Patent US3907430A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3907430A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical bandpass filter
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-13
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1993-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A tunable optical bandpass filter arrangement which, in a preferred embodiment, exhibits an output which is collimated and co-linear (with the input) and has relatively low transmission losses, together with capability for multi-bandpass operation as well as for non-critical tuning and for correction of optical aberrations, this done automatically over an entire wavelength region, to thus constitute an attractive filter for applications such as intra-cavity line section with multi-line, broad band, lasers, especially at higher power, and useful for rapid scan spectroscopy, for selective photolysis or the like.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Martin Mann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/12; G01J3/14; G01J3/02; G01J3/0205; G01J3/0229; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/0811; H01S3/0812; H01S3/083; G01J2003/1213
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
An improved technique for optical filtering and removal of selected lines from a prescribed radiation bandwidth, doing so without otherwise significantly affecting radiation characteristics such as relative spatial or angular relationship of the rest of the lines, this technique comprising in combination: projecting the entrant bandwidth through prescribed dispersive means functioning to spread the band and then recombine it, collimatingly without significant distortion; projecting the resultant spectrum through a first prescribed mergent means matched in characteristics with said dispersive means and so disposed with respect thereto as to produce a prescribed expanded bandwidth representing said original input lines, however, spaced apart further and kept collimated intercepting prescRibed radiation lines to remove them with prescribed opaque stop means; merging the resultant ''''filtered'''' bandwidth using prescribed mergent means functioning to merge this bandwidth and recombine it, collimatingly and without significant distortion reconstituting and recollimating the resultant spectrum so merged with prescribed companion collimation means matched with said mergent means and disposed with respect thereto to produce a collimated output substantially the same as said input and colinear therewith, except for said line removal; said dispersive means and mergent means being matched in symmetrical complementarity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
192 words
An improved technique for optical filtering and removal of selected lines from a prescribed radiation bandwidth, doing so without otherwise significantly affecting radiation characteristics such as relative spatial or angular relationship of the rest of the lines, this technique comprising in combination: projecting the entrant bandwidth through prescribed dispersive means functioning to spread the band and then recombine it, collimatingly without significant distortion; projecting the resultant spectrum through a first prescribed mergent means matched in characteristics with said dispersive means and so disposed with respect thereto as to produce a prescribed expanded bandwidth representing said original input lines, however, spaced apart further and kept collimated intercepting prescRibed radiation lines to remove them with prescribed opaque stop means; merging the resultant ''''filtered'''' bandwidth using prescribed mergent means functioning to merge this bandwidth and recombine it, collimatingly and without significant distortion reconstituting and recollimating the resultant spectrum so merged with prescribed companion collimation means matched with said mergent means and disposed with respect thereto to produce a collimated output substantially the same as said input and colinear therewith, except for said line removal; said dispersive means and mergent means being matched in symmetrical complementarity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
124 words
The technique recited in claim 1 wherein said entrant bandwidth is first spread by projecting it through a first spreading dispersive element and then recombined by projecting through a prescribed recombining element matched in characteristics with said dispersive element and so disposed with respect thereto as to produce a prescribed expanded bandwidth representing the original input lines, but being spaced further apart and kept collimated; and wherein the said ''''merged'''' bandwidth is likewise projected through recombination means to reconstitute and recollimate the resultant spectrum so merged; said recombination means being matched in characteristics with said mergent means and so disposed with respect thereto as to produce a prescribed merged bandwidth representing the original entrant bandwidth with the lines being kept collimated and colinear therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
69 words
The technique as recited in claim 2 wherein said dispersive means comprises refracting prism means; wherein said recombination element comprises a prism matched in characteristics with said dispersive means and is disposed in symmetrical opposition thereto; wherein said mergent means comprises a second refractive prism means and the associated recombination means comprises a prism means matched in characteristics with said mergent prism means and disposed in symmetrical opposition thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The technique recited in claim 3 wherein said filtering is effected by blocking stop means, opaque to said radiation and positioned to intercept the lines selected for removal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination as recited in claim 4 wherein said removal is effected by a multiline selective stop means adjustably positionable to block only the lines selected for removal and to ''''pass'''' a plurality of bandwidth segments.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination as recited in claim 3 wherein said line selection is effected in ''''variable segment'''' fashion with scanning variably-positioned pass-aperture means arranged to periodically present at least one aperture slit across at least a portion of the bandwidth for ''''passage'''' thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The combination as recited in claim 6 wherein said selection is effected by a rotating slitted blocking-disc array.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
152 words
An improved arrangement for optical filtering and removal of selected lines from a prescribed radiation bandwidth adapted to do so without otherwise significantly affecting radiation characteristics such as relative spatial or angular relationship of the non-selected lines, this arrangement comprising in combination: entrant dispersal means for projecting the entrant bandwidth and including a prescribed dispersive array, for spreading the band and then recombining it, collimatingly and without significant distortion; filter means including prescribed stop means opaque to said radiation for intercepting the selected radiation lines from said dispersal means to remove them; and exit merging means arrayed to merge the resultant ''''filtered'''' bandwidth and including a prescribed mergent array for merging this bandwidth and recombining it, collimatingly and without significant distortion, to produce a collimated exit bandwidth substantially the same as said entrant bandwidth and colinear therewith, except for said line removal; said dispersive and mergent arrays being matched in symmetrical complementArity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
