US4452532A — Beam alignment tool and method

Claim 1

Independent Claim 139 words

A tool for checking alignment between a beam of radiant energy and a structure comprising: (a) target support means for holding a target in the path of the beam so that the beam will impinge on a surface of the target and thereby form a beam image; (b) a reticle opaque to the radiant energy of the beam; and (c) reticle positioning means for holding the reticle in the path of the beam in front of the target in predetermined alignment with the structure so that the reticle will cast a shadow on the target within the beam image, the shadow and the outline of the beam image being in a first positional relationship when the beam is in the desired alignment with the structure, such positional relationship being altered by deviation of the beam from such desired alignment.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 139 words

A tool for checking alignment between a beam of radiant energy and a structure comprising: (a) target support means for holding a target in the path of the beam so that the beam will impinge on a surface of the target and thereby form a beam image; (b) a reticle opaque to the radiant energy of the beam; and (c) reticle positioning means for holding the reticle in the path of the beam in front of the target in predetermined alignment with the structure so that the reticle will cast a shadow on the target within the beam image, the shadow and the outline of the beam image being in a first positional relationship when the beam is in the desired alignment with the structure, such positional relationship being altered by deviation of the beam from such desired alignment.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 35 words

A tool as claimed in claim 1 in which said reticle includes a pair of perpendicularly intersecting linear elements, so that the shadow cast by the reticle will include a pair of perpendicular intersecting lines.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 131 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein said reticle positioning means includes a body having a threaded feature defining an axis, said threaded feature is adapted to threadedly engage a mating feature of the structure with which the beam is to be aligned so that when the beam is in the desired alignment with such structure, the beam will extend along said axis, said reticle positioning means also includes a holder mounted to said body and pivotable about said axis, and said linearly extensive elements of said reticle are mounted to said holder so that they extend in a plane perpendicular to said axis and the orientation of said linearly extensive elements relative to said threaded feature may be adjusted by pivoting the holder relative to the body on said axis.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 30 words

Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the elements of the reticle are fixed to the holder so that the point of intersection of such elements lies on said axis.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 169 words

A method of checking the alignment between a beam of radiant energy and a structure comprising steps of: (a) positioning a target in the path of the beam and exposing the target to the beam so that the beam will impinge on a front surface of the target and form a beam image thereon; (b) positioning a reticle which is opaque to the radiant energy of the beam in front of the target in the path of the beam in predetermined alignment with the structure so that the reticle will cast a shadow on the target within the beam image during the exposure of the target to the beam, the shadow and the outline of the beam image being in a first positional relationship when the beam is in the desired alignment with the structure, such positional relationship being altered by deviation of the beam from such desired alignment; and (c) detecting the positional relationship between the shadow cast by the reticle and the outline of the beam image.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 169 words

A method of checking the alignment between a beam of radiant energy and a structure comprising steps of: (a) positioning a target in the path of the beam and exposing the target to the beam so that the beam will impinge on a front surface of the target and form a beam image thereon; (b) positioning a reticle which is opaque to the radiant energy of the beam in front of the target in the path of the beam in predetermined alignment with the structure so that the reticle will cast a shadow on the target within the beam image during the exposure of the target to the beam, the shadow and the outline of the beam image being in a first positional relationship when the beam is in the desired alignment with the structure, such positional relationship being altered by deviation of the beam from such desired alignment; and (c) detecting the positional relationship between the shadow cast by the reticle and the outline of the beam image.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the target is affected by the radiant energy of the beam so as to form a permanent record of the beam image, the shadow and the positional relationship between the beam image and the shadow being observed after exposure of the target to the beam.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the target is wood and the beam is a beam of light having sufficient power to char the wood so that the beam image and the shadow are recorded in a pattern of charred and uncharred areas.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 174 words

A method of checking the alignment between a beam of radiant energy and a structure comprising steps of: (a) positioning a target in the path of the beam and exposing the target to the beam so that the beam will impinge on a front surface of the target and form a beam image thereon; (b) positioning a reticle which includes a pair of perpendicular intersecting linearly extensive elements and which is opaque to the radiant energy of the beam in front of the target in the path of the beam in predetermined alignment with the structure so that the reticle will cast a shadow which includes a pair of perpendicular shadow lines on the target within the beam image during the exposure of the target to the beam; and (c) detecting the positional relationship between the shadow cast by the reticle and the outline of the beam image by measuring the distances from the point of intersection of the shadow lines to the edge of the beam image along each of the shadow lines.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 174 words

