Reflective block optics for packaging of optical computing systems

A new optical packaging technique, which we call reflective block optics, for optical computing systems is proposed and demonstrated experimentally. This technique is based on solid optics, which is advantageous with respect to stability, reliability, and alignability. Reflective lenses are used to attain high lens power, compactness, and a large space-bandwidth product. Glass blocks, cube beam splitters, and reflective optical elements are combined to form optical blocks. We can construct several optical systems by assembling the optical blocks.