Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.

Foxconn International, Inc.

Yao-Hao Chang

Kun-Tsan Wu

Chih Chiang Chang

Tai-Cheng Yu

Chung-Chih Wang

Wayne Huang

Haw-Chan Tan

Gordon Lok

Chia Hao Fan

Joel J Yeh

Joel Jyh-Haur Yeh

Chun Yu Lee

Haw-Chang Tan

Tien-Chien Wang

Chang-Xiu Du

Qi-sheng Zheng

Ming-Kung Fang

An optical attenuator () includes an input port (), an output port (), a fixed reflector (), a movable reflector (), two detecting means () and a driving device (). The input port includes a first collimator () and a filter () attached to the first collimator. The output port includes a second collimator () and a splitter () connected to the second collimator. Input signals are transmitted from an input fiber () through the first collimator and then pass through the filter. The signals passing through the filter are directed by the fixed and the movable reflectors to the second collimator. The angular position of the movable reflector, which is driven by the driving device, determines the proportion of the signals. reflected by the reflectors that are received by the second collimator, which determines the size of the output signals transmitted in an output fiber ().

Variable optical attenuator

An optical attenuator () has an optical attenuation fiber () doped with cobalt. Two ferrules (A), (B) retain the optical attenuation fiber therein. Two butting ends of the ferrules are enclosed in a flange (), which is received in a front end of an interconnection housing (). An alignment sleeve () retains a rear end of the rear ferrule and is enclosed in a rear end of the interconnection housing. A latch () engages with the rear end of the interconnection housing. A plug housing () engages with the front end of the interconnection housing. A cover () then attaches over all the aforesaid components. A front end of the front ferrule is exposed outside the cover, for connecting with a complementary optical connector.

Optical attenuator

An electrical variable optical attenuator ( ) of the present invention has a housing ( ), a cover ( ), an attenuating means ( ), an optical module ( ), an electrical driving element ( ), an input fiber ( ) and an output fiber ( ). The attenuating means includes a carrier ( ) having a guide groove ( ) and an inner screw ( ). A filter ( ) is fixed on the carrier. The optical module includes a guide pole ( ). The electrical driving element has a screw rod ( ), which couples with the inner screw. The attenuating means is assembled inside the optical module with the guide pole being received in the guide groove to confine the direction of movement of the carrier along the screw rod, thus helping to avoid trembling of the filter when the screw rod is rotated.

Electrical variable optical attenuator

An electrical variable optical attenuator ( ) includes a housing, an attenuating device ( ), an optical module ( ), and an electrical controlling unit ( ). The housing encases the attenuating device, optical module and electrical controlling unit. The electrical controlling unit includes an electrical resistor ( ), a terminal holder ( ), and a stepping motor ( ). The terminal holder includes a plurality of terminals ( ), and a plurality of terminal sleeves ( ) depending from an insulating plate ( ). The terminal holders are fittingly received in positioning holes ( ) defined in the housing, so that the terminals can electrically connect the stepping motor and the electrical resistor with an external power supply. The insulating plate is made of rubber, which is softer than a material of the housing. A diameter of the terminal sleeves is slightly greater than a diameter of the positioning holes. Thus the terminal sleeves provide an airtight and watertight seal.

An optical attenuator ( ) includes: an optical splitter ( ), a collimator ( ), two detectors ( ), a first and second reflectors ( ), an attenuating element ( ) and a driving device ( ). The optical splitter includes a ferrule ( ) and a GRIN (graded index) lens ( ). The collimator is similar to the optical splitter. Input optical signals are transmitted from an input fiber ( ) through the optical splitter and are then directed to the first reflector. The optical signals reflected by the first reflector pass through the attenuating element and are subsequently reflected to the collimator by the second reflector. The two detectors receive sampling signals via an input and an output sampling fibers ( ). The driving device can drive the attenuating element in response to the attenuation ratio coming from the two detectors.

Variable optical attenuator having a splitter to monitor light signals

An optical attenuator includes an input optical fiber ( ) and an attenuating device ( ). The attenuating device is a neutral density (ND) filter. The filter has a refractive index matching that of the input optical fiber, to reduce Fresnel reflectance between the attenuating device and a terminal of the input optical fiber. One surface of the ND filter is not perpendicular to an incident light beam, thus preventing multireflectance between the attenuating device and the terminal of the input optical fiber. Therefore, return loss is increased.

Optical attenuator having high return loss

A variable optical attenuator ( ) comprises a holder ( ), a rotatable mechanism ( ), a refractor ( ), an input port ( ) and an output port ( ). The input port and the output port are engaged with corresponding upright beams ( ) of the holder, which hold the input port and the output port in alignment with each other. The refractor is mounted on the rotatable mechanism by adhering to or soldering on a groove ( ) of the rotatable mechanism, wherein the rotatable mechanism mates with a through hole ( ) of the holder to make the center of the refractor and the optical axis of input and output collimators ( ) of the input and output ports in line.

An optical loop-back attenuator ( ) includes a frame ( ), a cover ( ) attached to the frame, an optical fiber ( ), an optical fiber fixture ( ) retaining and fixing the optical fiber, and two SC plug connectors ( ) receiving and retaining opposite ends of the optical fiber therein. The frame and the cover cooperate to fittingly receive the optical fiber, the optical fiber fixture and portions of the SC plug connectors therein. The optical fiber has a bent part ( ) which is configured to be semicircular or to have another suitable shape that achieves a desired attenuation.

