Patent ID: 7160039

Claim:
An optical sub-assembly comprising: an optical connector for receiving an end of an optical fiber, which transmits a beam of light including an optical signal; a housing coupled to the optical connector; a stiffening plate mounted on an end of the housing forming an enclosure therewith; a transducer mounted on the stiffening plate for converting the optical signal into an electrical signal or for converting an electrical signal into the optical signal; a lens mounted in the housing for relaying the beam of light between the optical fiber and the transducer along an optical axis; and a flexible circuit conductor for transmitting the electrical signal to or from the transducer along controlled impedance transmission lines, one end of which is supported by the stiffening plate and electrically connected to the transducer within the enclosure, the other end of which extends outside of the housing for electrical connection with control electronics of a host device; wherein the transducer is positioned in close enough proximity to the lens to provide a magnification of the optical fiber of less than one to reduce a spot size of the beam of light to between 20 to 40 μm diameter.