METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ALIGNING AND SPLICING POLARIZATION MAINTAINING FIBERS

1 . An optical fiber alignment and splicing system comprising:

a first rotation stage comprising a first central axis, a first end, and a second end, wherein the first central axis extends from the first end to the second end of the first rotation stage, wherein the first rotation stage:

further comprises a first optical fiber channel, wherein the first optical fiber channel extends from the first end of the first rotation stage to the second end of the first rotation stage; and

is configured to rotate about the first central axis of the first rotation stage;

a second rotation stage comprising a second central axis, a third end, and a fourth end, wherein the second central axis extends from the third end to the fourth end of the second rotation stage, wherein the second rotation stage:

further comprises a second optical fiber channel, wherein the second optical fiber channel extends from the third end of the second rotation stage to the fourth end of the second rotation stage; and

is configured to rotate about the second central axis of the second rotation stage;

a first light source positioned to emit light onto the first optical fiber channel at an oblique angle from the first optical fiber channel;

a second light source positioned to emit light onto the second optical fiber channel at an oblique angle from the second optical fiber channel;

a reflector positioned between the first rotation stage and the second rotation stage; and

an image sensor positioned to generate an initial image of a first emission face of a first optical fiber disposed within the first optical fiber channel and a second emission face of a second optical fiber disposed within the second optical fiber channel reflected by the reflector.

2 . The optical fiber alignment and splicing system of claim 1 comprising a first rigidly mounted static immobilizer, wherein the first rigidly mounted static immobilizer is in contact with a portion of a first optical fiber when positioned in the first optical fiber channel and is configured to secure the first optical fiber onto the first rotation stage.

3 . The optical fiber alignment and splicing system of claim 2 further comprising a second rigidly mounted static immobilizer, wherein the second rigidly mounted static immobilizer is in contact with a portion of a second optical fiber when positioned in the second optical fiber channel and is configured to secure the second optical fiber onto the second rotation stage.

4 . The optical fiber alignment and splicing system of claim 3 wherein the first rigidly mounted static immobilizer is positioned between the first rotation stage and the reflector and the second rigidly mounted static immobilizer is positioned between the second rotation stage and the reflector.

5 . The optical fiber alignment and splicing system of claim 3 wherein the first rigidly mounted static immobilizer comprises a vacuum chuck.

6 . The optical fiber alignment and splicing system of claim 1 wherein the reflector is removable.

7 . The optical fiber alignment and splicing system of claim 3 further comprising a first mechanical immobilizer, wherein the first mechanical immobilizer is configured to secure the first optical fiber when the first rotation stage rotates about the first central axis of the first rotation stage.

8 . The optical fiber alignment and splicing system of claim 7 further comprising a second mechanical immobilizer, wherein the second mechanical immobilizer is configured to secure the second optical fiber when the second rotation stage rotates about the second central axis of the second rotation stage.

9 . The optical fiber alignment and splicing system of claim 8 wherein the first mechanical immobilizer is positioned between the first rotation stage and the first rigidly mounted static immobilizer and the second mechanical immobilizer is positioned between the second rotation stage and the second rigidly mounted static immobilizer.

10 . The optical fiber alignment and splicing system of claim 1 further comprising a first optical fiber provided in the first optical fiber channel and a second optical fiber provided in the second optical fiber channel, wherein the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber each comprise one or more stress rods.

11 . The optical fiber alignment and splicing system of claim 1 further comprising a first optical fiber provided in the first optical fiber channel and a second optical fiber provided in the second optical fiber channel, wherein the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber each comprise one or more patterned microstructures.

12 . A method of aligning an optical fiber, the method comprising:

placing a first optical fiber on a first rotation stage;

placing a second optical fiber on a second rotation stage;

securing the first optical fiber on the first rotation stage;

securing the second optical fiber on the second rotation stage;

collecting an initial image of a first emission face of the first optical fiber and a second emission face of the second optical fiber;

calculating an alignment offset based on the initial image;

rotating the first optical fiber to a modified position if the alignment offset is not within a tolerance;

iteratively collecting at least one more additional image of the first emission face of the first optical fiber and the second emission face of the second optical fiber; and

releasing the optical fiber if the alignment offset is within the tolerance.

13 . The method of aligning the optical fiber of claim 12 wherein calculating the alignment offset based on the initial image comprises:

determining a first alignment offset for the first optical fiber; and

determining a second alignment offset for the second optical fiber.

14 . The method of aligning the optical fiber of claim 12 wherein calculating the alignment offset based on the initial image comprises:

determining a rotational offset based on the initial image; and

determining a translational offset based on the initial image.

15 . The method of aligning the optical fiber of claim 14 wherein determining the rotational offset based on the initial image comprises:

identifying a first region and a second region in the initial image of the first emission face;

identifying a third region and a fourth region in the initial image of the second emission face;

calculating a first degree of rotational offset of the first optical fiber based on the first region and the second region;

calculating a second degree of rotational offset of the second optical fiber based on the third region and the fourth region; and

calculating the rotational offset based on the first degree of rotational offset and the second degree of rotational offset.

16 . The method of aligning the optical fiber of claim 12 wherein securing the first optical fiber on the first rotation stage comprises:

contacting the first optical fiber with a vacuum chuck; and

inducing a vacuum on the first optical fiber using the vacuum chuck.

17 . The method of aligning the optical fiber of claim 12 further comprising:

determining the alignment offset is not within the tolerance;

after determining that the alignment offset is not within the tolerance, releasing the first optical fiber; and

after rotating the first optical fiber to the modified position, securing the first optical fiber on the first rotation stage in the modified position.

18 . The method of aligning the optical fiber of claim 17 wherein the method further comprises:

after determining the alignment offset is not within the tolerance, closing a mechanical immobilizer about the first optical fiber to immobilize the first optical fiber; and

after rotating the first optical fiber to the modified position, opening the mechanical immobilizer about the first optical fiber to release the first optical fiber.

19 . The method of aligning the optical fiber of claim 14 wherein rotating the first optical fiber to the modified position if the alignment offset is not within the tolerance further comprises:

rotating the first optical fiber based on the rotational offset of the first optical fiber; and

translating the first optical fiber based on the translational offset of the first optical fiber.

20 . The method of aligning the optical fiber of claim 12 further comprising:

determining that the alignment offset is within the tolerance; and

releasing the first optical fiber from the first rotation stage.