US3603688A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Alignment apparatus
Assignee: Applied Biosystems Inc
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Filing: 1967-11-08
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Granted: 1971-09-07
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Expires: 1987-11-08
Abstract
Abstract An alignment apparatus comprises a laser light source and means positioned remotely at a target object including an array of photocells for sensing and indicating displacement of a centroid of an impinging laser beam from a reference point of the array. The laser light source includes means for establishing a beam pattern of contrasting light intensity indicative of the centroid of the beam. An impinging light beam of this character enhances detector sensitivity.
Inventors
- 👤 William Reid Smith-Vaniz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:39
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/0007; G; G01; G01C; G01C15/00; G01C15/002; G01S; G01S3/00; G01S3/78; G01S3/782; G01S3/783; G01S3/784; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/08059; H01S3/10; H01S3/105; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S33/00; Y10S33/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
An alignment apparatus comprising in combination: beam-centering apparatus means including a planar symmetrical array of spaced-apart photocells positioned at a target object for indicating displacement from a reference point of said array of a centroid of a lightbeam impinging thereon; said photocells subject to a variation in an output voltage versus input light beam intensity characteristic among the cells of the array; a laser light source positioned at a distance from said planar array for projecting a visible light beam at said array; said laser light source including a means for establishing a symmetrical cross-sectional pattern of sharply defined areas of contrasting light intensity in said light beam for distributing light near the boundaries between said cells and simultaneously reducing the light intensity at the center of each cell relative to the boundary intensity whereby the sensitivity of the alignment apparatus is increased.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
An alignment apparatus comprising in combination: beam-centering apparatus means including a planar symmetrical array of spaced-apart photocells positioned at a target object for indicating displacement from a reference point of said array of a centroid of a lightbeam impinging thereon; said photocells subject to a variation in an output voltage versus input light beam intensity characteristic among the cells of the array; a laser light source positioned at a distance from said planar array for projecting a visible light beam at said array; said laser light source including a means for establishing a symmetrical cross-sectional pattern of sharply defined areas of contrasting light intensity in said light beam for distributing light near the boundaries between said cells and simultaneously reducing the light intensity at the center of each cell relative to the boundary intensity whereby the sensitivity of the alignment apparatus is increased.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
The alignment apparatus of claim 1 wherein said laser light source includes means for establishing a contrast in beam intensity in a cross-sectional pattern of the projected beam in the near and far fields of the beam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The alignment apparatus of claim 2 wherein said laser light source includes means for establishing a cross in the cross-sectional pattern of said beam, said cross having zero light intensity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The alignment apparatus of claim 3 wherein said laser light source includes means for supporting a TEM1,1,n mode and for suppressing other lower order modes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
44 words
The alignment apparatus of claim 4 wherein said laser light source includes a resonant cavity having reflective surfaces thereof supporting said TEM1,1,n mode of oscillation and said means for suppressing lower order mode comprises a cross formed on a one of said reflective surfaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The alignment apparatus of claim 5 wherein one of said reflective surfaces includes a substrate and a dielectric material positioned thereon and said cross is formed in the surface of the substrate.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-09-06 | 1975-03-08 | 1975-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-09-06 | 1979-03-08 | 1979-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-09-06 | 1983-03-08 | 1983-09-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |