This paper presents a 3-Axis enhanced alignment system for optical fiber. The arrangement uses in one of its axis a
vision recognition system which employs Canny edge detector and Phase correlation. The other two-axis are aligned by
controlling a couple stepper motors through displacement algorithms. The setup uses a commercial multimodal
transmitter and receiver, multimode fiber, a digital microscope, three stepping motors and software. This automatic
system takes an alignment time of 20 seconds and up to 70% of coupling power efficiency.
KEYWORDS: Optical fibers, Automatic alignment, Optical alignment, Specialty optical fibers, Signal processing, Signal detection, Control systems, Single mode fibers, Interfaces, Computing systems
This paper presents the development of an automatic alignment system for specialty optical fibers. Based on a XY
coordinates system, the alignment is achieved by the control of stepping motors through displacement algorithms. A
hexagonal shape arrangement of SMF´s fibers generates a map location of the spot light. This photo-detection system
enables to analyze the launching of the beam into the fiber. Through an USB based PC interface and software to
automate the alignment process the device's performance has been improved in time and in optical coupling efficiency.
The results obtained are 2 or 3 seconds in the alignment process and roughly 80% coupling efficiency.
Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks.
You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*
*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please
sign in
to access your institution's subscriptions.
To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on
SPIE.org.
INSTITUTIONAL Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.
PERSONAL Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.