In a method or system for interrogating an optical chip (50), the optical chip (50) is illuminated with input light (30) and a spatially resolved image (50i) of the output light (31,32) is measured from the optical chip (50). The output light (31,32) is imaged together with a reflection of the input light (30). For example, this can be used to establish, improve, or maintain alignment of the input light (30) on a sensor input port (51) of the optical chip (50). The same detector (17) measures the spatially resolved image and a spectral response of the optical chip (50).

A grating coupler reflector (retro reflector) is formed within a photonics chip and includes a vertical scattering region, an optical waveguide, and a reflector. The optical waveguide is optically coupled to the vertical scattering region. The reflector is positioned at an end of the optical waveguide. The reflector is configured to reflect light that propagates through the optical waveguide from the vertical scattering region back toward the vertical scattering region. The location of the grating coupler reflector on the photonics chip is determinable by scanning a light emitting active optical fiber over the chip and detecting when light is reflected back into the active optical fiber from the grating coupler reflector. The determined location of the grating coupler reflector on the photonics chip is usable as a reference location for aligning optical fiber(s) to corresponding optical grating couplers on the photonics chip.

The present invention relates to a method of and a system for optically connecting an optical fiber sensor (12) to an optical shape sensing console (21). The optical shape sensing console (21) has a number of single optical channels (C1, C2, C3). The optical fiber sensor (12) has a number of single fiber cores (A1, A2, A3) angularly spaced with respect to one another around a longitudinal center axis of the fiber sensor (12) and a fiber sensor connection end (30) for connection to an optical coupler (32; 38) connected to the shape sensing console (21). The optical coupler (32; 38) has the optical channels (C1, C2, C3) arranged for optical connection with the fiber cores (A1, A2, A3). A number of single calibration data sets indicative of individual optical properties of the single fiber cores (A1, A2, A3) is assigned to the single optical channels (C1, C2, C3). The fiber sensor connection end (30) is connected to the optical coupler (32; 38) such that a first fiber core (A2) of the fiber cores (A1, A2, A3) is in optical communication with a first optical channel (C1) of the optical channels (C1, C2, C3). An optical response of the first fiber core (A2) is measured by optically interrogating the first fiber core (A2) while a first calibration data set of the calibration data sets is assigned to the first optical channel (C1). The first fiber core (A2) is identified among the fiber cores (A1, A2, A3) of the fiber sensor (12) on the basis of the measured optical response of the first fiber core (A2) and the calibration data sets of the fiber sensor (12). If the first fiber core (A2) is identified as not matching with the first calibration data set used hi measuring the optical response, then a second calibration data set of the calibration data sets, which matches with the identified first fiber core (A2), is reassigned to the first optical channel (C1), or the fiber sensor connection end (30) and/or the optical coupler (32; 38) are repositioned such that a second fiber core (A1) matching with the first calibration data set is in optical communication with the first optical channel (C1).

An optical circuit board which is mounted with a loop-back circuit for returning aligning light to the fiber array in the vicinity of the fiber array connection end. Since an aligning loop-back circuit can be formed in an optical waveguide pattern, a production cost does not increase in comparison to an optical circuit board of the related art. The aligning light combined from the optical fiber to the aligning port of the optical circuit board is returned to the optical fiber around the loop-back circuit. Therefore, it is possible to perform alignment using the returned light. That is, alignment can be performed while being mounted on a package without installing a light-reflecting film or mirror.

