When two optical fibers are connected, due to the difference in the positions, shapes, and structures of the two optical fibers, energy cannot enter the other optical fiber from one optical fiber fully, and connection loss will occur. In order to minimize the connection loss, the two optical fibers must be precisely aligned.
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Optical communication uses light waves to carry information and realize communication. In the production and use of optical communication devices, fiber alignment is the most basic and most important operation. Multimode fiber can adopt the outer diameter alignment method. The single-mode fiber must adopt mandrel butt. The power method is usually used, that is, the intensity of the light emitted from the light source through the docking point to the end of the optical fiber is monitored. By constantly adjusting the corresponding position of the fiber, the power passing through the joint is maximized, that is, the maximum coupling capacity and the minimum coupling loss (dB) are achieved.
The general optical fiber alignment system can be composed of the following parts: mechanical motion system, optical system, motion control system, etc.
Motion system composition schematic
The alignment of the optical fiber can be simulated as the complete coincidence of two straight lines in space. In order to achieve this goal, multiple dimensions of motion adjustment, linear adjustment and rotation adjustment are required, and the accuracy is high enough and the operation is convenient enough.
CoreMorrow's three-axis piezo screw platform and six-axis piezo nanopositioning stage have become an indispensable part of the optical fiber alignment system with its nanometer-level adjustment accuracy and convenient software operation.
When the fiber end face is cut sufficiently flat, the fiber alignment structure shown in the figure below can be used. The piezo screw motion platform with millimeter stroke provides three-dimensional macro-motion adjustment, and the displacement increment can be controlled within 30nm; and the six-axis Piezo nanopositioning stage (X, Y, Z, θx, θy, θz) can provide micron level linear position adjustment and milliradian angle position adjustment, with nanometer linear accuracy and nanoradian angle accuracy, to ensure the accuracy of fiber alignment. In addition, the response speed of the six-axis Piezo motion platform is up to milliseconds, which can quickly perform precise alignment of the optical fiber.
CoreMorrow XYZ65N81K26 is a XYZ three-dimensional motion platform driven by piezo screws, which can realize millimeter-level large-travel position adjustment, the stroke can reach 25.4mm/axis, and it can achieve nano-level displacement increments. It is widely used in precision positioning and semiconductors, testing and other fields. At the same time, it is suitable for vacuum application environment requirements, and the vacuum degree can reach 10^-5Pa.
Features
• X,Y,Z movement
• Stroke can reach 25.4mm/axis
• Resolution up to 0.5μm
• Vacuum degree up to 10^-5Pa
• Customizable closed-loop version, higher vacuum version
CoreMorrow has a variety of piezo six-axis motion platforms. It is a work platform that can generate θx, θy, θz, X, Y, and Z six-axis motions. It is divided into parallel structure type and series structure type. The parallel structure type applied the parallel coordinated expansion and contraction of six piezo actuators and realizes the movement of six degrees of freedom in the space, and the series structure type is more compact. Both structures can choose the closed-loop version to obtain higher positioning accuracy, which is suitable for applications such as six-degree-of-freedom micro-operation, microelectronic precision machining, and inspection.
Features
• X, Y, Z, θx, θy, θz six-axis motion
• Micron-level linear motion
• Milliradian angular movement
• Fast response in milliseconds
In addition, CoreMorrow has a variety of linear piezo actuators, three-axis piezo nanopositioning stages, and two-dimensional θx, θy Piezo deflection stages, which can be selected and integrated for different fiber alignment structures.
Piezo Actuator-Linear Motion
The piezo ceramic actuator adopts the piezo ceramic direct-drive structure, which is characterized by large output and fast response speed. It can be equipped with a sensor for closed-loop feedback. The top and bottom of the packaged piezo ceramic actuator are fixed by threads respectively, and the fixing method can be customized, such as external thread, internal thread, ball head, flat head, etc.
Features
• Up to 100 microns stroke
• Nanometer resolution
• Closed loop version has higher accuracy
• Millisecond response speed
• High reliability
Three-Axis Piezo Motion Platform-XYZ Fine Tuning
The P11 series piezo nano positioning stage is a small volume 1~3 dimensional pressure level shift stage. The inner part of the platform adopts a frictionless flexible hinge guiding mechanism and an integrated structure design. With mechanism amplifying driving principle and built-in high-performance piezo ceramics, it can achieve 100μm displacement. The positioning accuracy of the closed-loop version can reach nanometer level.
Features
• 1~3 axis movement
• Motion displacement can reach 100μm/axis
• Small size
• Millisecond response time
• Nano-level positioning accuracy
• Optional vacuum version
Two-axis Piezo Tilting Stage-ΘXΘY Fine Adjustment
The S54 series is a two-dimensional θxθy-axis Piezo tilting stage with a central through hole. It is designed with a frictionless flexible hinge structure, with fast response speed and high closed-loop positioning accuracy. The 80×80mm central through hole makes it easy to integrate in microscopy and scanning for the optical system.
Features
• θx, θy movement
• Open loop and closed loop are available
• 80×80mm large through hole
• High-resolution
• Ultra-thin profile
By integrating the above-mentioned CoreMorrow’s piezo motion products by coarse adjustment, fine adjustment and angle fine adjustment, faster and more accurate optical fiber connection can be carried out, reducing the connection time, improving efficiency, and at the same time, greatly improving the accuracy of optical fiber connection!
CoreMorrow's high-precision piezo nano-motion products provide nano-level high-precision and millisecond response time, which are suitable for various optical and alignment applications, not only for fiber alignment, but also for grating alignment, microscopy, imaging, light beam stabilization, nano bonding, nano manufacturing and other applications.