Patent ID: 6932520

Claim:
An optical component comprising: a main housing for enclosing an optical system, the main housing including a first gap in an outer wall thereof; and a first module mounted in the first gap, comprising: a first module housing for supporting a first optical element therein, the first module housing including a first passage extending through a first outer wall thereof, and a second passage extending through a second outer wall thereof; a first lens disposed in the first passage for directing a beam of light at the first optical element; a first optical fiber, one end of which is encased in a first fiber tube ferrule and optically coupled with the first lens, for transmitting a beam of light to the first optical element; a second lens disposed in the second passage for receiving the beam light from the first optical element; and a second optical fiber, one end of which is encased in a second fiber tube ferrule and optically couple to the second lens, for receiving the beam of light therefrom, and the other end of which is optically coupled to the optical system; wherein the first module housing mates with the outer wall of the main housing on either side of the first gap, whereby the first outer wall of the first module housing forms a substantially continuous wall with the outer wall of the main housing; and wherein the first optical fiber extends outwardly from the continuous wall, and the second optical fiber extends inside the main housing.