摘要:
An improved fiber optic cable connector is provided that exhibits a consistent return loss rating of -60 dB or better. The connector comprises matable connector housings that terminate the ends of respective optical cables to be joined. Within each housing, the optical fiber of the respective cable is secured within a ceramic ferrule that extends axially of the connector. The endface of each optical fiber is exposed at the end of its respective ferrule. The ends of the ferrules are ground and polished in such a way that the endfaces of the optical fibers exhibit a planar undercut with respect to the lip of the axial passageway in which the fibers are secured. When the ferrules are brought and pressed together end-to-end as the connectors are mated, the material of each ferrule compresses until the endfaces of the optical fibers engage each other with near null pressure. The result is the near elimination of pressure on the optical fiber itself, which avoids a density and index of refraction change at the junction and thus improves return loss performance. A method of fabricating such a fiber optic cable connector is also provided.
摘要:
A segment detection system automatically, contactlessly, rapidly, and precisely detects a segment along an edge, such as a boundary, of an object in a digitized image. The segment detection system includes an imager for capturing an image of an object and converting the image into an electrical signal. A computer is connected to the camera for receiving the electrical signal. A machine vision system is associated with the computer and is adapted to analyze the image. A segment detection program is disposed in the computer for driving the computer and the machine vision system in accordance with the present invention. The segment detection program includes an initialization subroutine and a matching subroutine. The initialization subroutine configures the program to search for a particular target polynomial equation. The matching subroutine derives a test polynomial equation that represents a test segment from a test edge of the object based upon an analysis of the image. Further, the matching subroutine determines whether the test segment matches the target segment by comparing corresponding coefficients of the test polynomial equation and the target polynomial equation.
摘要:
An automatic inspection system contactlessly measures the offset of a feature of an object from a theoretical ideal center of the object, and is particularly suited for measuring at an endface of an optical fiber termination the eccentricity of an optical fiber core relative to a theoretical ideal center of the termination. The core is extremely smaller (typically between about 50 and 500 times) in size than the termination boundary. An inspection system has a feature imager, one or more boundary segment imagers but preferably four in number, and a machine vision system connected to the foregoing imagers. The feature imager is positioned to capture an image of the feature (e.g., fiber core endface), and the one or more boundary segment imagers are positioned to capture an image of a corresponding boundary segment of the object (e.g., termination endface). The machine vision system determines the offset, or eccentricity, based upon the feature image and the one or more boundary segment images.
摘要:
A return loss determination system contactlessly and automatically determines a product-to-product return loss of an optical fiber connector having a domed optical fiber termination endface (i.e., an endface having an optical fiber and a surrounding support ferrule). The return loss determination system includes (a) an undercut/protrusion (U/P) inspection system for determining a U/P parameter corresponding with an offset of the fiber relative to a curvature of the ferrule along an axis of the fiber, (b) a dome polish eccentricity (DPE) inspection system for determining a DPE parameter corresponding with a displacement in a plane perpendicular to the axis between a curvature center of the curvature and a fiber center of the fiber, (c) a curvature radius (CR) inspection system for determining a CR parameter corresponding with a radius of the curvature relative to the curvature center, (d) a discontinuity inspection system for determining a discontinuity parameter to quantify surface discontinuities in the fiber, and (e) a return loss evaluation system for determining a return loss of the connector based upon the parameters.
摘要:
An improved fiber optic cable connector is provided that exhibits a consistent return loss rating of 60 dB or better. The connector comprises matable connector housings that terminate the ends of respective optical cables to be joined. Within each housing, the optical fiber of the respective cable is secured within a ceramic ferrule that extends axially of the connector. The endface of each optical fiber is exposed at the end of its respective ferrule. The ends of the ferrules are ground and polished in such a way that the endfaces of the optical fibers exhibit a planar undercut with respect to the lip of the axial passageway in which the fibers are secured. When the ferrules are brought and pressed together end-to-end as the connectors are mated, the material of each ferrule compresses until the endfaces of the optical fibers engage each other with near null pressure. The result is the near elimination of pressure on the optical fiber itself, which avoids a density and index of refraction change at the junction and thus improves return loss performance.
