WHAT ARE FIBER OPTIC ATTENUATORS AND HOW THEY WORK?

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 Fiber optic attenuators are used in applications where the optical signal is too strong and needs to be reduced.

For example, in a multi-wavelength fiber optic system, you need to equalize the optical channel strength so that all the channels have similar power levels. This means to reduce stronger channels’ powers to match lower power channels. 

Another example is when the received optical power is so strong that it saturates the receiver, you need an attenuator to reduce the power so the receiver can detect the signal correctly.

This picture shows an example of a fixed optical attenuator. The attenuation level is fixed at 5 dB, which means it reduces the optical power by 5dB. This attenuator has a short piece of fiber with metal ion doping that provides the specified attenuation.

There are many different mechanisms to reduce the optical power, this picture shows another mechanism used in one type of variable attenuator. Here variable means the attenuation level can be adjusted, for example, it could be from 1 dB up to 20dB.

In this example, the light from the input fiber is expanded into a larger beam by the first collimating lens, then a blocking device, which could be a neutral density filter, is inserted into the light path to partially block the light, so only part of the light can pass through. Then the second collimating lens is used to focus the light back into the output fiber. When you move the blocking device inward or outward, you get different attenuation levels.

Fiber optic attenuators are usually used in two scenarios.

The first case is in fiber optic power level testing. Attenuators are used to temporarily add a calibrated amount of signal loss in order to test the power level margins in a fiber optic communication system.

In the second case, attenuators are permanently installed in a fiber optic communication link to properly match transmitter and receiver optical signal levels.

Optical attenuators are typically classified as fixed or variable attenuators.

Fixed attenuators have a fixed optical power reduction number, such as 1dB, 5dB, 10dB, etc.

Variable attenuators’ attenuation level can be adjusted, such as from 0.5 dB to 20dB, or even 50dB. Some variable attenuators have very fine resolution, such as 0.1dB, or even 0.01dB.

This slide shows many different optical attenuator designs.

The female to female fixed attenuators work like a regular adapter. But instead of minimizing insertion loss, it purposely adds some attenuation.

The female to female variable attenuators are adjustable by turning a nut in the middle. The nut adjusts the air gap in the middle to achieve different attenuation levels.

The male to female fixed attenuators work as fiber connectors, you can just plug in your existing fiber connector to its female side.

The in-line patch cable type variable attenuators work as regular patch cables, but your can adjust its attenuation level by turning the screw.

For precise testing purposes, engineers have also designed instrument type variable attenuators. These instrument type attenuators have high attenuation ranges, such as from 0.5 dB to 70dB. They also have very fine resolution, such as 0.01dB. This is critical for accurate testing.