Method of determining the axis of polarization of polarization-maintaining fibers, comprising: a) sending a polarized optical signal along a polarization fiber; b) emitting the polarized optical signal from one end of the fiber; c) inserting a polarizer between the fiber and an optical power; d) rotating the polarizer, and e) rotating the optical fiber.

The present invention relates to the field of connectors for
 polarization-maintaining fibres. In particular, the present invention
 relates to optical fibres within which light beams polarized in
 predetermined directions travel, and which are connected to optical
 devices by means of the said connectors.
 Polarization-maintaining fibres (PMF) are characterized in that they
 maintain the polarization of the input signal throughout their length, if
 this polarization is orientated in one of the two directions of
 polarization of the fibre.
 In particular, these fibres have two principal axes of propagation of the
 optical signal within them, called the "slow" axis and the "fast" axis.
 The said axes are substantially perpendicular to each other and have
 different characteristics. The fast axis has a refractive index which is
 substantially lower than that of the slow axis, and therefore enables the
 light beam polarized in the same direction to travel along the fibre at a
 higher phase velocity than that of the light beam polarized in the
 direction of the slow axis. In both directions, however, the signal is
 kept substantially unaltered at the output of the fibre.
 The connectors for this type of fibre generally have a distinctive sign
 which identifies an axis with which the axis of polarization of the fibre
 has to be aligned. In this way, after the final assembly of the connector
 and fibre, the axis of polarization of the fibre can be recognized from
 the outside; consequently, if the signal sent along the fibre is polarized
 consistently with the said axis of the fibre, the polarization of the
 signal can be recognized by identifying this distinctive sign on the body
 of the connector. The said distinctive sign is also called the connector
 key.
 Additionally, the connector key is generally associated with means for
 coupling the connector to an optical unit or to a bush which permits
 joining to another section of polarization-maintaining fibre. These means
 associated with the connector key provide a unique axial position of
 coupling to the exterior in such a way that the polarization of the signal
 is maintained beyond the connector.
 A parameter which can be used to evaluate the efficiency of a
 polarization-maintaining fibre and the efficiency of the joint between the
 fibre and a connector is the extinction ratio (ER), defined as the
 logarithm of the ratio between the power connected to one of the two
 principal axes of the maintaining fibre and that connected to the other
 perpendicular axis along which power is not to be sent; (another
 conventionally used definition is the logarithm of the ratio between the
 power connected to the non-excited axis and the total power).
 In particular, this parameter is of fundamental importance in the
 evaluation of the efficiency of a method for coupling these
 polarization-maintaining fibres to a connector. The connection provides
 for the alignment between one of the axes, slow or fast, of polarization
 of the fibre and that of the connector, defined by the position of the
 key. If this alignment is imperfect when the fibre has been connected to
 another fibre or to an optical unit, the extinction ratio decreases
 significantly and consequently the connection causes a degradation of the
 transmitted signal.
 To obtain the best extinction ratio characteristics in terms of
 repeatability, it is known that, with polarization-maintaining fibres, it
 is preferable to use connectors called the SC type rather than connectors
 called the FC type. An SC type connector provides engagement by insertion,
 in a bush for example, while an FC type connector provides engagement by
 screwing the connector on to the bush, thereby carrying out a rotation
 which may generate residual torsions, resulting in a low repeatability of
 the connection operation.
 In U.S. Pat. No. 4,792,205, the optical axes of the PMF are aligned by
 using a method of visual alignment of the geometrical axes of the fibre
 disposed inside the ferrule capable of rotating with the fibre inside it,
 by means of observation through a microscope and a fixed reference grid.
 Once the optimal visual alignment has been determined, the ferrule is
 finally locked inside the connector.
 To obtain a greater precision of alignment, active alignment is used; this
 consists in sending a polarized light beam along the fibre and, by means
 of optical power meters, measuring at the output the power sent along the
 fibre emerging from the connector. This method requires a system
 comprising polarizers aligned with geometrical references with respect to
 which the axes of birefringence of the fibre are positioned.
