Telecentric optical assembly

A method of aligning optical beams between a first array of active optical elements and a second array of active optical elements, comprising:

• attaching a first kinematic mount of a telecentric optical link to a first substrate, the first substrate having the first array of active optical elements attached thereto;
• attaching a second kinematic mount of the telecentric optical link to a second substrate, the second substrate having the second array of active optical elements attached thereto;
• and
• mating alignment structures of the first kinematic mount to recesses of the second kinematic mount such that the optical beams between the first array of active optical elements and the second array of active optical elements are aligned when activated.

A telecentric optical alignment system, comprising:

• a first substrate having a first array of optical elements;
• a first portion of a telecentric optical link including a lens tube containing two lenses of a compound telecentric lens and a first kinematic mount having alignment structures, the first kinematic mount attached at one end of the lens tube, the other end of the lens tube being attached to a first substrate having a first array of optical elements;
• a second substrate having a second array of optical elements;
• and
• a second portion of the telecentric optical link including a second kinematic mount having recesses configured to mate with the alignment structures of the first kinematic mount, the second portion of the telecentric optical link attached to the second substrate having a second array of optical elements;
• wherein the first and second kinematic mounts, when mated, align optical beams between the first array of optical elements and the second array of optical elements.