Apparatus for inspecting collimator

An apparatus for inspecting a collimator which includes a pigtail to which a fiber is connected to transmit an optical signal, a GRIN lens coaxially arranged with the pigtail, a glass tube accommodating and supporting the pigtail and the GRIN lens, and a metal sleeve protecting the glass tube, the apparatus comprising:

• an inspection table;
• a grip part connected to the inspection table, and gripping the collimator to be inspected;
• a first camera provided in the vicinity of the grip part having an axis perpendicular to a length of the collimator, and producing first images of the collimator along the length of the collimator;
• a second camera provided in the vicinity of the grip part having an axis alignable with the axis of the collimator to produce second images of the collimator perpendicular to an axis of the collimator;
• and
• a control part connected to the first camera and the second camera and evaluating based on the first images and second images whether physical properties of the collimator surpass a predetermined threshold.

A method of inspecting a collimator which includes a pigtail to which a fiber is connected to transmit an optical signal, a GRIN lens coaxially arranged with the pigtail, a glass tube accommodating and supporting the pigtail and the GRIN lens, and a metal sleeve protecting the glass tube, the method comprising:

• gripping the collimator to be inspected;
• providing first images of a length of the collimator with a first camera having an axis perpendicular to a length of the collimator;
• aligning a second camera with an axis of the collimator;
• providing second images of the collimator perpendicular to the axis of the collimator with a second camera after the second camera is aligned;
• and
• evaluating based on the first images and second images whether physical properties of the collimator surpass a predetermined threshold.

A method for inspecting a collimator which includes a pigtail to which a fiber is connected to transmit an optical signal, a GRIN lens coaxially arranged with the pigtail, a glass tube accommodating and supporting the pigtail and the GRIN lens, and a metal sleeve protecting the glass tube, the method comprising:

• gripping a collimator to be inspected;
• providing first images of a length of the collimator with a first camera having an axis perpendicular to a length of the collimator;
• providing second images of the collimator perpendicular to an axis of the collimator using a second camera, which is alignable with the axis of the collimator;
• and
• displaying images corresponding to the first images and the second images so as to evaluate whether physical properties of the collimator surpass a predetermined threshold.