The present invention relates to a method of and a system for optically connecting an optical fiber sensor (12) to an optical shape sensing console (21). The optical shape sensing console (21) has a number of single optical channels (C1, C2, C3). The optical fiber sensor (12) has a number of single fiber cores (A1, A2, A3) angularly spaced with respect to one another around a longitudinal center axis of the fiber sensor (12) and a fiber sensor connection end (30) for connection to an optical coupler (32; 38) connected to the shape sensing console (21). The optical coupler (32; 38) has the optical channels (C1, C2, C3) arranged for optical connection with the fiber cores (A1, A2, A3). A number of single calibration data sets indicative of individual optical properties of the single fiber cores (A1, A2, A3) is assigned to the single optical channels (C1, C2, C3). The fiber sensor connection end (30) is connected to the optical coupler (32; 38) such that a first fiber core (A2) of the fiber cores (A1, A2, A3) is in optical communication with a first optical channel (C1) of the optical channels (C1, C2, C3). An optical response of the first fiber core (A2) is measured by optically interrogating the first fiber core (A2) while a first calibration data set of the calibration data sets is assigned to the first optical channel (C1). The first fiber core (A2) is identified among the fiber cores (A1, A2, A3) of the fiber sensor (12) on the basis of the measured optical response of the first fiber core (A2) and the calibration data sets of the fiber sensor (12). If the first fiber core (A2) is identified as not matching with the first calibration data set used hi measuring the optical response, then a second calibration data set of the calibration data sets, which matches with the identified first fiber core (A2), is reassigned to the first optical channel (C1), or the fiber sensor connection end (30) and/or the optical coupler (32; 38) are repositioned such that a second fiber core (A1) matching with the first calibration data set is in optical communication with the first optical channel (C1).

A grating coupler reflector (retro reflector) is formed within a photonics chip and includes a vertical scattering region, an optical waveguide, and a reflector. The optical waveguide is optically coupled to the vertical scattering region. The reflector is positioned at an end of the optical waveguide. The reflector is configured to reflect light that propagates through the optical waveguide from the vertical scattering region back toward the vertical scattering region. The location of the grating coupler reflector on the photonics chip is determinable by scanning a light emitting active optical fiber over the chip and detecting when light is reflected back into the active optical fiber from the grating coupler reflector. The determined location of the grating coupler reflector on the photonics chip is usable as a reference location for aligning optical fiber(s) to corresponding optical grating couplers on the photonics chip.

An optical circuit board which is mounted with a loop-back circuit for returning aligning light to the fiber array in the vicinity of the fiber array connection end. Since an aligning loop-back circuit can be formed in an optical waveguide pattern, a production cost does not increase in comparison to an optical circuit board of the related art. The aligning light combined from the optical fiber to the aligning port of the optical circuit board is returned to the optical fiber around the loop-back circuit. Therefore, it is possible to perform alignment using the returned light. That is, alignment can be performed while being mounted on a package without installing a light-reflecting film or mirror.

In a method or system for interrogating an optical chip (50), the optical chip (50) is illuminated with input light (30) and a spatially resolved image (50i) of the output light (31,32) is measured from the optical chip (50). The output light (31,32) is imaged together with a reflection of the input light (30). For example, this can be used to establish, improve, or maintain alignment of the input light (30) on a sensor input port (51) of the optical chip (50). The same detector (17) measures the spatially resolved image and a spectral response of the optical chip (50).

An alignment optical measurement element includes a grating coupler, and a reflector coupled to the grating coupler. The alignment optical measurement element is arranged so that: the grating coupler diffracts an incident light in a first direction into a first diffracted light to propagate the first diffracted light as a first propagating light in a second direction, the reflector reflects the first propagating light into a second propagating light in a third direction opposite to the second direction; and the grating coupler diffracts the second propagating light into a second diffracted light to emit the second diffracted light as an emitted light in a fourth direction opposite to the first direction.

In various embodiments, an optical alignment structure may be provided. The optical alignment structure may include a light carrying structure configured to receive an input optical light from an external light source. The optical alignment structure may further include a light redirection mechanism coupled to the light carrying structure. The light redirection mechanism may be configured to receive the input optical light from the light carrying structure. The light redirection mechanism may be further configured to redirect the input optical light back to the light carrying structure, the redirected input optical light configured to be detected by a detector for alignment of the optical alignment structure with the external optical source.