Angle matching detection system for double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner

Abstract

The present application relates to a double-tail collimator and polarized light beam combiner angle matching detection system, including: a light source; an optical switch connected to the light source through an optical fiber; the optical switch has at least two light output ports; a controller electrically connected to the optical switch; each light output port is respectively connected to the double-tail collimator to be tested; a fixture; the fixture fixes the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light beam combiner to be tested; and is fixed to be rotatable; a light spot position sensor for receiving the light emitted by the polarized light beam combiner to be tested; a display electrically connected to the light spot position sensor. Using the system of the present application, the angle of the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light beam combiner can be matched directly through the light spot position displayed on the display, which simplifies the matching steps and improves the matching efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present application relates to the technical field of optical passive device manufacturing, and in particular to an angle matching detection system for a double-tail collimator and a polarized light combiner. Background Art

[0002] When producing optical passive devices, devices with multiple light inputs and one light output are often involved. The implementation principle is often to use the angle adjustment of the double-tail collimator and the polarization beam combiner to combine the multiple light beams with different angles emitted from the double-tail collimator into one light beam using the polarization beam combiner.

[0003] At present, when matching the angles of the two, optical power detection is often used to match and detect the angles of the two. When using the optical power method to match the angles of the two, it is necessary to detect the optical power of each incident light and the optical power of the light after the combination, and then judge the beam combining effect of the current angle of the double-tail collimator and the polarization light combiner based on the relationship between the measured optical powers. The above process requires repeated measurement of each optical power after each change of the angle of the double-tail collimator and the polarization light combiner. The steps are cumbersome and require the debugging personnel to have high debugging capabilities, which leads to a long matching process and low matching efficiency. Summary of the invention

[0004] In order to overcome the problems existing in the related art at least to a certain extent, the present application provides a double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system.

[0005] The double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system provided in the present application includes:

[0006] light source;

[0007] An optical switch connected to the light source via an optical fiber; the optical switch has at least two light output ports;

[0008] a controller electrically connected to the optical switch;

[0009] Each of the optical output ports is respectively connected to a double-tail collimator to be tested; the controller is used to control the optical switch to switch the optical path according to a preset time;

[0010] A fixture; the fixture is used to fix the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light beam combiner to be tested, so that the emission light of the double-tail collimator to be tested is irradiated on the polarized light beam combiner to be tested; and the fixing is rotatable fixing, so as to change the angle between the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light beam combiner to be tested by rotation;

[0011] A light spot position sensor for receiving light emitted by the polarized light combiner to be tested;

[0012] A display electrically connected to the light spot position sensor; the display is used to display the position of the light spot received by the light spot position sensor; the light spot is formed when the emission light of the polarized light combiner to be tested is irradiated on the light spot position sensor.

[0013] Optionally, a plurality of polarizers are also included;

[0014] The input end of each polarizer is connected to each light output port in a one-to-one correspondence;

[0015] The output ends of the polarizers are connected to the double-tail collimator to be tested.

[0016] Optionally, an optical attenuator is also included;

[0017] One end of the optical attenuator is connected to the light source, and the other end is connected to the optical switch.

[0018] Optionally, an optical fiber connector is provided between each polarizer and the double-tail collimator to be tested.

[0019] Optionally, the optical fiber connector includes an optical fiber connector, a connector flange, and a bare fiber adapter;

[0020] The tail end of the optical fiber connector is connected to the polarizer, the tail end of the bare fiber adapter is connected to the double-tail collimator to be tested, and the optical fiber connector and the bare fiber adapter are fixedly connected via the connector flange.

[0021] Optionally, the optical fiber connector is an FC / UPC type connector.

[0022] Optionally, the light spot position sensor is a two-dimensional light spot position sensor.

[0023] Optionally, the controller is a single chip microcomputer.

[0024] Optionally, the input end of the polarizer is connected to the light output port via a non-polarization-maintaining optical fiber; and the output end of the polarizer is connected to the double-tail collimator to be tested via a polarization-maintaining optical fiber.

[0025] Optionally, the optical switch is an electro-optical switch, a Mach-Zehnder interference optical switch or a nonlinear loop mirror optical switch.

