Patent ID: 7354201

Claim:
An optical device adapted to receive an optical fiber having a core through which optical signals propagate, the optical device comprising: a housing having: an opening for receiving a terminal end of the optical fiber, and a port located on a portion of the housing substantially opposite to the opening for receiving a terminal end of the optical fiber; an optical component having a first facet and a second facet, the second facet being substantially parallel to the first facet, the first facet of the optical component contacting the terminal end of the optical fiber so that the optical signals are incident upon the first facet, while the second facet of the optical component is disposed from the terminal end a distance that enables the optical signals which are internally reflected within the optical component to be substantially prevented from entering into the terminal end of the optical fiber; and a mount configured to position the optical component within at least a portion of the port, the mount defining a hole that extends through the mount and that enables optical signals to pass from one portion of the optical device to another portion of the optical device, wherein a portion of the second facet of the optical component contacts the mount, and wherein the mount is configured to hold a portion of the first facet of the optical component against the housing.