KR20080030402A - Device for aligning polarization maitaining fiber - Google Patents

Abstract

An apparatus for aligning a polarization maintaining fiber is provided to align a polarizing axis of the polarization maintaining fiber by rotating the polarization maintaining fiber according to the measured data. A clamping unit(20) is installed at an upper part of a base(10) and grips a polarization maintaining fiber in order to be rotated with the gripped optical fiber. A rotation unit(30) rotates the clamping unit. A photographing unit(40) includes a transferring plate, a lamp loaded on the transferring plate to irradiate light, and a camera loaded on the transferring plate to photograph images. A transferring unit(50) transfers the transferring plate in order to position a part of a polarization maintaining fiber gripped by the clamping unit between the lamp and the camera of the photographing unit. A computer(60) analyzes the images photographed by the photographing unit in order to measure and output a distortion degree of a polarizing shaft of the polarization maintaining fiber by analyzing the photographed images.

Description

Polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device {DEVICE FOR ALIGNING POLARIZATION MAITAINING FIBER}

1 conceptually illustrates various types of polarization maintaining optical fibers

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the clamp and the rotating means of the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention

Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the clamp and the rotating means of the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention

5 is a side view conceptually showing a state of use of the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a photograph showing an image of a polarization maintaining optical fiber taken by the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention

<Short description of the major reference symbols>

F fiber optic

     C core

     C 'clad

     S stress imparting material

1 alignment device

     10 base

     20 clamping means

     30 rotating means

     40 shooting means

     50 means of transport

     60 computers

     70 packaging block

The present invention relates to a polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device, and more particularly, to a polarization maintenance optical fiber alignment device that can easily align the polarization axis of the polarization maintenance optical fiber by analyzing the transmitted image by irradiating light to the polarization maintenance optical fiber. .

Polarization maintaining fiber (PMF) can be transmitted while maintaining the polarization plane of the transmitted light, and is used for coupling with transmission paths and optical integrated circuits using the interference phenomenon of light. It is used as a sensor part and an optical part by high-precision measurement, such as electric field measurement, magnetic field measurement, and temperature measurement, which are used as information. Recently, it has been researched and developed as an optical fiber for coherent communication.

Polarization maintaining optical fiber can be divided into two types, birefringence optical fiber and single polarization fiber, and birefringence optical fiber is divided into single linearly polarized and single circularly polarized maintaining fiber. Various types of polarization maintaining optical fibers have been published until now, and both have different structures in the x-direction and y-direction of the cross section of the optical fiber, so that the propagation speeds of these waves are different. 1 illustrates various polarization maintaining optical fibers. A typical polarization maintaining optical fiber is a PANDA (polarization maintaining and absorption reducing fiber) type optical fiber. The thickness of the core through which light passes is about 3 [μm] to 10 [μm] and the outer diameter of the cladding is 125 [Micrometer] is many. In the panda optical fiber, two stress imparting materials are disposed on both sides of the core for the purpose of preserving the polarization plane, and the polarization plane is maintained at different refractive indices in the x-direction and the y-direction by stress during manufacturing.

The polarization maintaining optical fiber is widely used in optical devices or optical components such as polarization maintaining optical jumper cords, optical couplers, optical polarizers, and optical polarization separators, and in the manufacturing process, the process of aligning the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber is essential.

The present invention was devised to easily align the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber as described above, an object of the present invention is to analyze the image data generated when the light transmitted through the polarization maintaining optical fiber to measure the degree of distortion of the polarization axis It is to provide a polarization-maintaining optical fiber alignment device that can easily align the polarization axis of the polarization-maintaining optical fiber by rotating the polarization-maintaining optical fiber according to the measured data.

In order to achieve the above object, a polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to the present invention is a polarization maintenance optical fiber alignment device for aligning a polarization axis of a polarization maintenance optical fiber in a required direction, the base facing each other on both sides of the base. And a clamping means installed on the upper portion of the base to hold the polarization maintaining optical fiber so that the polarization maintaining optical fiber is positioned to cross the upper portion of the base, and rotated integrally with the held optical fiber, and rotation means for rotating the clamping means; A carriage mounted to the carriage to illuminate light in one direction, and a camera mounted to the carriage so as to capture an image formed by the light emitted from the lamp at a position facing the lamp. By the clamping means between the photographing means and the lamp of the photographing means and the camera. A conveying means for conveying the conveying table so that a part of the supported polarization maintaining optical fiber is positioned, and a computer which analyzes the image photographed by the photographing means to measure and output the twisted degree of the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber. It is done.

In addition, the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to the present invention, the driving means for rotating the rotation means is further provided, the computer is the operation of the driving means in accordance with the twisted degree of the polarization axis of the measured polarization maintenance optical fiber It is characterized by controlling.

