Optical device with closed loop feedback

An optical device, comprising:

• a set of M (M≥1) signal inputs;
• a set of K (K≥1) pilot path inputs, wherein a light source is coupled to a pilot path input in the set of K pilot path inputs;
• a set of N (N≥1) signal outputs;
• a set of L (L≥1) pilot path outputs, wherein a pilot path output in the set of L pilot path outputs is coupled to the pilot path input to form a pilot path;
• a set of elements on the pilot path and on a set of signal paths formed among the set of M signal inputs and the set of N signal outputs;
• a photodiode coupled to the pilot path output;
• and
• a controller to provide compensation for the set of signal paths based at least in part on a pilot signal that traverses the pilot path, wherein the compensation is to account for a difference in a current state of the set of elements relative to a previous state of the set of elements.

A method, comprising:

• monitoring, by a controller of an optical device, a strength of a pilot signal on a pilot path of the optical device, wherein the pilot path is defined by a pilot path input and a pilot path output;
• detecting, by the controller and based on monitoring the strength of the pilot signal, a trigger to perform a loss optimization associated with the pilot path;
• adjusting, by the controller, a set of elements on the pilot path to influence coupling of the pilot signal at the pilot path input and at the pilot path output, wherein the set of elements is adjusted to reduce loss of the pilot signal on the pilot path;
• storing, by the controller, positional information associated with the set of elements on the pilot path after the adjustment of the set of elements on the pilot path;
• determining, by the controller and based on the positional information, a positional change of the set of elements on the pilot path after the adjustment of the set of elements on the pilot path;
• determining, by the controller, a correlation between the positional change of the set of elements on the pilot path and an expected positional change of one or more elements on a signal path;
• and
• compensating, by the controller, for the expected drift effect based on the correlation.