Method of precision beam collimation using fiber-optic circulator and wavelength tunable source

A calibration system for a collimating lens system, the calibration system comprising:

• a perfect flat mirror positioned to reflect a first beam transmitted by the collimating lens system back to the collimating lens system;
• an optical transmitter;
• a power meter;
• an optical circulator having a first port configured to receive a second beam from the optical transmitter, a second port configured to output the second beam and receive the first beam from the collimating lens system, and a third port configured to output the first beam to the power meter;
• and
• one or more processors configured to:
• move an optical fiber of the collimating lens system relative to a collimating lens of the collimating lens system;
• track a power reading for each position of the optical fiber using the power meter;
• and
• select a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading.

A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:

• transmitting, using an optical transmitter of a calibration system, a beam through a lens system towards a perfect flat mirror, wherein the beam is reflected off the perfect flat mirror and back through the lens system;
• adjusting, using a motor, a position of a tip of an optical fiber of the lens system proximal to a collimating lens of the lens system;
• tracking a power reading of the reflected beam using a power meter that receives the reflected beam from the optical fiber of the lens system;
• and
• selecting a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading.