Alignment of optical interfaces for data communication

A method for aligning an optical emitter and an optical receiver for data communications, the method comprising:

• providing an array of optical receivers;
• positioning the optical emitter and the array of optical receivers with reference to each other to establish an optical data communication path;
• energizing the optical emitter and measuring output signals of the optical receivers to determine which receiver in the array of optical receivers achieves the best alignment;
• and
• for subsequent data communications, employing the optical receiver determined to achieve the best alignment.

A method for aligning an optical emitter and an end of at least one optical fiber for data communications, the method comprising:

• providing an array of optical emitters;
• positioning the array of optical emitters and the end of the at least one optical fiber with reference to each other to establish an optical data communications path;
• individually energizing the optical emitters, while monitoring an output signal at the other end of the at least one optical fiber, to determine which emitter in the array of optical emitters achieves the best alignment;
• and
• for subsequent data communications, employing the optical emitter determined to achieve the best alignment.