SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MEASURING A CLEAVE ANGLE OF AN OPTICAL FIBER
Systems and methods for measuring a cleave angle of an optical fiber using a cleave angle measurement system is provided herein. In an aspect, a method for measuring a cleave angle of an optical fiber may include providing a cleave angle measurement system. The cleave angle measurement system may include an optical fiber channel, an image sensor, and a light source. The method may include placing an optical fiber having a cleaved end into the optical fiber channel. The method may include determining an optical center of the image sensor. The method may include reflecting light transmitted by the light source off of the cleaved end of the optical fiber and detecting, by the image sensor, light reflected off of the cleaved end of the optical fiber. The cleave angle of the optical fiber may be determined based on the light reflected off of the cleaved end.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A system for aligning a cleaved end of an optical fiber with a lenslet of a microlens array (MLA), the system comprising:
a tilt sensing device positioned to sense tilt of the optical fiber;
a position sensing device positioned to sense position of the optical fiber;
a beam splitter configured to direct portions of a light beam emitted from the cleaved end of the optical fiber toward the tilt sensing device and the position sensing device;
a collecting lens disposed between the beam splitter and at least one of the position sensing devices;
a six-axis stage configured to adjust a position and orientation of the optical fiber along at least one of an x-axis, y-axis, z-axis, w-rotation, u-rotation, or v-rotation; and
non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:
emit a light beam from the cleaved end of the optical fiber;
generate a position reference output and a tilt reference output based on respective outputs of the position sensing device and the tilt sensing device;
compare the position reference output and the tilt reference output to respective thresholds; and
adjust the position or orientation of the optical fiber via the six-axis stage until the respective outputs are within the respective thresholds, thereby aligning the optical fiber with the lenslet.
3 . The system of claim 2 wherein the collecting lens is positioned between the beam splitter and the position sensing device.
4 . The system of claim 2 wherein the tilt sensing device and position sensing device each comprise a camera or a quadrant photodiode.
5 . The system of claim 2 wherein the six-axis stage is configured to perform translational adjustments along the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis.
6 . The system of claim 2 wherein the six-axis stage is further configured to perform rotational adjustments about the x-axis (u-rotation), y-axis (v-rotation), and z-axis (w-rotation).
7 . The system of claim 2 wherein the position reference output and tilt reference output comprise images of collected beams incident on the position sensing device.
8 . The system of claim 2 wherein the one or more processors are configured to iteratively adjust the position and orientation of the optical fiber based on a comparison of the respective outputs to the respective thresholds.
9 . The system of claim 2 wherein the MLA comprises a plurality of lenslets each configured to be aligned with a respective optical fiber.
10 . The system of claim 2 wherein the optical fiber comprises a polarization maintaining fiber.
11 . The system of claim 2 wherein the optical fiber comprises a bow-tie fiber, a panda fiber, a multi-core fiber, an elliptical fiber.
12 . The system of claim 2 wherein the optical fiber comprises a photonic crystal optical fiber.
13 . The system of claim 2 wherein the MLA is positioned at a predetermined distance from the cleaved end of the optical fiber.
14 . The system of claim 2 wherein the position sensing device is configured to sense latitudinal and longitudinal position of the optical fiber to provide x-y-z coordinate outputs.
15 . The system of claim 2 wherein the tilt sensing device is configured to sense the tilt of the optical fiber in at least one direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber.
16 . The system of claim 2 wherein the MLA and the six-axis stage are each mounted on independent movable platforms to allow for alignment adjustment of either or both components.
17 . The system of claim 2 wherein the beam splitter comprises a partially reflective optical element disposed along an optical axis between the cleaved end of the optical fiber and the tilt sensing device.
18 . The system of claim 2 further comprising a mounting fixture configured to secure the microlens array in a fixed position relative to the six-axis stage.
19 . The system of claim 2 further comprising an optical fiber holder mechanically coupled to the six-axis stage and configured to releasably hold the optical fiber during alignment.
20 . The system of claim 2 wherein the system further comprises a housing enclosing at least the beam splitter, the collecting lens, the tilt sensing device, and the position sensing device.
21 . The system of claim 2 wherein the collecting lens comprises an achromatic lens configured to focus the directed portion of the light beam onto the position sensing device.