Systems and methods for aligning optical fiber to light source or detector
OwnerGregory A. King, Iain Ross MacTaggartinventors
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Abstract
This document describes systems and methods for aligning an optical fiber to a light source or detector. In one example, the alignment is based on a measured amplitude. In another example, the alignment is based on a measured jitter. In another example, the alignment is based on a combination of the measured amplitude and the measured jitter. In another example, the alignment is based on a combination of a measured quiescent response in combination with at least one of the measured amplitude and the measured jitter. The alignment may be performed manually or automatically. By securing the optical fiber in a properly aligned position, improved coupling to the light source or detector is obtained.
Claims34
A method including:
- communicating a time-varying optical signal through an optical fiber;
- transducing the optical signal into a resulting electrical signal;
- measuring a peak amplitude of the electrical signal;
- and
- using the measured peak amplitude of the electrical signal to adjust the position of the optical fiber.
A method including:
- communicating a time-varying optical signal through an optical fiber;
- transducing the optical signal into a resulting electrical signal;
- measuring a jitter of the electrical signal;
- and
- using the measured jitter of the electrical signal to adjust the position of the optical fiber.
A method including:
- communicating a time-varying optical signal through an optical fiber;
- transducing the optical signal into a resulting electrical signal using at least one of a semiconductor light detector and an optical signal input of an oscilloscope;
- measuring a peak amplitude, a jitter, and a power of the electrical signal;
- using the measured peak amplitude, the measured jitter, and the measured power of the electrical signal to adjust the position of the optical fiber relative to at least one of a light source and a light detector, so as to increase the measured peak amplitude and the measured power, and so as to decrease the measured jitter;
- and
- securing the optical fiber in a position selected using information from the measured peak amplitude, the measured jitter, and the measured power of the electrical signal.
An apparatus including:
- a light detector, including an input configured to receive an optical signal and an output configured to provide a resulting electrical signal;
- and
- an optical fiber, secured at a position, relative to the light detector input, using information obtained from a peak amplitude of the electrical signal.
An apparatus including:
- a light source, including an input configured to receive a first electrical signal and an output configured to provide a resulting optical signal;
- and
- an optical fiber, secured at a position, relative to the light source output, using peak amplitude information of a second electrical signal transduced from the optical signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.