US4452506A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Coupling of dielectric optical waveguides
Assignee: Post Office
•
Filing: 1980-11-28
•
Granted: 1984-06-05
•
Expires: 2000-11-28
Abstract
Abstract A pair of optical fibres which are to be joined are located with their end portions in coupling elements one of which is transparent to light. The coupling elements are located such that the ends of the fibres are in approximate alignment. Light is transmitted along one fibre so that it is received by the fibre in the transparent coupling element. Light which is not coupled into the core of the fibre is sensed by a sensor and the relative position of the fibres is adjusted until the level of sensed light is a minimum. The sensing of the light is carried out at positions spaced angularly about the waveguide so that an indication of the direction of any misalignment is obtained. The coupling elements are then secured in this position. The adjustment of the fibres can be carried out using a linear translation stage and a microprocessor which controls the stage in accordance with signals from the sensor.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael H. Reeve
- 👤 Colin A. Millar
- 👤 David B. Payne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:41
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3801; G02B6/3803; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of coupling a pair of dielectric optical waveguides which comprises: locating each optical waveguide in a coupling element, at least one of said coupling elements being transparent to light, locating said elements such that the waveguides are in approximate axial alignment, transmitting light along one of said waveguides so that it is received by the waveguide in a transparent coupling element, independently sensing the light which is not coupled into the core of said receiving waveguide at plural positions spaced angularly about that waveguide to provide an indication of the relative direction of any misalignment of said waveguides, adjusting the relative position of said waveguides in a direction opposite the indicated relative direction of misalignment until the level of sensed light is a minimum, and securing the coupling elements to each other in that adjusted position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of coupling a pair of dielectric optical waveguides which comprises: locating each optical waveguide in a coupling element, at least one of said coupling elements being transparent to light, locating said elements such that the waveguides are in approximate axial alignment, transmitting light along one of said waveguides so that it is received by the waveguide in a transparent coupling element, independently sensing the light which is not coupled into the core of said receiving waveguide at plural positions spaced angularly about that waveguide to provide an indication of the relative direction of any misalignment of said waveguides, adjusting the relative position of said waveguides in a direction opposite the indicated relative direction of misalignment until the level of sensed light is a minimum, and securing the coupling elements to each other in that adjusted position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
180 words
Apparatus for carrying out the method of claim 1 comprising: first mounting means for mounting a first dielectric optical waveguide in a first coupling element, second mounting means for mounting a second dielectric optical waveguide in a second coupling element such that it is approximately aligned axially with the first waveguide, at least one of said mounting means being movable relative to the other along perpendicular axes in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the other mounting means, plural sensing means for sensing light not coupled into one waveguide when it is transmitted from the other waveguide, said sensing means being capable of independently sensing light at plural positions spaced angularly about the waveguide to provide respective independent indication signals having relative features which represent the relative direction of any misalignment of said waveguides and means automatically operative in response to said indication signals from said sensing means to cause the position of said movable mounting means to move along one or other of said perpendicular axes so as to minimize the light not coupled into said one waveguide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the movable mounting means includes a linear translation stage which is movable by plural stepping motors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the plural sensing means comprises a quadrature diode.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the quadrature diode has four outputs which are connected in pairs to two differential amplifiers, the output from each amplifier being fed to a microprocessor which is arranged to produce control signals for actuating said stepping motors so as to cause the stepping motors to move said translation stage such that the diode output reduces to a minimum.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of coupling a pair of dielectric optical waveguides, said method comprising: initially locating one end of each of said pair of waveguides within respective coupling elements such that these waveguide ends are approximately aligned; transmitting light along a first one of said waveguides such that it is passed across said approximately aligned ends to the second one of said waveguides; independently sensing light emitted from said first waveguide but not coupled into said second waveguide at first and second positions spaced apart about said second waveguide; comparing the relative magnitude of light sensed at said first and second positions to obtain an indication of the relative direction of any misalignment between said waveguide ends; and adjusting the relative position of said waveguides in accordance with the indicated direction of misalignment so as to minimize the non-coupled light sensed at said first and second positions.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of coupling a pair of dielectric optical waveguides, said method comprising: initially locating one end of each of said pair of waveguides within respective coupling elements such that these waveguide ends are approximately aligned; transmitting light along a first one of said waveguides such that it is passed across said approximately aligned ends to the second one of said waveguides; independently sensing light emitted from said first waveguide but not coupled into said second waveguide at first and second positions spaced apart about said second waveguide; comparing the relative magnitude of light sensed at said first and second positions to obtain an indication of the relative direction of any misalignment between said waveguide ends; and adjusting the relative position of said waveguides in accordance with the indicated direction of misalignment so as to minimize the non-coupled light sensed at said first and second positions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method as in claim 6 wherein said sensing, comparing and adjusting steps are repeated for third and fourth sensing positions which thus define a second relative direction of misalignment located at a substantially right angle with respect to the first-mentioned direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as in claim 6 or 7 further comprising the step of fixedly securing said coupling elements to each other after the final adjusting step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for coupling a pair of dielectric optical waveguides, said apparatus comprising: means for initially locating one end of each of said pair of waveguides within respective coupling elements such that these waveguide ends are approximately aligned; means for transmitting light along a first one of said waveguides such that it is passed across said approximately aligned ends to the second one of said waveguides; means for independently sensing light emitted from said first waveguide but not coupled into said second waveguide at first and second positions spaced apart about said second waveguide; means for comparing the relative magnitude of light sensed at said first and second positions to obtain an indication of the relative direction of any misalignment between said waveguide ends; and means for automatically adjusting the relative position of said waveguides in accordance with the indicated direction of misalignment so as to minimize the non-coupled light sensed at said first and second positions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
156 words
Apparatus for coupling a pair of dielectric optical waveguides, said apparatus comprising: means for initially locating one end of each of said pair of waveguides within respective coupling elements such that these waveguide ends are approximately aligned; means for transmitting light along a first one of said waveguides such that it is passed across said approximately aligned ends to the second one of said waveguides; means for independently sensing light emitted from said first waveguide but not coupled into said second waveguide at first and second positions spaced apart about said second waveguide; means for comparing the relative magnitude of light sensed at said first and second positions to obtain an indication of the relative direction of any misalignment between said waveguide ends; and means for automatically adjusting the relative position of said waveguides in accordance with the indicated direction of misalignment so as to minimize the non-coupled light sensed at said first and second positions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
Apparatus as in claim 9 wherein second said sensing, comparing and adjusting means are included for third and fourth sensing positions which thus define a second relative direction of automatically minimized misalignment located at a substantially right angle with respect to the first-mentioned direction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3593026A
Cited
US3938895A
Cited
DE2626839A1
Cited
US4188087A
Cited
US4303302A
Cited
US4329659A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-06-05 | 1987-12-05 | 1988-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-06-05 | 1991-12-05 | 1992-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-06-05 | 1995-12-05 | 1996-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |