Patent ID: 7003200
Filing Date: 2006-02-21
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A method of aligning the polarization axes of fiber ends of two optical polarization maintaining fibers with each other, the method comprising the successive steps of: placing the fiber ends at each other with longitudinal axes of the fiber ends aligned with each other; rotating the fiber ends in repeated angular steps around the longitudinal axes of the fiber ends to take successive angular positions, then for each angular step or angular position: determining from the light contrast profiles the angular positions of the polarization axes of the fiber ends; and rotating the fiber ends in relation to each other by an angle equal to the difference between the angular positions of the polarization axes of the fiber ends; wherein, in the step of capturing images of the fiber ends as seen in an observation plane, the observation plane is taken so that the variation ranges, i.e. the differences between maximum and the minimum values, of the resulting light contrast profiles obtain largest possible values.