Patent attributes
A method and apparatus for coupling a laser signal to an optical carrier. The method and associated apparatus control a power of the laser signal to a power density level below a damage threshold of the optical carrier, couple the laser signal to the optical carrier, and measure an output power of the laser signal at an exit of the optical carrier. By translating a focusing lens or an entrance of the optical carrier along an optical axis between the focusing lens and the entrance to the optical carrier, a range in measured power output is determined in which the laser signal is incident within the entrance of the optical carrier. The method and associated apparatus set a distance between the focusing lens and the entrance to the optical carrier such that the entrance to the optical carrier is at a position beyond a focal point of the focusing lens where the laser signal is divergent-coupled to the optical carrier.
