Method for alignment of phase-sensitive tracking systems using variable delay offsets

A method of aligning a tracking system of a communication device, the method comprising:

• receiving an optical beam at the communication device, a first beam portion of the optical beam being received at the tracking system and a second beam portion of the optical beam being received at an optical fiber;
• determining, by one or more processors, an initial signal power of the second beam portion at an initial position of the second beam portion;
• moving the optical beam in a plurality of directions from the initial position;
• determining, by the one or more processors, a plurality of fiber locations of the second beam portion where the second beam portion has a low threshold signal power, the low threshold signal power being lower than the initial signal power, each fiber location of the plurality of fiber locations corresponding to a direction of the plurality of directions from the initial position;
• determining, by the one or more processors, a plurality of tracking locations of the first beam portion, each tracking location of the plurality of tracking locations corresponding to a fiber location of the plurality of fiber locations;
• determining, by the one or more processors, one or more offsets using the plurality of tracking locations of the first beam portion;
• and
• tracking, by the one or more processors, the optical beam using the tracking system and the one or more offsets.

A method of aligning a first communication device with a second communication device, the method comprising:

• receiving an optical beam transmitted from the second communication device at an initial position on an optical fiber of the first communication device;
• determining, by one or more processors, an initial signal power of the optical beam at the first communication device;
• moving the optical beam in a plurality of directions from the initial position;
• determining, by the one or more processors, a plurality of fiber locations where the optical beam has a low threshold signal power, the low threshold signal power being lower than the initial signal power, each fiber location of the plurality of fiber locations corresponding to a direction of the plurality of directions from the initial position;
• determining, by the one or more processors, an adjustment of the second communication device based on the plurality of fiber locations;
• and
• adjusting, by the one or more processors, the second communication device based on the determined adjustment.