Patent ID: 6822793
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: G02B,G02F

Abstract:
A method of tuning a spatial separation between a first optical port of an optical circulator and a third optical port of the optical circulator comprising:providing the optical circulator, and the optical circulator having a longitudinal axis, and the optical circulator comprising a first optical port located at an end of the optical circulator, a second optical port located at a distal end of the optical circulator from the first optical port along the longitudinal axis, and a third optical port located at the same end of the optical circulator as the first optical port; passing a first optical beam from the first optical port to the second optical port, wherein the first optical beam enters the optical circulator from the first optical port at an angle to the longitudinal axis such that the first optical beam diverges from the longitudinal axis, passing a first optical beam further comprising: turning the first optical beam towards the longitudinal axis with a first beam angle turner; and turning the first optical beam with a second beam angle turner such that the first optical beam is aligned with the longitudinal axis of an imaging element for the second optical port, wherein the first beam angle turner is separated from the second beam angle turner by a complete gap; passing a second optical beam from the second optical port to the third optical port, wherein the second optical beam enters the optical circulator from the second optical port aligned with the longitudinal axis, passing the second optical beam further comprising: turning the second optical beam with the second beam angle turner such that the second optical beam diverges from the longitudinal axis; and turning the second optical beam with the first optical beam turner back towards the longitudinal axis; and adjusting a length of the complete gap causing a corresponding adjustment in a spatial separation between the first optical beam and the second optical beam, wherein the location of the first optical beam and the second light beam define the location of the first optical port and the third optical port.