Optical element alignment device using an electronic camera

Apparatus for aligning an optical fiber array, having first and second ends and having a plurality of optical fibers, with an optical fiber light source having a respective plurality of light sources, said apparatus comprising:

• a fiber optic alignment device being configured to move the first end of the optical fiber array relative to the optical fiber light source in at least first and second directions in a plane parallel to the first end of the fiber optic array;
• an electronic camera operable to capture an electronic image from the second end of the fiber optic array;
• a variable optical attenuator located between the second end of the fiber optic array and said camera;
• a controller which controls the fiber optic alignment device and the variable optical attenuator responsive to signals provided by the electronic camera whereby the alignment device moves the array to increase the amount of light in the image provided to the camera as attenuation provided by the variable optical attenuator is increased.

A method for using an electronic camera and signal provided thereby to align an optical fiber array, having first and second ends, to an optical fiber light source at the first end of the optical fiber array configured to provide light, through the optical fiber array, at the second end of the optical fiber array, the method comprising the steps of:

• moving the first end of the optical fiber array with a fiber optic alignment device relative to the optical fiber light source at a location proximate to the optical fiber light source;
• attenuating the light provided by the optical fiber;
• capturing, by the electronic camera, an electronic image of the second end of the optical fiber array, the electronic image including images of each optical fiber in the optical fiber array;
• and
• controlling the movement of the first end of the optical fiber array, by the fiber optic alignment device, responsive to signals from the electronic camera.

A method for aligning an optical fiber array, having first and second ends and having a plurality of optical fibers, with an optical fiber light source that is configured at the first end of the optical fiber array to provide light through the optical fiber at the second end of the optical fiber array, the optical fiber light source having a respective plurality of light sources, said method comprising the steps of:

• moving the first end of the fiber optic array relative to the optical fiber light source with a fiber optic alignment device in at least first and second directions in a plane parallel to the first end of the fiber optic array;
• capturing an electronic image in an electronic camera of the second end of the fiber optic array, the electronic camera providing signals representing the electronic image;
• adjusting a variable optical attenuator between the second end of the fiber optic array and the camera to attenuate light provided by the second end of the optical fiber array;
• and
• controlling the fiber optic alignment device and the variable optical attenuator responsive to signals from the electronic camera, including the step of moving the optical fiber array with the fiber optic alignment device to increase a measure of an amount of light in the image from the electronic camera as attenuation provided by the variable optical attenuator is increased.