Optical Fiber Alignment Device Minimizing Splice Loss via Core Position Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for splicing multi-core optical fibers face challenges in achieving minimal average splice loss due to random deviations in core positions, leading to increased axial deviations and higher splice losses when aligning fibers from different manufacturers or with varying manufacturing methods.
Innovation Solution
An optical fiber alignment device that captures images of end surfaces, analyzes core positions, and calculates optimal positional relationships to minimize total axial deviation losses, allowing for precise alignment and splicing of multiple cores using a driving mechanism to adjust the fibers accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional side surface observing method is used to align multi-core fibers, then alignment process is simplified, but it becomes difficult to recognize boundaries between cores for all cores due to overlapping in observing direction
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transitions from side surface observation (one-dimensional view) to end surface observation (two-dimensional view). By capturing images of the end surfaces of both fibers and analyzing core positions in the cross-sectional plane, the system enables simultaneous recognition of all core boundaries without overlapping issues that plague side surface methods.
2Manufacturing precision
If two specific points are aligned based on identical fiber design, then all cores can be aligned ideally, but random manufacturing deviations cause axial deviations and increased splice loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures actual core position information from images of both fibers, calculates the optimal superposition state by comparing measured core positions against the theoretical fiber design, and adjusts alignment based on this feedback. This closed-loop approach compensates for random manufacturing deviations in both fibers, ensuring minimal splice loss even when fibers from different manufacturers or production batches are spliced.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the alignment parameters from fixed design-based coordinates to dynamically calculated optimal positions based on actual measured core locations. By substituting measured core position data into the superposition calculation, the system adapts to real-world manufacturing variations and determines the precise alignment state that minimizes total axial deviation for all cores.
3Productivity
If conventional alignment methods are used, then alignment speed is maintained, but average splice loss increases due to random core position deviations
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary image capture and core position analysis before final alignment is executed. By pre-calculating the optimal superposition state based on measured core positions, the alignment process can proceed directly to the optimal position without iterative adjustments, maintaining high speed while achieving minimal splice loss through accurate preliminary positioning.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enables the alignment and splicing of optical fibers to achieve a minimum average splice loss across all cores, improving transmission characteristics by reducing axial deviations and enhancing the versatility of multi-core fiber splicing.
Implementation Method 1
an image-capturing device for capturing images of end surfaces of two optical fibers
Implementation Method 2
a boundary between the core and cladding can be recognized from a refractive index difference between the core and the cladding
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber alignment device includes an image-capturing device capturing images of end surfaces of two optical fibers; an image-analyzing device obtaining position coordinates of two or more cores in the end surfaces from the image captured by the image-capturing device for each of the two optical fibers; a calculation device substituting the position coordinates of the cores obtained for each of the optical fibers in a theoretical equation that represents a total sum of axial deviation losses at the time of splicing the cores to each other, the calculation device obtaining a positional relationship between the end surfaces of the optical fibers from the theoretical equation such that the total sum of the axial deviation losses becomes a minimum; and a driving device arranging the optical fibers such that the end surfaces of the optical fibers satisfy the positional relationship obtained by the calculation device.