Patent ID: 6678047
Filing Date: 2004-01-13
Classification: G01B

Abstract:
An optical axis aligning method for an optical component, in which the quantity of light emitted from the optical component or an optical fiber and incident upon the other is measured as the optical component and the optical fiber are positioned successively in a plurality of relative positions, to thereby obtain an optimum relative position for a maximum light quantity, comprising steps of:(a) subjecting light quantity distribution on a given plane parallel to a connecting end face of the optical component or the optical fiber to quadric surface approximation in accordance with measured light quantities at a plurality of points on the given plane, thereby obtaining an optimum point on the given plane; and (b) subjecting light quantity distribution in the direction of the optical axis of the optical component or the optical fiber or in the direction of a given axis perpendicular to the given plane to quadric function approximation in accordance with measured light quantities at a plurality of points in the direction of the optical axis or the given axis, thereby obtaining an optimum point in the direction of the optical axis or the given axis, wherein said step (a) includes a sub-step (a11) for subjecting light quantity distribution in the direction of a first axis, defining the given plane, to quadric function approximation in accordance with measured light quantities at a plurality of points in the first axis direction, a sub-step (a12) for subjecting light quantity distribution in the direction of a second axis, defining the given plane in conjunction with the first axis, to quadric function approximation in accordance with measured light quantities at a plurality of points in the second axis direction, a sub-step (a13) for obtaining the optimum point on the given plane according to the quadric function approximation of the light quantity distribution in the first axis direction and the quadric function approximation of the light quantity distribution in the second axis direction.