Optical reflection methods and apparatus for aligning communication system components
First Claim
1. A method of adjusting positions of adjacent components relative to one another comprising the steps of:
- directing a coherent light beam into one end of a gap formed by facing surfaces of said components, wherein said directed light beam is reflected from the facing surfaces of said components and causes a projection of a light ray pattern out of an opposite end of said gap;
detecting characteristics of said projected light ray pattern; and
adjusting the position of one of said components relative to the other of said components based on said detected pattern characteristics to achieve a desired relative orientation and/or separation between said components.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
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.
13 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of adjusting positions of adjacent components relative to one another comprising the steps of:
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directing a coherent light beam into one end of a gap formed by facing surfaces of said components, wherein said directed light beam is reflected from the facing surfaces of said components and causes a projection of a light ray pattern out of an opposite end of said gap; detecting characteristics of said projected light ray pattern; and adjusting the position of one of said components relative to the other of said components based on said detected pattern characteristics to achieve a desired relative orientation and/or separation between said components. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of determining relative positions of facing surfaces of adjacent components comprising the steps of:
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directing a coherent light beam into one end of a gap formed by said facing surfaces, wherein light reflects off of the facing surfaces of said components to project a light ray pattern out of an opposite end of said gap; detecting characteristics of said projected light ray pattern; and determining said relative positions based on said detected pattern characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for setting desired relative positions of first and second components relative to one another comprising:
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a controllable positioner, said positioner for retaining said components and for adjusting a relative position of said first component relative to said second component; a coherent light source, said light source for directing a coherent light beam into a gap formed by facing surfaces of said components; a light ray pattern detector, said detector for detecting a pattern of light rays projected from said gap by reflection of light from the facing surfaces of said components; and a controller coupled to said positioner and said light ray pattern detector, said controller for determining characteristics of a light ray pattern detected by said detector and controlling said positioner to adjust said positions based on said determined characteristics.
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19. An apparatus for determining relative positions of first and second adjacent components with respect to one another comprising:
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a coherent light source, said light source for directing a coherent light beam into a gap formed by facing substantially reflective surfaces of said components; a light ray pattern detector, said detector for detecting a pattern of light rays projected from said gap by reflection of light from the facing surfaces of said components; and a processor coupled to said light ray pattern detector, said processor for determining characteristics of a light ray pattern detected by said detector and determining said relative positions based on said detected pattern characteristics.
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Specification