Optical Waveguide Testing Apparatus for Electro-Optical PCBs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Testing of electro-optical circuit boards with numerous optical waveguides is time-consuming due to the need for precise alignment of light sources and receivers with each fiber, making existing methods impractical for large-scale applications.
Innovation Solution
A testing device featuring a holder, a beamer, a camera, and a control device with deflection elements using multiple mirrors to project light bars orthogonally across the circuit board, allowing for automated alignment and quality assessment of each optical waveguide without mechanical alignment of the light source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a light source and optical receiver are used to test each optical fiber individually with precise alignment, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to time-consuming individual alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual fiber testing operations into a single parallel testing operation. By projecting a light bar that simultaneously illuminates multiple optical waveguides and capturing images of all exit points at once, the system tests multiple fibers in parallel rather than sequentially, thereby dramatically improving productivity while maintaining measurement precision through the same optical detection principles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional sequential testing (one fiber at a time) to two-dimensional parallel testing by projecting a light bar across multiple waveguides simultaneously. The image capture device records the positions of light exiting multiple fibers at the same time, effectively adding a spatial dimension to the testing process and enabling batch processing of multiple optical fibers
2Productivity
If a light source illuminates a relatively large area of the printed circuit board with a camera for testing, then productivity is improved by testing multiple fibers simultaneously, but measurement precision deteriorates due to alignment complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an image of the light bar projection as a reference copy to determine precise positions. By capturing an image of where the light bar illuminates the waveguides and using this as a reference, the system can accurately calculate the positions of exit points relative to this known reference, thereby maintaining measurement precision even when testing multiple fibers simultaneously in parallel
3Productivity
If two mutually orthogonal light bars are projected onto entry surfaces and moved across surfaces transversely with a camera taking pictures, then productivity is improved by covering all fibers, but device complexity increases due to multiple deflection elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the testing process into two distinct phases: a first phase using a first light bar moving in a first direction to establish reference positions, and a second phase using a second light bar moving in a second direction to determine final positions. This segmentation allows each phase to have a specific, simplified function rather than requiring all components to operate simultaneously, thereby managing device complexity while achieving comprehensive fiber testing coverage
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
Enables rapid and precise testing of multiple optical waveguides by determining the exact position for light spot alignment using image analysis, reducing testing time and detecting cross-coupling between waveguides, thus improving the efficiency and speed of optical fiber quality evaluation.
Implementation Method 1
the light emitted by the beamer can be coupled into one or more optical fibers of the electro-optical circuit board by means of at least one deflection element and can be coupled out into the field of view of the camera by means of at least one further deflection element, with each of the deflection elements containing a plurality of deflection mirrors
Implementation Method 2
optical waveguides, which are also referred to as optical channels
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2A~2C
Figure 3A~3C
AI summary
A test apparatus for electro-optical printed circuit boards having optical waveguides comprises a control device, a beamer and a camera, which can be positioned in such a way that light emitted by the beamer can be coupled by means of a first deflecting element to optical waveguides of the circuit board and can be coupled out by means of a second deflecting element into the field of vision of the camera. The beamer is used in a first phase to determine the position for each deflecting mirror of the first deflecting element which a light spot needs to assume in the image projected by the beamer so that the light spot illuminates the deflecting mirror. The beamer is used in a second phase to illuminate at least one deflecting mirror and to carry out the testing of the optical waveguide associated with the at least one deflecting mirror.