Method and apparatus for aligning a laser beam projector

Claim 1

In a method for aligning with a selected target a laser beam projector of a type adapted to track a target, the steps of: directing a collimated beam of laser light toward a first focal plane from a source of laser light; focusing said collimated beam of laser light at a focal point located in said focal plane; collecting light rays emanating from a selected target and imaging the target in said first focal plane so that the target image assumes a concentric relationship relative to said focal point; deflecting the target image from said focal plane along a given path by means including a reflective surface having an opening coincident with said focal point, throughwhich the rays of the focused laser beam are projected to the target; viewing along said given path the deflected target image and the opening; and maintaining said target image and opening in a concentric symmetric relationship.

Claim 4

An apparatus for use in aligning with a selected target a laser beam projector of the type adapted to track a light ray emanating target comprising: a first optic system having an optical axis and including therein a mirror and lens system for collecting light rays emanating from a selected target and focusing the rays for imaging the target in a first focal plane concentric with said axis; a laser generator mounted in coaxial relationship with said first optic system and displaced therefrom with the first focal plane being disposed therebetween; a condensing lens disposed between the generator and the first focal plane for focusing the laser beam at a point located along the optical axis and within said focal plane; a beam splitter disposed within the first focal plane including a reflecting surface arranged to intercept and to deflect light rays emanating from the target along a given path and including means defining therein an axial opening for accommodating passage of the focused laser beam for subsequent impingement on the surface of the mirror and lens system of the first optic system; and a second optic system disposed in said given path including means for achieving a symmetric imaging of the target and the means defining the axial opening in said reflecting surface, whereby the position of the first optic system relative to the target may be varied so that the image of the axial opening and the image of the target may be brought into symmetric registry for thereby establishing and maintaining coaxial alignment between the first optic system and the generator so that the focused laser beam may be caused to pass through the first optic system for subsequent impingement on the target.

Claim 5

An apparatus for use in aligning with a selected target a laser beam projector of the type adapted to track a light ray emanating target comprising: a first optic system having an optical axis and including therein a mirror and lens system for collecting light rays emanating from a selected target and focusing the rays for imaging the target in a first focal plane concentric with said axis; a laser generator mounted in coaxial relationship with said first optic system and displaced therefrom with the first focal plane being disposed therebetween; a condensing lens disposed between the generator and the first focal plane for focusing the laser beam at a point located along the optical axis and within said focal plane; a beam splitter disposed within the first focal plane including a reflecting surface arranged to intercept and to deflect light rays emanating from the target along a given path and including means defining therein an axial opening for accommodating passage of the focused laser beam for subsequent impingement on the surface of the mirror and lens system of the first optic system; and a second optic system disposed in said given path including means for achieving a symmetric imaging of the target and the means defining the axial opening in said reflecting surface, whereby the position of the first optic system relative to the target may be varied so that the image of the axial opening and the image of the target may be brought into symmetric registry for thereby establishing and maintaining coaxial alignment between the first optic system and the generator so that the focused laser beam may be caused to pass through the first optic system for subsequent impingement on the target.