Patent ID: 8399872

Claim:
A method of protecting an optical module during laser testing, comprising: generating a first optical signal with a laser to be tested; receiving a first portion of the first optical signal at a pulse detector and producing a detected pulse in response thereto; receiving an electronic pulse based on the detected pulse of the first portion of the first optical signal at an optical module; generating a second optical signal at the optical module based on the electronic pulse; receiving a second portion of the first optical signal in a reverse direction at an optical isolator, the optical isolator being positioned between the laser and the optical module; and receiving the second optical signal in a forward direction at the optical isolator, the optical isolator substantially transmitting the second optical signal to a target in the forward direction, the optical isolator substantially attenuating the second portion of the first optical signal in the reverse direction to thereby protect the optical module from damage by the first optical signal.