 U.S. Pat. No. 4,919,509 describes a connection between
 polarization-maintaining fibres comprising a first and a second ferrule,
 each of which has a longitudinal through hole which terminates in a
 vertical wall at one end of the ferrule; two polarization-maintaining
 fibres which are inserted into the ferrules, without their external
 protective covering and having the same cross section as the through holes
 in the ferrules, which terminate at the said vertical walls; means of
 position recognition associated with each ferrule, which enable the
 ferrules to be disposed in the preferred position for a
 polarization-maintaining connection; and means which enable the said first
 and second ferrule to be connected together longitudinally in the said
 preferred position in such a way that the axis of polarization of the
 first fibre is aligned with the axis of polarization of the second fibre.
 U.S. Pat. No. 5,216,733 describes a polarization-maintaining connector
 which is capable of connecting two polarization-maintaining fibres or
 connecting one fibre of this type to an optical unit, and which comprises
 a ferrule having a through hole into which the fibre can be inserted, a
 flange having a key for fitting the said ferrule on to it, and means for
 engaging the said flange with the external circumference of the ferrule.
 This patent also describes a method of assembling a connector to produce a
 connection between two polarization-maintaining optical fibres or between
 one fibre of this type and an optical unit, comprising the stages of:
 fixing the end of a polarization-maintaining optical fibre to the end of
 the body of a ferrule by means of an adhesive;
 grinding the said end of the ferrule and simultaneously the end of the
 fibre;
 visually aligning a flange, by means of a key present on it, with the axis
 of polarization of the fibre;
 fitting the said flange on to the body of the ferrule;
 rotating the body of the ferrule in such a way as to align the key of the
 flange with the axis of polarization of the fibre in the ferrule, while
 observing the ground terminal part of the said fibre;
 securing the flange in the body of the ferrule.
 The patent application WO9637792 describes a connector subassembly for
 non-cylindrically symmetrical optical elements comprising a holding member
 for an optical element, wherein said holding member comprises at least an
 alignment feature, an inner sleeve member comprising at least one
 co-operative alignment feature adapted to engage the alignment feature on
 said holding member and a housing with an interior surface adapted to
 receive said holding member and said inner sleeve member, and an external
 surface comprising a rotational alignment reference. Said holding member
 is freely rotatable with respect to said housing to rotationally align
 said optical element at an optimal angle with respect to said reference on
 the housing.
 According to the present invention, an alignment procedure has been
 discovered which enables a high-precision geometrical reference to be
 formed on a flat work surface by means of a polarized light beam sent
 along the fibre. The alignment process is based on the fact that the said
 geometrical reference, actively determined and coinciding with the axis of
 the connector key, is used to align the fibre with it.
 It has also been discovered, in particular, that if the alignment of the
 connector with the axis of polarization of the fibre is carried out after
 the process of assembling the said connector, errors and imperfections due
 to the mechanical tolerances of the various parts of which the connector
 consists are avoided. Consequently the connector made according to the
 present invention has characteristics which enable the axis of
 polarization of the fibre to be aligned with the key of the connector and
 with a reference plane after the stage of assembly of the said connector.
 In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a
 polarization-maintaining connector comprising a supporting element in
 which a polarization-maintaining fibre is fixed, a first inner casing in
 which the said supporting element is inserted, and an outer containing
 body on which there is a key and which contains the inner casing,
 characterized in that the said supporting element has external circular
 symmetry and is free to rotate about its longitudinal axis inside the said
 inner casing.
 Preferably, the said supporting element comprises a ferrule, inside which
 the polarization-maintaining fibre is fixed, and a lock ring which is
 fitted over the said ferrule.
 In particular, the said inner casing comprises a front portion having a
 first internal radius, in which the lock ring is inserted, terminating at
 a shoulder, and a rear portion having a second internal radius, smaller
 than the first, on which two opposing transverse stop shoulders are
 disposed.
