Optical lenses

The present invention lies in the field of micro-optical lenses as used in fiber optic data communication systems, whether singles or arrays, and particularly relates to inexpensive lenses that launch laser light into high-bandwidth optical fibers while reducing or eliminating feedback to the lasers. An optical lens is described that couples laser light into an optical fiber, that launches light such that the center and core-cladding of the fiber is avoided, that prevents optical feedback to the laser light source, and that can be economically manufactured, either as singles or arrays, in high volume. The lens (′) has at least one end surface (′) of a shape that is the combination of a conic component, a spiral component and a cone component (). The conic component can be one of hyperbolic, parabolic or spherical shape. The other end surface (′) is typically of a convex hyperbolic shape. The lens is provided in a housing or can be integrated with a housing having one end coupling for coupling to a laser source () and a further end coupling to receive and retain a free end of an optical fiber (). The lens is fabricated by the steps of forming a mold having the negative shape of the lens, including a mold portion corresponding to an end surface of the lens and being the negative of the combination of a conic component, a spiral component and a cone component, and producing said lens by a flowable material applied to said mold.