See cable assembly.

The optical signal that results from an optical conversion of an synchronous transport signal 1 (STS-1 signal). It is this signal that will form the basis of the interface. [T1.105-1988]

A region bounded by two or more mirrors that are aligned to provide multiple reflections of lightwaves.
Note: The resonator in a laser is an optical cavity. In this sense, synonym resonant cavity.

A device used for optical character recognition.

The machine identification of printed characters through use of light-sensitive devices.

Deprecated synonym for optical fiber.

A demountable device for attaching a cabled or uncabled optical fiber to another, or to an active device such as a transmitter.
Note 1: A connector is distinguished by the fact that it may be disconnected and reconnected, as opposed to a splice, which permanently joins two fibers.
Note 2: Optical connectors are sometimes erroneously referred to as "couplers. "… (Read More →)

See directional coupler, star coupler, T-coupler.

For a given wavelength, an expression of the transmittance of an optical element.
Note 1: Optical density is expressed by log10(1/T) where T is transmittance.
Note 2: The higher the optical density, the lower the transmittance.
Note 3: Optical density times 10 is equal to transmission loss expressed in decibels, e.g., an optical density of
0. 3 corresponds to a… (Read More →)

A transducer that generates an output signal when irradiated with optical energy.