[0026] The technical solution provided by the present application may include the following beneficial effects: connecting a light source to a double-tail collimator to be tested through an optical switch, the optical switch having at least two light output ports, and because the optical switch can switch the optical path, the optical switch can transmit the light emitted by the light source through a polarized light combiner at a preset interval to a light spot position sensor to form a light spot by switching the optical path, and display the position of the light spot on a display, and the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light combiner can be rotatably fixed by a clamp, and the preset time is set to an interval time that is less than the frame rate recognizable by the human eye, and when the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light combiner are rotated, the angles of the two change until the light spot displayed on the display is one light spot and the rotation stops, at which time. The angles of the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light combiner are optimally matched. Using the system of the present application, the angles of the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light combiner can be matched directly through the light spot position displayed on the display, which simplifies the matching steps and improves the matching efficiency.

[0027] It should be understood that the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the present application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with the present application and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present application.

[0029] Figure 1 It is a structural schematic diagram of a double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system provided in Example 1 of the present application.

[0030] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of a double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system provided in Example 2 of the present application.

[0031] Figure numerals: light source-1; optical switch-2; controller-3; double-tail collimator-4; polarization light combiner-5; light spot position sensor-6; display-7; polarizer-8; first polarizer-81; second polarizer-82; optical attenuator-9; optical fiber connector-10; optical fiber joint-101; first optical fiber joint-1011; second optical fiber joint-1012; joint flange-102; first joint flange-1021; second joint flange-1022; bare fiber adapter-103; first bare fiber adapter-1031; second bare fiber adapter-1032; double-tail collimator-11; single-chip computer-12. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Here, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings represent the same or similar elements. The implementations described in the following exemplary embodiments do not represent all implementations consistent with the present application. Instead, they are only examples consistent with some aspects of the present application as detailed in the attached claims.

[0033] Optical passive devices are a general term for optical functional devices that do not contain optical energy. Optical passive devices consume energy in the optical path, and insertion loss is their main performance indicator. Optical passive devices include optical fiber connectors, optical switches, optical attenuators, optical fiber couplers, wavelength division multiplexers, optical modulators, optical filters, optical isolators, optical circulators, etc. They realize connection, energy attenuation, reverse isolation, splitting or combining, signal modulation, filtering, etc. in the optical path.

[0034] Among them, when realizing optical path combining, double-tail collimators and polarization beam combiners are generally involved. The collimator is generally made of a pigtail fiber and a self-focusing lens with precise positioning. It can convert the transmission light in the optical fiber into collimated light (parallel light), or couple the external parallel (approximately parallel) light into the optical fiber. The function of the polarization beam combiner is to combine multiple linear polarized lights into one beam. The angle between the collimator and the polarization beam combiner can determine the final combining effect. Therefore, when producing devices for optical path combining, the angle matching of the collimator and the polarization beam combiner is a necessary process.

[0035] In the prior art, the optical power method is generally used to achieve angle matching between the two. The optical power is generally measured by an optical power meter. When performing angle matching, each time after changing the angle of the collimator and the polarization light combiner, it is necessary to measure the optical power of each optical path before and after the beam combining. The appropriateness of the current angle is determined based on the measured optical power until the optimal angle is reached. This requires the debugging personnel who use the optical power method to match the angle to have high debugging capabilities, and the process is cumbersome, the matching time is long, and the efficiency is low.

[0036] Therefore, how to simply, efficiently and accurately realize the angle matching detection between the collimator and the polarization beam combiner is a technical problem that technical personnel in this field urgently need to solve.

[0037] In response to the above technical problems, the present application provides a double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system.

[0038] Embodiment 1

[0039] See also Figure 1 , Figure 1It is a structural schematic diagram of a double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system provided in Example 1 of the present application.

[0040] like Figure 1 As shown, the double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system provided in this embodiment includes:

[0041] Light source 1;

[0042] An optical switch 2 connected to the light source via an optical fiber; the optical switch has at least two light output ports;

[0043] A controller 3 electrically connected to the optical switch;

[0044] Each optical output port is connected to the double-tail collimator 4 to be tested; the controller is used to control the optical switch to switch the optical path according to the preset time;

[0045] The fixture fixes the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light combiner to be tested 5, so that the emission light of the double-tail collimator to be tested is irradiated on the polarized light combiner to be tested; and is fixed to be rotatable, so as to change the angle between the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light combiner to be tested by rotation;

[0046] A light spot position sensor 6 for receiving light emitted by the polarized light combiner to be tested;

[0047] A display 7 electrically connected to the light spot position sensor; the display is used to display the position of the light spot received by the light spot position sensor; the light spot is formed when the emission light of the polarized light combiner to be tested is irradiated on the light spot position sensor.

