Optical equalizer having variable transmittance versus wavelength characteristics for attenuating light
First Claim
1. An apparatus which attenuates a spectral beam propagating in a first direction and having wavelength components spatially separated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the apparatus comprising:
- an attenuator intersecting the spectral beam and having a planer distribution of transmittance in a first plane which is not parallel to the first direction so that the spectral beam passes through the attenuator and is attenuated in accordance with the planer distribution of transmittance, the attenuator being movable in a second plane which is not parallel to the first direction.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus, such as an optical equalizer, having variable wavelength characteristics. More specifically, the apparatus attenuates an input light, and includes a beam expander, a beam condenser and an attenuator positioned between the beam expander and the beam condenser. The beam expander converts the input light into a spectral beam propagating in a first direction and having wavelength components spatially separated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. The attenuator intersects the spectral beam and has a planer distribution of transmittance so that the spectral beam passes through the attenuator and is attenuated in accordance with the planer distribution of transmittance. The beam expander converts the attenuated spectral beam into an output light. The attenuator is movable in a plane which is not parallel to the first direction. For example, the attenuator can be movable in a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. Further, the attenuator can include a plurality of individual attenuators, wherein each individual attenuator intersects the spectral beam and has a corresponding planer distribution of transmittance for attenuating the spectral beam in accordance with the corresponding planer distribution of transmittance.
68 Citations
58 Claims
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1. An apparatus which attenuates a spectral beam propagating in a first direction and having wavelength components spatially separated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the apparatus comprising:
an attenuator intersecting the spectral beam and having a planer distribution of transmittance in a first plane which is not parallel to the first direction so that the spectral beam passes through the attenuator and is attenuated in accordance with the planer distribution of transmittance, the attenuator being movable in a second plane which is not parallel to the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. An apparatus which attenuates a light beam propagating in a first direction and having wavelength components spatially separated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the apparatus comprising:
an attenuator intersecting the light beam and having a planer distribution of transmittance so that the light beam passes through the attenuator and is attenuated in accordance with the planer distribution of transmittance. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. An apparatus for attenuating an input light, comprising:
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a first converter which converts the input light into a spectral beam propagating in a first direction and having wavelength components spatially separated in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; an attenuator intersecting the spectral beam and having a planer distribution of transmittance so that the spectral beam passes through the attenuator and is attenuated in accordance with the planer distribution of transmittance; and a second converter which converts the attenuated spectral beam into an output light. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58)
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Specification