Variable Optical Attenuators

MEMS Broadband Optical Attenuator – Fiber-Fiber™

The Fiber-Fiber™ series VOA is based on fiber-to-fiber direct coupling with a micro-electro-mechanical (MEMS) shutter in between. It eliminates the need for lens and optical coating, featuring low loss, ultra-broadband without altering fiber transmission character, high power, compact size, and easy drive. The current MEMS chips accommodate fiber with 3 to 105 mm core diameters. VOAs with fiber of larger diameters can be made with special chip fabrication run with an NRE charge. The Fiber-Fiber™ series VOA is compliant with the Telcordia 1209 and 1221 reliability standards. The VOA is driven by directly applying a low electrical voltage. The VOA is electrically a resistor load, has no polarity, and is electrostatically insensitive.

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MEMS Broadband Optical Attenuator – Fiber-Fiber™

Application context

Why this design is used

Application guidance is tied to the configured wavelength, fiber interface and optical-budget fields for this family.

Optical power control

MEMS Broadband Optical Attenuator – Fiber-Fiber™: Optical power control depends on preserving the optical budget through the complete path. The 405 – 532 nm / 480 – 650 nm / 620 – 650 nm / 760 – 800 nm / 830 – 870 nm / 980 – 1550 nm / 960 – 1080 nm / 1020 – 1900 nm / 1.7 – 2.3 µm wavelength specification sets source and detector compatibility, while listed loss or isolation figure (<1 dB / <1 dB / ≤0.8 dB / ≤0.6 dB / ≤0.5 dB / ≤0.5 dB / ≤0.4 dB / ≤0.2 dB / ≤0.5 dB) determines link margin and channel leakage. The fiber/interface entry (SM400 / SM450 / SM600 / Hi780 / SM800 / Hi980 / Hi1060 / SM28 / SM1950) must match the connected components.

Receiver calibration

MEMS Broadband Optical Attenuator – Fiber-Fiber™: Receiver calibration depends on preserving the optical budget through the complete path. The 405 – 532 nm / 480 – 650 nm / 620 – 650 nm / 760 – 800 nm / 830 – 870 nm / 980 – 1550 nm / 960 – 1080 nm / 1020 – 1900 nm / 1.7 – 2.3 µm wavelength specification sets source and detector compatibility, while listed loss or isolation figure (<1 dB / <1 dB / ≤0.8 dB / ≤0.6 dB / ≤0.5 dB / ≤0.5 dB / ≤0.4 dB / ≤0.2 dB / ≤0.5 dB) determines link margin and channel leakage. The fiber/interface entry (SM400 / SM450 / SM600 / Hi780 / SM800 / Hi980 / Hi1060 / SM28 / SM1950) must match the connected components.

Specifications

MEMS Broadband Optical Attenuator – Fiber-Fiber™

Fiber Type	SM400	SM450	SM600	Hi780	SM800	Hi980	Hi1060	SM28	SM1950
Wavelength Range	405 – 532 nm	480 – 650 nm	620 – 650 nm	760 – 800 nm	830 – 870 nm	980 – 1550 nm	960 – 1080 nm	1020 – 1900 nm	1.7 – 2.3 µm
Insertion Loss	<1 dB	<1 dB	≤0.8 dB	≤0.6 dB	≤0.5 dB	≤0.5 dB	≤0.4 dB	≤0.2 dB	≤0.5 dB
Maximum Attenuation	50 dB	50 dB	50 dB	50 dB	50 dB	50 dB	50 dB	48 dB	48 dB
Max Optical Power	1mW	5mW	0.1W	0.2W	0.3W	0.3W	0.3W	0.5W	0.5W
Polarization DL	0.2 dB@20dB	0.2 dB@20dB	0.2 dB@20dB	0.2 dB@20dB	0.2 dB@20dB	0.2 dB@20dB	0.2 dB@20dB	0.2 dB@20dB	0.2 dB@20dB
Return Loss	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB
Operating Temperature	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C
Storage Temperature	50 to 85°C	50 to 85°C	50 to 85°C	50 to 85°C	50 to 85°C	50 to 85°C	50 to 85°C	50 to 85°C	50 to 85°C

Fiber Type	PM405	PM460	PM630	PM780	PM850	PM980	PM1550	PM1950
Wavelength Range	400 – 680 nm	460 – 700 nm	620 – 650 nm	760 – 800 nm	830 – 870 nm	960 – 1080nm	1260 – 1650nm	1850 – 2200nm
Insertion Loss	≤1.1 dB	≤0.9 dB	≤0.9 dB	≤0.8 dB	≤0.7 dB	≤0.6 dB	≤0.2 1dB	≤0.8 dB
Max Attenuation	50 dB	50 dB	50 dB	50 dB	50 dB	35 dB	35 dB	70 dB
Extinction Ratio	>20 dB	>20 dB	>20 dB	>20 dB	>20 dB	>20 dB	>20 dB	>20 dB
Return Loss	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB
Max Power	1mW	5mW	0.1W	0.2W	0.3W	0.3W	0.5W	0.5W
Operating Temperature	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C
Storage Temperature	50 to 90°C	50 to 90°C	50 to 90°C	50 to 90°C	50 to 90°C	50 to 90°C	50 to 90°C	50 to 90°C

