Abstract: An optical slipring includes a derotating, transmissive intermediate optical component with an array of lensed optical transmitters and receivers respectively mounted on the rotor and stator. The lensed transmitters receive light from optical fibers, or other light source, and expand the light into a collimated light beam for transmission across the rotor/stator gaps. The lensed receivers receive the expanded, collimated light beams and focus them onto a receiving fiber or photodetector. To make the slipring bi-directional, each lens functions as both a converging and diverging lens and thus as a receiver and transmitter. Collimated light beams minimize light loss caused by the inability to efficiently couple diverging light beams.