Abstract: A bidirectional link for simultaneous or sequential transmission and reception of optical signals is disclosed. A simple alignment process is used in which the emitter or transmitter is disposed in a subassembly having a subhousing with a beamsplitter therein. This is then inserted into the main housing with the other device mounted therein.

Abstract: A compact optical transceiver including a ceramic mounting block 1, with a laser diode 3 abutting a first end of the mounting block for generating light of a first wavelength. A GRIN lens 5, mounted to the mounting block, then receives and focuses the generated light to an optical fiber 13 which is attached to the compact optical transceiver. A dichroic substance 7 acts as a beamsplitter by passing light of a first wavelength and deflecting light of a second wavelength. The dichroic substance 7 is coated on a glass plate, which is mounted in a first angular groove of the mounting block. The beamsplitter 7 receives and passes the generated light of the first wavelength which has been focused by the GRIN lens 5. From a remote transmitter, light of a second wavelength is then transmitted through an optical fiber 13, to the compact optical transceiver from a direction opposite that of the light generated by the laser diode 3.

Abstract: A compact optical transceiver including a ceramic mounting block 1, with a laser diode 3 abutting a first end of the mounting block for generating light of a first wavelength. A holographic optical element (HOE) 5 is positioned adjacent laser diode 3 and acts as a hologram lens which receives and focuses the generated light to the end face of an optical fiber 13 which is attached to the compact optical transceiver. A glass element 7 is mounted on the mounting block between the diode and the optical fiber end face, and includes dichroic substance 8 coated to the fiber-proximate side of the glass element 7 and acts as a beamsplitter by passing light of a first wavelength and deflecting light of a second wavelength. The glass element 7 is mounted in an angular positioning groove of the mounting block. The beamsplitter 8 receives and passes the generated light of the first wavelength which has been focused by the HOE 5.

Abstract: An optical switch having a fixed-position concave reflector, a fixed array of optical waveguides facing the concave reflector, said array including n number of input waveguides for transmitting the optical signal into the switch, and m number of output waveguides adapted to receive the optical signal, and a refractive element located between the reflector and the array of optical waveguides having multiple angular positions for selectively coupling one of the n number of input waveguides with one of the m number of output waveguides, the switch further including an actuator connected to the refractive element for moving the refractive element between angular positions.

Abstract: A continuously variable fiber optic attenuator 10, particularly for attenuating single mode fibers, has means 20 for supporting a section 25 of an optical fiber 24 substantially along the length of the section 25 and means 22 for bending at least a portion of the supported optical fiber section 25 in a controlled manner for attenuating light passing through the optical fiber 24. Preferably, the support means 20 comprises a deformable support means such as a spring 15 or an elastomeric body 71 for supporting the optical fiber 24 as it is bent. Most preferably, the deformable support means supports a section 25 of optical fiber 24 formed in one or more loops around the deformable support means, and the bending means is a plunger 22 movable to an extended position pressing against the support means 20 to bend portions of the loops of optical fiber 24 in a controlled manner.

Abstract: A fiber optic optical transducer or encoder is described. The outputs of two detectors receiving signals from an optical multiplexer/demultiplexer arrangement are compared to determine whether a given code bit is "on" or "off". When the bit is "on" the power received by the second detector will, for example, be greater than the power received by a first detector. When the bit is "off" the reverse is true. A simple power level comparison thus determines the logic state of each given code bit.