Patent ID: 7181105
Filing Date: 2007-02-20
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A laser-light alignment method for adjusting alignment of laser light in a combined-laser-light source in which a bundle of laser beams emitted from a plurality of semiconductor lasers is converged through an optical system and enters a core portion of a light-entrance end of an optical fiber so that the laser beams are combined in the optical fiber, and the combined laser beams are outputted from a light-emission end of the optical fiber, said laser-light alignment method comprising: (a) maintaining said combined-laser-light source in a condition in which steady temperature control is performed; (b) measuring light intensity of the combined laser beams outputted from the light-emission end of the optical fiber, while moving said light-entrance end of the optical fiber in a direction parallel to an end face at the light-entrance end so that a center of an area of the end face through which the laser beams emitted from the plurality of semiconductor lasers enter the optical fiber moves along a diameter passing through a center of said core portion; (c) determining two positions of said light-entrance end at which the light intensity measured in step (b) is equal to a certain value which is smaller than a maximum value of the light intensity measured in step (b); and (d) aligning a center of said core portion of said optical fiber with a middle position between said two positions determined in step (c).