An optical attenuator for attenuating a collimated beam of light propagating along an optical path while preserving the composition of polarization of the collimated beam of light is disclosed. The optical attenuator comprises a beam attenuator for attenuating a portion of the collimated beam of light when a portion of the beam attenuator is disposed within the optical path. The beam attenuator has a cross section along a plane perpendicular to the direction of propagation of the collimated beam of light of the portion of the attenuator in the shape of a wedge. The attenuation is varied using a controller for moving the beam attenuator in order to vary a size of the portion of the wedge within the optical path.

Adjustable optical attenuator

An improved fiber optic connector assembly for connecting the ends of optical fibers to OED lenses is provided by a plug connector including a front mating end and a corresponding number of fiber receiving channels. Each channel includes an enlarged generally cylindrical portion adjacent the front end wherein the optical fiber end is coaxially positioned. The plug connector is mateable with a receptacle connector including a housing having a plug receiving socket with a front opening and a rear wall. The rear wall includes a corresponding number of spaced interface apertures aligned with each OED lens. A plurality of tubular projections coaxially aligned with and surrounding each aperture extend forwardly into the plug-receiving socket. As the plug connector is inserted into the socket, the tubular projections are received within the enlarged portions of the fiber receiving channels surrounding the fiber ends and the ends of the optical fibers are guided by the tubular projections into abutting coaxial alignment with the apertures and lenses, respectively. In a preferred embodiment, the receptacle connector housing is formed of die cast zinc to provide a shielded fiber optic link connector assembly for connecting a CPU to peripheral equipment which is characterized by reduced or eliminated EMI emissions. In an especially preferred embodiment, a shielded connector assembly including an integral switch feature is provided.

Shielded fiber optic connector assembly

In an annealing process of illuminating a semiconductor thin film with laser light, in the case where the laser illumination is performed at an energy level that is lower than an output energy range that allows a laser apparatus to operate most stably, the laser output is fixed somewhere in the above output energy range and the illumination energy is changed by inserting or removing a light attenuation filter into or from the laser illumination optical path. As a result, the time required for the laser processing can be shortened.

Laser processing method

The invention provides improved optical devices, systems, and methods for controllably varying an optical characteristic of an optical signal, particularly for filtering and generating optical signals about a narrow tunable central wavelength. Thin film multi-cavity Fabry-Perot bandpass filters have film thicknesses which vary so as to vary the center wavelength of the filter's pass range. Novel micro lenses and lens arrangements avoid transmission of optical signals through a large area of the optical filter, which would widen the effective pass bandwidth and reduce coupling efficiency. These bandpass filtering techniques can be used in an external cavity laser system to provide a tunable laser source.

Tunable fiber optic filter

A display device is manufactured by forming a semiconductor film over a substrate and irradiating the film with laser light The laser light is generated from an oscillator, passes through an attenuator that includes a filter, and passes through an optical system after passing through the attenuator A first region of the semiconductor film is irradiated with the laser light passed through the optical system such that one point of the first region of the semiconductor film is irradiated with at least two shots A second region of the semiconductor film is also irradiated with the laser light passed through the optical system such that one point of the second region of the semiconductor film is irradiated with at least two shots The first region and the second region have a portion at which they overlap, and the semiconductor film is etched into semiconductor layers for transistors in areas outside the portion

Laser Processing Method and Laser Processing Apparatus

The variable optical attenuator (1) comprises two spherical lenses (7, 8), one at the input end and one at the output end, between which a bundle of parallel rays is present. A disk (4) having areas (9) with neutral density filters (10) of different attenuation is rotatable through the bundle of rays. A locking mechanism (13, 14, 15) acts on a stub shaft (11) at the disk (4), and its stop positions correspond to the locations of the areas (9). This permits the attenuation of the attenuator (1) to be adjusted in steps.

Variable optical attenuator

Das einstellbare optische Dampfungsglied (1) weist auf der Licht aufnehmenden und der abgebenden Seite je eine Kugellinse (7, 8) auf, zwischen denen ein paralleles Strahlenbundel vorhanden ist. Durch das Strahlenbundel ist eine Scheibe (4) drehbar, die Bereiche (9) mit Graufilter (10) unterschiedlicher Dampfung aufweist. Auf einen Wellenstumpf (11) an der Scheibe (4) wirkt ein Rastgesperre (13,14, 15) ein, dessen Raststellungen mit der Lage der Bereiche (9) ubereinstimmen. Hierdurch ist die Dampfung des Dampfungsgliedes (1) stufenweise einstellbar.

Einstellbares optisches Dämpfungsglied

Das einstellbare optische Dampfungsglied (1) weist auf der Licht aufnehmenden und der abgebenden Seite je eine Kugellinse (7, 8) auf, zwischen denen ein paralleles Strahlenbundel vorhanden ist. The adjustable optical attenuator (1) has on the light receiving and emitting side on a respective ball lens (7, 8) between which a parallel beam is present. Durch das Strahlenbundel ist eine Scheibe (4) drehbar, die Bereiche (9) mit Graufilter (10) unterschiedlicher Dampfung aufweist. By the radiation beam, a disc (4) is rotatable, the areas (9) having neutral density filter (10) of different attenuation. Auf einen Wellenstumpf (11) an der Scheibe (4) wirkt ein Rastgesperre (13,14, 15) ein, dessen Raststellungen mit der Lage der Bereiche (9) ubereinstimmen. On a stub shaft (11) on the disc (4) acts a locking mechanism (13,14, 15) the detent positions correspond to the position of the regions (9). Hierdurch ist die Dampfung des Dampfungsgliedes (1) stufenweise einstellbar. In this way the attenuation of the attenuator (1) is stepwise adjustable.

Manfred Kaiser

Papers

Variable optical attenuator

Einstellbares optisches Dämpfungsglied

Adjustable optical attenuator