 In particular, the ferrule comprises a cylindrical body made from ceramic
 material with a through hole, within which the fibre is disposed after the
 corresponding protective covering has been removed from at least the
 portion inserted in the said body, at least one of the two ends of the
 said cylindrical body being engaged in a flange provided, in the area of
 engagement with the cylindrical body, with at least one notch.
 In particular, the said lock ring comprises a cylindrical front portion
 which has, on the free terminal edge, at least one projection which is
 inserted into the at least one notch of the flange, a central portion
 comprising two annular sectors and a cylindrical rear portion on whose
 lateral surface two opposing cavities are formed.
 In particular, in the said portion a longitudinal slot extending over part
 of the length of the said portion is present on at least one of the
 lateral surfaces, for the subsequent securing of the lock ring in the
 inner casing.
 In a second aspect, the present invention relates to a mechanical
 connection between polarization-maintaining optical fibres, comprising two
 connectors of the aforesaid type and a bush having two opposing sockets
 for the insertion of these connectors, provided with opposing alignment
 keys in line with the corresponding keys of the connectors.
 In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method of
 connecting a polarization-maintaining fibre to an orientated connector,
 characterized in that it comprises the stages of:
 fixing a polarization-maintaining fibre in a supporting element with
 external circular symmetry;
 inserting the said supporting element in an inner casing having circular
 symmetry internally;
 rotating the said supporting element inside the inner casing in such a way
 as to align one of the two axes of polarization of the fibre with a
 reference which is present on the said inner casing and which can be
 directly related to the containing body of the connector;
 fixing the supporting element rotationally in the inner casing in the
 position found in the preceding step;
 engaging the inner casing in the containing body of the connector.
 Preferably, the said stage of fixing a polarization-maintaining fibre in a
 supporting element comprises the following stages:
 inserting a polarization-maintaining fibre into a ferrule;
 securing this fibre inside the ferrule;
 inserting the said ferrule into a lock ring.
 In a further aspect, the present invention relates to an apparatus for
 determining the axis of polarization of optical fibres with respect to a
 fixed reference comprising a reference plane on which are disposed, along
 a horizontal axis parallel to the said plane, a support for fixing the
 said fibre, a lens for collimating the polarized beam, a polarizer mounted
 on a precision rotator with a base which slides along a precision guide,
 an optical head connected to an optical power meter, and a light source
 and a polarizer both connected to the fibre.
 In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a method of
 determining the axis of polarization of polarization-maintaining fibres,
 comprising the stages of:
 a) sending a polarized optical signal along a polarization-maintaining
 fibre;
 b) emitting said polarized optical signal from one end of the said fibre in
 the form of a light beam directed along an optical axis and orientated
 along one of the two axes of polarization of the said fibre;
 c) measuring and recording the optical power of the beam emerging from the
 fibre, by means of an optical power meter;
 d) inserting a polarizer having at least one axis of maximum or minimum
 transmissivity between the fibre and the said optical power meter, in such
 a way that the optical axis of propagation of the beam passes through the
 polarizer, and with one of the said axes orientated in a predetermined
 position with respect to a reference plane;
 e) rotating the optical fibre about the optical axis until the meter shows
 the value recorded in stage c), less a predetermined quantity;
 f) identifying the axis of polarization of the fibre with the orientated
 axis of the polarizer.
 Preferably, the said stages of orientating the polarizer and rotating the
 optical fibre comprise the further stages of:
 a) visually pre-orientating one of the two axes of polarization of the
 fibre at a predetermined angle with respect to a reference plane;
 b) rotating the said polarizer about an axis parallel to the said optical
 axis until a minimum output power is measured;
 c) recording this angular position reached by the polarizer in the
 preceding step;
 d) rotating the polarizer about its vertical axis, bringing its rear face
 in front of the fibre;
 e) rotating the polarizer again about an axis parallel to the said optical
 axis until the said minimum output power is measured;
 f) recording this angular position reached by the polarizer in the
 preceding step;
 g) rotating the polarizer about an axis parallel to the said optical axis
 through an angle corresponding to half the difference between the two
 angles measured in the two preceding rotations;
 h) rotating the optical fibre about the optical axis in such a way as to
 orientate one of its axes of polarization until the said minimum output
 power is substantially measured on the meter;
 i) repeating stages b) to h) until the angle of the rotation carried out in
 stage g) becomes substantially constant.
 Alternatively, the said stages of orientating the polarizer and rotating
 the optical fibre comprise the further stages of:
 a) visually pre-orientating one of the two axes of polarization of the
 fibre at a predetermined angle with respect to the reference plane;
 b) rotating the said polarizer about an axis parallel to the said optical
 axis until a maximum output power is measured;
 c) recording this angular position reached by the polarizer in the
 preceding step;
 d) rotating the polarizer about its vertical axis, bringing its rear face
 in front of the fibre;
 e) rotating the polarizer again about an axis parallel to the said optical
 axis until the said maximum output power is measured;
 f) recording this angular position reached by the polarizer in the
 preceding step;
 g) rotating the polarizer about an axis parallel to the said optical axis
 through an angle corresponding to half the difference between the two
 angles measured in the two preceding rotations;
 h) rotating the optical fibre about the optical axis in such a way as to
 orientate one of its axes of polarization until the said maximum output
 power is substantially measured on the meter;
 i) repeating stages b) to h) until the angle of the rotation carried out in
 stage g) becomes substantially constant.
 In particular, the said stage of visually pre-orientating the axis of
 polarization of the fibre with respect to the reference plane comprises
 the stages of:
 observing the end of the polarization-maintaining fibre under a microscope;
 rotating the fibre about the optical axis into a position with one of the
 two axes of polarization substantially orthogonal to the reference plane.
 Preferably, the said predetermined quantity is lower than 0.2 dB.
 Preferably, the said polarized optical signal is orientated along the slow
 axis of polarization of the fibre.
 Preferably, the axis of polarization of the fibre is orientated
 orthogonally to the reference plane and the axis of maximum transmissivity
 of the polarizer is aligned parallel to the reference plane.
 In particular, the said stage of sending a polarized optical beam along a
 polarization-maintaining fibre comprises the connection of a light source
 and a polarizer to the said fibre.

The attached figures show an embodiment of the connector according to the
 present invention; this embodiment provides an example but is not
 restrictive, since the method is equally applicable to other types and
 shapes of connectors.
 FIG. 1 shows the polarization-maintaining connector as a whole, and FIGS. 2
 to 5 show the corresponding component parts. In particular, the connector
 comprises a ferrule 2, inside which are fixed a polarization-maintaining
 fibre F, a lock, or securing, ring 3 for the ferrule 2, a first inner
 casing 4 for the assembly formed by the securing ring 3 and the ferrule 2,
 and an outer containing body 5, also called the outer casing. On the last
 of these, a connector key 51 is emphasized; this enables the direction of
 the axis of polarization of the fibre to be recognized.
 FIGS. 2a and 2b show the ferrule 2, comprising a cylindrical body 21 made
 from ceramic material, with a through hole, within which is disposed the
 fibre F from which the corresponding protective covering (called the
 "coating") has been removed over at least the portion inserted into the
 body 21. One of the two ends of the said cylindrical body 21 is engaged in
 a flange 22, preferably made from metal, through which the fibre passes.
 The flange 22 is provided, in the area of engagement with the cylindrical
 body 21, with at least one notch 23 and preferably with a pair of opposing
 notches.
 FIGS. 3a, 3b and 4 show the lock ring 3, comprising a cylindrical front
 portion 31 which has, on its free end, two opposing projections 32 which
 are inserted into the notches 23 of the flange 22 of the ferrule 2; a
 central portion 33 comprising two annular sectors 34 and a cylindrical
 rear portion 35 on whose lateral surface two opposing cavities 36 are
 formed.
