THORLABS CC6000, Руководство пользователя

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Portable Connector End Face Geometry Interferometer Chapter 3: Description
Page 3 TTN169162-D02
Chapter 3
Description
3.1. How it Works
The CC6000, an automated, non-contact interferometer for fiber optics, automatically and precisely measures radius
of curvature, apex offset of polish, and fiber undercut or protrusion on any PC or APC single fiber connector.
Using a red LED as the light source, an interferometric image with constructive and destructive interference patterns
(light and dark fringes respectively) is generated by combining the light reflected off the connector end face with the
light reflected off the reference mirror. These interference patterns (fringes) form a contour map on the surface with
the dark fringes showing steps of half a wavelength down the surface. This interference pattern is imaged on the
CCD camera in the microscope and sent to the computer through a standard USB.
The CC6000 software then takes the data and uses our advanced algorithms to accurately calculate the spherical
radius of curvature, apex offset of polish, and the spherical fiber height. For APC connectors, the polish angle and
key error are also calculated.
3.2. CC6000 Qualities
Thorlabs has taken a whole new approach to interferometric measurements of fiber optic connectors with the
CC6000. The benefit to the customer is affordable quality control and quality assurance of high performance fiber
optic connectors.
3.2.1. Unique Tilted Phase
Interferometry creates a circular fringe pattern on the connector. It is
easiest to visualize this pattern as a topographical map of the surface.
Each fringe is ½ a wavelength distance above or below the adjacent
fringe and shows the 3D height difference across the surface. The
spherical radius of curvature, and linear offset are directly correlated to
the diameter and spacing of these circular fringe patterns. Our unique
algorithms take advantage of the extra information available when the
connector is tilted slightly off axis to measure the fiber height. The
spherical fiber height measurement is available because any change in
the circular fringe pattern as it crosses the fiber is an indication of
spherical protrusion or undercut. Accurate measurements can be made
because the change in fiber height is proportional to this change.
3.2.2. Precision Offset Measurements
Another novel feature is the ability to calculate the apex offset of the polish even in the preset tilted position. When
the connector is perpendicular to the optical path, the apex offset is the distance from the center of the fiber to the
highest point of the polish. Rotating the connector will not change the offset measurements because the center of
the fiber is the center of rotation for the ferrule. If the connector is held in a tilted position to the optical path, the
apex offset is the distance from the center of rotation to the highest point of the polish. To achieve accurate apex
offset measurements an offset calibration is necessary to run on each mount. An offset calibration is easy using a
Thorlabs reference ferrule. With the reference ferrule, for which the angular offset from the center of rotation is
known, one need only type in its marked numbers into the Calibration Tab of the software, take one measurement,
and the system is calibrated. For PC connectors, calibration can also be performed with a custom leveling
connector, for which the tool is measured in 8 different rotational positions.
These are just two of the unique concepts used to create the CC6000. For you, the customer, this breakthrough in
technology means there is no other instrument on the market that can match it for fast, accurate, and affordable
measurements of endface geometry for PC/APC connectors.
Tilted Phase provides detailed
information on the fiber and ferrule.