EP0096193A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Integrated optical beam expander
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1983-04-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-04-15
Abstract
Abstract A reflective afocal beam expander optical system 50 is disclosed for transmitting electromagnetic (EM) energy. The beam expander, in the preferred embodiment, is comprised of a reflective afocal system 30 including a section of a primary parabolic mirror 32, a section of a secondary parabolic mirror 34, and a beam splitter 48. The two mirrors have a common axis of rotational symmetry 40 and a common focus point and the centerline 46 of the incoming EM energy is displaced from the axis of rotational symmetry. The beam splitter 48 is positioned with respect to the primary mirror 32 to receive the edge rays of the EM energy and cause the EM energy to be folded and exit through a window while clearing all optical elements. A viewing system 70 having a viewing axis 72, through the beam splitter48 allows a viewer to see through the same window 67 as the exiting EM energy. A second refractive afocal optical system 52 is made integral to the specific laser system being used in order to control beam expansion ratios.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric H. Ford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B17/00; G02B17/02; G02B17/06; G02B17/0668; G02B19/00; G02B19/0004; G02B19/0028; G02B19/0033; G02B19/0047
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
71 words
A reflective afocal optical system for transmitting incoming electromagnetic energy, said optical system comprising a section of an aspheric primary mirror and a section of an aspheric secondary mirror, said primary and secondary mirrors having a common axis of rotational symmetry and a common focus point, and the centerline of the incoming electromagnetic energy is displaced from the axis of rotational symmetry of the afocal optical system to thereby eliminate vignetting.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
71 words
A reflective afocal optical system for transmitting incoming electromagnetic energy, said optical system comprising a section of an aspheric primary mirror and a section of an aspheric secondary mirror, said primary and secondary mirrors having a common axis of rotational symmetry and a common focus point, and the centerline of the incoming electromagnetic energy is displaced from the axis of rotational symmetry of the afocal optical system to thereby eliminate vignetting.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
125 words
An integrated beam expander for expanding a beam of laser energy comprising a laser for producing laser energy, a reflective afocal optical system for accepting said incoming laser energy, said optical system comprising a section of an aspheric primary mirror and a section of an aspheric secondary mirror, said primary and secondary mirrors having a common axis of rotational symmetry and a common focus point, and the centerline of the incoming laser energy is displaced from the axis of rotational symmetry of the afocal optical system, a beamsplitter positioned to receive and fold the laser energy from said primary mirror, and a viewing system having a viewing axis through said beamsplitter such that the folded laser energy and the viewing axis share a common window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
125 words
An integrated beam expander for expanding a beam of laser energy comprising a laser for producing laser energy, a reflective afocal optical system for accepting said incoming laser energy, said optical system comprising a section of an aspheric primary mirror and a section of an aspheric secondary mirror, said primary and secondary mirrors having a common axis of rotational symmetry and a common focus point, and the centerline of the incoming laser energy is displaced from the axis of rotational symmetry of the afocal optical system, a beamsplitter positioned to receive and fold the laser energy from said primary mirror, and a viewing system having a viewing axis through said beamsplitter such that the folded laser energy and the viewing axis share a common window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
An integrated beam expander according to Claim 14 further including a refractive afocal optical system having its optical axis in line with the centerline of the laser energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
An integrated beam expander according to Claim 15 wherein the centerline of the refractive afocal is displaced a predetermined distance from the axis of rotational symmetry to produce edge rays of laser energy from the primary mirror which clear the secondary mirror.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
An integrated beam expander according to Claim 16 wherein one of the exiting rays is reflected from the secondary mirror at an angle of 45 0 .
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An integrated beam expander according to Claim 14 wherein the surface of the ashperic primary and secondary mirrors are parabolas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
An integrated beam expander according to Claim 14 further including a dichroic beamsplitter positioned to receive and fold the edge rays from the primary mirror.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An integrated beam expander according to Claim 14 wherein said viewing system operates in the visible spectrum.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An integrated beam expander according to Claim 14 wherein said viewing system operates in the infrared spectrum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
An integrated beam expander according to Claim 14 wherein said laser system is a laser rangefinder/designator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An integrated beam expander according to Claim 14 wherein the magnification through said primary and secondary mirrors is less than 10.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated beam expander according to Claim 14 wherein said primary and secondary mirrors are diamond turned aluminum mirrors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An integrated beam expander according to Claim 15 wherein the magnification of the refractive afocal is less than 5.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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