EP0131768A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
A method and an apparatus for focusing an invisible beam of electromagnetic radiation
Assignee: Coherent Inc
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Filing: 1984-06-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-06-15
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for focusing an invisible beam of coherent radiation at a desired spot. The invisible beam of coherent radiation is combined with a visible beam of coherent radiation to form a combined beam. The combined beam comprises the visible beam and the invisible beam substantially collinear with one another. The combined beam is then expanded and is filtered. The filter passes substantially all of the invisible radiation and only a portion of the visible radiation. The portion of the visible radiation passed forms two indicia which are located off the axis of the combined beam. The filtered beam is then passed through a focusing lens. At the desired spot, when the two indicia of visible beam converged to form a single indic- ium, then the invisible beam of radiation will also be brought to a focus at that spot.
Inventors
- 👤 David Robert Hennings
- 👤 Dennis G. Fischer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 20:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F9/00; A61F9/007; A61F9/008; A61F9/00821; A61F9/00823; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/18; A61B18/20; A61B2018/2015; A61B2018/2025
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for detecting when an invisible beam of electromagnetic radiation is in focus at a desired spot, comprising the steps of: generating said beam of invisible radiation; generating a beam of visible radiation; forming a combined beam from said visible and invisible beams; said combined beam having an axis and being said invisible and visible beams substantially coaxial with said axis; expanding said combined beam; filtering said expanded combined beam by passing substantially all of the invisible beam and by passing only a portion of said visible beam; said portion passed being at least two indicia positioned off said axis; and focusing said filtered beam by moving a focusing means until the indicia are substantially in registry with one another at said desired spot, whereby said invisible beam is in focus at said spot.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
135 words
A method for detecting when an invisible beam of electromagnetic radiation is in focus at a desired spot, comprising the steps of: generating said beam of invisible radiation; generating a beam of visible radiation; forming a combined beam from said visible and invisible beams; said combined beam having an axis and being said invisible and visible beams substantially coaxial with said axis; expanding said combined beam; filtering said expanded combined beam by passing substantially all of the invisible beam and by passing only a portion of said visible beam; said portion passed being at least two indicia positioned off said axis; and focusing said filtered beam by moving a focusing means until the indicia are substantially in registry with one another at said desired spot, whereby said invisible beam is in focus at said spot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of Claim 1, wherein said forming step further comprising: impinging said invisible beam at a location: rendering said location visible; and impinging said visible beam at said location.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for focusing an invisible beam of electro-magnetic radiation at a desired spot, comprising: means for generating said beam of invisible radiation; means for generating a beam of visible radiation; means for forming a combined beam from said visible and invisible beams; said combined beam having an axis and being said invisible and visible beams substantially coaxial with said axis; means for expanding said combined beam; means for filtering said expanded combined beam by passing substantially all of the invisible beam and by passing only a portion of said visible beam; said portion passed being at least two indicia positioned off said axis; and means for focusing said filtered mean; whereby said invisible beam being in focus at said spot when said indicia are substantially in registry with one another at said spot.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
134 words
An apparatus for focusing an invisible beam of electro-magnetic radiation at a desired spot, comprising: means for generating said beam of invisible radiation; means for generating a beam of visible radiation; means for forming a combined beam from said visible and invisible beams; said combined beam having an axis and being said invisible and visible beams substantially coaxial with said axis; means for expanding said combined beam; means for filtering said expanded combined beam by passing substantially all of the invisible beam and by passing only a portion of said visible beam; said portion passed being at least two indicia positioned off said axis; and means for focusing said filtered mean; whereby said invisible beam being in focus at said spot when said indicia are substantially in registry with one another at said spot.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said beam of invisible radiation is a beam of coherent radiation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of Claim 4, wherein said means for generating said invisible beam is a YAG laser.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said beam of visible radiation is a beam of coherent radiation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of Claim 6, wherein said means for generating said visible beam is a HeNe laser.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said expanding means comprises a diverging lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
The apparatus of Claim 3, wherein said filter means comprises: an aperture window having a first face and a second face; said combined beam aligned to impinge said first face to pass through said window and to exit therefrom through said second face; and a first coating on the surface of said first face except in said portion; said coating being of a material for passing said invisible beam and for reflecting said visible beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of Claim 9 further comprising: a second coating on the surface of said second face; said second coating being of a material for passing said visible and invisible beams and for preventing reflection of radiation incident thereon.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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