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Silicone Optical Attenuators

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

W. R. Lambert
Affiliation:
Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, NJ 07974, wrlambert@lucent.com
R. W. Filas
Affiliation:
Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Murray Hill, NJ 07974, rfilas@lucent.com
W. W. King
Affiliation:
Bell Laboratories, Lucent Technologies, Norcross, GA 30071, wwking@lucent.com
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Abstract

Lucent Technologies manufactures and markets a family of SC and ST singlemode optical attenuator products which are low cost and easy to use. The attenuator elements are available in the attenuation range of 3 to 20 dB and are housed in buildout barrels which snap into companion buildout blocks to form complete optical couplings. The attenuator element is a 0.086-inch diameter thermoplastic material which, depending upon the attenuation level, has a thickness from 0.006 to 0.065 inches. In order to meet the full range of customer performance requirements, the attenuator element should not creep at temperatures up to 80°C and exhibit a reflection of less than -55 dB at optical telecommunication wavelengths. Commercially available thermoplastic materials cannot meet these requirements.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 1998

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References

1. Filas, R.W., Johnson, B.H. and Wong, C.P., Index-Matching Elastomers for Fiber Optics. IEEE Trans. Components, Hybrids, and Manufacturing Technology, 13 (1), p.133136, 1990.10.1109/33.52860Google Scholar
2. Wong, C.P., Polymers for Electronic Applications, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1989, ch, 3, pp. 6392.Google Scholar
3. U.S. Patent pending filed January 14, 1998, Filas, R.W., King, W.W. and Lambert, W.R., Improved Optical Fiber Attenuation Device.Google Scholar