152 words
An improved arrangement for optical filtering and removal of selected lines from a prescribed radiation bandwidth adapted to do so without otherwise significantly affecting radiation characteristics such as relative spatial or angular relationship of the non-selected lines, this arrangement comprising in combination: entrant dispersal means for projecting the entrant bandwidth and including a prescribed dispersive array, for spreading the band and then recombining it, collimatingly and without significant distortion; filter means including prescribed stop means opaque to said radiation for intercepting the selected radiation lines from said dispersal means to remove them; and exit merging means arrayed to merge the resultant ''''filtered'''' bandwidth and including a prescribed mergent array for merging this bandwidth and recombining it, collimatingly and without significant distortion, to produce a collimated exit bandwidth substantially the same as said entrant bandwidth and colinear therewith, except for said line removal; said dispersive and mergent arrays being matched in symmetrical complementArity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
69 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 8 wherein said disperal means comprises a refracting prism plus a recombination element combined therewith, said element comprising a prism matched in characteristics with said refracting prism and disposed in symmetrical opposition thereto; wherein said merging means comprises a second refractive prism plus an associated recombination means comprising a prism matched in characteristics with said second prism and disposed in symmetrical opposition thereto.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The arrangement as recited in claim 9 wherein said filter means comprises blocking stop means opaque to said selected radiation lines and arranged so as to block them.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein said filter means comprises a multiline selective stop means, adjustably positionable to block only the lines selected for removal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein said filter means comprises variably-positioned pass-aperture means arranged to scan the bandwidth and periodically present at least one aperture slit across at least a portion of the bandwidth for effecting passage thereof at predetermined intervals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as recited in claim 12 wherein said filter means comprises a rotating slitted blocking-disc.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination as recited in claim 10 wherein said dispersal means comprises a pair of matched dispersing and collimating prisms and wherein said merging means comprise a pair of matched merging-collimating prisms, complementary with said dispersing-collimating pair, the prisms in each pair being disposed in symmetrical opposition so as to auto-correct for distortion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
The combination as recited in claim 8 wherein said filter means comprises stop means including adjustably positionable aperture means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as recited in claim 15 wherein said stop means comprises a multiline selector stop.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as recited in claim 15 wherein said stop means comprises a scanning aperture means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination as recited in claim 17 wherein said stop means comprises a rotating slitted wheel.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The combination as recited in claim 18 wherein the scanning slitted wheel is arrayed as a scanning monochromater for a spectral radiation beam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
The combination as recited in claim 8 wherein the filtering arrangement comprises a band-pass filter arrayed in operative association with a laser radiation source and is adapted to filter the output thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination as recited in claim 8 wherein the filtering arrangement is arranged as a line selection means in operative combination with ring resonator means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
57 words
The combination as recited in claim 21 wherein said resonator means comprises an unstable confocal ring resonator; wherein dispersing and associated collimating means are arranged to process an input beam and present it to an amplifying stage which is, in turn, arranged at the input of line selection means, from which the ''''filtered'''' radiation output is taken.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
126 words
An improved filtering system adapted to select and remove at least one radiation wavelength segment from a given bandwidth without otherwise significantly affecting the bandwidth and so as to self-compensate for any distortion, this system comprising, in combination: line clipping means; and positive and negative dispersive means arranged, respectively, upstream and downstream of the clipping means; said positive and negative dispersive means comprising an entry array of optical dispersive means and an exit array of optical mergent means respectively, said arrays being matched and complementary and each comprising a pair of symmetrically opposed refractive elements; said clipping means comprising opaque radiation blocking means together with one or more pass-aperture means having a width and location such as to pass only selected, ''''non-removed'''' portions of said bandwidth.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
126 words
An improved filtering system adapted to select and remove at least one radiation wavelength segment from a given bandwidth without otherwise significantly affecting the bandwidth and so as to self-compensate for any distortion, this system comprising, in combination: line clipping means; and positive and negative dispersive means arranged, respectively, upstream and downstream of the clipping means; said positive and negative dispersive means comprising an entry array of optical dispersive means and an exit array of optical mergent means respectively, said arrays being matched and complementary and each comprising a pair of symmetrically opposed refractive elements; said clipping means comprising opaque radiation blocking means together with one or more pass-aperture means having a width and location such as to pass only selected, ''''non-removed'''' portions of said bandwidth.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination as recited in claim 23 wherein said dispersIve and mergent means comprise a pair of dispersing, optically-refractive arrays, each array being arranged and disposed on opposite sides of said clipping means, said clipping means being disposed and adapted to function as a line-selecting filter station.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
39 words
The combination as recited in claim 24 wherein each optically refractive array comprises a pair of matched, symmetrically-opposed prisms adapted to pass the subject radiation bandwidth and to disperse it, positively or negatively, to a prescribed, relatively uniform degree.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2227510A
Cited
US2721259A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |