Aligning The Connector Key To A Pm Fiber - THORLABS ERM200 User Manual

ERM2xx Series Extinction Ratio Meter
4. Toggle to the ER display to receive the actual ER value. Press the MENU button to go to the Settings
View, select Mode by turning the knob and press the rotary knob until the Mode is ER (not ERmin or
ERmax).
5. Rotate the input of the PM fiber relative to the fiber bench until a maximum ER value is displayed.

5.7.4 Aligning the Connector Key to a PM Fiber

The ERM2xx modules can be used to align a connector key to the polarization axis of the connected PM
fiber.
There are several ways to perform this alignment depending on the type of connector and the equip-
ment used to assemble a connector to a fiber.
Assuming the connector is already assembled to the PM fiber and the connector key can still be moved
the alignment can be performed as follows:
1. Couple linearly-polarized light into the main axis of the PM fiber which has to be aligned to the con-
nector key on the input side.
2. Toggle to the ER display to receive the actual ER value. Press the MENU button to go to the Settings
View, select Mode by turning the knob and press the rotary knob until the Mode is ER (not ERmin or
ERmax).
3. Rotate the connector with the connector key under test until the displayed misalignment angle
shows 0°.
4. Lock the key with respect to the connector with adhesive or another adequate method.
Rev: 1.0, 24-Jul-2023 © 2023 Thorlabs
Chapter 5 Operating Instructions
Page 17