 FIGS. 5a and 5b show the inner casing 4, which in this embodiment is made
 from plastic, having a tubular configuration, with a substantially
 prismatic outer surface, comprising a front portion 41 having a first
 internal radius R1 terminating at a shoulder 42 and followed by a rear
 portion 44 having a second internal radius R2 which is smaller than R1. On
 at least one of the lateral surfaces of the said portion 41 there is a
 longitudinal slot 43 extending over part of the length of the said portion
 and suitable for subsequently securing the ring 3 in the casing. Two
 transverse opposing stop shoulders 45 are disposed on the rear portion 44
 of the casing 4.
 The whole structure of the lock ring 3 has a circular symmetry such that it
 can be rotated inside the inner casing 4.
 The connector is illustrated in detail in fully assembled form in FIG. 6a.
 In a first stage, the fibre, with the outer covering removed from it over a
 predetermined portion, is inserted into the ferrule 2; conveniently, to
 minimize the degradation of the ER in the assembly, the hole in the
 element 21 holds the fibre with a small amount of play.
 For example, this may be done by choosing the ferrules in such a way that
 they have a diameter such that the fibre is subject to a limited amount of
 friction when inserted in the ferrule: this means that the ferrules which
 are used have a hole diameter slightly greater than the external diameter
 of the fibre which is used.
 This play is chosen in such a way that the adhesive used to secure the
 fibre inside the ferrule forms the most uniform possible layer around the
 fibre and minimizes the residual stresses.
 This choice provides the best compromise between performance in terms of ER
 and insertion losses (IL), since there are no errors of concentricity such
 that these losses are degraded.
 The system for positioning the fibre inside the ferrule must be such that
 it prevents the bending of the fibre in the engagement area, or any
 stresses, which might cause a degradation of the ER of the polarized light
 beam propagated along the fibre. For this purpose, it is convenient, after
 contact has been made between the covering of the fibre and the inner
 walls of the ferrule, to withdraw the fibre by approximately 1 mm.
 When assembled, the ferrule 2 is inserted into the lock ring 3 and kept in
 this position by the projections 32 of the ring which are inserted into
 the corresponding cavities 23 of the flange 22 of the ferrule 2.
 The assembly consisting of the ferrule 2 and lock ring 3 is inserted, with
 the end having the projections 32 foremost, into the plastic casing 4,
 into the cavity whose depth is delimited by the shoulder 42 on which the
 flange 22 of the ferrule 2, which projects slightly from the rear part of
 the lock ring 3, comes to bear. In this position, the lock ring and the
 ferrule are free to rotate about their longitudinal axis, owing to the
 external circular symmetry of the lock ring 3 and the internal circular
 symmetry of the casing 4.
 In this condition, one of the two axes of polarization of the fibre F is
 aligned with a reference plane, for example a horizontal plane, using the
 method described in detail below. This plane can be directly related to
 the key 51 disposed on the back of the connector 1 when the assembly of
 the connector is complete.
 Then, when this axis of polarization has been identified, the lock ring is
 finally secured in the casing by inserting an adhesive, of the epoxy type
 for example, into the longitudinal slot 43 to fix the two parts together.
 Lastly, the connector is finally closed by inserting the inner casing 4
 into the outer casing 5; the substantially prismatic shape of the inner
 casing 4 enables it to be inserted into the outer casing 5 in a single
 position which maintains the alignment with the key of the connector.
 FIG. 8 shows the set of components which are used to carry out the
 alignment of polarization between the fibre F and the connector 1,
 comprising a flat work surface 6 on which the connector 1 is positioned
 and with respect to which one of the two axes of polarization of the fibre
 is aligned. In particular, a support 61 for fixing the connector 1 on the
 said plane, a lens 62 for collimating the polarized beam, and a polarizer
 63 mounted on a precision rotator which permits rotation both about the
 optical axis 67 and about an axis orthogonal to it, as schematically shown
 in FIG. 8 by the arrows .gamma.1 and .gamma.2, are disposed on the plane
 along a horizontal axis which is parallel to the plane, is indicated by
 the reference number 67 in FIG. 6 and is called the optical axis, an
 optical head 65 connected to an optical power meter 66. The said polarizer
 has a base which slides along a guide 64, of the high-precision dovetail
 type for example. The indicated components are of a known type and are not
 described further.
