Precision non-contact measurement of core-to-ferrule offset vectors for fiber optic assemblies

A system for determining a core-to-ferrule offset vector of a test ferrule, comprising:

• a plurality of apex imagers arranged so that each apex imager captures a profile image from a different angle around a measurement region;
• a core imager;
• a positioner;
• one or more processors in communication with the apex imagers, the core imager, and the positioner;
• and
• a memory coupled to the one or more processors and including program code that, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the system to:
• capture a plurality of images of a reference ferrule including a first core image and a first plurality of profile images, the first core image including a first image element corresponding to a core of an optical fiber that is positioned in the reference ferrule, and each profile image of the first plurality of profile images including a second image element corresponding to an outer surface of the reference ferrule;
• capture a plurality of images of the test ferrule including a second core image and a second plurality of profile images, the second core image including a third image element corresponding to a core of an optical fiber that is positioned in the test ferrule, and each profile image of the second plurality of profile images including a fourth image element corresponding to the outer surface of the test ferrule;
• position the test ferrule so that the fourth image element in each of the second plurality of profile images aligns with the second image element in a respective one of the first plurality of profile images;
• and
• determine the core-to-ferrule offset vector of the test ferrule based on a location of the third image element in the second core image relative to the first image element in the first core image.

A computer program product for determining a core-to-ferrule offset vector of a test ferrule, comprising:

• a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium;
• and
• program code stored on the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to:
• capture a plurality of images of a reference ferrule including a first core image and a first plurality of profile images, the first core image including a first image element corresponding to a core of an optical fiber that is positioned in the reference ferrule, and each profile image of the first plurality of profile images including a second image element corresponding to an outer surface of the reference ferrule;
• capture a plurality of images of the test ferrule including a second core image and a second plurality of profile images, the second core image including a third image element corresponding to a core of an optical fiber that is positioned in the test ferrule, and each profile image of the second plurality of profile images including a fourth image element corresponding to the outer surface of the test ferrule;
• position the test ferrule so that the fourth image element in each of the second plurality of profile images aligns with the second image element in a respective one of the first plurality of profile images;
• and
• determine the core-to-ferrule offset vector of the test ferrule based on a location of the third image element in the second core image relative to the first image element in the first core image.