US4393303A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intracavity phase front and power control
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1981-05-04
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Granted: 1983-07-12
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Expires: 2001-05-04
Abstract
Abstract An adaptive optic control system employs a single intracavity deformable mirror having a separately controlled multi-pass region and single-pass region to separately control the output power and wave front, respectively.
Inventors
- 👤 James M. Spinhirne
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 16:05
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
198 words
An adaptive optical resonator comprising: an optical gain medium; means for exciting optical radiation within said gain medium; reflective means, including a deformable mirror, disposed about said optical gain medium to form an unstable optical resonator for said radiation; and feedback means, responsive to a portion of said outcoupled radiation, for controlling said deformable mirror, characterized in that: said deformable mirror has a first region reflecting radiation within said resonator and a second region reflecting radiation out of said resonator; said feedback means includes means for focusing a portion of said outcoupled radiation to a plurality of feedback focal points, a first detector responsive to a first fraction of said portion of said outcoupled radiation falling within a predetermined aperture centered on one of said feedback focal points and connected to means for controlling said first region to maximize the power of said first fraction of radiation impinging on said first detector, and a second detector responsive to a second fraction of that portion of said outcoupled radiation directed at another of said feedback focal points and connected to means for controlling said second region of said deformable mirror to adjust the wave front of said outcoupled radiation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
198 words
An adaptive optical resonator comprising: an optical gain medium; means for exciting optical radiation within said gain medium; reflective means, including a deformable mirror, disposed about said optical gain medium to form an unstable optical resonator for said radiation; and feedback means, responsive to a portion of said outcoupled radiation, for controlling said deformable mirror, characterized in that: said deformable mirror has a first region reflecting radiation within said resonator and a second region reflecting radiation out of said resonator; said feedback means includes means for focusing a portion of said outcoupled radiation to a plurality of feedback focal points, a first detector responsive to a first fraction of said portion of said outcoupled radiation falling within a predetermined aperture centered on one of said feedback focal points and connected to means for controlling said first region to maximize the power of said first fraction of radiation impinging on said first detector, and a second detector responsive to a second fraction of that portion of said outcoupled radiation directed at another of said feedback focal points and connected to means for controlling said second region of said deformable mirror to adjust the wave front of said outcoupled radiation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A resonator according to claim 1, in which said second fraction is that fraction of said radiation incident on said another feedback focal point that passes through a second aperture smaller than the Airy disk of said output beam, centered on said another feedback focal point and said second detector responds to the power of radiation passing through said second aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A resonator according to claim 1, in which said second detector is a wave front detector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A resonator according to either of claims 1 or 2, in which said predetermined aperture is greater than the Airy disk of said output beam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4091274A
Cited
US4249140A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-07-11 | 1987-01-10 | 1987-07-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-07-11 | 1991-01-10 | 1991-07-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-07-11 | 1995-01-10 | 1995-07-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |