable frame 34 is minutely moved to the optical path of a propagated light beam, changes a transmitting amount of the propagated light beam, and finely adjusts an amount of optical attenuation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO</p> |
