Method and apparatus for handling an optical device, method for handling a waveguide

A method for handling an optical device, comprising:

• holding the optical device in a supported state, wherein in the supported state the optical device is mechanically held by a holder, the optical device having two major surfaces;
• positioning a gripper adjacent to the optical device in the supported state, the gripper including a set of side supports defining an optical device containment region of the gripper;
• after the positioning, transferring the optical device from the supported state to a suspended state, wherein the transferring includes:
• disengaging the optical device from the holder;
• and
• providing the optical device in the suspended state using a contactless suspension system;
• providing the optical device in the suspended state in the optical device containment region of the gripper while the set of side supports is in an open position;
• gripping the optical device in the suspended state by moving the set of side supports from the open position to a closed position to reduce a dimension of the optical device containment region, wherein, in the closed position, one or more side surfaces of the optical device extending between the two major surfaces are held by the set of side supports;
• and
• transporting the optical device away from the contactless suspension system using the gripper.

A method for handling a waveguide, comprising:

• holding a waveguide in a supported state, wherein in the supported state the waveguide is mechanically held by a holder, the waveguide having two major surfaces;
• transferring the waveguide from the supported state to a suspended state, wherein the waveguide is provided in the suspended state by a contactless suspension system including an ultrasonic vibration generator;
• gripping the waveguide in the suspended state using a gripper;
• and
• transporting the waveguide held by the gripper away from the contactless suspension system.

An apparatus for handling an optical device comprising:

• a contactless suspension system;
• a gripper having a set of side supports that is movable between an open position and a closed position;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• control the contactless suspension system to provide the optical device in a suspended state;
• control the gripper to grip the optical device in the suspended state, wherein the gripping of the optical device includes moving the set of side supports from the open position to the closed position, wherein, in the closed position, one or more side surfaces of the optical device extending between two major surfaces of the optical device are held by the set of side supports;
• and
• control the gripper to transport the optical device.