Method and apparatus for centering an optical fibre relative to a lens in a ferrule, and connector element thus obtained

Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for centring a lens used for making an optical fibre-lens connection. The apparatus comprises a groove (40, 41) having a V-shaped cross- section, in which are positioned a ferrule (1) in which an optical fibre (10) receiving light from a light source (12) is accurately centred, a ring (2) intended to receive the lens (8) to be centred and a reference piece (6) having a calibrated hole (6') centred on the axis (xx') of the optical fibre and disposed in front of a photodetector (7). The photodetector (7) is connected to a measuring circuit (13). A micro-manipulator (4), having a gripper (3) carrying the lens (9), is capable of displacing the lens in the ring (2) with a view to its centring, which is obtained when the signal supplied by the photodetector (7) is a maximum. As a variant, the light emitted is send back into the fibre by a mirror and detected by a photodetector coupled to the optical fibre. The connector element connects a lens and a ferrule, which are mounted together by cementing, after their centring has been accurately achieved. <IMAGE>

Inventors

• 👤 Patrick Clement
• 👤 Jean-Louis Malinge
• 👤 Jean Bouygues

Bibliographic Details