Fiber squeezer polarization controller with low activation loss
AssigneeGeneral Photonics Corporation
InventorXiaotian Steve Yao
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved polarization control method and apparatus is provided. The described invention uses super-polished squeezing surfaces to apply pressure thereby minimizing micro-bending effects that cause losses in the fiber. Special control circuitry has also been designed to maintain a driving source of piezo-electrics that control the squeezing surfaces at a resonant frequency, thereby minimizing the voltages needed to drive the piezo-electrics.
Claims17
A fiber squeezer comprising:
- a base to hold an optical fiber;
- a super smooth surface to apply pressure to the optical fiber, the super smooth surface including protrusions, all protrusion that contact the optical fiber having a height less than 100 micrometers;
- and
- an apparatus for pressing the super smooth surface against the optical fiber.
A method of providing power to piezo-electric drivers in a fiber squeezer, the method comprising:
- generating electrical power at a resonant frequency of a piezo-electric;
- and,
- providing the electrical power to the piezo-electric, the piezo-electric to displace a predetermined distance and move a fiber squeezing surface the predetermined distance thereby applying a predetermined pressure to an optical fiber.
A system to control polarization comprising:
- a first fiber squeezer, the first fiber squeezer including a first pair of fiber squeezing surfaces that together apply a transverse compressive force to a segment of an optical fiber, the first pair of fiber squeezing surfaces including protrusions, all protrusions that contact the optical fiber having a height of less than 100 micrometers;
- and
- a second fiber squeezer, the second fiber squeezer including a second pair of fiber squeezing surfaces to apply a second transverse compressive force to a second segment of the optical fiber, the second pair of fiber squeezing surfaces including protrusions, all protrusions that contact the optical fiber having a height of less than 100 micrometers, the second transversal compressive force oriented at a nonzero angle from the first transverse compressive force.
A method of determining a polarization dependent loss of a device under test comprising the operations of:
- Determining a maximum power ratio of the device undertest by adjusting pressure applied by a first fiber squeezer;
- Determining a minimum power ratio of the device under test by a second fiber squeezer, and computing the polarization dependent loss using a ratio of the maximum power ratio and the minimum power ratio.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.