Method of active fiber alignment with movable V-groove precision control microstructures

A method for mechanical alignment and positioning of an object relative to at least one external axis, comprising the steps of:

• co-locating said object at a variable effective V-groove formed by sloping surfaces on at least two independently translatable members;
• positioning said variable V-groove in two dimensions within a plane in response to translation of said at least two independently translatable members in one dimensions within said plane.

An apparatus for mechanical alignment and positioning of an object relative to at least one external axis, comprising:

• at least a first member and a second member operable to translate independently and to effectively form a variable V-groove co-locating said object to be aligned;
• and
• a positioning element operable in cooperation with said variable V-groove to position and align said object in three dimensions relative to said at least one external axis.

An apparatus for mechanical alignment and positioning of an object relative to at least one external axis, comprising:

• at least a first member and a second member operable to translate independently and to effectively form a variable V-groove co-locating said object to be aligned;
• said first member comprising substantially identical first and third sloping surfaces rigidly aligned with one another on opposite sides of a slot and said second member translatable slidably within said slot relative to said first member.