A low-cost alignment system suitable for aligning a wafer to a test
fixture includes a bundle of optical fibers wherein at least one fiber
serves to deliver illumination to the alignment target from an end
thereof, and a plurality of receiver fibers, each having ends with a
known spatial relationship to the end of the illuminator fiber. The ends
of the fiber bundle have a known spatial relationship to the fixture. In
some embodiments, the fiber bundle is disposed within the fixture such
that there is an unobscured optical path between the wafer and the
receiving and illuminating ends of the fibers. In some embodiments, the
fiber bundle is coupled to a light source and a light sensor mounted on
the fixture. In some embodiments the alignment target is one or more
bonding pads disposed on a wafer.