Method and apparatus for aligning optical components
AssigneeJDS Uniphase Corporation
InventorGuenadi Rabinski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for aligning optical components effectively locks pairs of ports in alignment, while simultaneously allowing further alignment of the same or a different pair of ports. The effective locking of pairs of ports is achieved by providing a virtual pivot point close to the ports, via a relatively fast compensating movement. In the preferred embodiment, the relatively fast compensating movement is provided by a mechanism based on a electromagnet. Since the ports are locked, i.e., are always aligned with being affected by any other activities, the instant method and apparatus for alignment is highly suitable for automation.
Claims14
A method of aligning optical components comprising the steps of:
- mounting a first optical component having an input port and an output port to a first support;
- mounting a second optical component having an input port and an output port to a second support such that the output port of the first optical component is substantially aligned with the input port of the second optical component;
- launching a reference beam of light into the input port of the first optical component such that it at least partially emerges from the output port of the second optical component to provide a reference signal indicative of an optical coupling efficiency between the output port of the first optical component and the input port of the second optical component;
- providing relative movement between the first and second supports while monitoring resulting changes of the reference signal;
- providing a control signal indicative of the resulting changes of the reference signal;
- and
- providing further relative movement between the first and second supports in dependence upon the control signal such that a virtual pivot point for movement of one of the first and second components thereabout is formed, the virtual pivot point formed substantially at one of the output port of the first optical component and the input port of the second optical component.
A method for aligning an optical channel in a first optical element with an optical channel in a second optical element, where the optical channels extend substantially parallel to a z-axis, and where the optical elements require lateral positional alignment along x and y axes that are perpendicular to each other and the z-axis, and further require angular positional alignment, the method comprising the steps of:
- launching a reference signal through the optical channel of the first optical element such that it is at least partially output from the optical channel of the second optical element;
- laterally moving the second optical element relative to the first optical element while monitoring the reference signal output from the optical channel of the second optical element until a position is reached where the monitored reference signal indicates substantial lateral alignment of the channels of the first and second optical elements;
- and
- angularly moving the second optical element relative to the first optical element while monitoring the reference signal output from the optical channel of the second optical element until a position is reached where the monitored reference signal indicates substantial angular alignment of the channels of the first and second optical elements,
- wherein the angular movement is performed while maintaining the substantial lateral alignment by further laterally moving the second optical element relative to the first optical element to compensate for changes in the lateral alignment caused by the angular movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.