Method, apparatus and system for self-aligning components, sub-assemblies and assemblies

摘要

Method, apparatus and system for self-aligning components, sub-assemblies and/or assemblies wherein actuators are used to physically move the components, sub-assemblies and/or assemblies such that an appropriate alignment is provided. The efficiency of the alignment may be determined with respect to a qualitative measurement (e.g., bit error rate, optical intensity and the like) of an output signal.

主权项

1. Apparatus, comprising:
a directed energy processing component having associated with it a preferred alignment to one or both of received energy and provided energy; at least one polymer actuator, positioned proximate the directed energy processing component to provide thereto a force adapted to enable the preferred alignment; a detector, for detecting a qualitative parameter associated with the provided energy; and a processor, for adjusting the actuator in a manner tending to improve the detected qualitative parameter; wherein the directed energy processing component comprises a prism having a substantially transparent low modulus material disposed between two substantially transparent plates, at least one plate being positioned into a non-coplanar relationship with the other plate in response to urging by the at least one polymer actuator such that a beam passing through the plates changes direction due to refraction from surfaces not normal to the beam propagation direction; wherein, when the two plates are positioned into a non-coplanar relationship with respect to each other, the transparent low modulus material adapts to space available between the two plates such that a beam passing through the prism only passes through the plates and the transparent low modulus material.