Optical Probe Curved Tip for Single-Mode Alignment Tolerance
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Solution Overview
Problem
The alignment of optical devices with optical probes is challenging due to the small tolerance in positioning, leading to increased measurement time and connection loss, especially when transmitting optical signals in single mode, which impedes efficient measurement.
Innovation Solution
An optical probe with a tip-end surface having a curved radius of curvature that approximates the advancing direction of optical signals to be parallel to the central axis of the optical waveguide, featuring a first region with a maximum mode field diameter that gradually decreases towards a second region, enhancing tolerance for positional and rotational deviations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If optical signals are transmitted in single mode with small core diameter, then optical signal transmission efficiency is improved, but positioning tolerance becomes extremely small making alignment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The tip-end surface is designed as a curved surface with a specific radius of curvature rather than a flat surface. This curvature allows the optical probe to accommodate positional and rotational deviations between the optical device and the probe tip, thereby improving alignment tolerance while maintaining single-mode optical signal transmission efficiency through the small core diameter.
Solution Approach 2:
The mode field diameter is designed to vary gradually from the tip-end surface toward the boundary between the first and second regions. This parameter change creates a transition zone that helps guide the optical mode and reduces sensitivity to misalignment, allowing for easier positioning while maintaining efficient single-mode transmission.
2Manufacturing precision
If positioning tolerance is increased to facilitate alignment, then alignment accuracy is improved, but connection loss increases due to mode field mismatch
Solution Approach 1:
The optical probe is designed with different structural characteristics in different regions: the tip-end surface has a specific curvature to accommodate misalignment, while the core diameter and mode field diameter are optimized for efficient transmission. This local differentiation allows the probe to tolerate positioning variations without significantly increasing connection loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved tip-end surface with optimized radius of curvature acts as a mode-field adapter that compensates for misalignment between the optical device and the probe. This curvature design maintains good optical coupling even when positioning is not perfectly accurate, thereby reducing connection loss while facilitating easier alignment.
3Measurement precision
If alignment time is increased to improve positioning accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but measurement time increases reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The curved tip-end surface design provides inherent alignment tolerance that reduces the time required for precise positioning. Operators can achieve adequate alignment more quickly without sacrificing measurement precision, thereby increasing productivity while maintaining accurate optical coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The gradual variation in mode field diameter from the tip-end surface toward the interior creates a forgiving alignment zone. This parameter transition reduces the sensitivity to misalignment, allowing for faster positioning while maintaining measurement precision, thus improving overall measurement efficiency.
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 design reduces variation in connection loss and improves alignment accuracy, allowing for efficient and stable measurement of optical devices by increasing the tolerance for positional and rotational deviations, thereby shortening measurement time.
Implementation Method 1
a first region (11) connected to a tip-end surface (100) opposed to an optical device (20), wherein the first region (11) includes a region in which a mode field diameter (Ce) that is maximum at the tip-end surface (100) is gradually decreased toward a boundary (13) between the first region (11) and a second region (12)
Implementation Method 2
an optical probe (10) having an optical waveguide in which a transmission mode is a single mode
Data Source
AI summary
An optical probe includes a first region and a second region connected to have a continuous optical waveguide in which a transmission mode is a single mode. The first region connected to a tip-end surface opposed to an optical device includes a region in which a mode field diameter that is maximum at the tip-end surface is gradually decreased toward a boundary between the first region and the second region. The tip-end surface is a curved surface and has a radius of curvature set so that an advancing direction of an optical signal entering through the tip-end surface approximates in parallel to a central-axis direction of the optical waveguide.