Fiber Type	GIF50	GIF625	FG50LGA	FG105LCA	FG10LDA
Wavelength Range	800 – 1600 nm	800 – 1600 nm	400 – 2400 nm	400 – 2400 nm	700 – 1000 nm
Insertion Loss	≤0.5 dB	≤0.5 dB	≤0.8 dB	≤1 dB	≤1 dB
Maximum Attenuation	8 dB	8 dB	8 dB	8 dB	8 dB
PDL	0.01 dB	0.01 dB	0.01 dB	0.01 dB	0.01 dB
Return Loss	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB	≥35 dB
Max Optical Power	0.5W	0.5W	0.5W	0.5W	0.5W
Operating Temperature	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C	40 to 80°C
Storage Temperature	40 to 85°C	40 to 85°C	40 to 85°C	40 to 85°C	40 to 85°C

Downloads

Datasheets & documents

System integration

Integration and compatibility

Use these checks to connect MEMS Broadband Optical Attenuator – Fiber-Fiber™ to the surrounding optical, mechanical and control system. Every value shown is taken from this model's own specification record.

Optical interface and fiber: Fiber Type: SM400 / SM450 / SM600 / Hi780 / SM800 / Hi980 / Hi1060 / SM28 / SM1950 · Fiber Type: PM405 / PM460 / PM630 / PM780 / PM850 / PM980 / PM1550 / PM1950; Specify connector polish and fiber architecture together. FC/PC, FC/APC and SMA interfaces, and single-mode, multimode and polarization-maintaining fibers, impose different return-loss, mode-field and alignment requirements.
Wavelength and loss budget: Wavelength Range: 405 – 532 nm / 480 – 650 nm / 620 – 650 nm / 760 – 800 nm / 830 – 870 nm / 980 – 1550 nm / 960 – 1080 nm / 1020 – 1900 nm / 1.7 – 2.3 µm · Insertion Loss: <1 dB / <1 dB / ≤0.8 dB / ≤0.6 dB / ≤0.5 dB / ≤0.5 dB / ≤0.4 dB / ≤0.2 dB / ≤0.5 dB; Check the Variable Optical Attenuators passband, insertion loss, return loss and power handling at the actual source wavelength; a nominal telecom-band label is not a substitute for the configured range.

Technical FAQ

Integration questions for MEMS Broadband Optical Attenuator – Fiber-Fiber™

Which fiber and connector does the MEMS Broadband Optical Attenuator – Fiber-Fiber™ use?

Fiber Type: SM400 / SM450 / SM600 / Hi780 / SM800 / Hi980 / Hi1060 / SM28 / SM1950 · Fiber Type: PM405 / PM460 / PM630 / PM780 / PM850 / PM980 / PM1550 / PM1950. Specify connector polish and fiber architecture together. FC/PC, FC/APC and SMA interfaces, and single-mode, multimode and polarization-maintaining fibers, impose different return-loss, mode-field and alignment requirements.

How should the MEMS Broadband Optical Attenuator – Fiber-Fiber™ be included in an optical power budget?

Wavelength Range: 405 – 532 nm / 480 – 650 nm / 620 – 650 nm / 760 – 800 nm / 830 – 870 nm / 980 – 1550 nm / 960 – 1080 nm / 1020 – 1900 nm / 1.7 – 2.3 µm · Insertion Loss: <1 dB / <1 dB / ≤0.8 dB / ≤0.6 dB / ≤0.5 dB / ≤0.5 dB / ≤0.4 dB / ≤0.2 dB / ≤0.5 dB. Check the Variable Optical Attenuators passband, insertion loss, return loss and power handling at the actual source wavelength; a nominal telecom-band label is not a substitute for the configured range.

Need this configured?

Share your wavelength, fiber type, connector, power handling and control requirements and we will qualify the matching configuration and part number.

Model selection

Nearby series comparison

Compare MEMS Broadband Optical Attenuator – Fiber-Fiber™ with the closest available models in the Variable Optical Attenuators family. Confirm option-dependent values on the final configuration before ordering.

Selection parameter	MEMS Broadband Optical Attenuator – Fiber-Fiber™ (current)	Manual Variable Fiber Optical Attenuator — Regular	MEMS Fiber Optical Variable Attenuator – 1D
Wavelength range	405 – 532 nm / 480 – 650 nm / 620 – 650 nm / 760 – 800 nm / 830 – 870 nm / 980 – 1550 nm / 960 – 1080 nm / 1020 – 1900 nm / 1.7 – 2.3 µm	1250-1640nm, 1310nm, 850nm, 850-1310nm	1260~1620, 1060, 1310, 1550, 850, 850/1310, Special
Optical performance	<1 dB / <1 dB / ≤0.8 dB / ≤0.6 dB / ≤0.5 dB / ≤0.5 dB / ≤0.4 dB / ≤0.2 dB / ≤0.5 dB	Confirm for this model	Confirm for this model
Fiber type	SM400 / SM450 / SM600 / Hi780 / SM800 / Hi980 / Hi1060 / SM28 / SM1950	SM28, PM 1550, PM 1310, 50 μm, 60 μm	SMF-28, PM1550/250, PM1310/250, PM980/250, PM850/250, MM 50/125, MM 62.5/125, Special
Connector / control	Confirm for this model	FC/APC	None, FC/PC, FC/APC, SC/PC, SC/APC