Optical radiation coupler for an optical fiber

Abstract

Apparatus for coupling a radiation beam to an optical fiber includes an optical fiber holder, a housing, and a lens positioned in the housing. A flexure provides angular and longitudinal alignment of at least one of the lens and the optical fiber holder relative to the other of the lens and the optical fiber holder for thereby positioning and focusing of the beam on the radiation-receiving end of a received optical fiber. The flexure may be a thin, flat member with a first support region fixed relative to the lens and a second support region fixed relative to the fiber holder. The first and second support regions are circular and co-axial, and the second support region has diameter greater than the first region. The first and second support regions are connected by a plurality of flexible bridge pairs. The flexure holds the lens with three degrees of freedom of movement relative to the radiation-receiving end of the received optical fiber, including rotation about two axes plus translation along the optical path.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.