US4093354A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for splitting a beam of energy
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1975-12-23
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Granted: 1978-06-06
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Expires: 1995-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A method of forming two diverging beams of energy from a single beam of energy including the steps of splitting the single beam of energy into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam at a first surface on a wedge shaped energy beam splitting device; splitting the internally transmitted beam into an internally reflected beam and an externally transmitted beam at a second surface of the wedge shaped energy beam splitting device, and substantially totally reflecting the internally reflected beam between the first and second surfaces until the internally reflected beam reaches an end of the wedge shaped energy beam splitting device. The above method may further include steps paralleling the above steps wherein two diverging beams of energy are formed from a second beam of energy impinging on the second surface and then combining the two diverging beams with the two diverging beams formed from the beam of energy split by the first surface, to form first and second combined beams. The preferred apparatus for performing the method is an energy beam splitting device having a first surface for splitting an incident beam energy into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beams, a second surface spaced from the first surface for splitting the internally transmitted beam into an externally transmitted beam and into an internally reflected beam, and the second surface intersecting the first surface at an angle that impinges the internally transmitted beam on the second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection and impinges said internally reflected beam on the first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection. The above device may further be used as a beam combiner by having the second surface split a second incident beam of energy into two diverging beams of energy and combining the two beams produced by the first surface with the two beams produced by the second surface to form first and second combined beams.
Inventors
- 👤 with respect to an invention of Fletcher James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- 👤 Walter Robert Leeb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 01:02
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/14; G02B27/142; G02B27/1006; G02B27/144; G02B27/145
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
258 words
A method of forming two diverging beams of energy from a single beam of energy, comprising the steps of: a. impinging said single beam of energy on a first surface of a substantially transparent prism means, a cross-section of said prism means forming substantially truncated isosceles triangle sides, said cross-section being taken perpendicular to said sides, said sides having a base forming a wide end of said prism means, said prism means having an index of refraction substantially greater than a surrounding medium, and said single beam of energy being angled at said first surface toward said wide end of said prism means; b. splitting said single beam of energy into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam at said first surface, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means toward a second surface angled toward said wide end; c. impinging said internally transmitted beam on said second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; d. splitting said internally transmitted beam into an internally reflected beam and an externally transmitted beam at said second surface, said internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means toward said first surface angled toward said wide end; e. impinging said internally reflected beam on said first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; and f. reflecting said internally reflected beam between said first and second surfaces toward said wide end of said prism means for dispersal therefrom.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
258 words
A method of forming two diverging beams of energy from a single beam of energy, comprising the steps of: a. impinging said single beam of energy on a first surface of a substantially transparent prism means, a cross-section of said prism means forming substantially truncated isosceles triangle sides, said cross-section being taken perpendicular to said sides, said sides having a base forming a wide end of said prism means, said prism means having an index of refraction substantially greater than a surrounding medium, and said single beam of energy being angled at said first surface toward said wide end of said prism means; b. splitting said single beam of energy into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam at said first surface, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means toward a second surface angled toward said wide end; c. impinging said internally transmitted beam on said second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; d. splitting said internally transmitted beam into an internally reflected beam and an externally transmitted beam at said second surface, said internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means toward said first surface angled toward said wide end; e. impinging said internally reflected beam on said first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; and f. reflecting said internally reflected beam between said first and second surfaces toward said wide end of said prism means for dispersal therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of forming said first and second surfaces at an angle to each other that impinges aid internally transmitted beam on said second surface at said angle of incidence that is less than said minimum angle and impinges said internally reflected beam on said first surface at said angle of incidence that exceeds said minimum angle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of coating said first surface with a partially reflective coating to intensify said externally reflected beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of coating said second surface with an substantially anti-reflective coating to intensify said externally transmitted beam.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
595 words
A method of forming a pair of combined beams of energy, comprising the steps of: a. impinging a first beam of energy on a first surface of a substantially transparent prism means, a cross-section of said prism means forming substantially truncated isosceles triangle sides, said cross-section being taken perpendicular to said sides, said sides having a base forming a wide end of said prism means, said prism means having an index of refraction substantially greater than a surrounding medium, said first beam of energy being angled at said first surface toward said wide end of said prism means; b. splitting said first beam of energy into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam at said first surface, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means toward a second surface angled toward said wide end; c. impinging said internally transmitted beam on said second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; d. impinging a second beam of energy on said second surface and angling said second beam of energy at said second surface toward said wide end of said prism means; e. splitting said second beam of energy into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam at said second surface, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means toward said first surface angled toward said wide end; f. impinging said internally transmitted beam on said first surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; g. splitting said internally transmitted beam, formed from said first beam, into an internally reflected beam and an externally transmitted beam at said second surface, said internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means toward said first surface angled toward said wide end; h. impinging said internally reflected beam formed from said first beam on said first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; i. splitting said internally transmitted beam, formed from said second beam, into a first internally reflected beam and a first externally transmitted beam at said first surface, said first internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means toward