Patent ID: 7004639
Filing Date: 2006-02-28
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A holding fixture for use with an interferometric optical microscope, the fixture being adapted to receive an optical fiber connector having first and second guide holes, the fixture comprising: a base plate mountable along a first surface of the base plate to a mounting surface of the microscope and having an opening extending through the base plate and sized to complementarily receive the optical fiber connector and to guide the optical fiber connector into an operative position relative to the microscope; an aperture plate connected to the first surface of the base plate, the aperture plate having an aperture overlapping the base plate opening; the aperture plate further including first and second guide pins adapted to fit within the connector guide holes when the optical fiber connector is received within the base plate opening, wherein the fixture allows the optical fiber connector to be held in a precise and repeatable orientation relative to the microscope in turn facilitating accurate and precise measurements of dimensional characteristics of the optical fiber connector.