Beam altering fiber lens device and method of manufacture

12 The multi-lens apparatus of claim 11 wherein the non-circular spacer rod is a rectangular rod and wherein the biconic lens is formed directly on the end of the rectangular rod remote from the GRIN-fiber lens.

A method of manufacturing a multi-lens apparatus for altering the mode field of an optical signal, the method comprising the steps of:

• positioning one end of a GRIN-fiber lens in relation to one end of an optical fiber having a core region defining an optical axis;
• and
• disposing a biconic lens in relation to an end of the GRIN-fiber lens remote from the optical fiber, wherein the biconic lens includes an external surface defined by two different curves disposed substantially orthogonal to one another, a major curve C1 and a minor curve C2, and wherein C1 and C2 intersect at or near the optical axis.