said second surface angled toward said wide end; j. impinging said first internally reflected beam formed from said second beam, on said second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; k. splitting said first internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, into a second internally reflected beam and a second externally transmitted beam at said second surface, said second internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means toward said first surface angled toward said wide end; l. impinging said second internally reflected beam formed from said second beam, on said first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; m. combining said externally reflected beam, formed from said first beam, with said first externally transmitted beam, formed from said second beam, for forming a first combined beam of energy; n. combining said externally transmitted beam, formed from said first beam, with said second externally transmitted beam, formed from said second beam, for forming a second combined beam of energy; and o. reflecting said internally reflected beam, formed from said first beam, and said second internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, between said first and second surfaces toward said wide end of said prism means for dispersal therefrom.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
595 words
A method of forming a pair of combined beams of energy, comprising the steps of: a. impinging a first beam of energy on a first surface of a substantially transparent prism means, a cross-section of said prism means forming substantially truncated isosceles triangle sides, said cross-section being taken perpendicular to said sides, said sides having a base forming a wide end of said prism means, said prism means having an index of refraction substantially greater than a surrounding medium, said first beam of energy being angled at said first surface toward said wide end of said prism means; b. splitting said first beam of energy into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam at said first surface, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means toward a second surface angled toward said wide end; c. impinging said internally transmitted beam on said second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; d. impinging a second beam of energy on said second surface and angling said second beam of energy at said second surface toward said wide end of said prism means; e. splitting said second beam of energy into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam at said second surface, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means toward said first surface angled toward said wide end; f. impinging said internally transmitted beam on said first surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; g. splitting said internally transmitted beam, formed from said first beam, into an internally reflected beam and an externally transmitted beam at said second surface, said internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means toward said first surface angled toward said wide end; h. impinging said internally reflected beam formed from said first beam on said first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; i. splitting said internally transmitted beam, formed from said second beam, into a first internally reflected beam and a first externally transmitted beam at said first surface, said first internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means toward said second surface angled toward said wide end; j. impinging said first internally reflected beam formed from said second beam, on said second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; k. splitting said first internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, into a second internally reflected beam and a second externally transmitted beam at said second surface, said second internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means toward said first surface angled toward said wide end; l. impinging said second internally reflected beam formed from said second beam, on said first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; m. combining said externally reflected beam, formed from said first beam, with said first externally transmitted beam, formed from said second beam, for forming a first combined beam of energy; n. combining said externally transmitted beam, formed from said first beam, with said second externally transmitted beam, formed from said second beam, for forming a second combined beam of energy; and o. reflecting said internally reflected beam, formed from said first beam, and said second internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, between said first and second surfaces toward said wide end of said prism means for dispersal therefrom.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the step of substantially totally reflecting said second internally reflected beam formed from said second beam includes the steps of: impinging said first internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, on said second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection; and impinging said second internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, on said first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
96 words
The method of claim 6 further including the step of forming said first and second surfaces at an angle to each other that impinges said internally transmitted beam, formed from said first beam, and said first internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, on said second surface at said angle of incidence that is less than said minimum angle and impinges said internally reflected beam, formed from said first beam, and said second internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, on said first surface at said angle of incidence that exceeds said minimum angle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 5 further including the step of coating said second surface with a substantially antireflective coating to decrease the intensity of said externally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, and to intensify said second combined beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
270 words
An energy beam splitting device, comprising: prism means being substantially transparent, a cross-section of said prism means forming substantially truncated isosceles triangle sides, said cross section being taken perpendicular to said sides, said sides having a base forming a wide end of said prism means, and said prism means having an index of refraction substantially greater than a surrounding medium including; a first surface extending perpendicular to said sides for splitting an incident beam of energy angled toward said wide end of said prism means into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means angled toward said wide end thereof, a second surface opposed from said first surface and extending perpendicular to said sides for intercepting and splitting said internally transmitted beam into an externally transmitted beam and into an internally reflected beam, said internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means to said first surface angled toward said wide end, said second surface intersecting said first surface at an angle that impinges said internally transmitted beam on said second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection and impinges said internally reflected beam on said first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds said minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection toward said wide end, and said wide end having a series of spaced substantially parallel ridges along the length thereof for diffusely scattering said internally reflected beam away from said externally reflected and transmitted beams when said internally reflected beam emerges from said wide end.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
270 words
