Active optical component alignment system and method

A method of aligning a component in relation to an optical signal comprising the steps of:

• providing the component within at least a portion of an optical path having a path input port and a path output port;
• providing an optical signal along the optical path;
• iterating the steps of:
• detecting light within an optical path and generating a photocurrent signal based thereon;
• generating a control signal based on the photocurrent signal and based on past iterations;
• moving, in response to the control signal, the first component, within at least a portion of the optical path between the path input port and the path output port, with a frequency response sufficiently high to allow displacement of the first component within the optic path resulting in an optical loss variation for detection;
• and,
• determining based on photocurrent from the first photodetector, during movement of the first component and based on a previous iterations, a first direction in relation to the optical path, wherein when the component is in an approximately aligned state the component has non-zero displacement about the approximately aligned state.

A method of aligning a first component in relation to an optical signal comprising the steps of:

• providing an optical path having a path input port, for receiving light incident thereon from the optical signal, and a path output port;
• providing a first photodetector optically coupled to the path output port for detecting incident light and for each generating a photocurrent signal therefrom;
• providing an actuator mechanism for moving, in response to a control signal, the first component, within at least a portion of the optical path between the path input port and the path output port, the actuator mechanism having a frequency response sufficiently high to allow displacement of the first component within the at least a portion of the optic path resulting in an optical loss variation detected at the detector;
• providing a controller circuit coupled to the photodetector for receiving a photocurrent signal from each photodetector in dependence upon an intensity of light incident upon the photodetector and for providing a control signal to the actuator in dependence upon the photocurrent signal from the photodetector;
• integrating photocurrent, over time, from the first photodetector during movement of the component by the actuator mechanism, in response to the control signal, within the at least a portion of the first optical path, from the first state to a second state, the component having a first displacement in a first direction in relation to the optical paths;
• moving the component, within the at least a portion of the optical path, from the second state to a third state, the component having a second displacement in a second direction in relation to the optical paths;
• integrating photocurrent, over time, from the first photodetector during movement of the component, within the at least a portion of the optical path, from the second state to the third state;
• moving the component, within the at least a portion of the optical path, from the second state to a third state, the component having a third displacement in the first direction in relation to the optical paths;
• integrating photocurrent, over time, from the first photodetector during movement of the component, within the at least a portion of the optical path, from the second state to the third state, wherein if an amount of integrated photocurrent, over time, during movement of the optical component from the second state to the third state is larger than an amount of integrated photocurrent, over time, during movement of the component from the first state to the second state, then the third displacement of the component is less than the second displacement.