US3628868A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser boresighting method and apparatus
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1969-09-09
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Granted: 1971-12-21
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Expires: 1989-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A telescope having crosshairs is mounted on the housing of a laser. In order to boresight this telescope to the laser, a parabolic reflector with a four-quadrant photodetector mounted at its focus is provided. The detector has its quadrants defined by surface crosshairs, and is physically adjustable about the axis of the reflector. Microammeters are connected to show the current provided by each quadrant of the photodetector. In use, the reflector is placed in the beam of a laser, and the photodetector is physically adjusted until all microammeters show the same reading. The laser telescope is then adjusted to have its crosshairs align with the image of the crosshairs of the photodetector.
Inventors
- 👤 George W Starkey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 08:04
CPC Classifications
F; F41; F41G; F41G3/00; F41G3/32; F41G3/326
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of boresighting a laser mounted to a telescope having crosshairs, incorporating a parabolic reflector, a fourquadrant photosensitive detector that is defined by crosshairs and that is adjustable about the reflector axis and mounted at the reflector focus, and respective microammeters connected to each of the quadrants of the detector, including the steps of: positioning the reflector in the laser beam with the reflector pointed toward the laser; adjusting the detector about the axis of the reflector to obtain equal currents through the microammeters; and adjusting the crosshairs of the telescope to have a common intersection point with the reflected image of the crosshairs of the detector.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of boresighting a laser mounted to a telescope having crosshairs, incorporating a parabolic reflector, a fourquadrant photosensitive detector that is defined by crosshairs and that is adjustable about the reflector axis and mounted at the reflector focus, and respective microammeters connected to each of the quadrants of the detector, including the steps of: positioning the reflector in the laser beam with the reflector pointed toward the laser; adjusting the detector about the axis of the reflector to obtain equal currents through the microammeters; and adjusting the crosshairs of the telescope to have a common intersection point with the reflected image of the crosshairs of the detector.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
61 words
A device for boresighting a laser, including: a front-surface parabolic reflector having an optical axis; a four-quadrant photosensitive detector mounted at the focus of said reflector, with the quadrants of the detector defined by crosshairs on the surface of the detector; means for displaying the outputs of each of said quadrants, and means for adjusting said detector about said optical axis.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
61 words
A device for boresighting a laser, including: a front-surface parabolic reflector having an optical axis; a four-quadrant photosensitive detector mounted at the focus of said reflector, with the quadrants of the detector defined by crosshairs on the surface of the detector; means for displaying the outputs of each of said quadrants, and means for adjusting said detector about said optical axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device as defined in claim 3 wherein said means for displaying includes four microammeters, one connected to each quadrant of said detector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-12-20 | 1975-06-21 | 1975-12-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-12-20 | 1979-06-21 | 1979-12-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-12-20 | 1983-06-21 | 1983-12-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |