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

Claim 17:
18. 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 two-dimensional glass alignment plate having holes at one end and a two-dimensional beam shaper having micro-lenses at an opposite end;
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;
repeating positioning an endcap and gluing the aligned endcap until all of the holes have aligned endcaps; and
heating the glue in one of the holes to re-align a mis-aligned endcap or replace a damaged endcap.