Patent ID: 6744939
Filing Date: 2004-06-01
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A method of establishing a master reference point in an apparatus for tuning connectorized PM optical fibers, the apparatus comprising a test set up having a first stage having a polarized light source, at least two PM fibers, a second stage having an analyzer and a power meter capable of measuring crosstalk and fiber axis direction, said method comprising:connecting one end of a first connectorized PM fiber to the first stage; connecting one end of a second connectorized PM fiber to the second stage; connecting or mating the other ends of the first and second fibers to each other by means of mating connectors; passing light through the fibers from the first stage to the second stage; adjusting the mating connectors of the first and second fibers to reduce the crosstalk to the lowest value therein; removing said second fiber and connecting said first fiber to said second stage; passing light through said first fiber towards the analyzer to the power meter; measuring a first rotational angle of the analyzer after it is aligned with the first fiber axis; removing said first fiber and connecting said second fiber between the first and second stages, where the mating connector of the second fiber is connected towards analyzer; passing light through said second fiber towards the analyzer to the power meter; measuring a second rotational angle of the analyzer after it is aligned with the fiber axis; determining the midpoint between the first rotational angle and the second rotational angle, which corresponds to a 0Â° key position; redefining the midpoint as the master reference position of the analyzer for the test setup.