[0048] The light source is connected to the double-tail collimator to be tested through an optical switch, and the optical switch has at least two light output ports. Since the optical switch can switch the light path, the optical switch can transmit the light emitted by the light source through the polarization beam combiner at preset intervals to the light spot position sensor to form a light spot by switching the light path, and the position of the light spot is displayed on the display. The double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarization beam combiner can be rotatably fixed by a clamp, and the preset time is set to an interval time that is less than the frame rate recognizable by the human eye. When the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarization beam combiner are rotated, the angles of the two change until the light spot displayed on the display is one light spot, and the rotation stops. At this time, the angle match between the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarization beam combiner is optimal. Using the system of the present application, the angle of the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarization beam combiner can be matched directly through the light spot position displayed on the display, which simplifies the matching steps and improves the matching efficiency.

[0049] Since the spot position sensor can only detect the position of a single spot, an optical switch can be used to ensure that only one light is irradiated on the spot position sensor, and then the controller is used to control the optical switch to switch the light path at a preset time interval. By adjusting the preset time and using the "visual persistence" characteristic of the human eye, two spots can be seen from the display, and the two spots can be gradually turned into one spot by rotating the collimator and the polarization beam combiner. When it becomes one spot, the angle of the collimator and the polarization beam combiner is the most appropriate. There are many types of optical switches, such as electro-optical switches, Mach-Zehnder interference optical switches, or nonlinear loop mirror optical switches.

[0050] It should be noted that the connection between the light spot position sensor and the display is the same as the way a general sensor transmits the detected data to the display for display. The display can be a display with a processor. The data detected by the light spot position sensor is transmitted to the processor, and the processor displays the light spot position on the display screen of the display after processing. The light spot position can be displayed as a simulated light spot. The specific circuit connection between the sensor and the display is a prior art and is not the core invention of this application. The circuit connection will not be repeated here. Those skilled in the art can use the prior art to send the data detected by the light spot position sensor to the display, and the display will then display it in the form of a simulated light spot.

[0051] In addition, since the light synthesis of the polarized light combiner can only synthesize linear polarized light, when the light emitted by the light source is not linearly polarized light, a polarizer is required for polarization. A polarizer is a device that obtains polarized light from natural light emitted by an ordinary light source. Commonly used polarizers include: polarizers, Nicol prisms, etc.

[0052] The system provided in this embodiment may further include a plurality of polarizers 8. The input end of each polarizer is connected to each light output port in a one-to-one correspondence; and the output end of each polarizer is connected to the double-tail collimator to be tested.

[0053] Since the light spot position sensor can withstand a relatively low optical power, when the light emitted by the light source is relatively strong, an optical attenuator 9 can be set between the light source and the optical switch. One end of the optical attenuator is connected to the light source, and the other end is connected to the optical switch. Of course, when connecting, they should be connected in sequence according to the direction of the light, such as the input end of the optical attenuator is connected to the light source, and the output end of the optical attenuator is connected to the input end of the optical switch. Since the optical attenuator is an existing optical passive device, its usage method and specific connection method can refer to the introduction of the optical attenuator in the prior art. In addition, due to the different light sources, the intensity of the light emitted by the light source will also be different. Therefore, those skilled in the art can set the optical attenuator to achieve the desired attenuation effect. How to set the optical attenuator can also refer to the prior art, which will not be repeated here.

[0054] Furthermore, the collimator generally has a pigtail, and the present embodiment further provides a fiber optic connector 10, which connects the pigtail of the collimator to the polarizer. The optical connector provided in the present embodiment may include three parts: a fiber optic connector 101, a connector flange 102, and a bare fiber adapter 103, the tail end of the fiber optic connector is connected to the polarizer, the tail end of the bare fiber adapter is connected to the double-tail collimator to be tested, and the fiber optic connector and the bare fiber adapter are fixedly connected through the connector flange.

[0055] It should be noted that there may be various types of optical fiber connectors, such as FC / UPC connectors. The spot position sensor may be a two-dimensional spot position sensor. The controller may be a single-chip microcomputer, and the model of the single-chip microcomputer may be, but is not limited to, 8051. In addition, the input end of the polarizer is connected to the light output port through a non-polarization-maintaining optical fiber; the output end of the polarizer is connected to the double-tail collimator to be tested through a polarization-maintaining optical fiber.

