Patent ID: 6973253

Claim:
A variable optical attenuator comprising: a first waveguide holding member comprising a first transverse surface region and a first optical waveguide having an end terminating at the first transverse surface region; a second waveguide holding member comprising a second transverse surface region which confronts the first transverse surface region of the first waveguide holding member and a plurality of second optical waveguides, wherein the plurality of second optical waveguides have respective ends which terminate at respectively different distances from the second transverse surface region; and a guide member which is operatively coupled to the first and second waveguide holding members and which guides the first waveguide holding member in a transverse direction relative to the second waveguide holding member so as to selectively optically couple and decouple the end of the first optical waveguide to one of the respective ends of the plurality of second optical waveguides.