Patent ID: 6804448
Filing Date: 2004-10-12
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An electrical variable optical attenuator for attenuating input optical signals, comprising:a housing having a front wall, and a bottom wall defining a plurality of positioning holes therein; an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber mounted in the front wall for transmitting the input optical signals and attenuated output optical signals, respectively; an optical module received in the housing and having first and second reflective mirrors mounted therein, wherein the input optical signals from the input optical fiber are successively reflected by the first and the second reflective mirrors to enter the output optical fiber; an attenuating device movably mounted in the optical module, said attenuating device having a graded optical absorbent filter through which the optical signals pass when reflected form the first to the second reflective mirror; and an electrical controlling unit for controlling movement of the attenuating device in the optical module so that the optical signals reflected from the first to the second reflective mirror can pass through different parts of the graded optical absorbent filter; the electrical controlling unit comprising a stepping motor drivably connecting with the attenuating device, and a terminal holder, the terminal holder comprising a plurality of conductive terminals adapted for connecting an external power supply with the stepping motor, an insulating plate to which the conductive terminals are secured, and a plurality of terminal sleeves depending from a bottom face of the insulating plate and fitting into the positioning holes of the bottom wall of the housing, the bottom face abutting against the bottom wall of the housing, said conductive terminals extending through the sleeves.