US4989940A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and device for aligning an optical fiber with respect to the lens of a connector
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1990-01-25
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Granted: 1991-02-05
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Expires: 2010-01-25
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a device and method of aligning an optical fibre (4) with respect to the lens (2) of a connector, the optical fibre (4) being positioned such that a beam issuing from the optical fibre (4) and passing through the lens (2) is directed concentrically at a four-quadrant measuring device (8). A very simple method is obtained in that the four-quadrant measuring device (8) is provided with a focussing lens (10) at a distance equal to the focal length, and in that the axial distance between the front face of the optical fibre (4) and the lens (2) of the connector is adjusted such that the sum of the light intensities measured by the four elements (9) of the four-quadrant measuring device (8) has a minimum value.
Inventors
- 👤 Heinrich W. Wollenweber
- 👤 Detlev Lohmuller
- 👤 Achim P. Mihm
- 👤 Wolfgang W. Eutin
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:10
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/32
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A device for aligning an optical fiber (4) with respect to a lens (2) of a connector, the optical fiber (4) being aligned such that a beam issuing from the optical fiber (4) and passing through the lens (2) is directed concentrically at a four-quadrant measuring device (8), said aligning device, comprising means for moving the optical fiber (4) relative to the said lens (2) and a four-quadrant measuring device (8) at which the beam issuing from the optical fiber (4) is directed, wherein the four-quadrant measuring device (8) is arranged in the focal point of a focusing lens (10), and the output signals of the four-quadrant measuring device (8) are supplied to a summing circuit which forms a sum signal from the individual signals of the four-quadrant elements (9).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
130 words
A device for aligning an optical fiber (4) with respect to a lens (2) of a connector, the optical fiber (4) being aligned such that a beam issuing from the optical fiber (4) and passing through the lens (2) is directed concentrically at a four-quadrant measuring device (8), said aligning device, comprising means for moving the optical fiber (4) relative to the said lens (2) and a four-quadrant measuring device (8) at which the beam issuing from the optical fiber (4) is directed, wherein the four-quadrant measuring device (8) is arranged in the focal point of a focusing lens (10), and the output signals of the four-quadrant measuring device (8) are supplied to a summing circuit which forms a sum signal from the individual signals of the four-quadrant elements (9).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sum signal is supplied to a control circuit of a manipulator (12) which cooperates with the optical fiber (4) to move said optical fiber (4) in a direction corresponding to the axial direction of the optical fiber (4).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the four-quadrant measuring device is a four-quadrant diode (8).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the focusing lens (10) is spatially connected to the four-quadrant measuring device (8).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the output signals of diametrically opposite four-quadrant elements (9) of a four-quadrant measuring device (8) are supplied to differential amplifiers (11, 12), the output signals of which are supplied to a control circuit of a manipulator (12) cooperating with the optical fiber (4) in order to adjust the coordinates (x, y) of the optical fiber (4) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the four-quadrant measuring device is a four-quadrant diode (8).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in claim 6, wherein the focusing lens (10) is spatially connected to the four-quadrant measuring device (8).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the four-quadrant measuring device is a four-quadrant diode (8).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the focusing lens (10) is spatially connected to the four-quadrant measuring device (8).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the output signals of diametrically opposite four-quadrant elements (9) of a four-quadrant measuring device (8) are supplied to differential amplifiers (11, 12), the output signals of which are supplied to a control circuit of a manipulator (12) cooperating with the optical fiber (4) in order to adjust the coordinates (x, y) of the optical fiber (4) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
20 words
A device as claimed in 1 wherein the focusing lens (10) is spatially connected to the four-quadrant measuring device (8).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
74 words
A device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the output signals of diametrically opposite four-quadrant elements (9) of a four-quadrant measuring device (8) are supplied to differential amplifiers (11, 12), the output signals of which are supplied to a control circuit of a manipulator (12) cooperating with the optical fiber (4) in order to adjust the coordinates (x, y) of the optical fiber (4) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
73 words
A device as claimed in 1 wherein the output signals of diametrically opposite four-quadrant elements (9) of a four-quadrant measuring device (8) are supplied to differential amplifiers (11, 12), the output signals of which are supplied to a control circuit of a manipulator (12) cooperating with the optical fibre (4) in order to adjust the coordinates (x, y) of the optical fibre (4) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of aligning an optical fiber (4) with respect to the lens (2) of a connector, the optical fiber (4) being positioned such that a beam issuing from the optical fiber (4) and passing through the lens (2) is directed concentrically at a four-quadrant measuring device (8), wherein the four-quadrant measuring device (8) is provided with a focusing lens (10) at a distance equal to the focal length of said lens (10), and the axial distance between the front face of the optical fiber (4) and the lens (2) of the connector is adjusted such that the sum of the light intensities measured by the four elements (9) of the four-quadrant measuring device (8) has a minimum value.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
119 words
A method of aligning an optical fiber (4) with respect to the lens (2) of a connector, the optical fiber (4) being positioned such that a beam issuing from the optical fiber (4) and passing through the lens (2) is directed concentrically at a four-quadrant measuring device (8), wherein the four-quadrant measuring device (8) is provided with a focusing lens (10) at a distance equal to the focal length of said lens (10), and the axial distance between the front face of the optical fiber (4) and the lens (2) of the connector is adjusted such that the sum of the light intensities measured by the four elements (9) of the four-quadrant measuring device (8) has a minimum value.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
A method as claimed in claim 14, wherein the distance between the lens (2) of the connector and the front face of the optical fiber (4) is adjusted by means of a manipulator (14) which is controlled by the sum of the signals formed by the individual elements of a four-quadrant measuring device, in such a manner that the sum signal is minimized.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method of aligning an optical fiber as claimed in claim 14, wherein the four-quadrant measuring device (8) is arranged in the focal point of a focusing lens (10), and the output signals of the four-quadrant measuring device (8) are supplied to a summing circuit which forms a sum signal from the individual signals of the four-quadrant elements (9).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method of aligning an optical fiber as claimed in claim 16, wherein the sum signal is supplied to a control circuit of a manipulator (12) which cooperates with the optical fiber (4) to move said optical fiber (4) in a direction corresponding to the axial direction of the optical fiber (4).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method of aligning an optical fiber as claimed in claim 16, wherein the four-guadrant measuring device is a four-quadrant diode (8).
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method of aligning an optical fiber as claimed in claim 16, wherein the focusing lens (10) is spatially connected to the four-quadrant measuring device (8).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
A method of aligning an optical fiber as claimed in claim 16, wherein the output signals of diametrically opposite four-quadrant elements (9) of a four-quadrant measuring device (8) are supplied to differential amplifiers (11, 12), the output signals of which are supplied to a control circuit of a manipulator (12) cooperating with the optical fiber (4) in order to adjust the coordinates (x, y) of the optical fiber (4) in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the axis.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-04 | 1994-08-06 | 1995-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-04 | 1998-08-06 | 1999-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-04 | 2002-08-06 | 2003-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |