Patent ID: 7027230

Claim:
An optical device comprising: an optical source for producing an optical beam having spaced apart first and second focal points of origin in orthogonal first and second planes of beam propagation of the optical beam, respectively; a first lens disposed in an optical path of the optical beam and having a first optical focusing power in both the first and second planes of beam propagation, wherein the first lens is disposed at a first distance from the first focal point of origin for generally collimating the optical beam in the first plane of beam propagation and for focusing the optical beam down to a first beam diameter in the second plane of beam propagation at an image position located a second distance from the first lens; and a second lens disposed in the optical path of the optical beam and having a second optical focusing power in the first plane of beam propagation and generally no optical focusing power in the second plane of beam propagation, wherein the second lens is disposed at a third distance from the image position for focusing the optical beam down to a second beam diameter in the first plane of beam propagation at the image position; an optical fiber having an input end disposed at the image position for receiving the optical beam; the optical beam incident upon the first lens has a first numerical aperture in the first plane of beam propagation; the optical fiber has an acceptance numerical aperture associated therewith; and the first numerical aperture divided by the acceptance numerical aperture is substantially equal to or less than the second focal length divided by the first focal length.