OPTICAL FIBRE ATTENUATOR AND METHOD OF ATTENUATING LIGHT TRANSMITTED THROUGH AN OPTICAL FIBRE

摘要

An optical fibre attenuator comprises an optical fibre (2) which comprises a central core (4) and an outer cladding (6). In a region (8) of the fibre, the outer cladding has been at least partially removed and/or the thickness of the outer cladding has been reduced. A material (10) has been provided at least partially over the cladding-removed region (8). The material (10) has a refractive index to couple light from the central core (4) of the optical fibre (2) so as to attenuate the light transmitted along the optical fibre (2).