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US 5,459,564 AGranted
Apparatus and method for inspecting end faces of optical fibers and optical fiber connectors
OwnerJames T. Chiversinventor
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OwnerJames T. Chiversinventor
Estimating the term…
An inspection and measurement device including an interferometer with a parfocal, parcentral zoom lens is adapted to inspect and measure an end surface of an optical fiber or connector. With the optical fiber or connector supported on an xyz stage, the interferometer is set to a "microscope" mode. Controls of the xyz stage are adjusted to bring the end surface into focus and alignment with the optical axis of the interferometer. The interferometer is set to operate in an interference mode, causing display of a fringe pattern resulting from interference of a test beam with a reference beam. The z control is adjusted slightly, if required, to optimize the contrast of the displayed fringe pattern. The zoom lens then is operated to change magnification of the fringe pattern so as to obtain an optimum number of available fringes across a selected portion of the end surface without refocusing or realigning the end surface with the focal point of the zoom lens. A tilt stage can support the optical fiber or connector, orienting it so as to facilitate measurement of an angle on the end surface or protrusion or undercut of fiber with respect to the ferrule of a connector without any readjustment of the xyz stage.
A method of using an evaluation device including an interferometer to evaluate the topography of an end surface of an optical fiber or optical connector, the interferometer including a light source, a beam splitter, a reference surface, and a CCD camera coupled to a display monitor, the method comprising the steps of:
A method of using an evaluation device including an interferometer to evaluate the topography of an end surface of an optical fiber or optical connector, the interferometer including a light source, a beam splitter, a reference surface, and a CCD camera coupled to a display monitor, the method comprising the steps of:
A method of using an evaluation device including an interferometer to evaluate the topography of an end surface of an optical fiber or optical connector, the interferometer including a light source, a beam splitter, a reference surface, and a CCD camera coupled to a display monitor, the method comprising the steps of:
A method of using an evaluation device including an interferometer to evaluate the topography of an end surface of an optical fiber or optical connector, the interferometer including a light source, a beam splitter, a reference surface, and a CCD camera coupled to a display monitor, the method comprising the steps of:
A device for inspecting and/or evaluating an end surface of an optical fiber or optical connector, including an interferometer having a light source, a beam splitter, a reference surface, and a CCD camera coupled to a display monitor, the inspection device comprising in combination:
A device for inspecting and/or evaluating an end surface of an optical fiber or optical connector, including an interferometer having a light source, a beam splitter, a reference surface, and a CCD camera coupled to a display monitor, the inspection device comprising in combination:
A device for inspecting and/or evaluating an end surface of an optical fiber or optical connector, including an interferometer having a light source, a beam splitter, a reference surface, and a CCD camera coupled to a display monitor, the inspection device comprising in combination:
A device for inspecting and/or evaluating an end surface of an optical fiber or optical connector, including an interferometer including a light source, a beam splitter, a reference surface, and a CCD camera coupled to a display monitor, the inspection device comprising in combination:
A device for inspecting and/or evaluating an end surface of an optical fiber or optical connector, including an interferometer having a light source, a beam splitter, a reference surface, and a CCD camera coupled to a display monitor, the inspection device comprising in combination:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.