Laser beam centering and pointing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8934097-B2
Application number	US-69677710-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2010
Priority date	Jan 29, 2009
Publication date	Jan 13, 2015
Grant date	Jan 13, 2015

Abstract

An optical instrument aligns an optical beam without the need for physical intervention of the instrument within the apparatus or platforms from which the trajectory of the beam to be ascertained. The alignment apparatus and method enable the desired function to be realized without the placement of physical apertures or sensors directly in the path of the beam through the system whose spatial position and slope is to be sought. An image plane provides the observer with a pair of well-defined images that are indicative of the beam centering and pointing alignment parameters. The optical alignment can be realized without the need for referencing to an external or fixed set of coordinates or fiducials. The instrument can therefore service situations where adverse environments would otherwise prohibit the use of such instruments, including regions of high radiation, high temperature, vacuum and/or cryogenic atmospheres.

First claim

I claim:

1. A method, comprising:
directing a beam of light on or about an optical axis that terminates at an image plane, wherein said beam passes through a first object and then through a second object and then through an optical element before propagating onto said image plane, wherein said first object is fixedly placed in line with said optical axis, wherein said first object is configured to impart a first pattern on said beam as it propagates on or about said optical axis,…

Assignees

• Rushford Michael Charles
• L Livermore Nat Security Llc

Inventors

• Rushford Michael Charles

Classifications

• G01B11/272 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic