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Devices such as collimators, lensed fibers, AWGs, and arrays typically require angular as well as linear alignment for optimal power peaking. XYZ linear motion combined with pitch, yaw, and roll may be used for aligning these devices.

To facilitate part fixturing and loading configurations, there is often an associated moment arm located away from the stages’ actual kinematic center. In addition, mechanical tolerances in the optical components, mechanics, and fixturing add to the coordinate reference system errors.

When the device and motion rotation points are not collocated, rotating a mechanical stage causes a linear translation of the DUT (Device Under Test) as well as a rotation. This translation can induce errors in an alignment algorithm process, increasing the amount of time to perform an alignment, reducing optimal power coupling efficiencies, and reducing component yields.

Aerotech's Virtual Pivot Point Software™ transforms in up to six dimensions the actual location of any region of interest on the DUT to compensate for misalignments. The “reverse kinematics” software calculates the translation error and a compensation move simultaneously during alignment.

Figure 1. Screen shot of an arrayed simulation.

Figure 2. Screen shot of a single fiber simulation.

This permits the FiberMax system to seamlessly translate and rotate about the new Virtual Pivot Point in space.

The sophisticated Virtual Pivot Point software automatically removes the translation error produced by compensating with motion in the opposite direction and magnitude of the error.

Aerotech’s Virtual Pivot Point software is easy to set up and implement, so the user can quickly configure and run active power alignments. Single-channel power searches or dual-channel routines are available for array alignment.

Virtual Pivot Point is available for the Automation 3200 and UNIDEX 500 motion controllers and includes support for LabVIEW®, DLL, and MMI interfaces. Please consult the factory for other controller compatibility.

When coupled with Aerotech's power searching algorithms, AeroVision™ vision software, precision system electromechanics and motion controllers, it is easily the most powerful system solution on the market today.