Alignment reference device

Claim 1

A collimated reference beam source, said source comprising: a laser assembly, said laser assembly outputting a laser beam from a laser source; an optical fiber assembly, said optical fiber assembly having therein a single mode optical fiber, said single mode optical fiber receiving said laser beam from said laser assembly, said optical fiber assembly having an optical fiber-to-lens assembly, said optical fiber passing through said fiber-to-lens assembly in a fixed manner; a lens system, said lens system having said fiber-to-lens assembly fixedly attached thereto, said optical fiber passing through said fiber-to-lens assembly and terminating with an end acting as a source of laser energy, said end of said fiber being positioned on an optical axis of said lens system and at a nodal point of said lens system being a real focus point, said end of said optical fiber outputting a divergent laser beam; and a mirror, said mirror being positioned one half focal length from said lens system, said mirror being perpendicular to said optical axis of said lens system whereby said divergent laser beam is reflected back into said lens system, said lens system outputting a collimated beam of laser energy having minimal angular divergence as a result of relative movement between said end of said optical fiber, said lens system, and said mirror.