WDM Apparatus Collimator Lens Parallelism Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge is to increase the coupling efficiency of wavelength multiplexed light with respect to an optical fiber in wavelength division multiplexing transmission apparatuses while relaxing the stringent assembling accuracy requirements, as high accuracy leads to increased costs and manufacturing difficulties.
Innovation Solution
The method involves arranging laser devices in a line on a first substrate, using collimator lenses to collimate and adjust the laser beams for parallelism, and positioning reflectors on a second substrate to multiplex the beams, with optional positional deviation corrections to reduce beam intervals, allowing for relaxed assembly accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If laser beams are arranged with high parallelism and reduced displacement to increase coupling efficiency, then coupling efficiency with optical fiber is improved, but assembling accuracy requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing parallelism correction of laser beams after the optical multiplexing section is assembled but before final coupling optimization. The collimator lenses are adjusted to correct beam parallelism at an intermediate stage, allowing the final assembly to tolerate greater manufacturing variations while achieving high coupling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamics by making the collimator lenses adjustable rather than fixed. The lenses can be dynamically repositioned along the optical paths to correct parallelism deviations caused by manufacturing tolerances in the optical multiplexing section, enabling the system to adapt to assembly variations without requiring extremely tight manufacturing precision.
2Reliability
If stringent assembling accuracy is required for high coupling efficiency, then coupling efficiency is improved, but manufacturing cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The parallelism correction step is introduced as a preliminary adjustment process that compensates for manufacturing tolerances. By correcting beam parallelism at the collimator lens stage before final assembly, the system achieves high coupling efficiency without requiring expensive high-precision manufacturing of the optical multiplexing section components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the adjustable parameter from component manufacturing precision to post-assembly optical alignment. Instead of controlling the manufacturing precision of the optical multiplexing section to achieve high coupling efficiency, the system adjusts the positional parameters of collimator lenses to correct parallelism, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining performance.
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 enhances the parallelism and coupling efficiency of wavelength multiplexed light with the optical fiber, reducing the need for precise assembly, thus lowering manufacturing costs and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
a parallelism correction step of arranging collimator lenses on paths of the laser beams, adjusting positions of the collimator lenses so that the laser beams making up the wavelength multiplexed light become parallel
Implementation Method 2
fixing to a second substrate, a plurality of reflectors arranged so as to multiplex laser beams emitted from the plurality of laser devices and generate wavelength multiplexed light
Data Source
AI summary
A method for manufacturing a wavelength division multiplexing transmission apparatus, includes arranging laser devices in a line and fixing the laser devices to a first substrate, fixing to a second substrate reflectors arranged to multiplex laser beams emitted from the laser devices and to generate wavelength multiplexed light, and arranging collimator lenses on paths of the laser beams, adjusting positions of the collimator lenses so that the laser beams making up the wavelength multiplexed light become parallel and, thereafter, fixing the collimator lenses to the first substrate.