US4257671A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fixed optical attenuator for light rays guided by optical fibres
Assignee: Alcatel CIT SA
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Filing: 1979-03-26
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Granted: 1981-03-24
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Expires: 1999-03-26
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to the optical fibre technology and more particularly to fixed optical attenuators for insertion in an optical fibre transmission path. The optical attenuator includes an attenuator element 1, two lenses 2, 3 which are aligned with each other and separated by the attenuator element 1 and two optical fibre connections disposed on either side of the assembly formed by the lenses 2, 3 and the attenuator element 1. It may be used as a level adaptor between a source of light rays and a device which is connected to it by an optical fibre or in test, calibration or measuring instruments for optical fibre systems.
Inventors
- 👤 Alain Barbaudy
- 👤 Jacques Galaup
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/264; G02B6/266
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A fixed optical attenuator for light rays guided by optical fibres, said fixed optical attentuator comprising: an attenuator element formed by an organic or an inorganic medium which is transparent to the wavelength of the light rays and which is doped with one or more substances which have an absorption band at said wavelength; two graded refractive index lenses with plane faces, in axial alignment with each other and and separated by said attenuator element; and a short optical fibre disposed on each side of the assembly formed by said lenses and said attenuator element with said optical fibres in axial alignment with said lenses.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A fixed optical attenuator for light rays guided by optical fibres, said fixed optical attentuator comprising: an attenuator element formed by an organic or an inorganic medium which is transparent to the wavelength of the light rays and which is doped with one or more substances which have an absorption band at said wavelength; two graded refractive index lenses with plane faces, in axial alignment with each other and and separated by said attenuator element; and a short optical fibre disposed on each side of the assembly formed by said lenses and said attenuator element with said optical fibres in axial alignment with said lenses.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An attenuator according to claim 1, further comprising a connector disposed on the end of each of said short optical fibres for connecting said short optical fibre to the surface of a respective one of said lenses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An optical attenuator according to claim 2, wherein the assembly constituted by the attenuator element, the lenses and the short optical fibres is placed in a housing which also acts as a support for the connectors.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-03-23 | 1984-09-22 | 1985-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-03-23 | 1988-09-22 | 1989-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-03-23 | 1992-09-22 | 1993-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |