Fused fiber-optic tapers in optical wireless receivers and method

An optical wireless communication system comprising:

• a transmitter node configured to generate an optical beam having encoded information;
• and
• a receiver node configured to receive the optical beam and to extract the encoded information,
• wherein the receiver node includes a non-flat compounded light-focusing optical element configured to focus the optical beam, the non-flat compounded light-focusing optical element including,
• a body having a first, flat, end face and a second, curved end face, the second, curved end face being opposite to the first, flat end face;
• and
• plural optical fibers extending through the body, from the first, flat end face to the second, curved end face,
• wherein the plural optical fibers are fused to each other to form the body, and
• wherein end faces of the plural optical fibers, corresponding to the second, curved end face, are pointing in different directions.

A method for optical wireless communication, the method comprising:

• generating, at a transmitter node, an optical beam;
• encoding information into the optical beam;
• transmitting in a wireless manner the encoded information with the optical beam;
• receiving, at a non-flat compounded light-focusing optical element of a receiver node, the optical beam;
• focusing the optical beam, with the non-flat compounded light-focusing optical element, to a photodetector;
• and
• extracting the encoded information from the optical beam,
• wherein the non-flat compounded light-focusing optical element has a body including a first, flat, end face and a second, curved end face, the second, curved end face being opposite to the first, flat end face, and plural optical fibers extending through the body, from the first, flat end face to the second, curved end face, and
• wherein end faces of the plural optical fibers, corresponding to the second, curved end face, are pointing in different directions.