摘要:
An offset determination system and method permit accurate calculation of an offset of a central feature of an object. The offset determination system and method are particularly suited for, but not limited to, an automatic inspection system for determining the eccentricity of an optical fiber core relative to a theoretical ideal center of an optical fiber termination. The core is extremely smaller (typically between about 50 and 500 times) in size than the termination boundary. An inspection system has a feature imager, one or more boundary segment imagers but preferably four in number, and a machine vision system connected to the foregoing imagers. The feature imager is positioned to capture an image of the feature (e.g., fiber core endface), and the one or more boundary segment imagers are positioned to capture an image of a corresponding boundary segment of the object (e.g., termination endface). The machine vision system determines the offset, or eccentricity, based upon the feature image, the one or more boundary segment images, and the offset determination system and method.
摘要:
An improved fiber optic cable connector is provided that exhibits a consistent return loss rating of 60 dB or better. The connector comprises matable connector housings that terminate the ends of respective optical cables to be joined. Within each housing, the optical fiber of the respective cable is secured within a ceramic ferrule that extends axially of the connector. The endface of each optical fiber is exposed at the end of its respective ferrule. The ends of the ferrules are ground and polished in such a way that the endfaces of the optical fibers exhibit a planar undercut with respect to the lip of the axial passageway in which the fibers are secured. When the ferrules are brought and pressed together end-to-end as the connectors are mated, the material of each ferrule compresses until the endfaces of the optical fibers engage each other with near null pressure. The result is the near elimination of pressure on the optical fiber itself, which avoids a density and index of refraction change at the junction and thus improves return loss performance.
摘要:
An automatic inspection method contactlessly measures the offset of a feature of an object from a theoretical ideal center of the object, and is particularly suited for measuring at an endface of an optical fiber termination the eccentricity of an optical fiber core relative to a theoretical ideal center of the termination. The core is extremely smaller (typically between about 50 and 500 times) in size than the termination boundary. An inspection system for implementing the novel inspection method has a feature imager, one or more boundary segment imagers but preferably four in number, and a machine vision system connected to the foregoing imagers. The feature imager is positioned to capture an image of the feature (e.g., fiber core endface), and the one or more boundary segment imagers are positioned to capture an image of a corresponding boundary segment of the object (e.g., termination endface). The machine vision system determines the offset, or eccentricity, based upon the feature image and the one or more boundary segment images.
摘要:
A balanced focus system and method achieve optimal focus of different areas of an object that are concurrently imaged and then combined to form a combined image. The balanced focus method is particularly suited for, but not limited to, use with an automatic inspection system for contactlessly measuring at an endface of an optical fiber termination the eccentricity of an optical fiber core relative to a theoretical ideal center of an alignment surface of the termination. The inspection system has an imaging system with a feature imager and one or more boundary segment imagers but preferably four in number, a focus adjustment mechanism (FAM) for adjusting the position of the imagers relative to the imaged object along an optical axis, and a machine vision system for receiving image data from the foregoing imagers and configured to control the FAM. The feature imager is positioned to capture an image of the feature (e.g., fiber core endface), and the one or more boundary segment imagers are positioned to capture an image of a corresponding boundary segment of the object (e.g., termination endface). The machine vision system determines the eccentricity based upon the feature image and the one or more boundary segment images. Significantly, the machine vision system employs the balanced focus system and method to achieve an optimal focus position for the imaging system based upon a series of combined images and a statistic S that is computed for each of the sampling locations.
摘要:
An alignment and lighting system aligns and lights an optical fiber termination so that an inspection system can measure the eccentricity of an optical fiber core relative to the termination. The inspection system has an imaging system comprising a feature imager and one or more boundary segment imagers but preferably four in number, a machine vision system connected to the imaging system, and an alignment and lighting system for aligning the termination with the imaging system and lighting the termination without having to launch light therethrough. The feature imager is positioned to capture an image of the fiber core endface, and the one or more boundary segment imagers are positioned to capture an image of a corresponding boundary segment of the termination endface. The machine vision system determines the offset, or eccentricity, based upon the feature image and the one or more boundary segment images. The alignment and lighting system includes an alignment apparatus and a unique lighting scheme. The alignment apparatus has a plurality of alignment arms that are spaced apart via spacings to form a cross-shaped aperture that is engaged with the termination endface. Light is projected toward the exposed regions at a light projection angle that is outside the light acceptance angle associated with the fiber core. As a result, light is not generally received by the core, and light is scattered within and reflects out from the fiber cladding and the termination support material surrounding the cladding.