In a fiber optic communication system, an optical attenuator is an electronic device that is commonly used to decrease the level of power of an optical signal. In fiber optics, attenuation is also referred to as transmission loss. In a transmission medium, it is the reduction in light signal intensity concerning the distance traveled by the signal. To limit the transmission of a digital signal traveling in large distances attenuation is a very important element. This optical signal is reduced by an optical attenuator as it travels along with free space or an optical fiber.
If used in fiber optic communications optical attenuator employs several principles. The gap loss principle is one common principle. Attenuators that are using this principle are quite sensitive to the modal distribution ahead of the attenuator. So, they must be utilized at or near the transmitting end. Less loss could be established by the attenuators. If attenuators use absorptive or reflective principles then this problem is somehow avoided.
Three basic kinds of optical attenuator can be found: the step-wise, the continuously variable, and fixed attenuator. With negligible or no reflection fixed attenuators reduce light signals by a specific amount. Fixed attenuators are known for more accurate data transmission as signal reflection is not an issue. You can buy fiber collimator online.
Important elements that are associated with fixed attenuators include the amount of attenuation, flatness over a specified frequency, performance over a specific temperature, range, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), size and height average, and peak power-handling capability. To enhance interstage matching in an electronic circuit fixed attenuators are used.
Resistors are replaced with solid-state devices such as the metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFETs) and PIN diodes in the case of variable optical attenuators (VOA). fiber splitter is a reliable tool.
VOA in fiber optic communication systems is used to regulate optical power levels generally that are used to prevent deteriorations in optical receivers which can happen due to fluctuating or irregular power levels. The price of commercial VOA varies based on the manufacturing technology used.
