Segmented axial gradinet array lens

A segmented array lens having a front surface, a rear surface and a plurality of parallel optical axes, said lens comprising:

• a plurality of planar sheets each having a first and a second side;
• said first side of a first one of said sheets forming said front surface and said second side of said first sheet having a series of parallel grooves, each of said grooves including a pair of planar walls, adjacent ones of said grooves intersecting at ridges parallel to said grooves;
• said second side of a last one of said sheets forming said rear surface and said first side of said last sheet having a series of parallel grooves, each of said grooves including a pair of planar walls, adjacent ones of said grooves intersecting at ridges parallel to said grooves;
• one or more intermediate one of said sheets positioned between said first and last sheets, said first and second sides of each of said intermediate sheets each having a series of parallel grooves, each of said grooves including a pair of planar walls, adjacent ones of said grooves intersecting at ridges parallel to said grooves;
• said ridges and grooves of adjacent ones of said sheets mating to form continuous interfaces between adjacent sheets;
• at least one wall of said grooves forming a finite, non-normal angle with one of said optical axes;
• and
• at least one of said sheets having an axial gradient index of refraction profile.

A segmented array lens having a front surface, a rear surface and a plurality of parallel optical axes, said lens comprising:

• a first planar sheet having first and second sides and an axial index of refraction profile, said second side of said first sheet including an array of cones;
• a second planar sheet having first and second sides, said first side of said second sheet including an army of conical indentations corresponding to said cones of said first sheet;
• and
• said cones of said second side of said first sheet mating with said conical indentations of said first side of said second sheet to form a continuous interface from said first sheet to said second sheet.

An optical multiplexer comprising a segmented array lens having a front surface, a rear surface and a plurality of parallel optical axes, said lens comprising:

• a first planar sheet having first and second sides and an axial gradient index of refraction profile, said second side of said first sheet having a series of parallel grooves, each of said grooves including a pair of planar walls, adjacent ones of said grooves intersecting at one or more ridges parallel to said grooves;
• a second planar sheet having first and second sides, said first side of said second sheet including a series of parallel grooves, each of said grooves including a pair of planar walls, adjacent ones of said grooves intersecting at one or more ridges parallel to said grooves;
• said ridges of said second side of said first sheet mating with said grooves of said first side of said second sheet and said ridges of said first side of said second sheet mating with said grooves of said second side of said first sheet to form a continuous interface from said first sheet to said second sheet;
• at least one wall of said grooves forming a finite, non-normal angle with one of said optical axes;
• and
• said multiplexer further including an input port and a plurality of output ports.

A segmented array lens having a front surface, a rear surface and a plurality of parallel optical axes, said lens comprising:

• a plurality of planar adjacent sheets each having a first and a second side;
• said first side of a first one of said sheets forming said front surface and said second side of a last one of said sheets forming said rear surface;
• adjacent ones of said sheets having their respective second and first sides forming continuous interfaces with each other, said interfaces comprising either a series of mating parallel grooves and ridges or an array of mating cones and conical indentations;
• and
• at least one of said sheets having an axial gradient index of refraction profile.