Optical reflection methods and apparatus for aligning communication system components

摘要

Measuring and setting techniques for relative component orientations and separations is accomplished by projecting a coherent light beam into one end of a gap formed between facing surfaces of adjacent components. This light beam projection causes a corresponding light ray pattern to be projected out of an opposite end of the gap. The arrangement of light rays in the resulting pattern is indicative of the relative positions of, and distance between, the facing surfaces. Such a projected pattern is used for determining the relative positions between adjacent components, alone, or as feedback for adjusting such component positions to achieve a desired orientation and/or separation distance between the components.