Collimated beam channel with four lens optical surfaces

Abstract

An optical system and method disclosed include a first lens component and a second lens component within the receive path or the transmit path. The first lens component includes at least two aspheric surfaces that oppose one another and generate a collimated beam channel. The second lens component generates a converging beam and magnifies the converging beam with a magnification factor that is different from a magnification factor in the other path, either the receive path or the transmit path. The receive path and the transmit path include symmetrical lengths and asymmetrical magnification factors.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . An optical system, comprising:
 an optical transmitter component configured for converting a message having a first format into a second different format for a transmission of the message;   an optical receiver component configured for receiving the message in the second different format;   an information channel component configured for carrying the message in the second different format along a guided pathway having a receive channel and a transmit channel;   a first lens component configured for generating a collimated beam along an optical axis; and   a second lens component configured for directing and magnifying the collimated beam with an asymmetrical magnification factor with respect to the receive channel and the transmit channel.