Claims
- 1. A packaged optical coupling assembly having an integrated selectively positionable optical attenuator comprising:
an optical waveguide for transmitting light having an axis extending therethrough, said optical waveguide having an output end; a lens for coupling light which exits said output end of said optical waveguide; an integrated optical attenuator for selectively blocking a percentage of light which exits said output end, said optical attenuator being selectively positionable within a range of attenuating positions; a photodetector having a photosensitive surface for receiving light;
wherein when light exits said output end of said optical waveguide, the light is selectively attenuated by said optical attenuator in an amount selected from between 0 and 99.9999 percent, and at least a portion of the non-attenuated light is refracted by said lens and directed to said photosensitive surface of said photodetector.
- 2. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 1 wherein said optical attenuator is located between said lens and an output end of said optical waveguide.
- 3. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 1 further including an aperture for spatially filtering light diffracted by said optical attenuator.
- 4. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 3 wherein said aperture is located between said lens and said photosensitive surface of said photodetector.
- 5. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 4 wherein light which exits said output end of said optical waveguide is directed at an angle through said lens thereby to reduce optical return loss.
- 6. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 5 wherein said output end of said optical waveguide is cleaved at an angle such that light which exits said output end exits at an angle relative to said optical waveguide axis.
- 7. In an optical communication system comprising a data generator for generating light data, a transmitter for transmitting light data, and a receiver for receiving light data, the improvement comprising the optical coupling assembly according to claim 1.
- 8. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 3 wherein said aperture is formed lithographically during a photodetector fabrication process.
- 9. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 1 wherein said optical attenuator is located in a space which is not a space conjugate of said output end of said optical waveguide.
- 10. A packaged optical coupling assembly having an integrated selectively positionable optical attenuator consisting essentially of:
an optical waveguide for transmitting light having an axis extending therethrough, said optical waveguide having an output end; a lens for coupling light which exits said output end of said optical waveguide; an integrated optical attenuator for selectively blocking a percentage of light which exits said output end, said optical attenuator being selectively positionable within a range of attenuating positions; a photodetector having a photosensitive surface for receiving light;
wherein when light exits said output end of said optical waveguide, the light is selectively attenuated by said optical attenuator in an amount selected from between 0 and 99.9999 percent, and at least a portion of the non-attenuated light is refracted by said lens and directed to said photosensitive surface of said photodetector.
- 11. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 10 wherein said optical attenuator is located between said lens and an output end of said optical waveguide.
- 12. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 11 wherein said output end of said optical waveguide is cleaved at an angle such that light which exits said output end exits at an angle relative to said optical waveguide axis.
- 13. In an optical communication system comprising a data generator for generating light data, a transmitter for transmitting light data, and a receiver for receiving light data, the improvement comprising the optical coupling assembly according to claim 12.
- 14. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 10 further including an aperture for spatially filtering light diffracted by said optical attenuator.
- 15. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 14 wherein said aperture is located between said lens and said photosensitive surface of said photodetector.
- 16. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 15 wherein said aperture is formed lithographically during a photodetector fabrication process.
- 17. A packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 10 wherein said optical attenuator is located in a space which is not a space conjugate of said output end of said optical waveguide.
- 18. A method of extending the dynamic range of an optical coupling assembly comprising:
causing a light signal to be transmitted through an output end of an optical waveguide; coupling said light signal onto the photosensitive area of the photodetector; selectively attenuating a percentage of said light signal in an amount selected from between 0 and 99.9999 percent employing; spatially filtering a portion of said light signal which is diffracted by said attenuating step; directing said light signal to an absorption area of a photodetector; and
wherein said optical coupling assembly is the packaged optical coupling assembly according to claim 1.
RELATED APPLICATION PRIORITY DATA
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/360,937, filed Mar. 1, 2002.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60360937 |
Mar 2002 |
US |