Patent ID: 6954580

Claim:
A packaged optical coupling assembly having an integrated selectively positionable optical attenuator comprising: an optical waveguide for transmitting light having an axis extending therethrough, said optical waveguide having an output end; a lens for coupling light which exits said output end of said optical waveguide said lens having a focal plane; a photodetector having a photosensitive surface for receiving light disposed at said focal plane of said lens; an integrated optical attenuator located in a free space region between said lens and said output end of said optical waveguide for selectively blocking a percentage of light which exits said output end, said optical attenuator being selectively positionable within a range of attenuating positions; wherein when light exits said output end of said optical waveguide, the light is selectively attenuated by said optical attenuator in an amount selected from between 0 and 99.9999 percent, and at least a portion of the non-attenuated light is refracted by said lens and directed to said photosensitive surface of said photodetector.