Method and system for aligning and optical system via single axis adjustments

A compound lens arranged to intersect a beam of light comprising:

• a two-axis lens that defines a first beam and a second beam, both of which are external and adjacent to the two-axis lens and wherein the first beam has an absolute convergence less than or equal to the absolute convergence of the second beam,
• a first one-axis lens that defines a first axis of focus oriented at a first radial angle,
• a second one-axis lens that defines a second axis of focus oriented at a second radial angle, wherein the first and the second radial angles are not equal or opposite to each other, wherein the first and the second one-axis lenses are adjacent and optically coupled to each other, and wherein the adjacent first and second one axis lenses are within the first or the second beams, and
• means for translating the first and the second one-axis lenses along a single translation direction that defines a third radial angle, wherein the third radial angle is not equal or opposite to either of the first or the second radial angles.

A relay lens for coupling a beam of light, the beam of light defining a first beam that exits an optical source and a second beam that enters an optical sink, the second beam defining orthogonal beam waists, wherein both beams are external to the relay lens, the relay lens comprising:

• a first one-axis lens that defines a first axis of focus oriented at a first radial angle, the first one axis lens arranged to receive the first beam and output a third beam,
• means for moving the first one-axis lens back and forth along a translation direction
• a second one-axis lens that defines a second axis of focus oriented at a second radial angle, the second one-axis lens arranged to receive the third beam and output a fourth beam, and wherein the first and the second radial angles are not equal or opposite to each other,
• means for moving the second one-axis lens back and forth along the translation direction,
• a third one-axis lens that defines a third axis of focus oriented at a third radial angle, the third one-axis lens arranged to receive the fourth beam and output a fifth beam,
• means for moving the third one-axis lens back and forth along the translation direction,
• a fourth one-axis lens that defines a fourth axis of focus oriented at a fourth radial angle, the fourth one-axis lens arranged to receive the fifth beam and output the second beam, and wherein the third and the fourth radial angles are not equal or opposite to each other, and
• means for moving the fourth one-axis lens back and forth along the translation direction;
• wherein the moving of the first and second one-axis lenses adjusts the axial angles of the beam entering the sink;
• and
• wherein the moving of the third and fourth one-axis lenses adjusts the radial positions of the beam entering the sink

A relay lens for coupling a beam of light, the beam of light defining a first beam that exits an optical source and a second beam that enters an optical sink, wherein both beams are external to the relay lens, the relay lens comprising:

• a first two-axis lens that receives the first beam and outputs a third beam that is nearly collimated,
• a first one-axis lens that defines a first axis of focus oriented at a first radial angle, the first one axis lens arranged to receive the third beam and output a fourth beam,
• means for moving the first one-axis lens back and forth along a radial translation direction
• a second one axis lens that defines a second axis of focus oriented at a second radial angle, the second one-axis lens arranged to receive the fourth beam and output a fifth beam, and wherein the first and the second radial angles are not equal or opposite to each other,
• means for moving the second one-axis lens back and forth along the radial translation direction, and
• a second two axis lens arranged to receive the fifth beam and output the second beam.

A relay lens for coupling a beam of light from an optical source to an optical sink, the beam of light defining a first beam that exits an optical source and a second beam that enters an optical sink, wherein both beams are external to the relay lens, the relay lens comprising:

• a first optical wedge that receives the first beam and outputs a third beam, and means for moving the first optical wedge back and forth along a radial translation direction,
• a first two-axis lens that receives the third beam and outputs a fourth beam that is nearly collimated,
• a first one-axis lens that defines a first axis of focus oriented at a first radial angle, the first one axis lens arranged to receive the fourth beam and output a fifth beam,
• means for moving the first one-axis lens back and forth along the radial translation direction,
• a second one-axis lens that defines a second axis of focus oriented at a second radial angle, the second one-axis lens arranged to receive the fifth beam and output a sixth beam, and wherein the first and the second radial angles are not equal or opposite to each other and not equal to the translation direction,
• means for moving the second one-axis lens back and forth along the radial translation direction,
• an optical spacer that receives the sixth beam and output a seventh beam,
• a third one-axis lens that defines a first axis of focus oriented at a third radial angle, the third one axis lens arranged to receive the seventh beam and output an eighth beam,
• means for moving the third one-axis lens back and forth along the radial translation direction,
• a fourth one axis lens that defines a fourth axis of focus oriented at a fourth radial angle, the fourth one-axis lens arranged to receive the eighth beam and output a ninth beam, and wherein the third and the fourth radial angles are not equal or opposite to each other and not equal to the translation direction,
• means for moving the fourth one-axis lens back and forth along the radial translation direction,
• a second two axis lens positioned to receive the ninth beam and output a tenth beam,
• a second optical wedge positioned to receiver the tenth beam and output the second beam, and
• means for moving the second wedge lens back and forth along the radial translation direction.
• wherein moving the first optical wedge modifies both orthogonal radial dimensions of the beam waist entering the sink,
• wherein moving of the first and second one-axis lenses adjusts the axial angles of the beam entering the sink;
• wherein the optical spacer reduces the effects of moving the first or second one-axis lenses upon the radial position of the beam entering sink;
• wherein moving of the third and fourth one-axis lenses adjusts the radial position of the beam entering the sink;
• and
• wherein moving the second optical wedge modifies the axial position of both beam-waists entering the sink

A method for aligning a beam of light with an optical lens assembly, the beam defining an optical axis, the method comprising the steps of:

• defining an x-y axes coordinate system orthogonal to the optical axis,
• defining an exiting and an entering beam with respect to the lens assembly,
• first deflecting the beam exiting a compound lens with respect to the x axis by moving back and forth, along a single radial translation direction, a first one-axis lens that defines a first focal axis oriented at a first radial angle,
• second deflecting the beam exiting a compound lens with respect to the y axis by moving back and forth, along the single radial translation direction, a second one-axis lens that defines a second focal axis oriented at a second radial angle, wherein the first and the second focal axes are not parallel with each other or the translation direction.

A compound lens arranged to intersect a beam of light, the beam of light defining a first beam and a second beam, both of which are external to the compound lens and wherein the first beam has an absolute convergence less than or equal to the absolute convergence of the second beam, the compound lens comprising:

• a first one-axis lens, wherein the first one-axis lens defines a first axis of focus oriented at a first radial angle,
• means for translating the first one-axis lenses back and forth along a first radial translation direction not parallel to the focal axis of the first one-axis lens,
• a second one-axis lens placed adjacent to the second beam, wherein the second one-axis lens defines a second axis of focus oriented at a second radial angle, wherein the first and the second radial angles are not equal or opposite to each other, and
• means for translating the second one-axis lenses back and forth along a second radial translation direction not parallel to the focal axis of the second one-axis lens and not parallel to the first radial translation direction.