 This polarizer 63 is illustrated schematically in FIG. 9 and has a single
 axis, orientated along one of its diameters, through which the light can
 be propagated. When this axis is orthogonal to the polarization of the
 light, no light passes through the polarizer. When this axis is parallel
 to the polarization of the light, this light passes completely through the
 polarizer without loss of optical power. These axes are called the axes of
 maximum and minimum transmissivity. The polarizer also has a graduated
 scale 63' along its circumference; additionally, the rotator 63" is
 provided with at least one reference mark T.
 The method for aligning the polarization of the fibre with the connector is
 based on the measurement made by the power meter 66 and on the possibility
 of sending along the fibre, by means of a light source 68 and a polarizer
 69, a polarized optical signal which has a high extinction ratio (ER) and
 is orientated along one of the two axes of polarization of the said fibre.
 As a function of the said signal, a light beam which is polarized, for
 example along the slow axis of polarization of the fibre, is emitted from
 the end of the fibre and consequently from the output of the connector, is
 directed along the optical axis 67 and is received by the power meter 66.
 Essentially, the method provides two separate stages which are repeated
 iteratively until a stage is reached at which the results do not improve
 further. This procedure is based on the limit set by the sensitivity of
 the measuring instruments, such as the rotating polarizer, which has for
 example a sensitivity down to 1/50 of a degree, and of the optical power
 meter. The method is then repeated iteratively until the optical power
 measuring instrument detects no more power variations at its input.
 In the first stage the axis of the polarizer 63 is aligned, for example,
 with respect to the axis orthogonal to the flat work surface 6, and in the
 second stage the fibre 3 is aligned with this axis of the polarizer. The
 said two stages are repeated until no further improvement is obtained over
 the position found in the preceding step.
 In particular, the method provides for the execution of the following
 steps, numbered progressively.
 a) Sending, by means of the light source 68 and the polarizer 69, a
 polarized optical signal with a high extinction ratio (ER), orientated
 along one of the two axes of polarization of the fibre.
 b) Emitting a light beam directed along the optical axis 67 from the end of
 the said fibre inserted in the connector.
 c) Visually pre-aligning one of the two axes of polarization of the fibre,
 for example the slow axis, with the key of the connector, by observation
 under a microscope of the termination of the polarization-maintaining
 fibre, finding a position of this axis A which is most nearly
 perpendicular to the flat working surface 6; in FIG. 9a, by way of
 example, it is assumed that an error of visual alignment equal to the
 angle .theta. has been made.
 d) Measuring and recording the active power and the extinction ratio (ER)
 at the output of the fibre by means of the meter 66.
 e) Inserting the polarizer 63 in the aforesaid guide 64 between the fibre F
 and the meter 66 aligned with the optical axis 67 of propagation of the
 beam.
 f) Rotating the polarizer 63 from its random initial position P about the
 optical axis 67 until the minimum power is measured by the detector 66.
 g) Recording this angular position following the preceding rotation as
 .alpha..sub.1, as shown in FIG. 9b.
 h) Rotating the polarizer mounted on its base through 180.degree. about its
 vertical axis .gamma.1, bringing its rear face in front of the connector.
 i) Rotating the polarizer about the optical axis 67 from the new initial
 position P' until the minimum power is again reached.
 l) Recording this angular position as .alpha..sub.2, as shown in FIG. 9c.
 m) Rotating the polarizer about the axis 67 from the position .alpha..sub.2
 towards .alpha..sub.1 by the angular quantity (.alpha..sub.2
 -.alpha..sub.1)/2=.theta. which is the angle between the axis of the
 polarizer and the vertical axis.
