Optical element cleaver and splicer apparatus and methods

摘要

Apparatus and methods are described herein for cleaving an optical element at a defined distance from a splice (or other reference point/feature) of the optical element within a desired precision and/or accuracy. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an indication of a location of a feature in an intermediate optical assembly visible within an image of the intermediate optical assembly. The feature can be for example, a splice. A position of the intermediate optical assembly is translated relative to a cleave unit based on the indication. After translating, the intermediate optical assembly, the intermediate optical assembly is cleaved to form an optical assembly that has an end face at a location disposed at a non-zero distance from the location of the feature. In some embodiments, the location of the feature can be determined with an image recognition system.

主权项

1. A method, comprising:
receiving an indication of a location of a feature in an intermediate optical assembly visible within an image of the intermediate optical assembly; translating a position of the intermediate optical assembly relative to a cleave unit based on the indication such that a cleave blade of the cleave unit is disposed at a predetermined non-zero distance from the feature; and cleaving, after the translating, the intermediate optical assembly to form an optical assembly having an end face at a location disposed at the non-zero distance from the location of the feature; wherein the location of the feature is determined by: identifying a first inner edge and a second inner edge of the intermediate optical assembly within the image, the inner edges being along the direction of the translation; and analyzing a region between the first inner edge and the second inner edge of the intermediate optical assembly within the image to determine at least one area with a high rate of change of image intensity in a longitudinal direction.