# US 11,307,367 B2 · Method of precision beam collimation using fiber-optic circulator and wavelength tunable source

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- Number: US 11,307,367 B2
- Document ID: US11307367B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/994,927
- Filed: 2020-08-17
- Published: 2022-02-17
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2020-08-17
- Assignees: X Development LLC
- Applicants: X Development LLC
- Inventors: Nam-hyong Kim; Andrei Kazmierski; Paul Epp
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307367B2

## CPC

- G01M 11/0228: {by measuring refractive power}
- G02B 6/4221: {involving a visual detection of the position of the elements, e.g. by using a microscope or a camera}
- C01G 39/00: Compounds of molybdenum
- C01G 45/1228: of the type (MnO2)-, e.g. LiMnO2 or Li(MxMn1-x)O2
- C01G 45/1242: of the type (Mn2O4)-, e.g. LiMn2O4 or Li(MxMn2-x)O4
- C01G 51/42: containing alkali metals, e.g. LiCoO2
- C01G 51/50: of the type (MnO2)n-, e.g. Li(CoxMn1-x)O2 or Li(MyCoxMn1-x-y)O2
- C01G 53/42: containing alkali metals, e.g. LiNiO2
- C01G 53/50: of the type (MnO2)n-, e.g. Li(NixMn1-x)O2 or Li(MyNixMn1-x-y)O2
- C01G 55/00: Compounds of ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, or platinum
- G01M 11/31: {with a light emitter and a light receiver being disposed at the same side of a fibre or waveguide end-face, e.g. reflectometers}
- G02B 6/4225: {by a direct measurement of the degree of coupling, e.g. the amount of light power coupled to the fibre or the opto-electronic element}
- H01B 1/22: the conductive material comprising metals or alloys
- H01B 1/24: the conductive material comprising carbon-silicon compounds, carbon or silicon
- H01M 4/131: Electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
- H01M 4/364: {as mixtures}
- H01M 4/485: of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy (H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence)
- H01M 4/505: of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy
- H01M 4/525: of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
- H01M 4/5825: {Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines}
- H01M 4/623: {fluorinated polymers}
- H01M 10/052: Li-accumulators
- C01P 2002/72: by d-values or two theta-values, e.g. as X-ray diagram
- C01P 2002/74: by peak-intensities or a ratio thereof only
- C01P 2004/50: Agglomerated particles
- C01P 2004/61: Micrometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 micrometer
- C01P 2006/40: Electric properties
- G02B 6/4206: {Optical features (G02B6/4207, G02B6/421 take precedence)}
- G02B 27/30: Collimators
- H01M 4/02: Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
- H01M 4/625: {Carbon or graphite}
- H01M 2004/021: {Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area}
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- C01G: COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts or peroxyacids C01B15/00; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium, or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds containing nitrogen, other non-metals and metal C01B21/082}; metal amides C01B21/092; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; compounds having molecular sieve properties but not having base-exchange properties C01B37/00; compounds having molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites, C01B39/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20)
- H01B: CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES (selection for magnetic properties H01F1/00; waveguides H01P {; printed circuits H05K})
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method of calibrating a collimating lens system includes transmitting, using an optical transmitter, a beam out of an optical fiber and through a collimating lens of the collimating lens system. The beam is reflected off a perfect flat mirror positioned at an output of the collimating lens and back towards the collimating lens, and received, via the collimating lens, at a power meter connected to the optical fiber. The method also includes adjusting a position of a tip of the optical fiber proximal to the collimating lens while tracking a power reading using the power meter, selecting a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading, and securing the optical fiber relative to the collimating lens using the calibration position.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of calibrating a collimating lens system, the method comprising:
transmitting, using an optical transmitter, a beam out of an optical fiber and through a collimating lens of the collimating lens system;
reflecting the beam off a perfect flat mirror positioned at an output of the collimating lens and back towards the collimating lens;
receiving, via the collimating lens, the reflected beam at a power meter connected to the optical fiber;
adjusting a position of a tip of the optical fiber proximal to the collimating lens while tracking a power reading using the power meter;
selecting a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading; and
securing the optical fiber relative to the collimating lens using the calibration position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the collimating lens system includes a collimator and an afocal telescope.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the reflecting of the beam includes adjusting the perfect flat mirror using a tip-tilt mount so the beam is reflected back towards the collimating lens.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the position includes moving the optical fiber along a center axis of the collimating lens.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the position of the tip of the optical fiber includes using one or more processors to control a motor that is connected to the tip of the optical fiber.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the securing of the optical fiber includes fixing the optical fiber relative to the collimating lens in the calibration position.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
positioning an afocal telescope at the output of the collimating lens;
adjusting a position of one or more lenses of the afocal telescope while tracking a second power reading using the power meter;
selecting a second calibration position of the one or more lenses corresponding to a highest second power reading; and
securing the one or more lenses using the second calibration position.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising assembling the collimating lens system into an optical communication device after securing the optical fiber relative to the collimating lens.

### Claim 9

A calibration system for a collimating lens system, the calibration system comprising:
a perfect flat mirror positioned to reflect a first beam transmitted by the collimating lens system back to the collimating lens system;
an optical transmitter;
a power meter;
an optical circulator having a first port configured to receive a second beam from the optical transmitter, a second port configured to output the second beam and receive the first beam from the collimating lens system, and a third port configured to output the first beam to the power meter; and
one or more processors configured to:
move an optical fiber of the collimating lens system relative to a collimating lens of the collimating lens system;
track a power reading for each position of the optical fiber using the power meter; and
select a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The calibration system of claim 9, wherein the perfect flat mirror is positioned using a tip-tilt mount.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The calibration system of claim 9, wherein the optical transmitter is a wavelength tunable laser.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The calibration system of claim 9, further comprising a motor configured to move a tip of the optical fiber.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The calibration system of claim 12, further comprising a mechanical arm connecting the tip of the optical fiber with the motor.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The calibration system of claim 9, wherein the one or more processors are configured to move the optical fiber until the calibration position is selected.

### Claim 15

A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage medium configured to store instructions, the instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising:
transmitting, using an optical transmitter of a calibration system, a beam through a lens system towards a perfect flat mirror, wherein the beam is reflected off the perfect flat mirror and back through the lens system;
adjusting, using a motor, a position of a tip of an optical fiber of the lens system proximal to a collimating lens of the lens system;
tracking a power reading of the reflected beam using a power meter that receives the reflected beam from the optical fiber of the lens system; and
selecting a calibration position of the optical fiber corresponding to a highest power reading.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises holding the optical fiber in the calibration position.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The medium of claim 15, wherein the adjusting of the position includes moving the tip of the optical fiber along a center axis of the collimating lens.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The medium of claim 15, wherein the method further comprises adjusting the perfect flat mirror to reflect the beam back through the lens system.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The medium of claim 18, wherein the adjusting of the perfect flat mirror includes moving the perfect flat mirror using a tip-tilt mount.