Patent ID: 7286743

Claim:
A receiver optical subassembly (ROSA) comprising: an input port for receiving an end of an optical waveguide, which launches an optical beam having a light intensity and including an optical signal; a variable optical attenuator (VOA) mechanism for attenuating the light intensity of the optical beam; a photo-detector for converting the optical signal into an electrical signal; and optical coupling means comprising an optical block for receiving the optical beam from the optical waveguide through a first input surface, wherein the optical block includes optics for directing the optical beam to the VOA mechanism, for receiving the optical beam from the VOA mechanism through a second input surface, and for directing the optical beam to the photo-detector; wherein the optics includes a first lens on a first output surface of the optical block for directing the optical beam onto the VOA mechanism; and wherein the first lens has a focal length for focusing the optical beam onto the photo-detector.