Electrically Controlled Variable Fiber Optic Attenuator

The Electrically Controlled Variable Fiber Optic Attenuator is used for precise control of optical signal attenuation in various applications such as active gain equalization in DWDM systems, local power monitoring and feedback attenuator settings, bit error testing, troubleshooting receivers and other active fiber optic components, simulating long-distance fiber transmission, design of fiber optic transmitter/receiver circuitry, power meter linearity checks, power setting and power control, and OCT systems.

The Electrically Controlled Variable Fiber Optic Attenuator features stepper motor driven for precise control, high power handling, high speed operation, wide attenuation range (350-2050nm), low PDL and wavelength dependency, low insertion loss and back reflection, high resolution, rugged and compact design, calibratable for up to five wavelengths, wide wavelength range, flat wavelength response, blocking attenuation technique for single-mode and polarization maintaining fibers, neutral density filter for multimode fiber applications, computer interface (-MC Version), polarization maintaining fiber versions available, latching operation, customizable designs available, and low cost.

In general, OZ Optics uses polarization maintaining fibers based on the PANDA fiber structure when building polarization maintaining components and patchcords. However, OZ Optics can construct devices using other PM fiber structures. We do carry some alternative fiber types in stock, so please contact our sales department for availability. If necessary, we are willing to use customer supplied fibers to build devices.

The singlemode and polarization maintaining (PM) attenuators of the Electrically Controlled Variable Fiber Optic Attenuator utilize a novel blocking style attenuation technique, while the multimode attenuators use a variable neutral density filter to minimize mode dependent losses.

The PC version of the Electrically Controlled Variable Fiber Optic Attenuator uses a reliable stepper motor that can be controlled by an external driver. The basic model provides the user with a simple way to control the attenuator using a computer interface (-MC Version).