Method and apparatus for aligning an optical device

A method of testing a first optical collimator using a second optical collimator for receiving light irradiated from the first optical collimator and positioned on an optical axis of the first optical collimator, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving either one of the first and second optical collimators;
• and
• measuring the intensity of light passing through the second optical collimator, while moving said either one of the first and second optical collimators, wherein the step of moving said either one of the mirror and the optical collimator includes:
• reciprocally rotating either one of the first and second optical collimators at the first speed about a first axis orthogonal to the optical axis;
• reciprocally rotating said either one of the first and second optical collimators about a second axis orthogonal to the optical axis and the first axis at a second speed different from the first speed simultaneously with the rotating about the first axis;
• reciprocally sliding said either one of the first and second optical collimators at a third speed along the first axis;
• and
• reciprocally sliding said either one of the first and second optical collimators at a fourth speed different from the third speed along the second axis simultaneously with the sliding along the first axis.

A method of aligning a collimation lens and an optical fiber which form an optical collimator having an optical axis, comprising the steps of:

• moving an optical element positioned to substantially oppose the optical collimator;
• measuring the intensity of light that is incident on the optical element and passes through the optical collimator while moving the optical element;
• and
• adjusting the distance between the collimation lens and the optical fiber based on the result of measurement, wherein the step of moving includes:
• reciprocally rotating the optical element about a first axis substantially orthogonal to the optical axis at a first speed;
• and
• reciprocally rotating the optical element about a second axis substantially orthogonal to the optical axis and the first axis at a second speed different from the first speed simultaneously with the rotating about the first axis.

A method of aligning a collimation lens and an optical fiber which form an optical collimator using an optical element optically coupled to the optical collimator, the optical collimator having an optical axis, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the optical collimator;
• measuring the intensity of light that passes through the optical collimator while moving the optical collimator;
• and
• adjusting the distance between the collimation lens and the optical fiber based on the result of measurement, wherein the step of moving includes:
• reciprocally rotating the optical collimator about a first axis substantially orthogonal to the optical axis at a first speed;
• and
• reciprocally rotating the optical collimator about a second axis substantially orthogonal to the optical axis and the first axis at a second speed different from the first speed simultaneously with the rotating about the first axis.

A tester for testing an optical collimator, the tester comprising:

• an optical element positioned on an optical axis of light;
• a scanning mechanism for rotatably and slidably holding the optical element;
• an optical sensor for measuring the intensity of light passing through the optical collimator;
• and
• a controller for testing the optical collimator based on the measured intensity of light, the controller controlling the scanning mechanism to reciprocally rotate the optical element at a first speed about a first axis orthogonal to the optical axis;
• reciprocally rotate the optical element about a second axis orthogonal to the optical axis and the first axis at a second speed different from the first speed simultaneously with the rotating about the first axis;
• reciprocally slide the optical element at a third speed along the first axis;
• and reciprocally slide the optical element at a fourth speed different from the third speed along the second axis simultaneously with the sliding along the first axis, while measuring the intensity of the light.

A tester for testing an optical collimator having an optical axis, the tester comprising:

• a holder for holding the optical collimator;
• an optical element positioned on the optical axis to optically couple to the optical collimator;
• a scanning mechanism for rotatably and slidably holding at least one of the optical element and the optical collimator;
• an optical sensor for measuring the intensity of light passing through the optical collimator;
• and
• a controller for testing the work based on the measured intensity of light, the controller controlling the scanning mechanism to reciprocally rotate said at least one of the optical element and the optical collimator at a first speed about a first axis orthogonal to the optical axis;
• reciprocally rotate said at least one of the optical element and the optical collimator about a second axis orthogonal to the optical axis and the first axis at a second speed different from the first speed simultaneously with the rotating about the first axis;
• reciprocally slide said at least one of the optical element and the optical collimator at a third speed along the first axis;
• and reciprocally slide said at least one of the optical element and the optical collimator at a fourth speed different from the third speed along the second axis simultaneously with the sliding along the first axis, while measuring the intensity of the light.

An apparatus for aligning an optical collimator, the apparatus comprising:

• an optical element positioned on an optical axis of light;
• a holder for holding the optical collimator to oppose the optical element;
• a scanning mechanism for rotatably and slidably holding at least one of the optical element and the optical collimator;
• an optical sensor for measuring the intensity of light passing through the optical collimator;
• and
• a controller for controlling the scanning mechanism, the controller controlling the scanning mechanism to reciprocally rotate said at least one of the optical element and the optical collimator at a first speed about a first axis orthogonal to the optical axis;
• reciprocally rotate said at least one of the optical element and the optical collimator about a second axis orthogonal to the optical axis and the first axis at a second speed different from the first speed simultaneously with the rotating about the first axis;
• reciprocally slide said at least one of the optical element and the optical collimator at a third speed along the first axis;
• and reciprocally slide said at least one of the optical element and the optical collimator at a fourth speed different from the third speed along the second axis simultaneously with the sliding along the first axis, while measuring the intensity of the light, and the controller determining an optimal relative position between the optical element and the optical collimator based on the measured intensity of the light;
• and
• an adjuster for movably holding the optical fiber along the optical axis, the adjuster changing the distance between the collimation lens and the optical fiber.

A method of aligning a work having an optical fiber and a collimation lens, the method comprising the steps of:

• rotating a mirror disposed on an optical axis of the work to irradiate the work with reflected light about a first axis and a second axis orthogonal to the optical axis over a relatively wide range;
• capturing reflected light passing through the work while rotating the mirror;
• measuring the intensity of the reflected light while rotating the mirror in a relatively narrow scanning range near a position of the mirror at which the reflected light is captured, the mirror being rotated about the first axis at a first speed and being rotated about the second axis at a second speed higher than the first speed;
• storing a maximum value of the measured light intensity and the position of the mirror;
• moving the optical fiber along the optical axis by a predetermined distance;
• measuring the intensity of the reflected light while rotating the mirror in a relatively narrow scanning range near the stored position of the mirror, the steps of rotating, storing and moving being repeated until the maximum value of the measured light intensity becomes smaller than the stored maximum value of the light intensity;
• returning the position of the optical fiber by the predetermined distance when the maximum value of the measured light intensity is smaller than the stored maximum value of the light intensity;
• and
• fixing the optical fiber at the returned position.