Optical Attenuator is one part of passive optical components. It’s widely used in fiber optic communications to reduce optical fiber power at a certain level. Variable optical attenuator is one of optical attenuator. Now I would like to introduce some basic knowledge of variable optical attenuator in this blog.
Variable Optical Attenuator (VOA) is a double window (1310/1550nm) of passive optical components. Variable optical attenuator could continually and variably attenuate the light intensity in the optical fiber transmission. Variable optical attenuator cable could help simulate distance or actual attenuation in the fiber optic testing work by inserting a calibrated attenuation into the link. By using the variable optical attenuator (VOA), technicians could verify the power margin received by testing the fiber optic link power budget. Fiber optic VOA can help the user vary the light power injected from a light source into the optical fiber.
The power reduction is done by such means as absorption, reflection, diffusion, scattering, deflection, diffraction, and dispersion, etc. Variable optical attenuator usually works by absorbing the light, like sunglasses absorb the extra light energy. It typically gets a working wavelength range in which they absorb the light energy equally. They should not reflect the light since that could cause unwanted back reflection in the fiber system. Or by scattering the light such as an air gap. Another type of attenuator utilizes a length of high-loss optical fiber. It operates upon its input optical signal power level in such a way that its output signal power level is less than the input level.
Variable optical attenuator may be either manually or electrically controlled. A manual device is useful for one-time set up a system, and is a near-equivalent to a fixed attenuator, and may be referred to as an “adjustable attenuator”. In contrast, an electrically controlled attenuator can provide adaptive power optimization.
Attributes of merit for electrically controlled devices, include speed of response and avoiding degradation of the transmitted signal. Dynamic range is usually quite restricted, and power feedback may mean that long term stability is a relatively minor issue. Speed of response is a particularly major issue in dynamically reconfigurable systems, where a delay of one millionth of a second can be expected to result in the loss of large amounts of transmitted data. Typical technologies employed for high speed response include LCD, or Lithium niobate devices.
With this blog, we have learnt the basic knowledge of variable optical attenuator. It is necessary to use in fiber optical communications. Fiberstore is a professional supplier of fiber optic communication solution. Variable optical attenuator is just one of PON(passive optical network) components. For more information about variable optical attenuator, welcome to visit our website or contact us over sales@fiberstore.com.