An energy beam splitting device, comprising: prism means being substantially transparent, a cross-section of said prism means forming substantially truncated isosceles triangle sides, said cross section being taken perpendicular to said sides, said sides having a base forming a wide end of said prism means, and said prism means having an index of refraction substantially greater than a surrounding medium including; a first surface extending perpendicular to said sides for splitting an incident beam of energy angled toward said wide end of said prism means into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means angled toward said wide end thereof, a second surface opposed from said first surface and extending perpendicular to said sides for intercepting and splitting said internally transmitted beam into an externally transmitted beam and into an internally reflected beam, said internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means to said first surface angled toward said wide end, said second surface intersecting said first surface at an angle that impinges said internally transmitted beam on said second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection and impinges said internally reflected beam on said first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds said minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection toward said wide end, and said wide end having a series of spaced substantially parallel ridges along the length thereof for diffusely scattering said internally reflected beam away from said externally reflected and transmitted beams when said internally reflected beam emerges from said wide end.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The energy beam splitting device of claim 9 wherein said first surface is coated with a partially reflective coating for intensifying said externally reflected beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The energy beam splitting device of claim 9 wherein said second surface is coated with a substantially anti-reflective coating for intensifying said externally transmitted beam.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
513 words
An energy beam combining device, comprising: prism means being substantially transparent, a cross-section of said prism means forming substantially truncated isosceles triangle sides, said cross section being taken perpendicular to said sides, said sides having a base forming a wide end of said prism means, and said prism means having an index of refraction substantially greater than a surrounding medium, including; a first surface extending perpendicular to said sides for splitting a first incident beam angled toward said wide end of said prism means thereon into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means angled toward said wide end, a second surface opposed from said first surface and extending perpendicular to said sides for splitting a second incident beam angled toward said wide end of said prism means thereon into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means to said first surface angled toward said wide end, said second surface intercepting and splitting said internally transmitted beam, formed from said first beam, into an internally reflected beam and into an externally transmitted beam, said internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means to said first surface angled toward said wide end, said first surface intercepting and splitting said internally transmitted beam, formed from said second beam, into a first externally transmitted beam for combining into a first combined beam said first externally transmitted beam and said externally reflected beam, formed from said first beam, and into a first internally reflected beam, said first internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means to said second surface angled toward said wide end, said second surface intercepting and splitting said first internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, into a second externally transmitted beam for combining into a second combined beam said second externally transmitted beam and said externally transmitted beam, formed from said first beam, and into a second internally reflected beam, said second internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means to said first surface angled toward said wide end, said second surface intersecting said first surface at an angle that impings said internally transmitted beam, formed from said first beam, and said first internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, on said second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection and impinges said internally reflected beam, formed from said first beam, and said second internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, on said first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection toward said wide end, and said wide end having a series of spaced substantially parallel ridges along the length thereof for diffusely scattering said internally reflected beam, formed from said first beam, and said second internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, away from said first and second combined beams when said internally reflected beam and said second internally reflected beam emerge from said wide end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
513 words
An energy beam combining device, comprising: prism means being substantially transparent, a cross-section of said prism means forming substantially truncated isosceles triangle sides, said cross section being taken perpendicular to said sides, said sides having a base forming a wide end of said prism means, and said prism means having an index of refraction substantially greater than a surrounding medium, including; a first surface extending perpendicular to said sides for splitting a first incident beam angled toward said wide end of said prism means thereon into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means angled toward said wide end, a second surface opposed from said first surface and extending perpendicular to said sides for splitting a second incident beam angled toward said wide end of said prism means thereon into an externally reflected beam and an internally transmitted beam, said internally transmitted beam traveling through said prism means to said first surface angled toward said wide end, said second surface intercepting and splitting said internally transmitted beam, formed from said first beam, into an internally reflected beam and into an externally transmitted beam, said internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means to said first surface angled toward said wide end, said first surface intercepting and splitting said internally transmitted beam, formed from said second beam, into a first externally transmitted beam for combining into a first combined beam said first externally transmitted beam and said externally reflected beam, formed from said first beam, and into a first internally reflected beam, said first internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means to said second surface angled toward said wide end, said second surface intercepting and splitting said first internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, into a second externally transmitted beam for combining into a second combined beam said second externally transmitted beam and said externally transmitted beam, formed from said first beam, and into a second internally reflected beam, said second internally reflected beam traveling through said prism means to said first surface angled toward said wide end, said second surface intersecting said first surface at an angle that impings said internally transmitted beam, formed from said first beam, and said first internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, on said second surface at an angle of incidence that is less than the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection and impinges said internally reflected beam, formed from said first beam, and said second internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, on said first surface at an angle of incidence that exceeds the minimum angle necessary for substantially total internal reflection toward said wide end, and said wide end having a series of spaced substantially parallel ridges along the length thereof for diffusely scattering said internally reflected beam, formed from said first beam, and said second internally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, away from said first and second combined beams when said internally reflected beam and said second internally reflected beam emerge from said wide end.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The energy beam combining device of claim 12 wherein said second surface is coated with a substantially anti-reflective coating for decreasing the intensity of said externally reflected beam, formed from said second beam, and for intensifying said second combined beam.
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) | 1981-06-05 | 1981-12-05 | 1982-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-06-05 | 1985-12-05 | 1986-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-06-05 | 1989-12-05 | 1990-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |