A method of aligning optical signals in a fiber optic switching device with one or two phase light modulators (PLMs) includes configuring the phase elements of the PLMs with first initial settings, to direct an optical signal from an input fiber to an output fiber. An initial position displacement of a center of the signal image from a center of the output fiber is estimated. Corrected settings for the phase elements are calculated so that when the corrected settings are applied to the phase elements, a corrected signal image of the optical signal has a corrected position displacement from the center of the output fiber that is less than the initial position displacement. A fiber optic switching device has processing circuitry and a memory component configured to execute steps of the method of aligning the optical signals.

An example photonic integrated circuit includes a transmitter circuit with a optical communication path to an optical coupler configured to couple with an optical fiber. The optical communication path has a propagation direction away from the transmitter circuit and towards the optical coupler. A counter-propagating tap diverts light sent by a light source backward against the propagation direction of the optical communication path. A photodiode receives the diverted light and measures its power level. The photodiode generates a feedback signal for the optical coupler and provides the feedback signal to the optical coupler. The optical coupler receives the feedback signal and adjusts a coupling alignment of the optical communication path to the optical fiber based on the feedback signal, which indicates the measured power level of the diverted counter-propagating light.

Aspects for active alignment for assembling optical imaging systems are described herein. As an example, the aspects may include aligning an optical detector with an optical component. The optical component is configured to alter a direction of one or more light beams emitted from an image displayed by an optical engine. The aspects may further include detecting, by the optical detector, a virtual image generated by the one or more light beams emitted by the optical engine; and adjusting, by a multi-axis controller, an optical path of the one or more light beams based on one or more parameters of the virtual image collected by the optical detector.

Various embodiments and methods relating to an optical fiber alignment and splicing system are described herein. The optical fiber alignment and splicing system includes a first rotation stage having a first central axis, a first end, and a second end, and a second rotation stage having a second central axis, a third end, and a fourth end. The first central axis extends from the first end to the second end of the first rotation stage, and the second central axis extends from the third end to the fourth end. The first rotation stage includes a first optical fiber channel extending from the first end of the first rotation stage to the second end of the first rotation stage, and the second rotation stage includes a second optical fiber channel extending from the third end of the second rotation stage to the fourth end of the second rotation stage.

Various embodiments and methods related to an optical fiber alignment system are provided herein. The optical fiber alignment system includes a controller and a rotation stage having a central axis, a first end, and a second end. The central axis extends from the first end to the second end of the rotation stage. The rotation stage includes an optical fiber channel extending from the first end of the rotation stage to the second end of the rotation stage and may be operationally coupled with the controller. The rotation stage is configured to rotate about the central axis of the rotation stage. The optical fiber alignment system includes a light source positioned to emit light onto the optical fiber channel at an oblique angle from the central axis of the rotation stage. The optical fiber alignment system includes an image sensor positioned adjacent to the second end of the rotation stage.

In a method or system for interrogating an optical chip (50), the optical chip (50) is illuminated with input light (30) and a spatially resolved image (50i) of the output light (31,32) is measured from the optical chip (50). The output light (31,32) is imaged together with a reflection of the input light (30). For example, this can be used to establish, improve, or maintain alignment of the input light (30) on a sensor input port (51) of the optical chip (50). The same detector (17) measures the spatially resolved image and a spectral response of the optical chip (50).

A laser system includes a first cavity to output a laser light along a first path, a first mirror to receive the laser light from the first cavity, and redirect the laser light along a second path that is different than the first path, a beam splitter removably located at a first position on the second path, a beam combiner removably located at a second position on the second path, and an alignment device having first and second alignment features. The first and second alignment features occupy the first position and the second position, respectively, on the second path, when the beam splitter and the beam combiner are removed from the first position and the second position.

By determining an alignment point for a photonic element in a substrate of a given material; applying, via a laser aligned with the photonic element according to the alignment point, an etching pattern to the photonic element to produce a patterned region and an un-patterned region in the photonic element, wherein applying the etching pattern alters a chemical bond in the given material for the patterned region of the photonic element that increases a reactivity of the given material to an etchant relative to a reactivity of the un-patterned region, and wherein the patterned region defines an engagement feature in the un-patterned region that is configured to engage with a mating feature on a Photonic Integrated Circuit (PIC); and removing the patterned region from the photonic element via the etchant, various systems and methods may make use of laser patterning in optical components to enable alignment of optics to chips.

A laser system includes a first cavity to output a laser light along a first path, a first mirror to receive the laser light from the first cavity, and redirect the laser light along a second path that is different than the first path, a beam splitter removably located at a first position on the second path, a beam combiner removably located at a second position on the second path, and an alignment device having first and second alignment features. The first and second alignment features occupy the first position and the second position, respectively, on the second path, when the beam splitter and the beam combiner are removed from the first position and the second position.

A method for assembling a beam combiner array including providing an array block having a back wall, a front surface and a plurality of aligned channels extending from the back wall to the front surface, where a bore extends through the back wall and into each channel, and providing a lens array including a plurality of lenses. The method further includes securing the lens array to the front surface of the block so that one of the lenses is aligned with each channel and threading a separate hollow core fiber through one of the bores in the back wall so that an end of the fiber is positioned within the channel. The method also includes aligning each fiber to the lens array so that a beam that propagates down the fiber is emitted into the channel, focused by the lens and emitted from the array as a collimated beam.