In addition, the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to the present invention is characterized in that several lamps of the photographing means are installed such that they are arranged vertically and horizontally.

Hereinafter, a polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing a polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the clamp and the rotating means of the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention, 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the clamp and the rotation means of the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, Figure 5 conceptually showing the state of use of the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention 6 is a side view, and FIG. 6 is a photograph showing an image of a polarization maintaining optical fiber taken by a polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to an embodiment of the present invention, the base 10, the clamping means 20, the rotation means 30, the imaging means 40, the transfer means 50, a computer ( 60), and comprises a packaging block unit 70.

The polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device 1 according to the present invention is for aligning the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber F in the required direction.

The base 10 is a structure for mounting the clamping means 20, the photographing means 30, the conveying means 50, the packaging block portion 70. Referring to the drawings, the base 10 is elongated in the width direction to guide the photographing means 30 and the packaging block 70 in the width direction at the center of the base plate 11 and the base plate 11. The guide 12 and the guide 12 provided therebetween are installed to face each other on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the base plate 11 so as to mount the clamping means 20 and the rotation means 30. It consists of a support bracket (13).

The clamping means 20 is supported by a support bracket 13 installed to face each other on both sides of the base 10 so that the polarization maintaining optical fiber F is positioned to cross the upper portion of the base 10. ) And to rotate integrally with the optical fiber (F) held by the rotating means (30). 3 and 4, the clamping means 20 includes a housing 21, a clamping disk 22, a clamper 23, and a magnet 24. The housing 21 is to be rotatably supported by the clamping disk 22 is fixed to the support bracket 13 of the base 10. The clamping disk 22 has a protrusion 22a protruding in the axial direction at the center thereof, and a through hole 22b through which the polarization-maintaining optical fiber F is inserted into the center of the protrusion 22a. The cutout 22c is formed by cutting one side of the protrusion 22a to expose the polarization maintaining optical fiber F inserted into the through hole 22b, and is rotatably supported by the housing 21. . The clamper 23 is for holding the polarization maintaining optical fiber F inserted into the through hole 22b through the cutout 22c, and is rotatable in a direction of being inserted into and removed from the cutout 22c. Is rotatably supported by the clamping disc 22. The magnet 24 is for the clamper 23 is inserted into the cutout 22c to be fixed in the state in which the polarization maintaining fiber F is gripped, and the clamper 23 is the cutout. It is attached to the clamping disk 22 to be attached in the state inserted in the (22c).

The rotating means 30 is the clamping means 20 to align the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber (F) held by the clamping means 20 according to the analysis of the image of the polarization maintaining optical fiber (F) taken It is for rotating one or both. When the clamping means 20 is rotated by the rotating means 30 as described above, the optical fiber F held by the clamping means 20 is integrally rotated with the clamping means 20. 3 and 4, the rotation means 30 is connected to the clamping disk 22 so as to be integrally rotated with the clamping disk 22 and a worm wheel 31 rotatably supported by the housing 21. The worm gear 32 is supported by the housing 21 to be engaged with the worm wheel 31. In the drawing, a worm portion 32a is formed at the center to rotate the worm gear 32, and a knob 32b that can be grasped by a hand is provided at one end thereof so that the user according to the data analyzed by the photographing means 40. An embodiment is shown which allows the worm gear 32 to be rotated by hand. However, the present invention further includes a driving means (not shown in the drawing) for rotating the rotating means 3 while being controlled by the computer without manually operating the rotating means 30 as shown in the drawing. The operation of the driving means may be controlled by the computer according to the twisted degree of the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber.

The photographing means 40 is for capturing an image of a specific portion of the polarization maintaining optical fiber F which is gripped by the clamping means 20 and positioned above the base 10. Referring to the drawings, the photographing means 40 is transported along the guide 12 of the base 10 by the conveying means 50 in the width direction of the base 10 so that the guide 12 and the conveying means ( And a lamp 42 mounted to the carriage 41 so as to irradiate light upwardly, and a lamp 42 mounted at the position facing the lamp 42. It is configured to include a camera 43 mounted to the carriage 41 to capture the image formed by the light. Between the lamp 42 and the camera 43, a polarization maintaining optical fiber (F) supported by the clamping means 20 is located and the light irradiated from the lamp 42 is transmitted through the optical fiber (F) The image of (F) is captured by the camera 43. On the other hand, the light formed by the lamp 42 is preferably distributed to have an even illuminance. Therefore, the present invention is characterized in that the lamp 42 of the photographing means 40 is irradiated with light to have an even illuminance by installing several LED lamps arranged vertically and horizontally.

