Method and apparatus for sequentially combining pulsed beams of radiation

Claim 1

A system for combining beams of pulsed radiation comprising: a plurality of pulsed radiation sources for providing spacially separate beams of radiation pulses in a sequence; said radiation pulses having a finite time duration; means for receiving the sequence of spacially separate beams of radiation pulses to direct said separate beams of radiation pulses along a generally common path; said means for receiving said sequence of beams of radiation pulses to direct them along a generally common path being operative to direct the pulsed beams along said common path substantially without dynamic angular variation in the pulsed radiation beams throughout the finite duration of each rotation pulse.

Claim 2

A system for combining beams of pulsed radiation comprising: a plurality of pulsed radiation sources for providing spacially separate beams of radiation pulses in a sequence; said radiation pulses having a finite time duration; means for receiving the sequence of spacially separate beams of radiation pulses to direct said separate beams of radiation pulses along a generally common path; said means for receiving said sequence of beams of radiation pulses to direct them along a generally common path being operative to direct the pulsed beams along said common path substantially without dynamic angular variation in the pulsed radiation beams throughout the finite duration of each rotation pulse.

Claim 16

A system for combining pulsed radiation comprising: a plurality of pulsed radiation sources sequentially activated for providing radiation pulses; means responsive to the sequence of pulsed radiation from said plurality of sources for directing the consecutive radiation pulses from said plural sources along a generally common path; and means operative in association with said directing means for reducing the dynamic angular variation of the radiation along said generally common path during each pulse of radiation.

Claim 17

A system for combining pulsed radiation comprising: a plurality of pulsed radiation sources sequentially activated for providing radiation pulses; means responsive to the sequence of pulsed radiation from said plurality of sources for directing the consecutive radiation pulses from said plural sources along a generally common path; and means operative in association with said directing means for reducing the dynamic angular variation of the radiation along said generally common path during each pulse of radiation.

Claim 36

A system for combining beams of pulsed radiation comprising: plural pulsed radiation sources providing a plurality of respective spacially separated beams of pulsed radiation in a predetermined sequence; an optical system for receiving and directing said beams onto a common output path substantially without variation in the beam angle of output radiation along said common output, said optical system including: at least one first reflecting surface for receiving input radiation from said radiation sources and at least one second reflecting surface for providing output radiation along said common path; means for producing continuous rotation of said at least one first and second reflecting surfaces; and means for controlling the rotation of said first reflecting surface to receive each pulse of radiation in the sequence of spacially separate beams for direction through said optical system to said at least one reflecting surface for reflection by said second reflecting surface onto said common output path.

Claim 37

A system for combining beams of pulsed radiation comprising: plural pulsed radiation sources providing a plurality of respective spacially separated beams of pulsed radiation in a predetermined sequence; an optical system for receiving and directing said beams onto a common output path substantially without variation in the beam angle of output radiation along said common output, said optical system including: at least one first reflecting surface for receiving input radiation from said radiation sources and at least one second reflecting surface for providing output radiation along said common path; means for producing continuous rotation of said at least one first and second reflecting surfaces; and means for controlling the rotation of said first reflecting surface to receive each pulse of radiation in the sequence of spacially separate beams for direction through said optical system to said at least one reflecting surface for reflection by said second reflecting surface onto said common output path.

Claim 39

A system for combining the pulsed radiation outputs of a plurality of high repetition rate pulsed radiation sources to provide a common output of increased repetition rate comprising: a plurality of high pulse repetition rate radiation sources; decombining means for sequentially applying radiation pulses from said plurality of sources along a plurality of separate radiation paths for each source; and combining means responsive to the radiation along said separate radiation paths for combining the sequenced pulses of radiation along said separate radiation paths into a single common path of high repetitIon rate radiation pulses.

