The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 07, 2004
Filed:
Jun. 14, 2002
Brian Massey, Marlborough, MA (US);
Russel S. Sossong, Shrewsbury, MA (US);
Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd., Osaka, JP;
Abstract
An apparatus aligns an optical fiber array, that has first and second ends, to an optical fiber light source at the first end of the optical fiber array by using an image of the second end of the optical fiber array captured by a CCD camera, while the first end of the optical fiber array is moved relative to the optical fiber light source. The apparatus includes a controller, coupled to an alignment stage which moves the first end of the optical fiber array and a variable optical attenuator located between the second end of the optical fiber array and the camera. The controller controls the fiber optic alignment device responsive to signals provided by the electronic camera. The camera is used for rough alignment and an optical power meter, coupled to the alignment stage is used for fine alignment.