Method of precision beam collimation using fiber-optic circulator and wavelength tunable source

1. A method of calibrating a collimating lens system, the method comprising:

transmitting, using an optical transmitter, a beam out of an optical fiber and through a collimating lens of the collimating lens system;

reflecting the beam off a perfect flat mirror positioned at an output of the collimating lens and back towards the collimating lens;

receiving, via the collimating lens, the reflected beam at a power meter connected to the optical fiber;

adjusting a position of a tip of the optical fiber proximal to the collimating lens while tracking a power reading using the power meter;

selecting a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading; and

securing the optical fiber relative to the collimating lens using the calibration position.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the collimating lens system includes a collimator and an afocal telescope.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reflecting of the beam includes adjusting the perfect flat mirror using a tip-tilt mount so the beam is reflected back towards the collimating lens.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting of the position includes moving the optical fiber along a center axis of the collimating lens.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting of the position of the tip of the optical fiber includes using one or more processors to control a motor that is connected to the tip of the optical fiber.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the securing of the optical fiber includes fixing the optical fiber relative to the collimating lens in the calibration position.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

positioning an afocal telescope at the output of the collimating lens;

adjusting a position of one or more lenses of the afocal telescope while tracking a second power reading using the power meter;

selecting a second calibration position of the one or more lenses corresponding to a highest second power reading; and

securing the one or more lenses using the second calibration position.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising assembling the collimating lens system into an optical communication device after securing the optical fiber relative to the collimating lens.

9. A calibration system for a collimating lens system, the calibration system comprising:

a perfect flat mirror positioned to reflect a first beam transmitted by the collimating lens system back to the collimating lens system;

an optical transmitter;

a power meter;

an optical circulator having a first port configured to receive a second beam from the optical transmitter, a second port configured to output the second beam and receive the first beam from the collimating lens system, and a third port configured to output the first beam to the power meter; and

one or more processors configured to:

move an optical fiber of the collimating lens system relative to a collimating lens of the collimating lens system;

track a power reading for each position of the optical fiber using the power meter; and

select a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading.

10. The calibration system of claim 9 , wherein the perfect flat mirror is positioned using a tip-tilt mount.

11. The calibration system of claim 9 , wherein the optical transmitter is a wavelength tunable laser.

12. The calibration system of claim 9 , further comprising a motor configured to move a tip of the optical fiber.

13. The calibration system of claim 12 , further comprising a mechanical arm connecting the tip of the optical fiber with the motor.

14. The calibration system of claim 9 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to move the optical fiber until the calibration position is selected.

15. A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:

transmitting, using an optical transmitter of a calibration system, a beam through a lens system towards a perfect flat mirror, wherein the beam is reflected off the perfect flat mirror and back through the lens system;

adjusting, using a motor, a position of a tip of an optical fiber of the lens system proximal to a collimating lens of the lens system;

tracking a power reading of the reflected beam using a power meter that receives the reflected beam from the optical fiber of the lens system; and

selecting a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading.

16. The medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises holding the optical fiber in the calibration position.

17. The medium of claim 15 , wherein the adjusting of the position includes moving the tip of the optical fiber along a center axis of the collimating lens.

18. The medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises adjusting the perfect flat mirror to reflect the beam back through the lens system.

19. The medium of claim 18 , wherein the adjusting of the perfect flat mirror includes moving the perfect flat mirror using a tip-tilt mount.