Patent · US Expired

Fiber optic assembly

US6471419B1 · kind B1 · utility

9Cited by
18References
5Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 7, 1999
Grant dateOct 29, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 7, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/4226
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for aligning an array of light transmitting elements to an array of photosensitive detectors. The array is adjusted along three axes. Any element (a coupled transmitting and detecting unit of the array) can be selected as the center of rotation. Small angular correction is made about the selected element by differentially moving the array in two axes, using adjustment tools. Alignment is accomplished by performing translational movement in the horizontal X and Y axes until a signal is detected. A rotational correction about the selected element is performed by moving one of a pair of adjustment devices until maximum light intensity is achieved for the end elements. Next, the array is scanned for the weakest performing element in the array. The alignment procedure is repeated until the performance of all of the elements in the array fall within a pre-established specification range.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.