US3877813A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-compensating interferometer
Assignee: Boeing North American Inc
•
Filing: 1973-09-17
•
Granted: 1975-04-15
•
Expires: 1993-09-17
Abstract
Abstract A self-compensating multi-channel laser system of a type having at least two substantially parallel optical channels, each channel having a first optical extremity comprising an optical aperture of said system and further having a second extremity including a photoelectric detector responsive to optical energy propogated toward the second extremity. The system includes mutually oppositely and coaxially disposed first and second laser generators having a common optical axis, the common axis being arranged perpendicular to the mutually parallel optical channels. First and second beam splitters are each disposed substantially along the common optical axis of the coaxial generators and within the optical path of a mutually exclusive one of the two channels. Phase-sensitive feedback modulation means responsive to the time-phase difference between the outputs of said photoelectric detectors compensatorily modulates one of the channels in such sense as to reduce the phase difference.
Inventors
- 👤 Cecil L Hayes
- 👤 Walter C Davis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:30
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B9/00; G01B9/02; G01B9/02001; G01B9/02007; G01B9/02002; G01B9/02003; G01B9/02015; G01B9/02027; G01J; G01J9/00; G01J9/04; G01B2290/00; G01B2290/45
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
187 words
A multi-channel electromagnetic energy system of a type having at least two substantially parallel channels, each of said channels having a first extremity comprising an aperture of said system and further having a second extremity including a nonlinear detector responsive to electromagnetic energy propogated toward said second extremity, said system further including in combination mutually oppositely and coaxially disposed first and second like electromagnetic energy generators having a common optical axis, said common axis being arranged perpendicular to said mutually parallel optical channels; a first and second beam splitter each substantially disposed along said common optical axis of said coaxial generators and within the optical path of a mutually exclusive one of said two channels, a first one of said generators cooperating with said beam splitters as a transmitter of energy out of said apertures of said system and a second one of said generators cooperating with said beam splitters as a local oscillator; and phase-sensitive feedback modulation means responsive to the time-phase difference between the outputs of said photoelectric detectors for compensatorily modulating one of said channels in such sense as to reduce said phase difference.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
187 words
A multi-channel electromagnetic energy system of a type having at least two substantially parallel channels, each of said channels having a first extremity comprising an aperture of said system and further having a second extremity including a nonlinear detector responsive to electromagnetic energy propogated toward said second extremity, said system further including in combination mutually oppositely and coaxially disposed first and second like electromagnetic energy generators having a common optical axis, said common axis being arranged perpendicular to said mutually parallel optical channels; a first and second beam splitter each substantially disposed along said common optical axis of said coaxial generators and within the optical path of a mutually exclusive one of said two channels, a first one of said generators cooperating with said beam splitters as a transmitter of energy out of said apertures of said system and a second one of said generators cooperating with said beam splitters as a local oscillator; and phase-sensitive feedback modulation means responsive to the time-phase difference between the outputs of said photoelectric detectors for compensatorily modulating one of said channels in such sense as to reduce said phase difference.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
188 words
A multi-channel electromagnetic energy system of a type having at least two substantially parallel channels, each of said channels having a first extremity comprising an aperture of said system and further having a second extremity including a non-linear detector responsive to electromagnetic energy propogated toward said second extremity, said system further including in combination mutually oppositely and coaxially disposed first and second like electromagnetics energy generators having a common optical axis, said common axis being arranged perpendicular to said mutually parallel optical channels; a first and second beam splitter each substantially disposed along said common optical axis of said coaxial generators and within the optical path of a mutually exclusive one of said two channels, a first one of said generators cooperating with said beam splitters as a transmitter of energy out of said apertures of said system and a second one of said generators cooperating with said beam splitters as a local oscillator; and compensatory intermediate frequency signalling means responsive to the time-phase difference between the outputs of said photoelectric detectors for compensatorily modulating one of said channels in such sense as to reduce said phase difference.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
188 words
A multi-channel electromagnetic energy system of a type having at least two substantially parallel channels, each of said channels having a first extremity comprising an aperture of said system and further having a second extremity including a non-linear detector responsive to electromagnetic energy propogated toward said second extremity, said system further including in combination mutually oppositely and coaxially disposed first and second like electromagnetics energy generators having a common optical axis, said common axis being arranged perpendicular to said mutually parallel optical channels; a first and second beam splitter each substantially disposed along said common optical axis of said coaxial generators and within the optical path of a mutually exclusive one of said two channels, a first one of said generators cooperating with said beam splitters as a transmitter of energy out of said apertures of said system and a second one of said generators cooperating with said beam splitters as a local oscillator; and compensatory intermediate frequency signalling means responsive to the time-phase difference between the outputs of said photoelectric detectors for compensatorily modulating one of said channels in such sense as to reduce said phase difference.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
85 words
The device of claim 2 in which said compensatory intermediate frequency signalling means comprises a frequency modulator interposed at said aperture end of each of said channels and responsive to a radio frequency oscillator; and a tuned intermediate frequency amplifier responsive to the output of a respective detector in each said channel, the radio frequency oscillator of said modulated one of said channels being a voltage controlled oscillator, said compensatory intermediate frequency signalling means including a phase-sensitive detector drivingly coupled to said voltage controlled oscillator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
