Fiber assembly alignment using fiducials
US6728449B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 2002 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 2004 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3652
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An assembly and an optical element have fiducials for alignment of multiple beam paths during fabrication of an optical device. In an assembly including a substrate with machined grooves for optical fibers, a fiducial can be a carbon-coated fiber or other object disposed in one of the grooves. In an assembly including a collimator array, a fiducial can be an opaque collimator lens. Alternatively, photolithographic processes can provide the required positional accuracy for fiducials on the assembly and/or the optical element. During alignment, a computer-controllable process can use machine vision or distance measurements to identify the position and the orientation of the assembly relative to the optical element. Based on the identified position and orientation, the process moves the assembly to the target position and orientation that provide sufficient optical power flow through the optical element for a fine alignment process.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.