Active alignment system for laser to fiber coupling
US5216729A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 18, 1991 |
| Grant date | Jun 1, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 18, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4226
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A laser generates a beam which is actively steered into an optical element having a waveguide which receives and transmits the beam. The waveguide is coupled to an optical fiber which is also actively steered. Both the beam steering and fiber steering mechanisms seek to align the beam from the laser to the fiber for maximum output. The beam steering mechanism features a pair of planar mirrors pivoted at right angles to each other. A precision force transducer will cause desired amounts of pivoting to adjust the beam. The fiber steering mechanism features a pair of flexures, arranged with bending moments of the flexures being at right angles. Electrical signals control the extent of bending in each flexure. The amount of light in the fiber is sensed downstream from both steering mechanisms and compared to an expected amount. The resulting error signal is sensed and used as feedback in a servo loop to iteratively correct the two steering mechanisms in order to achieve the best alignment and maximum light output.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.