Patent ID: 9110263
Filing Date: 2015-08-18
Classification: G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of automatic self-alignment of a multi-core plastic optical fiber to optical transceivers attached to the ends of a pre-cut length of said fiber, comprising the steps of: cutting a length of N-core plastic optical fiber, wherein said N cores are arranged in concentric circles around a center core; providing at a first end of said fiber a first optical transceiver having one light emitter positioned opposite to the center core of said fiber and T light emitters positioned in a symmetric geometry opposite to the N cores of said fiber; providing a second optical transceiver on the second end of said fiber having one light detector positioned opposite to the center core of said fiber and R light detectors positioned in a symmetric geometry related to the symmetric geometry of said T light emitters; connecting said first optical transceiver to the exposed first end of said multi-core fiber; connecting said second optical transceiver to the exposed second end of said multi-core fiber; operating said first transceiver to emit light signals on each of said T light emitters, defining T communication links; operating said second transceiver to detect light signals in each of said R light detectors; and selecting for each light emitter the corresponding one light detector having the strongest signal, whereby said assembly of N-core plastic optical fiber connected to said first and second transceivers is automatically self-aligned and said T light emitters and at least one of said R light detectors provide T communication links and wherein the center core and an additional emitter-detector pair provide an additional communication link.