Methods and apparatus for actively aligning a first optical element, such as a lens, to a second optical element, such as an image sensor, use continuous scans, even absent a synchronization signal from one of the optical elements. As a result, information of the fractional part generated as a result of the color conversion is not omitted but preserved. The intermediate required value is determined depending on at least one operating variable of the internal combustion engine. When the seed containers are placed on the deck, the doors which provide access to the slide gates thereof are on the driver’s side of the trailer. According to the indication from the sensor, a correlation is determined between the movement of the actuator mass and a reference signal provided to cause movement of the actuator mass.