A self-compensating multi-channel laser system of a type having at least two substantially parallel optical channels, each of said channels having a first optical extremity comprising an optical aperture of said system and further having a second extremity including a photoelectric detector responsive to optical energy propogated along said channel twoard said second extremity, said system further including in combination mutually oppositely and coaxially disposed first and Second laser generators having a common optical axis, said common axis being arranged perpendicular to said mutually parallel optical channels; phase-sensitive feedback modulation means responsive to the time-phase difference between the outputs of said photoelectric detectors for compensatorily modulating one of said channels in such sense as to reduce said phase difference.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
A self-compensating multi-channel laser system of a type having at least two substantially parallel optical channels, each of said channels having a first optical extremity comprising an optical aperture of said system and further having a second extremity including a photoelectric detector responsive to optical energy propogated along said channel twoard said second extremity, said system further including in combination mutually oppositely and coaxially disposed first and Second laser generators having a common optical axis, said common axis being arranged perpendicular to said mutually parallel optical channels; phase-sensitive feedback modulation means responsive to the time-phase difference between the outputs of said photoelectric detectors for compensatorily modulating one of said channels in such sense as to reduce said phase difference.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
122 words
A self-compensating multi-channel laser system of a type having at least two substantially parallel optical channels, each of said channels having a first optical extremity comprising an optical aperture of said system and further having a second extremity including a photoelectric detector responsive to optical energy propogated along said channel toward said second extremity, said system further including in combination mutually oppositely and coaxially disposed first and second laser generators having a common optical axis, said common axis being arranged perpendicular to said mutually parallel optical channels; a first and second beam splitter each similarly oriented and disposed substantially along said common optical axis of said coaxial generators and within the optical path of a mutually exclusive one of said two channels.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
A self-compensating multi-channel laser system of a type having at least two substantially parallel optical channels, each of said channels having a first optical extremity comprising an optical aperture of said system and further having a second extremity including a photoelectric detector responsive to optical energy propogated along said channel toward said second extremity, said system further including in combination mutually oppositely and coaxially disposed first and second laser generators having a common optical axis, said common axis being arranged perpendicular to said mutually parallel optical channels; a first and second beam splitter each similarly oriented and disposed substantially along said common optical axis of said coaxial generators and within the optical path of a mutually exclusive one of said two channels.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
155 words
A self-compensating multi-channel laser system of a type having at least two substantially parallel optical channels, each of said channels having a first optical extremity comprising an optical aperture of said system and further having a second extremity including a photoelectric detector responsive to optical energy propogated along said channel toward said second extremity, said system further including in combination mutually oppositely and coaxially disposed first and second laser generators having a common optical axis, said common axis being arranged perpendicular to said mutually parallel optical channels; a first and second beam splitter each similarly oriented and disposed substantially along said common optical axis of said coaxial generators and within the optical path of a mutually exclusive one of said two channels; and phase-sensitive feedback modulation means responsive to the time-phase difference between the outputs of said photoelectric detectors for compensatorily modulating one of said channels in such sense as to reduce said phase difference.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
155 words
A self-compensating multi-channel laser system of a type having at least two substantially parallel optical channels, each of said channels having a first optical extremity comprising an optical aperture of said system and further having a second extremity including a photoelectric detector responsive to optical energy propogated along said channel toward said second extremity, said system further including in combination mutually oppositely and coaxially disposed first and second laser generators having a common optical axis, said common axis being arranged perpendicular to said mutually parallel optical channels; a first and second beam splitter each similarly oriented and disposed substantially along said common optical axis of said coaxial generators and within the optical path of a mutually exclusive one of said two channels; and phase-sensitive feedback modulation means responsive to the time-phase difference between the outputs of said photoelectric detectors for compensatorily modulating one of said channels in such sense as to reduce said phase difference.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
95 words
The device of claim 6 in which said detectors are substantially non-linear and in which there is further provided intermediate frequency signalling means in each of said channels, comprising a frequency modulator interposed at said aperture end of said channel and responsive to a radio frequency oscillator, and a tuned intermediate frequency amplifier responsive to the output of said detector in said channel, the radio frequency oscillator of said modulated one of said channels being a voltage controlled oscillator, said phase-sensitive feedback modulation means including a phase-sensitive detector drivingly coupled to said voltage controlled oscillator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device of claim 7 in which the frequency of said radio frequency oscillator of other than said modulating one of said channels corresponds to one-half the tuned intermediate frequency of said tuned intermediate frequency amplifiers.
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) | 1978-04-14 | 1978-10-14 | 1979-04-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-14 | 1982-10-14 | 1983-04-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-14 | 1986-10-14 | 1987-04-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |