Patent ID: 6456685
Filing Date: 2002-09-24
Classification: G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method of cutting waveguides to precise differential lengths, the method comprising:a. coupling a first end of a waveguide to an input port of a reflectometer; b. positioning a reference mirror in a path of radiation propagating through a second end of the waveguide; c. positioning a waveguide cutting tool proximate to the waveguide and at a distance relative to the reference mirror; d. performing a first reflectometry measurement of the waveguide to the second end of the waveguide; e. performing a second reflectometry measurement of the waveguide to the reference mirror; f. positioning the waveguide relative to the reference mirror and the waveguide cutting tool so that the first reflectometery measurement is a measurement increment apart from the second reflectometry measurement; g. cutting the waveguide with the waveguide cutting tool positioned at the distance relative to the reference mirror; and h. repeating step a through step g for a new waveguide, wherein the measurement increment in step f is the same measurement increment displaced by a second measurement increment corresponding to a desired differential length between the waveguide and the new waveguide.