Optically-powered optical power limiter for use in lightwave networks

We report on an optically powered optical power limiter for use in lightwave networks. Our device is a hybrid consisting of a MEMS variable attenuator specially designed for operation at low voltages operated in conjunction with an InGaAs photogenerator. Our resulting device is fast, small, inexpensive, fiber connectorized and requires no external circuitry or source of electrical power. We believe that it represents a practical power limiter, which will be easily implemented in lightwave systems.