Patent ID: 11914168
Assignee: NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION
Field: Optics (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G  F | IPC G

Claim 7:
8. A method for assembling a two-dimensional fiber array launcher assembly, said method comprising:
providing a plurality of fiber assemblies each including a fiber having an end face spliced to an end of an endcap where the endcap has a larger diameter than the fiber;
providing an alignment structure including a hollow body, a two-dimensional glass alignment plate having holes at one end of the body and a two-dimensional beam shaper having micro-lenses at an opposite end of the body;
positioning an endcap in one of the holes and aligning the associated fiber with one of the micro-lenses;
gluing the aligned endcap in the hole using a curable glue; and
repeating positioning an endcap and gluing the aligned endcap until all of the holes have aligned endcaps, wherein the fiber array launcher assembly is a beam emitter in a coherent beam combining (CBC) fiber laser amplifier system.