Adjustment method, particularly a laser adjustment method, and an actuator suitable for the same
AssigneeFinisar Corporation
InventorsBurkhard Arthur Seitz born Müller, Klaus Strol, Axel Mehnert
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to an adjustment method, especially for adjusting optical or fiber optical components. According to an embodiment of the invention, a first adjustment process is carried out in which, after a cooling process, the regions of the actuator in which the tensile stresses or compressive strains are frozen following the cooling process are brought to a critical temperature in relation to the operational temperature range of the actuator, at least until the flow processes of the material at said critical temperature are largely completed. A second adjustment process is then carried out.
Claims22
A method for adjusting optical or fiber optic components, comprising the acts of:
- performing a first adjustment procedure, including:
- locally heating a first region of an actuator such that compressive stresses arise in the first region, which, upon reaching a yield point of the material of the first region, results in plastic deformation of the first region;
- cooling the first region, such that the first region is shortened, resulting in a defined geometric change of the actuator, wherein tensile stresses arise in the first region of the actuator and, in a second region of the actuator, the compressive stresses are frozen;
- and
- reheating the first region to a specified temperature such that stresses in a portion thereof are relieved;
- and
- performing a second adjustment procedure.
An actuator for adjusting an optical or a fiber optics component, comprising:
- a support region for accommodating the component to be adjusted;
- a first adjustment region having a double bridge;
- and
- a second adjustment region having a simple bridge, wherein the first adjustment region produces a greater adjustment effect than a second adjustment region when a heating and cooling adjustment procedure is performed using the first and second adjustment regions.
A method of manufacturing an actuator for use with an optical or a fiber optics component, comprising:
- obtaining a substantially planar element having:
- a central region;
- and
- a plurality of at least three arms that are connected to and extend radially away from the central region;
- and
- bending the arms to form substantially right angles with respect to the central region, the bent arms defining a first adjustment region that defines a plane substantially parallel to the central region and a second adjustment region substantially parallel to the central region,
- wherein the first adjustment region produces a greater adjustment effect than a second adjustment region when a heating and cooling adjustment procedure is performed using the first and second adjustment regions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.