An optical wireless communications system (1) comprises a server or transceiver
hub (6) transmitting and/or receiving optical communications with geographically
dispersed subscriber units (8) via optical beams. The transceiver hub (6)
transmits a beam pattern that has an efficient, rectangular, flat-topped far field
optical profile, thus permitting less complex and less expensive transceiver equipment
to be employed in the transceiver hub (6) and in the subscriber units (8).
In one embodiment, the transceiver hub (6) comprises an optical source (52,
FIG. 3), an asymmetrical lens such as a cylindrical lens (60, FIG.
3), and a diffraction element such as a diffractive phase plate (65,
FIG. 3). Various methods of shaping an optical transmission profile are
also described.