Claim 40

A system for combining the pulsed radiation outputs of a plurality of high repetition rate pulsed radiation sources to provide a common output of increased repetition rate comprising: a plurality of high pulse repetition rate radiation sources; decombining means for sequentially applying radiation pulses from said plurality of sources along a plurality of separate radiation paths for each source; and combining means responsive to the radiation along said separate radiation paths for combining the sequenced pulses of radiation along said separate radiation paths into a single common path of high repetitIon rate radiation pulses.

Claim 41

A system for combining the pulsed radiation output of a plurality of pulsed laser radiation sources to provide a single path output of high repetition rate laser radiation comprising: a plurality of laser radiation sources; means for sequentially activating said plurality of radiation sources to provide a sequence of radiation pulses from said plurality of sources in rotation; a rotating reflecting means synchronized with the sequence of laser pulses to receive each radiation pulse from a corresponding laser and reflect it along a generally common path; a reflecting system having an odd number of reflecting surfaces in the path of incident radiation and positioned to receive the output from said reflecting means along said common path; means for rotating said reflecting system about said common path in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of said reflecting means and at one-half the rate thereof; an array of a plurality of reflecting surfaces; means for rotating said array generally synchronously with said reflecting system so as to sequentially present each of said plurality of reflecting surfaces to corresponding radiation from said reflecting system for each sequential pulse of laser radiation; the reflecting surfaces of said array being angled to reflect radiation from said reflecting system onto a further common path having compensation for radiation angular variation.

Claim 42

A system for combining the pulsed radiation output of a plurality of pulsed laser radiation sources to provide a single path output of high repetition rate laser radiation comprising: a plurality of laser radiation sources; means for sequentially activating said plurality of radiation sources to provide a sequence of radiation pulses from said plurality of sources in rotation; a rotating reflecting means synchronized with the sequence of laser pulses to receive each radiation pulse from a corresponding laser and reflect it along a generally common path; a reflecting system having an odd number of reflecting surfaces in the path of incident radiation and positioned to receive the output from said reflecting means along said common path; means for rotating said reflecting system about said common path in a direction counter to the direction of rotation of said reflecting means and at one-half the rate thereof; an array of a plurality of reflecting surfaces; means for rotating said array generally synchronously with said reflecting system so as to sequentially present each of said plurality of reflecting surfaces to corresponding radiation from said reflecting system for each sequential pulse of laser radiation; the reflecting surfaces of said array being angled to reflect radiation from said reflecting system onto a further common path having compensation for radiation angular variation.

Claim 43

A system for combining the pulsed radiation output of a plurality of pulsed laser radiation sources to provide a common output path with augmented pulse repetition rate comprising: a plurality of pulsed laser radiation sources generally arranged about an axis to direct the radiation thereof towards said axis; a reflector array having a plurality of reflecting surfaces about said axis each arrayed to receive radiation from a corresponding laser source and to redirect it symmetrically about said common axis at generally equal radial distances therefrom; further, first and second, reflecting surfaces arranged in a facing relationship; means for rotating the arrangement of said first and second reflecting surfaces about an axis passing through the first of said first and second reflecting surfaces; means for controlling the rotation of the first and second reflecting surfaces about said axis to position said second reflecting surface to receive each pulse of laser radiation from said reflector array and direct it toward said first reflecting surface for redirection thereby along said common output path.

Claim 44

A system for combining the pulsed radiation output of a plurality of pulsed laser radiation sources to provide a common output path with augmented pulse repetition rate comprising: a plurality of pulsed laser radiation sources generally arranged about an axis to direct the radiation thereof towards said axis; a reflector array having a plurality of reflecting surfaces about said axis each arrayed to receive radiation from a corresponding laser source and to redirect it symmetrically about said common axis at generally equal radial distances therefrom; further, first and second, reflecting surfaces arranged in a facing relationship; means for rotating the arrangement of said first and second reflecting surfaces about an axis passing through the first of said first and second reflecting surfaces; means for controlling the rotation of the first and second reflecting surfaces about said axis to position said second reflecting surface to receive each pulse of laser radiation from said reflector array and direct it toward said first reflecting surface for redirection thereby along said common output path.