Patent ID: 7067795

Claim:
A method for controlling polarization of light with a polarization controller which comprises a plurality of adjustable polarization elements, comprising: directing an input beam of light through the adjustable polarization elements of the polarization controller; measuring at least a portion of light transmitted through the polarization controller to produce a feedback signal; in response to the feedback signal, controlling the adjustable polarization elements of the polarization controller, one element at a time, to maximize or minimize the feedback signal, in order to control the polarization of the light transmitted through the polarization controller; and when an adjustable polarization element that is being adjusted operates near a limit of an operating range, adjusting the control of the adjustable polarization element to be away from the limit while adjusting other adjustable polarization elements, one at a time, to maximize or minimize the feedback signal until the adjustable polarization element is operated within a range that is away from an upper limit and an lower limit of the operating range without resetting any of the adjustable polarization elements in the polarization controller.