Retro-reflection VOA using parabolic mirror for low insertion loss and linear attenuation relationship

Xuming Zhang; A. Q. Liu; H. Cai; A. B. Yu

Retro-reflection VOA using parabolic mirror for low insertion loss and linear attenuation relationship

Xuming Zhang, A. Q. Liu, H. Cai, A. B. Yu

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceeding › Conference article published in proceeding or book › Academic research › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper reports a new design of MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) that makes use of a pair of parabolic mirrors as the retro-reflector in the horizontal plane and a normal fiber as the rod lens to focus in the vertical plane. It is advantageous over the conventional co-axial VOAs since it allows the fibers to be arranged in parallel and is thus convenient for the packaging. The parabolic mirrors improve the optical coupling and yield an insertion loss of only 1.4 dB even when only the normally-cleaved single mode fibers are used. The attenuation can go up to 63 dB when the mirror pair is rotated by 2.6 degrees. More importantly, a linear relationship is well maintained over the whole range, unlike the nonlinear relationship in many conventional VOAs. At the 20-dB level, the VOA measures a PDL of 0.2 dB and a WDL of 0.5 dB, which are superior to the typically values of 1-2 dB in the conventional VOAs.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Proceedings - CIS Workshops 2007, 2007 International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Security Workshops, CISW 2007
Pages	727-730
Number of pages	4
Publication status	Published - 1 Dec 2007
Externally published	Yes
Event	20th IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, MEMS 2007 - Kobe, Japan Duration: 21 Jan 2007 → 25 Jan 2007

Conference

Conference	20th IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, MEMS 2007
Country/Territory	Japan
City	Kobe
Period	21/01/07 → 25/01/07

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
Condensed Matter Physics
Mechanical Engineering
Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Cite this

@inproceedings{0e182f03121b41518e6089268c520d14,

title = "Retro-reflection VOA using parabolic mirror for low insertion loss and linear attenuation relationship",

abstract = "This paper reports a new design of MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) that makes use of a pair of parabolic mirrors as the retro-reflector in the horizontal plane and a normal fiber as the rod lens to focus in the vertical plane. It is advantageous over the conventional co-axial VOAs since it allows the fibers to be arranged in parallel and is thus convenient for the packaging. The parabolic mirrors improve the optical coupling and yield an insertion loss of only 1.4 dB even when only the normally-cleaved single mode fibers are used. The attenuation can go up to 63 dB when the mirror pair is rotated by 2.6 degrees. More importantly, a linear relationship is well maintained over the whole range, unlike the nonlinear relationship in many conventional VOAs. At the 20-dB level, the VOA measures a PDL of 0.2 dB and a WDL of 0.5 dB, which are superior to the typically values of 1-2 dB in the conventional VOAs.",

author = "Xuming Zhang and Liu, {A. Q.} and H. Cai and Yu, {A. B.}",

year = "2007",

month = dec,

day = "1",

language = "English",

isbn = "1424409519",

pages = "727--730",

booktitle = "Proceedings - CIS Workshops 2007, 2007 International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Security Workshops, CISW 2007",

note = "20th IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, MEMS 2007 ; Conference date: 21-01-2007 Through 25-01-2007",

}

Zhang, X, Liu, AQ, Cai, H & Yu, AB 2007, Retro-reflection VOA using parabolic mirror for low insertion loss and linear attenuation relationship. in Proceedings - CIS Workshops 2007, 2007 International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Security Workshops, CISW 2007., 4433089, pp. 727-730, 20th IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, MEMS 2007, Kobe, Japan, 21/01/07.

Retro-reflection VOA using parabolic mirror for low insertion loss and linear attenuation relationship. / Zhang, Xuming; Liu, A. Q.; Cai, H. et al.
Proceedings - CIS Workshops 2007, 2007 International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Security Workshops, CISW 2007. 2007. p. 727-730 4433089.

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceeding › Conference article published in proceeding or book › Academic research › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - Retro-reflection VOA using parabolic mirror for low insertion loss and linear attenuation relationship

AU - Zhang, Xuming

AU - Liu, A. Q.

AU - Cai, H.

AU - Yu, A. B.

PY - 2007/12/1

Y1 - 2007/12/1

N2 - This paper reports a new design of MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) that makes use of a pair of parabolic mirrors as the retro-reflector in the horizontal plane and a normal fiber as the rod lens to focus in the vertical plane. It is advantageous over the conventional co-axial VOAs since it allows the fibers to be arranged in parallel and is thus convenient for the packaging. The parabolic mirrors improve the optical coupling and yield an insertion loss of only 1.4 dB even when only the normally-cleaved single mode fibers are used. The attenuation can go up to 63 dB when the mirror pair is rotated by 2.6 degrees. More importantly, a linear relationship is well maintained over the whole range, unlike the nonlinear relationship in many conventional VOAs. At the 20-dB level, the VOA measures a PDL of 0.2 dB and a WDL of 0.5 dB, which are superior to the typically values of 1-2 dB in the conventional VOAs.

AB - This paper reports a new design of MEMS variable optical attenuator (VOA) that makes use of a pair of parabolic mirrors as the retro-reflector in the horizontal plane and a normal fiber as the rod lens to focus in the vertical plane. It is advantageous over the conventional co-axial VOAs since it allows the fibers to be arranged in parallel and is thus convenient for the packaging. The parabolic mirrors improve the optical coupling and yield an insertion loss of only 1.4 dB even when only the normally-cleaved single mode fibers are used. The attenuation can go up to 63 dB when the mirror pair is rotated by 2.6 degrees. More importantly, a linear relationship is well maintained over the whole range, unlike the nonlinear relationship in many conventional VOAs. At the 20-dB level, the VOA measures a PDL of 0.2 dB and a WDL of 0.5 dB, which are superior to the typically values of 1-2 dB in the conventional VOAs.

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M3 - Conference article published in proceeding or book

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SN - 9781424409518

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EP - 730

BT - Proceedings - CIS Workshops 2007, 2007 International Conference on Computational Intelligence and Security Workshops, CISW 2007

T2 - 20th IEEE International Conference on Micro Electro Mechanical Systems, MEMS 2007

Y2 - 21 January 2007 through 25 January 2007

ER -

Retro-reflection VOA using parabolic mirror for low insertion loss and linear attenuation relationship

Abstract

Conference

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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