Optical fiber positioner and method for manufacturing same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9632254-B2
Application number	US-201514819621-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 6, 2015
Priority date	Aug 6, 2015
Publication date	Apr 25, 2017
Grant date	Apr 25, 2017

Abstract

An optical fiber positioner having an elongated base with sidewalls and a longitudinally extending throughbore. A flexible optical fiber extends through the throughbore and has one end protruding outwardly from an end surface of the base. A plurality of actuators are secured to the sidewalls of the base so that an end of each actuator is positioned adjacent the end of the base. A crossbeam is then connected to the ends of each actuator so that the crossbeam moves laterally relative to the base in unison with the deflection of the actuators. The crossbeam has an opening through which the optical fiber extends so that the optical fiber deflects in unison with the lateral movement of the crossbeam. Various fixtures for assembly of the optical fiber positioner are also shown.

First claim

I claim:

1. A method of assembling an optical fiber positioner comprising the steps of:
providing an elongated base having a longitudinally extending throughbore through which an optical fiber extends, said base having a plurality of circumferentially spaced locating surfaces which lie in a plane transverse to an axis of said housing,
securing a fixture to said base, said fixture having a plurality of longitudinally extending and circumferentially spaced facing pairs of locating surfaces (holding the threaded fasteners) so that a pair of locating surfaces on said fixture is associated with each locating surface on said base,
securing a plurality of circumferentially spaced actuators to said base so that each actuator is in abutment with one pair of locating surfaces on the fixture and their associated locating surface on the base, each actuator having one end adjacent one end of said base,
attaching a crossbeam to second ends of said actuators, said crossbeam having an opening through which said optical fiber extends, said opening being dimensioned such that said optical fiber moves in unison with said crossbeam,
and comprising the step of attaching a cross imitator to said ends of said actuators during said securing step, said cross imitator positioning said second ends of said actuators in preparation for said step of attaching said crossbeam.

2. A method of assembling an optical fiber positioner comprising the steps of:
providing an elongated base having a longitudinally extending throughbore through which an optical fiber extends, said base having a plurality of circumferentially spaced locating surfaces which lie in a plane transverse to an axis of said housing,
securing a fixture to said base, said fixture having a plurality of longitudinally extending and circumferentially spaced facing pairs of locating surfaces (holding the threaded fasteners) so that a pair of locating surfaces on said fixture is associated with each locating surface on said base,
securing a plurality of circumferentially spaced actuators to said base so that each actuator is in abutment with one pair of locating surfaces on the fixture and their associated locating surface on the base, each actuator having one end adjacent one end of said base,
attaching a crossbeam to second ends of said actuators, said crossbeam having an opening through which said optical fiber extends, said opening being dimensioned such that said optical fiber moves in unison with said crossbeam,
comprising the step of attaching a cross imitator to said ends of said actuators during said securing step, said cross imitator positioning said second ends of said actuators in preparation for said step of attaching said crossbeam
wherein said securing step comprises the step of adhesively securing said actuators to said base and wherein said cross imitator is removed after the adhesive has set and before said crossbeam is attached to said actuators.

3. The method as defined in claim 2 and comprising the step of compressing said actuators between said fixture and said base during said securing step.

Assignees

• Us Army Res Lab
• Us Army

Inventors

• Beresnev Leonid A

Classifications

• G02B6/262

  Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements · CPC title

• G02B6/3616 Primary

  Holders, macro size fixtures for mechanically holding or positioning fibres, e.g. on an optical bench (supporting carriers of a microbench type G02B6/3648; micromanipulators B25J7/00; cassettes, bobbins G02B6/4439) · CPC title

• G02B6/3508

  Lateral or transverse displacement of the whole waveguides, e.g. by varying the distance between opposed waveguide ends, or by mutual lateral displacement of opposed waveguide ends · CPC title

• G02B6/3578

  Piezoelectric force (piezoelectric forces controlling reflecting elements in general G02B26/0858; piezo-optic devices G02F1/0131) · CPC title

• G02B6/4219

  Mechanical fixtures for holding or positioning the elements relative to each other in the couplings; Alignment methods for the elements, e.g. measuring or observing methods especially used therefor · CPC title