Optical device with alignment compensation
View Patent ↗An optical device is provided which includes a plurality of optical modules and an alignment compensation module. Each optical module includes an optical component fixedly coupled to a relative reference mount. The relative reference mount is configured to attach to a substrate. A plurality of optical modules mount on the substrate to form the optical device. The alignment compensation module removes residual alignment errors of the optical device.
1. An alignment compensation module to align a light beam with an initial angular propagation direction along a z-axis comprising:
a single lens element having two curved surfaces configured to deviate the angular propagation direction of the light beam when rotated about a y-axis which is perpendicular to the z-axis, wherein the amount of deviation is less than an amount of rotation of the single lens element; and
a mount configured to rotate the lens element about the y-axis which is perpendicular to the z-axis.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mount fixedly secures the single lens element with an attachment material.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mount includes registration features configured to mate with registration features on a fixed reference.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mount is transparent to radiation used to fix a position of the single lens element.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the light beam is collimated; and
the single lens element does not substantially alter the collimation of the light beam.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the single lens element is rotated at least 5 times further in angular measure than the angular deviation of the light beam.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:
the lens element is additionally configured to rotate about an x-axis; and
the mount is configured to rotate the lens element about the x-axis which is perpendicular to both the y-axis and the z-axis.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the mount includes a spherical surface that is received in a receptacle.