Interferometric measurement method for angular misalignment, fiber core concentricity and end face polish angle of single fiber connectors and ferrules

A method for interferometric measurement of fiber core concentricity and ferrule circularity of single fiber connectors and ferrules with fiber bores, the method comprising:

• obtaining interferometric data from a side surface of the zirconia ferrule and from an end face of the zirconia ferrule for several angular positions of the ferrule by rotating it around its Z axis, wherein the interferometric data is obtained by focusing an interferometric microscope on both the side surface of the zirconia ferrule and the end face of the zirconia ferrule for each of the several positions and obtaining resulting fringe patterns at each of the several positions;
• calculating lateral misalignment between the ferrule and the fiber center for the connector, or a fiber bore for the ferrule, caused by the fiber core concentricity error and the ferrule circularity error based on the obtained interferometric data.

A method for interferometric measurement of an end face polish angle of single fiber connectors, the method comprising:

• obtaining interferometric data from a side surface of the single fiber connector and from an end face of the single fiber connector using an interferometric microscope, wherein the interferometric data is obtained by focusing an interferometric microscope on both the side surface of the zirconia ferrule and the end face of the zirconia ferrule for each of the several positions and obtaining resulting fringe patterns at each of the several positions;
• determining a three dimensional (3D) position of connector Z axis;
• calculating an end face polish angle for the single fiber connector based on the obtained interferometric data and the determined 3D position of the connector Z axis.