Apparatus and method for active alignment of optical components

摘要

The invention provides an apparatus and method for the active alignment and coupling of separate optical components consisting of a light-emitting component (3) and a light-receiving component (15). It comprises first alignment means having a relatively lower optical resolving power stage (1) that is adapted to perform coarse alignment of the light-emitting component (3) to locate an approximate location of its point of highest intensity, and second alignment means having a relatively higher optical resolving power stage (2) that is adapted to perform fine alignment of the light-emitting component (3) to locate a more precise location of the said point of highest intensity. Accordingly, coarse alignment may be performed using a multi-mode fiber (7) and fine alignment may be performed using a single-mode fiber (15) that may further be coupled to the light-emitting component (3).