Patent ID: 7403677

Claim:
An electro-optic apparatus for operating on a light beam, said electro-optic apparatus comprising: a) a lens for collimating the light beam to a non-uniform collimated beam having a cross sectional dimension that has a portion thereof that is equal to or less than a critical predetermined dimension within a working range WR, said working range being substantially twice the distance between said lens and said portion; b) a bulk electro-optic material positioned within said working range WR and having a thickness τ; c) a voltage source for applying a drive voltage V drive to said bulk electro-optic material for performing an operation on said non-uniform collimated beam; d) an optical fiber for guiding the light beam; and e) a ferrule having a central bore for retaining said optical fiber guiding the light beam, said ferrule disposed adjacent to said lens to form an interface between said optical fiber and said lens.