The conveying means 50 is for conveying the photographing means 40. Referring to the drawings, the conveying means 50 is rotatably installed along the guide 12 installed in the center of the base 10 in the width direction and is connected to the conveying table 41 of the photographing means 40. It comprises a rod 51 and a handle 52 for rotating the screw rod 51. The conveying means 50 configured as described above is arranged such that a part of the polarization maintaining optical fiber F held by the clamping means 20 is positioned between the lamp 42 and the camera 43 of the photographing means 40. The transfer table 41 is transferred along the guide 12 of the base 10.

The computer 60 analyzes the image photographed by the photographing means 50 to measure and output the twisted degree of the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber F, and uses the data to output the rotating means 30 described above. It controls the operation of the driving means (not shown in the figure) for driving. 5 and 6, a state of photographing a polarization-maintaining optical fiber F in which a stress imparting material S is formed inside the cladding C ′ surrounding the core C on both sides of the core C and a photographed image The picture is shown. Referring to FIG. 6, the image of the polarization maintaining optical fiber F varies depending on the degree of twist of the polarization maintaining optical fiber F, and the polarized light is determined by determining whether the photographed image is the same pattern as the reference image. The twisted degree of the maintenance optical fiber F can be analyzed. The present invention is a polarization maintaining optical fiber while rotating the polarization maintaining optical fiber (F) supported by the clamping means 20 using the rotating means 30 using the results of analyzing the image of the polarization maintaining optical fiber (F) as described above It is possible to align the polarization axis of.

On the other hand, there is shown an embodiment provided with a packaging block portion 70 for packaging the optical fiber (F) aligned to the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device 1 as described above. Referring to the drawings, the packaging block portion 70 is conveyed by a predetermined conveying means so that the aligned polarization maintaining optical fiber F is placed at the correct position above the block 71. In the figure, an embodiment in which the packaging block part 70 is transported by the transport means 50 for transporting the photographing means 40 is illustrated, but it may be configured by a separate transport means. As described above, in the state where the polarization maintaining optical fiber F is placed on the block 71 of the packaging block unit 70, the optical fiber F is packaged with an epoxy resin or the like.

According to the above configuration, the polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device according to the present invention analyzes image data generated when light is transmitted through the polarization maintaining optical fiber to measure the degree of twist of the polarization axis and to measure the polarization maintaining optical fiber according to the measured data. By rotating it has the advantage that the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber can be easily aligned.

The polarization-maintaining optical fiber alignment apparatus described above and illustrated in the drawings is only one embodiment for carrying out the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the technical idea of the present invention. The scope of protection of the present invention is defined only by the matters set forth in the claims below, and the embodiments improved and changed without departing from the gist of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. It will be said to belong to the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

A polarization maintaining optical fiber alignment device for aligning a polarization axis of a polarization maintaining optical fiber in a required direction, Bass, Clamping means installed on both sides of the base so as to face each other so that the polarization-maintaining optical fiber is positioned to cross the upper portion of the base, and the upper part of the base is rotated integrally with the held optical fiber; Rotating means for rotating the clamping means; A photographing apparatus including a carriage, a lamp mounted to the carriage to irradiate light in one direction, and a camera mounted to the carriage to photograph an image formed by light emitted from the lamp at a position facing the lamp. Sudan, Transport means for transporting the transport table such that a portion of the polarization maintaining optical fiber held by the clamping means is located between the lamp of the photographing means and the camera; And a computer for analyzing the image photographed by the photographing means and measuring and outputting a twisted degree of the polarization axis of the polarization maintaining optical fiber. The method of claim 1, Driving means for rotating the rotation means is further provided, And the computer controls the operation of the driving means in accordance with the twisted degree of the polarization axis of the measured polarization maintaining optical fiber. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And a plurality of lamps of the photographing means are installed such that several lamps are arranged in a vertical direction. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The clamping means includes a housing fixed to the base, A protrusion protruding in the axial direction is formed in the center thereof, and a through hole for penetrating through the polarization maintaining optical fiber is inserted into the center of the protrusion, and one side of the protrusion is exposed to expose the polarization maintaining optical fiber inserted into the through hole. A clamping disc having a cutout portion formed therein and rotatably supported by the housing; A clamper rotatably supported by the clamping disc to be rotatable in a direction of insertion and release of the cutout portion; And a magnet installed on the clamping disk to be attached to the clamper in a state where the clamper is inserted into the cutout portion. The method of claim 4, wherein The rotating means may include: a worm wheel connected to the clamping disk to be rotated integrally with the clamping disk and rotatably supported in the housing; And a worm gear supported in the housing to be engaged with the worm wheel.

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