[0056] Embodiment 2

[0057] This embodiment takes a double-tail collimator as an example to illustrate the specific implementation process.

[0058] See also Figure 2 , Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of a double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system provided in Example 2 of the present application.

[0059] like Figure 2 As shown, the light emitted by the light source 1 is transmitted to the optical attenuator 9 through the non-polarization-maintaining optical fiber to attenuate the optical power, and the attenuated light is transmitted to the optical switch 2 through the non-polarization-maintaining optical fiber. The optical switch of this embodiment has two optical output ports: a first optical output port and a second optical output port. The optical switch switches the two optical output ports under the control of the single-chip microcomputer 12, and the switching frequency can be 24 times / second.

[0060] When switching to the first optical output port, the light is transmitted to the first polarizer 81 through the non-polarization-maintaining optical fiber, and the first polarizer is connected to the first optical fiber connector 1011 of model FC / UPC through the polarization-maintaining optical fiber. Since the first optical fiber connector is fixedly connected to the first bare fiber adapter 1031 through the first connector flange 1021, and the bare fiber adapter is connected to the first pigtail of the double-tail collimator 11, the light is emitted into the double-tail collimator through the first optical fiber connector and the first bare fiber adapter. After the light is emitted from the double-tail collimator, it is irradiated to the polarization beam combiner 5 that is rotatably fixed to the double-tail collimator through the clamp, and then the light passes through the polarization beam combiner and irradiates the spot position sensor 6. The spot position sensor sends the spot position at this time to the display 7, and the display displays the received position information in the form of a simulated spot to display the position of the light board at this time.

[0061] When switching to the second optical output port, the light is transmitted to the second polarizer 82 through the non-polarization-maintaining optical fiber, and the second polarizer is connected to the second optical fiber connector 1012 of model FC / UPC through the polarization-maintaining optical fiber. Since the second optical fiber connector is fixedly connected to the second bare fiber adapter 1032 through the second connector flange 1022, and the bare fiber adapter is connected to the second pigtail of the double-tail collimator, the light is emitted to the double-tail collimator 11 through the second optical fiber connector and the second bare fiber adapter. After the light is emitted from the double-tail collimator, it is irradiated to the polarization beam combiner that is rotatably fixed to the double-tail collimator through the clamp, and then the light is irradiated to the spot position sensor after passing through the polarization beam combiner. The spot position sensor sends the spot position at this time to the display, and the display displays the received position information in the form of a simulated spot to display the position of the light board at this time.

[0062] Since the switching frequency of the optical switch is 24 times per second, that is, the light output port is switched once every 41.7 milliseconds, according to the "persistence of vision" characteristic of the human eye, when the angles of the double-tail collimator and the polarization beam combiner do not match, the display will show two simulated light spots. Conversely, the debugging personnel can judge that the angles of the double-tail collimator and the polarization beam combiner do not match at this time through the two simulated light spots appearing on the display, and then use the clamp to make the double-tail collimator and the polarization beam combiner rotate relative to each other to change the angles of the two, until the two simulated light spots in the display just converge, at which time the angles of the two are most matched.

[0063] Therefore, in the above-mentioned matching and detection process of the double-tail collimator and the polarized light combiner, it is only necessary to fix the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light combiner to be tested with a clamp, and connect the double-tail collimator to be tested to the system, and then the simulated light spot displayed on the display can be used to detect whether the current angles of the two are matched. If they are not matched, the clamp can be used to make the two rotate relative to each other to change their angles until the two simulated light spots displayed on the display converge into one, so that the angles of the two are matched. The above-mentioned process is simple to operate, does not require high debugging capabilities, is highly efficient, and overcomes the shortcomings and disadvantages of the current matching detection using the optical power method.

[0064] Regarding the device in the above embodiment, the specific manner in which each module performs operations has been described in detail in the embodiment of the method, and will not be elaborated here.

[0065] It can be understood that the same or similar parts of the above embodiments can be referenced to each other, and the contents not described in detail in some embodiments can refer to the same or similar contents in other embodiments.

[0066] It should be noted that, in the description of this application, the terms "first", "second", etc. are only used for descriptive purposes and cannot be understood as indicating or implying relative importance. In addition, in the description of this application, unless otherwise specified, the meaning of "plurality" refers to at least two.

