An optical coupler converts a light distribution from a light source into a small
angle distribution that extends over a volume larger than the variations in the
alignment of an optical fiber. In one embodiment, a diffractive or hybrid diffractive/refractive
bifocal lens forms first and second images of the light source respectively in
first and second image planes. An input face of the optical fiber is between the
first and second image planes and receives light diverging from the first image
plane and light converging toward the second image plane. The net optical power
coupling into the fiber is uniform over a large range of fiber positions and provides
the optical coupler with a relaxed tolerance for misalignment of the fiber or the
light source. The relaxed alignment tolerance facilitates low cost manufacture
of multi-channel optical transmitters using single-mode optical fibers.