• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.23 no.5 s.182
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• pp.103-110
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• 2006

Automatic optical alignment modules are a key technology in optical communication system. However, the optic component assembly depends highly on manual or semi-automated alignment process. In this paper, a novel alignment mechanism with minimum degree-of-freedom has been designed and theoretical models are derived from geometric optical characteristics on collimators, optical filters and optical ray alignment. The automatic alignment control algorithm has been newly developed based on the mechanism and models, and then we make fast, precise and reliable alignment through the algorithm. The reliability of developed modules has been verified with various simulations and performance evaluations.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.211-215
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• 2004

Recently, one of remarkable tends in the development of optical communication industry is the miniaturization and integration of products. The alignment system of micro optical module is a key apparatus for the miniaturization of optical module and the development of optical communication parts with high functionality. In this research, we have developed a system capable of automatic alignment of a $30\mu\textrm{m}$-thick film filter and a lensed fiber in order to improve the speed and losses in the optical fiber-to-filter alignment of optical modules. Using the developed automatic alignment system and silicon optical bench, we have measured optical loss and characteristics of the assembled optical add/drop module before packaging $1{\times}1$ OADM optical module. Whole size of add/drop module was less than $5mm{\times}5mm{\times}1mm$. The measured maximum insertion loss was 0.294㏈ that is below 0.3㏈ which is a standard loss of optical module.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.119-122
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• 2002

Collimators were mostly produced by handwork and semi-automatic system in some companies. Under this situation, automatic manufacturing system for optical collimators is on the rise most essential technique in the development of optical communication components. In this study, automatic manufacturing system was designed and constructed to develop optical collimators with high functionality. Also optical collimators were manufactured using a developed automatic system. We have compared collimators made by automatic system and handwork fer performance test with a measured values of angle alignment, beam size and TIL. As a result, it brought a reduction of the tact time fur manufacturing and improvement of an efficiency of optical collimators, and then it was found that automatic system was indispensable for materialization of optical collimators with high functionality.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.194-201
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• 2004

Optical fibers are indispensable fer optical communication systems that transmit large volumes of data at high speed. But the aligning technology under the sub-micron accuracy is required for the precise axis adjustment and connection. For the purpose of precise alignment of the optical arrays, in this research, we have developed the 12-axis(with 8 automated axis and 4 manual axis) automatic optical fiber alignment system including the image processing-based searching system, the automatic loading system using the robot and the suction toot and the automatic UV bonding system. In order to obtain the sub-micron alignment accuracy, two 4-axis PC-based motion controllers and the two 50nm resolution 6-aixs micro-stage actuated by micro stepping motors are adopted. The fiber aligning procedure consists of two steps. Firstly, the optical wave guide and an input optical array are aligned by the 6-axis input micro-stage with the IR camera. The image processing technique is introduced to reduce primary manual aligning time and result in achieving the 50% decrease of aligning time. Secondly, the IR camera is replaced by the output micro-stage and a wave guide and two optical arrays are aligned simultaneously before the laser power intensity delivered to the optical powermeter reached the threshold value. When the aligning procedure is finished, the wave guide and arrays are W bonded. The automatic loading/unloading system is also introduced and the entire wave guide handing time is reduced significantly compared to the former commercial aligning system.

• Transactions of Materials Processing
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• v.11 no.7
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• pp.589-595
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• 2002

Up to now, Collimators have been generally produced by handwork and only a few companies have produced by semi-automatic system. Under this situation, automatic system for assembly of optical collimator has risen as a most essential technique in the development of optical communication components. In this study, it was constructed to develop optical collimators with high functionality and We manufactured optical collimators with a GRIN rod lens using automatic system. Therefore, we worked a performance test through a comparison of collimators made by automatic system and handwork with angle alignment, beam size. Also we compared common product with auto-manufactured sample. As a result, it brought a reduction of the tact time and an improvement of an efficiency and a productivity of optical collimators. therefore it was found that automatic system was indispensable for materialization of optical collimators with high functionality.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2004.10a
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• pp.644-647
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• 2004

Optical add/drop multiplexers (OADMs), one of the new network elements, will play a key role enabling greater connectivity and flexibility in the dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) networks. The importance of OADMs is that they allow the optical network to be local transmitting/extraction on a wavelength-by-wavelength basis to optimize traffic, efficient network utilization, network growth, and to enhance network flexibility. Also, the automatic assembly system of micro optical filters and fibers is a key technology in the development of optical modules with high functionality. Recently, one of remarkable tends in the development of optical communication industry is the miniaturization and integration of products. In this research, we have developed a system capable of automatic alignment of a film filter and a lensed fiber in order to improve the speed and losses in the optical fiber to filter alignment of optical modules. Using the developed automatic alignment system and silicon optical benches, we have fabricated the micro OADM and measured the insertion loss and aging effect.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Machine Tool Engineers Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.143-148
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• 2003

In recent years, as the optical Communication systems are developed, the demands of essential parts such as splitter, coupler, WDM, and AWG filter are grow rapidly. The fabrication process for them is not, however, automatic. On that reason, the automation is needed for the grow of productivity. The optical alignment and attach ment is the core process in fabrication. In this paper, the 6-axis rotary stage for multi-channel optical alignment system is developed and the dynamic characteristic of this system is studied.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.23 no.2 s.179
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• pp.57-64
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• 2006

Optical filters in WDM are passive communication components used in case of transmitting and reflecting lights with specific wavelengths. In this paper, a novel mechanism for the automatic and optical alignment has been presented. It includes minimum axes not to be coupled each other. The automatic spectrum inspection system has been developed to improve the alignment time of reference optical ray, spectrum inspection time and inspection quality, simultaneously. It has been confirmed that the proposed spectrum inspection system is faster, more precise and more reliable than those based on the conventional handwork.

• Journal of Industrial Technology
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• v.22 no.B
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• pp.241-249
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• 2002

Optical fiber is indispensable for optical communication systems that transmit large volumes of data at high speed, but super precision technology in sub-micron units is required for optical axis adjustment. We developed the automatic optical fiber by image processing and automatic loading system. we have developed 6-axis micro stage system for I/O optical fiber arrays, the initial automatic aligning system software for a input optical array by the image processing technique, fast I/O-synchronous aligning strategy, the automatic loading/unloading system and the automatic UV bonding mechanism. In order to adjust the alignment it used on PC based motion controller, a $10{\mu}m$ repeat-detailed drawing of automatic loading system is developed by a primary line up for high detailed drawing. Also, at this researches used the image processing system and algorithm instead of the existing a primary hand-line up and fiber input array and waveguide chip formed in line by automatic.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.21 no.9
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• pp.111-118
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• 2004

The automatic assembly system of micro optical filter is a key technology in the development of optical modules with high functionality. In order to develop an automatic assembly system of optical fiber and filter, we have firstly developed the system and program capable of characterization of 30${\mu}m$-thick film filters as well as conventional optical filters. Moreover, we have carried out the characterization of optical filter using the developed system and program, and compared experimental results with by conventional handwork. The measurement of optical filters using the present system is faster, more precise and more reliable than those based on the conventional handwork.