Light source orientation detector

1. An apparatus, comprising:

an optical waveguide bundle, including a plurality of optical waveguides spaced apart around and substantially aligned along a waveguide bundle axis, each optical waveguide having a longitudinal core configured to transmit light;

wherein two of the optical waveguides each include a Bragg reflector, the Bragg reflectors configured to couple light incident from a direction substantially transverse to the waveguide bundle axis into the optical waveguide in propagating modes;

wherein each of the two optical waveguides is in optical communication with an optical detector configured to separately detect light from each of the two waveguides; and

wherein the optical waveguides are held in alignment in the optical waveguide bundle by a core interposed between the optical waveguides.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each Bragg reflector is configured to couple light at one or more selected wavelengths into an optical waveguide, and the waveguide bundle core substantially does not transmit light at one or more of the selected wavelengths.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , having another optical waveguide bundle, wherein the optical waveguide bundles are included in an optical waveguide bundle grid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the Bragg reflectors includes a prism bar having a row of prisms.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the Bragg reflectors includes a photonic crystal.

6. A process, comprising:

forming a Bragg reflector integral with each of two optical waveguides, the optical waveguides each having a longitudinal core configured to transmit light;

forming an optical waveguide bundle including the two optical waveguides being spaced apart around and substantially aligned along a waveguide bundle axis, each of the two Bragg reflectors configured to couple light incident from a direction substantially transverse to the waveguide bundle axis into one of the two optical waveguides in a propagating mode, wherein forming the optical waveguide bundle includes arranging the optical waveguides in alignment with a waveguide bundle core interposed between the optical waveguides; and

placing each of the two optical waveguides in optical communication with an optical detector configured to separately detect light from each of the two waveguides.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein forming the Bragg reflectors includes configuring the Bragg reflectors to couple light at one or more selected wavelengths into an optical waveguide, and wherein the waveguide bundle core substantially does not transmit light at one or more of the selected wavelengths.

8. The process of claim 6 , including forming another optical waveguide bundle, wherein the optical waveguide bundles are included in an optical waveguide bundle grid.

9. The process of claim 6 , wherein forming each of the Bragg reflectors includes forming a prism bar having a row of prisms.

10. The process of claim 6 , wherein forming each of the Bragg reflectors includes providing a photonic crystal.

11. A method of determining light source orientation information, comprising:

providing an apparatus, having: an optical waveguide bundle, including two optical waveguides spaced apart around and substantially aligned along a waveguide bundle axis, each optical waveguide having a longitudinal core configured to transmit light; wherein the two optical waveguides each include a Bragg reflector, the Bragg reflectors configured to couple light incident from a direction substantially transverse to the waveguide bundle axis into the optical waveguide in a propagating mode; wherein each of the two optical waveguides is in optical communication with an optical detector configured to separately detect light from each of the two waveguides; and wherein the optical waveguide bundle includes optical waveguides held in alignment in the optical waveguide bundle by a core interposed between the optical waveguides;

positioning the optical waveguide bundle for exposure to a light source to be detected;

generating light detection data by detecting light incident into one of the two optical waveguides from a direction substantially transverse to the waveguide bundle axis into one of the two optical waveguides; and

integrating the light detection data into light source orientation information.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the apparatus includes configuring each Bragg reflector to couple light at one or more selected wavelengths into an optical waveguide, and configuring the waveguide bundle core to substantially not transmit light at one or more of the selected wavelengths.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing the apparatus includes forming another optical waveguide bundle, and wherein providing the apparatus includes forming the optical waveguide bundles into an optical waveguide bundle grid.

14. The method of claim 11 , including:

providing Bragg reflector orientation data, wherein integrating the light detection data includes integrating the Bragg reflector orientation data and the light detection data into the light source orientation information.

15. The method of claim 11 , including utilizing the light source orientation information to control an end-use system.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing each of the Bragg reflectors includes providing a prism bar having a row of prisms.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein providing each of the Bragg reflectors includes providing a photonic crystal.