Measurement apparatus for dense wavelength division multiplexer devices

An optical filter measuring system comprising:

• a measurement apparatus, said measurement apparatus comprises an optical assembly having an optical axis and a lens for directing a light beam along said optical axis;
• means, positioned along said optical axis and spaced apart from said optical assembly, for detecting said light beam after passing through an optical filter;
• means for providing a light source to said measurement apparatus;
• means, coupled to said light source providing means, for detecting reflected light from said measurement apparatus;
• a computer, connected to said measurement apparatus and said light source means, for controlling said measurement apparatus and said light source means and for processing measurement data for each optical filter being analyzed by said measurement apparatus;
• means coupled to said light beam detecting means for analyzing measurement data from said light beam detecting means;
• means, disposed adjacent to said optical assembly and said light beam detecting means, for positioning each of a plurality of optical filters between said optical assembly and said light detecting means for measurements in accordance with control signals from said computer;
• and
• means for generating and applying a vacuum under control of said computer to said optical assembly to position said optical filter in a correct position for measurement.

A computer controlled system for measuring DWDM filters comprising:

• an optical assembly having an optical axis which is angularly adjustable via a spherical shaped bearing surface pivoting about a fixed point located at said DWDM filters;
• an extended area light detector positioned along said optical axis and spaced apart from said optical assembly for detecting a light beam after passing through one of said DWDM filters;
• a variable frequency laser generator for providing said light beam to said optical assembly;
• computer, connected to said optical assembly, said variable frequency laser generator and said reflected light detector, for controlling the measurement of each of said DWDM filters;
• an electrical interface connected to said extended area light detector to provide optical power data to said computer and a computer program for analyzing, displaying and storing measurement data for each of said DWDM filters;
• an xyz table controlled by said computer and disposed adjacent to said optical assembly for positioning each of said DWDM filters between said optical assembly and said extended area light detector for measurement;
• and
• a vacuum pump connected to said optical assembly for raising each of said plurality of DWDM filters to contact an end of said optical assembly during said measurement.