Optical component
AssigneePoint Source Limited
InventorIan Peter Alcock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical component 1 comprises a holder 2 formed as a generally elongate tubular member which, at one end, houses a lens 3 and, at the other end, houses an optical fiber 4. The optical fiber 4 is fixed within an elongate tubular ferrule 5. The optical component 1 further includes three adjustment screws 10 which can engage the front of the ferrule 5. The adjustment screws 10 can be used to adjust the radial positioning of the end of the optical fiber 4 and to tilt the ferrule 5 (and thus the fiber 4) with respect to the holder 2 about a pivot point defined by a neck 9 in the holder 2.
Claims29
A method of constructing an optical component, the method comprising:
- providing a unitary holder having a throughbore, mounting a lens within the throughbore in a fixed relationship with respect to the holder, inserting an optical fibre into the throughbore, and adjusting the position of the optical fibre within the throughbore to align the optical fibre with respect to the lens;
- wherein the step of adjusting the position of the optical fibre within the throughbore comprises
- moving the fibre axially within the throughbore to adjust the axial distance between the lens and fibre end;
- and
- adjusting the relative tilt between the optical axis of the fibre and the optical axis of the lens.
An optical component comprising a unitary holder having a throughbore, a lens mounted in the throughbore in a fixed relationship with respect to the holder, an optical fibre mounted in the throughbore, and one or more adjustors for adjusting the position of the optical fibre within the throughbore to align the optical fibre with respect to the lens;
- wherein:
- the adjustor or adjustors comprise radially extending adjustors which are mounted on the holder and extend into the throughbore and can thereby move the fibre radially within the throughbore;
- and the holder further comprises:
- a pivot about which the fibre can be tilted by the adjustor or adjustors in the form of a neck within the throughbore.
An optical component comprising:
- a unitary holder having a throughbore,
- a lens mounted in the throughbore in a fixed relationship with respect to the holder,
- an optical fibre mounted in the throughbore, and
- two sets of longitudinally spaced adjustors for adjusting the position of the fibre in the throughbore to align the optical fibre with respect to the lens;
- wherein
- the adjustors comprise radially extending adjustors which are mounted on the holder and extend into the throughbore and can thereby move the fibre radially within the throughbore.
A method of constructing an optical component, the method comprising:
- providing a unitary holder having a throughbore, mounting a lens within the throughbore,
- inserting an optical fibre into the throughbore, and
- adjusting the position of the optical fibre within the throughbore to align the optical fibre with respect to the lens, wherein
- the step of adjusting the position of the optical fibre within the throughbore comprises
- moving the fibre axially within the throughbore to adjust the axial distance between the lens and fibre end;
- and
- adjusting the relative tilt between the optical axis of the fibre and the optical axis of the lens.
An optical component comprising:
- a unitary holder having a throughbore,
- a lens mounted in the throughbore,
- an optical fibre mounted in the throughbore, and
- one or more adjustors for adjusting the position of the optical fibre within the throughbore to align the optical fibre with respect to the lens;
- wherein:
- the adjustor or adjustors comprise radially extending adjustors which are mounted on the holder and extend into the throughbore and can thereby move the fibre radially within the throughbore;
- and the holder further comprises:
- a pivot about which the fibre can be tilted by the adjustor or adjustors in the form of a neck within the throughbore.
An optical component comprising:
- a unitary holder having a throughbore,
- a lens mounted in the throughbore,
- an optical fibre mounted in the throughbore, and
- two sets of longitudinally spaced adjustors for adjusting the position of the fibre in the throughbore to align the optical fibre with respect to the lens;
- wherein:
- the adjustor or adjustors comprise radially extending adjustors which are mounted on the holder and extend into the throughbore and can thereby move the fibre radially within the throughbore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.