Optical loop-back attenuator

A manual variable optical attenuator ( ) includes a base ( ), a cover ( ), an optical module ( ), a shifting device ( ), and an optical fiber retainer ( ). The optical module comprises a mirror ( ), a frame ( ), a dual optical fiber collimator ( ), a stopper ( ), a graded transmittance filter ( ), and a filter carrier ( ). The shifting device comprises a screw pole ( ), a first holder ( ), and a second holder ( ). The screw pole comprises a terminal portion ( ) rotatably received in the first holder, a first annular groove ( ) accommodating the second holder, a second annular groove ( ) receiving a gasket ( ), an adjusting slot ( ), and a screw thread ( ). The gasket protrudes from a circumferential surface of the screw pole and seals a gap between the screw pole and a sidewall ( ) of the cover. External harmful contamination cannot penetrate into the attenuator.

Manual variable optical attenuator having sealing gasket

An optical collimator ( ) includes an optical fiber ( ), a metal ferrule ( ), a Graded Index (GRIN) lens ( ) and an outer metal tube ( ). The optical fiber has an exposed end ( ) which is coated with metal. The exposed end of the optical fiber is inserted into the ferrule and laser welded thereto. The GRIN lens is also coated with metal. A plurality of soldering holes ( ) is defined in a periphery of the outer tube. Solder is applied to the ferrule and the GRIN lens through the holes to firmly connect the outer tube, the ferrule and the GRIN lens together. After assembly, if the position of the GRIN lens or the optical fiber is found to be inaccurate, the GRIN lens and the ferrule can be easily resoldered.

Optical collimator and method for making same

An optical switch ( ) in accordance with the present invention includes: a housing ( ), an input port ( ), a plurality of output ports ( ), an optical switching means ( ), an indicating device ( ) and a driving device ( ). The optical switch includes a resistor ( ), a fixed reflector ( ) and a carrier ( ) to which a moveable reflector ( ) and a wiper contact ( ) are mounted. The wiper contact slides on the surface of the resistor as the carrier moves along a pole ( ), changing a resistance provided to a control circuitry. The control circuitry then provides control signals to turn on a light emitting component ( ) above the output port which is optically connected with the input port.

Optical switch

A variable optical attenuator ( ) of the present invention includes a cover ( ), a housing ( ), an optical module ( ), a reciprocating means ( ), and a filter ( ). The reciprocating means, optical module, and filter are assembled in the housing. The reciprocating means includes a carrier ( ) mounted to a rotatable screw rod ( ). The filter has a varying optical density gradient over one of its dimensions and mounts on the carrier. Light signals are transmitted from an input optical fiber ( ) through the filter and are reflected off a reflector ( ) of the optical module to pass again through the filter to an output optical fiber ( ). When the screw rod is rotated, the carrier with the filter mounted on it moves toward one side of the housing or another, varying the attenuation of the light signals. The screw rod can be rotated using a screwdriver through a side hole ( ) on either side of the housing.

A fiber optic terminal ( ) of the present invention is for protecting a pair of optical fibers ( ) entering an optical equipment housing ( ). The fiber optic terminal includes an installment section ( ), an orientation section ( ), a first relief portion ( ) and a second relief portion ( ). The first relief portion and the second relief portion are integrally molded with the installment section and the orientation section. The fiber optic terminal further defines a first passageway ( ) and a second passageway ( ). In assembly, the two optical fibers are received in the fiber optic terminal through the passageways to connect with optical components in the housing, and the fiber optic terminal is tightly received in the housing.

Fiber optical terminal with strain relief boot

An electrical variable optical attenuator includes a housing ( ), a cover ( ), an optical module ( ), and a shifting device ( ). The optical module comprises a reflective device ( ), a graded transmittance filter ( ), a filter carrier ( ), and a container ( ). The reflective device is an integrated piece comprising a first reflective plane ( ), a second reflective plane ( ), and an opening ( ) movably accommodating the graded transmittance filter therein. The first and the second reflective planes are substantially perpendicular to each other. Because the first and second reflective planes are integrally formed on the reflective device, the attenuator is relatively easy to assemble. In addition, the attenuator is able to operate reliably in rugged conditions, including applications where the attenuator may be subjected to vibration, shock or extreme temperatures.

Variable optical attenuator having integrated reflective device

A variable optical attenuator ( ) includes a cover ( ) and a housing ( ) defining an interior space therebetween for accommodating an optical module ( ) and a reciprocating device ( ). The reciprocating device includes a carrier ( ) mounted to and driven by a screw rod ( ) between opposite extreme positions. A filter ( ) having a varying optical density gradient is attached to the carrier ( ) to be movable therewith. The optical module includes input and output optical fibers ( ). Light signal goes from the input fiber transmits through the filter and reflected by a reflector ( ) back to the output fiber ( ). By moving the filter with respect to an optical path between the reflector and the input and output fibers, the light signal is attenuated to different extent due to the varying density of the filter. The carrier forms stoppers ( ) on opposite sides thereof for abuttingly engaging sidewalls of the housing for preventing over-movement of the carrier with respect to the housing.

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Tu-Chen, Taiwan

Yao-Hao Chang