[0067] Any process or method description in a flowchart or otherwise described herein may be understood to represent a module, fragment or portion of code that includes one or more executable instructions for implementing the steps of a specific logical function or process, and the scope of the preferred embodiments of the present application includes alternative implementations in which functions may not be performed in the order shown or discussed, including performing functions in a substantially simultaneous manner or in reverse order depending on the functions involved, which should be understood by technicians in the technical field to which the embodiments of the present application belong.

[0068] It should be understood that the various parts of the present application can be implemented by hardware, software, firmware or a combination thereof. In the above-mentioned embodiments, multiple steps or methods can be implemented by software or firmware stored in a memory and executed by a suitable instruction execution system. For example, if implemented by hardware, as in another embodiment, it can be implemented by any one of the following technologies known in the art or their combination: a discrete logic circuit having a logic gate circuit for implementing a logic function for a data signal, a dedicated integrated circuit having a suitable combination of logic gate circuits, a programmable gate array (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.

[0069] A person skilled in the art may understand that all or part of the steps in the method for implementing the above-mentioned embodiment may be completed by instructing related hardware through a program, and the program may be stored in a computer-readable storage medium, which, when executed, includes one or a combination of the steps of the method embodiment.

[0070] In addition, each functional unit in each embodiment of the present application may be integrated into a processing module, or each unit may exist physically separately, or two or more units may be integrated into one module. The above-mentioned integrated module may be implemented in the form of hardware or in the form of a software functional module. If the integrated module is implemented in the form of a software functional module and sold or used as an independent product, it may also be stored in a computer-readable storage medium.

[0071] The storage medium mentioned above can be a read-only memory, a magnetic disk or an optical disk, etc.

[0072] In the description of this specification, the description with reference to the terms "one embodiment", "some embodiments", "example", "specific example", or "some examples" means that the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described in conjunction with the embodiment or example are included in at least one embodiment or example of the present application. In this specification, the schematic representation of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Moreover, the specific features, structures, materials or characteristics described may be combined in any one or more embodiments or examples in a suitable manner.

[0073] Although the embodiments of the present application have been shown and described above, it can be understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and cannot be understood as limitations on the present application. Ordinary technicians in this field can change, modify, replace and modify the above embodiments within the scope of the present application.

Claims

1. A double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system, characterized in that: include: light source; an optical switch connected to the light source via an optical fiber; The optical switch has at least two optical output ports; A controller electrically connected to the optical switch; each of the optical output ports is respectively connected to a double-tail collimator to be tested; the controller is used to control the optical switch to switch the optical path according to a preset time; A fixture; the fixture fixes the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light beam combiner to be tested, so that the emission light of the double-tail collimator to be tested is irradiated on the polarized light beam combiner to be tested; and the fixing is rotatable fixing, so as to change the angle between the double-tail collimator to be tested and the polarized light beam combiner to be tested by rotation; A light spot position sensor for receiving light emitted by the polarized light combiner to be tested; and a display electrically connected to the light spot position sensor; The display is used to display the position of the light spot received by the light spot position sensor; The light spot is formed when the emission light of the polarization light combiner to be tested is irradiated on the light spot position sensor; A plurality of polarizers; the input end of each polarizer is connected to each of the light output ports in a one-to-one correspondence; the output end of each polarizer is connected to the double-tail collimator to be tested; An optical attenuator; one end of the optical attenuator is connected to the light source, and the other end is connected to the optical switch.

2. The double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: An optical fiber connector is arranged between each polarizer and the double-tail collimator to be tested.

3. The double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system according to claim 2, characterized in that: The optical fiber connector includes an optical fiber connector, a connector flange and a bare fiber adapter; The tail end of the optical fiber connector is connected to the polarizer, the tail end of the bare fiber adapter is connected to the double-tail collimator to be tested, and the optical fiber connector and the bare fiber adapter are fixedly connected via the connector flange.

4. The double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system according to claim 3, characterized in that: The optical fiber connector is an FC / UPC type connector.

5. The double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The light spot position sensor is a two-dimensional light spot position sensor.

6. The double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The controller is a single chip microcomputer.

7. The double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system according to claim 1, characterized in that: The input end of the polarizer is connected to the light output port through a non-polarization-maintaining optical fiber; the output end of the polarizer is connected to the double-tail collimator to be tested through a polarization-maintaining optical fiber.

8. The double-tail collimator and polarization beam combiner angle matching detection system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: The optical switch is an electro-optical switch, a Mach-Zehnder interference optical switch or a nonlinear loop mirror optical switch.

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