 n) Aligning the fibre F with the determined axis of the polarizer by
 rotating the ferrule of the connector about the axis 67 until the power
 value recorded in stage d) is substantially obtained, less a predetermined
 value due to the losses caused by the polarizer which are, however, small
 (approximately 0.1 dB) with respect to the measured values; this operation
 is permitted by the structure of the connector which permits the rotation
 of the lock ring 3 and ferrule 2 assembly inside the casing 4.
 o) Repeating operations d) to n) until the value .theta.=(.alpha..sub.2
 -.alpha..sub.1)/2 is substantially constant and minimized, or, in general,
 for a predetermined number of times correlated with the desired degree of
 precision required. The minimum value .theta. found in the described
 experiment is 1/50 of a degree.
 As regards the operation executed in stage c), FIGS. 7a, 7b and 7c show
 polarization-maintaining optical fibres in which the position of the
 principal axes of polarization can be recognized visually. FIG. 7a shows a
 polarization-maintaining optical fibre F in which two tensioning elements
 72 of substantially circular shape are disposed symmetrically with respect
 to the central core 71 of the fibre. The principal fast axis of
 polarization in this type of fibre is orthogonal to the axis which passes
 through the centre of the said two stress zones, and the said fibre is
 referred to as the PANDA type. The axis previously defined as slow is
 orthogonal to the fast axis and is therefore vertical in FIG. 7a.
 FIG. 7b represents a fibre F' in which a circular core 71' is present,
 surrounded by a stress element 72' of elliptical shape. The slow axis of
 polarization of the fibre coincides with the major axis of the said
 elliptical shape.
 Finally, in the example shown in FIG. 7c, the fibre F" comprises a circular
 central core 71" and two stress zones 72" of substantially trapezoidal
 shape, disposed symmetrically with respect to the central core. In this
 fibre, the slow axis of polarization passes through the central axis which
 passes through the two trapeziums.
 In all the cited examples, it is possible, by using a microscope, to
 determine, although only with approximate accuracy, the fast axis of
 polarization and consequently the slow axis of the fibre.
 It should be noted that in the described method the alignment is
 advantageously carried out with respect to the axis perpendicular to the
 axis of polarization of the light beam, defined previously as the slow
 axis; this method provides an angular sensitivity much higher than in the
 opposite case, in other words the case in which alignment is to be carried
 out with respect to the fast axis. In particular, polarization is
 determined by measuring the minimum power at the power meter input.
 Consequently, when the axis with the minimum optical power has been found,
 the maximum is also determined, which in these fibres is always orthogonal
 to the minimum. The method also effectively provides an alignment between
 the fibre and the connector even in cases in which alignment is carried
 out with respect to the fast axis of the fibre.
 This method is applicable wherever it is possible to rotate the direction
 of polarization of the light beam by rotation of the fibre. For example,
 an optical fibre, not necessarily inserted in a connector of the type
 described but fixed to a mechanism which allows it to rotate about its
 optical axis, may be aligned with a fixed reference, in our case the flat
 work surface, with which a further optical or opto-electrical device, such
 as an optical modulator, may be aligned, in such a way that the signal
 issuing from the fibre is connected to this unit with maintenance of the
 polarization.
 A further characteristic of the present invention is the separate formation
 of a reliable reference, consisting of the polarizer aligned with the flat
 work surface, which may be used subsequently to align a fibre to a
 connector by using the said aligned polarizer.
 Finally, FIG. 10 shows a connection between two fibres F, inserted in two
 connectors 1 of the type described above, made by means of a bush 101
 provided with two identical keys 501 corresponding to the keys 51 present
 on the connectors 1.
 This connection is an example of the use of the connector according to the
 present invention; similarly, it is possible to connect a fibre to an
 optical unit provided with an insertion bush provided with a similar key
 to that of the bush 101.