Automated visual position detection and adjustment foroptical waveguide chips and optical fiber arrays

ZHENG Yu(郑煜)^{1, 2}, KAI Xiao-chao(开小超)^{1, 2}, DUAN Ji-an(段吉安)^{1, 2}, LI Bai-bing(李白冰)^{1, 2}

(1. State Key Laboratory of High Performance Complex Manufacturing (Central South University),
Changsha 410083, China;
2. College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China)

Abstract:The alignment coupling between optical waveguide chips and optical fiber arrays is the basis of the alignment coupling of planar optical waveguide devices, and the precise position detection with angle and spacing adjustments is one of the key steps of alignment coupling. A methodology for position detection, and angle and spacing adjustment was proposed for optical waveguide chips and optical fiber arrays based on machine vision. The experimental results show angle detection precision levels higher than 0.05°, line detection precision levels higher than 0.1 μm, and detection time less than 2 s. Therefore, the system developed herein meets the precise requirements necessary for position detection, and angle and spacing adjustments for optical waveguide chips and optical fiber arrays.

Key words:planar optical waveguide; alignment coupling; automated alignment; machine vision