Optical axis adjustment method, and storage medium recorded with a program that executes said adjustment method

• US 6,741,340 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 05/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Evolvable System Research Institute Incorporated, Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Square Enix, Masahiro Murakawa, Tetsuya Higuchi
• Inventors: Higuchi, Tetsuya, Murakawa, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): TREMBLAY, MARK STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US09/749,903
• Publication Number:
  US 20020101581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 356/138
• US Class Current: 356/138
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/272 using photoelectric detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3512 the optical element being reflective, e.g. mirror
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3546 NxM switch, i.e. a regular array of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3556 NxM switch, i.e. regular arrays of switches elements of matrix type constellation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3586 Control or adjustment details, e.g. calibrating testing optical equipment G01M11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3588 of the processed beams, i.e. controlling during switching of orientation, alignment, or beam propagation properties such as intensity, size or shape
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4227 Active alignment methods, e.g. procedures and algorithms

Abstract

A method is provided for adjusting the optical axis of a light transmission path that includes a plurality of optical components. The method uses an apparatus to sequentially adjust the optical axis of one or more of the optical components, using a probabilistic search technique to obtain optimum evaluation value with respect to light transmitted through the light transmission path.

Claims

1. A method for adjusting an optical axis of a light transmission path that includes a plurality of optical components, comprising:

sequentially adjusting an optical axis of a designated single optical component, or multiple optical components, among said plurality of optical components in accordance with a probabilistic search technique;

measuring optical axial coordinate values while sequentially adjusting said optical axis to produce a plurality of measured optical axial coordinate values;

evaluating an intensity of light transmitted through said light transmission path at a time of measurement to produce a plurality of evaluation values;

storing in a memory a plurality of value pairs, each of said plurality of value pairs including a measured optical axial coordinate value and a corresponding evaluation value; and

replacing a solution candidate of the probabilistic search technique with a value pair having a largest evaluation value.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of sequentially adjusting further comprises:

sequentially adjusting the optical axis in accordance with a genetic algorithm.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of sequentially adjusting further comprises:

searching for an optimum evaluation value in accordance with a hill-climbing method.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of sequentially adjusting further comprises:

searching for an optimum value by sequentially adjusting the optical axis in accordance with a simulated annealing method.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of sequentially adjusting further comprises:

evaluating an intensity of light transmitted through the light transmission path.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical components comprises:

an optical fiber.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical components include comprises:

an optical fiber array.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical components comprises:

a lens.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical components comprises:

a light-emitting element.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical components comprises:

a light-receiving element.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical components comprises:

an optical waveguide.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of optical components comprises:

a mirror.

13. The method according to claim 1, aid step of sequentially adjusting further comprises:

sequentially adjusting an optical axis with an electronic computer and a recording medium that can be read by said electronic computer.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein said sequentially adjusting an optical axis with an electronic computer and a recording medium comprises:

exulting an adjustment program that includes a probabilistic search technique configured to search for an optical axis of one or a plurality of optical components so as to provide an optimum evaluation value with respect to light transmitted through the light transmission path.

15. A method for adjusting an optical axis of a light transmission path that includes a plurality of optical components, comprising:

sequentially adjusting an optical axis of a designated single optical component, or multiple optical components, among said plurality of optical components in accordance with a probabilistic search technique; and

evaluating a positional deviation of light transmitted through said light transmission path with respect to a target light irradiation position while sequentially adjusting said optical axis so as to create an evaluation value.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said step of sequentially adjusting further comprises:

sequentially adjusting the optical axis in accordance with a genetic algorithm.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein said step of sequentially adjusting further comprises:

searching for an optimum evaluation value in accordance with a hill-climbing method.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein said step of sequentially adjusting further comprises:

sequentially adjusting the optical axis in accordance with a simulated annealing method.

19. The method according to claim 15, wherein said step of sequentially adjusting further comprises:

measuring optical axial coordinate values while sequentially adjusting said optical axis to produce a plurality of measured optical axial coordinate values;

storing in a memory a plurality of value pairs, each of said plurality of value pairs including a measured optical axial coordinate value and a corresponding evaluation value; and

selecting a value pair having a largest evaluation value as a local optimum solution.

20. The method according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of optical components comprises:

a mirror.

21. The method according to claim 15, wherein said said step of sequentially adjusting further comprises:

sequentially adjusting with an electronic computer and a recording medium that can be read by said electronic computer.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said sequentially adjusting with an electronic computer and a recording medium comprises:

executing an adjustment program that includes a probabilistic search technique configured to search for an optical axis of one or a plurality of optical components so as to provide an optimum evaluation value with respect to light transmitted through the light transmission path.

23. An apparatus configured to adjust an optical axis of a light transmission path that includes a plurality of optical components, comprising:

means for sequentially adjusting an optical axis of a designated single optical component, or multiple optical components, among said plurality of optical components in accordance with a probabilistic search technique;

means for measuring optical axial coordinate values while sequentially adjusting said optical axis to produce a plurality of measured optical axial coordinate values;

means for evaluating an intensity of light transmitted through said light transmission path at a time of measurement so as to produce a plurality of evaluation values;

means for storing in a memory a plurality of value pairs, each of said plurality of value pairs including a measured optical axial coordinate value and a corresponding evaluation value; and

means for replacing a solution candidate of the probabilistic search technique with a value pair having a largest evaluation value.

24. An apparatus configured to adjust an optical axis of a light transmission path that includes a plurality of optical components, comprising:

means for sequentially adjusting an optical axis of a designated single optical component, or multiple optical components, among said plurality of optical components in accordance with a probabilistic search technique; and

means for evaluating a positional deviation of light transmitted through said light transmission path with respect to a target light irradiation position while sequentially adjusting said optical axis so as to produce an evaluation value.

25. An apparatus configured to adjust an optical axis of a light transmission path that includes a plurality of optical components, comprising:

an adjuster configured to sequentially adjust an optical axis of a designated single optical component, or multiple optical components, among said plurality of optical components in accordance with a probabilistic search technique;

a measurer configured to measure optical axial coordinate values while said adjuster sequentially adjusts said optical axis and to produce a plurality of measured optical axial coordinate values;

an evaluator configured to evaluate an intensity of light transmitted through said light transmission path at a time of measurement and to produce a plurality of evaluation values;

a memory configured to store a plurality of value pairs, each of said plurality of value pairs including a measured optical axial coordinate value and a corresponding evaluation value; and

an updater configured to replace a solution candidate of the probabilistic search technique with a value pair having a largest evaluation value.

26. An apparatus configured to adjust an optical axis of a light transmission path that includes a plurality of optical components, comprising:

an adjuster configured to sequentially adjust an optical axis of a designated single optical component, or multiple optical components, among said plurality of optical components in accordance with a probabilistic search technique; and

evaluator configured to evaluate a positional deviation of light transmitted through said light transmission path with respect to a target light irradiation position while said adjuster sequentially adjusts said optical axis and to produce an evaluation value.