A method of checking the alignment between a beam of radiant energy and a structure comprising steps of: (a) positioning a target in the path of the beam and exposing the target to the beam so that the beam will impinge on a front surface of the target and form a beam image thereon; (b) positioning a reticle which includes a pair of perpendicular intersecting linearly extensive elements and which is opaque to the radiant energy of the beam in front of the target in the path of the beam in predetermined alignment with the structure so that the reticle will cast a shadow which includes a pair of perpendicular shadow lines on the target within the beam image during the exposure of the target to the beam; and (c) detecting the positional relationship between the shadow cast by the reticle and the outline of the beam image by measuring the distances from the point of intersection of the shadow lines to the edge of the beam image along each of the shadow lines.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 35 words

A method as claimed in claim 8 in which the reticle is held so that each of its linearly extensive elements extends in the adjustment direction of a unidirectional adjustment device incorporated in the structure.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 41 words

A method as claimed in claim 9 in which the beam is axially symmetrical, the point of intersection of the shadow lines being in the center of the beam image when the beam is in a desired alignment with the structure.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method as claim in claim 10 in which the beam is circular in cross-section so that the beam image is circular.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 53 words

A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein the target is affected by the radiant energy of the beam so as to form a permanent record of the beam image, the shadow and the positional relationship between the beam image and the shadow being observed after exposure of the target to the beam.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 45 words

A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein the target is wood and the beam is a beam of light having sufficient power to char the wood so that the beam image and the shadow are recorded in a pattern of charred and uncharred areas.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 136 words

A tool for checking alignment between a beam of radiant energy and a structure comprising: (a) a target support means for holding a target in the path of the beam so that the beam will impinge on a surface of the target and thereby form a beam image; (b) a reticle opaque to the radiant energy of the beam; and (c) reticle positioning means for holding the reticle in the path of the beam in front of the target in predetermined alignment with the structure so that the reticle will cast a shadow on the target, the shadow and the outline of the beam image being in a first positional relationship when the beam is in the desired alignment with the structure, such positional relationship being altered by deviation of the beam from such desired alignment.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 136 words

A tool for checking alignment between a beam of radiant energy and a structure comprising: (a) a target support means for holding a target in the path of the beam so that the beam will impinge on a surface of the target and thereby form a beam image; (b) a reticle opaque to the radiant energy of the beam; and (c) reticle positioning means for holding the reticle in the path of the beam in front of the target in predetermined alignment with the structure so that the reticle will cast a shadow on the target, the shadow and the outline of the beam image being in a first positional relationship when the beam is in the desired alignment with the structure, such positional relationship being altered by deviation of the beam from such desired alignment.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 165 words

A method for checking the alignment between a beam of radiant energy and a structure comprising steps of: (a) positioning a target in the path of the beam and exposing the target to the beam so that the beam will impinge on a front surface of the target and form a beam image thereon; (b) positioning a reticle which is opaque to the radiant energy of the beam in front of the target in the path of the beam in predetermined alignment with the structure so that the reticle will cast a shadow on the target during the exposure of the target to the beam, the shadow and the outline of the beam image being in a first positional relationship when the beam is in the desired alignment with the structure, such positional relationship being altered by deviation of the beam from such desired alignment; and (c) detecting the positional relationship between the shadow cast by the reticle and the outline of the beam image.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 165 words

A method for checking the alignment between a beam of radiant energy and a structure comprising steps of: (a) positioning a target in the path of the beam and exposing the target to the beam so that the beam will impinge on a front surface of the target and form a beam image thereon; (b) positioning a reticle which is opaque to the radiant energy of the beam in front of the target in the path of the beam in predetermined alignment with the structure so that the reticle will cast a shadow on the target during the exposure of the target to the beam, the shadow and the outline of the beam image being in a first positional relationship when the beam is in the desired alignment with the structure, such positional relationship being altered by deviation of the beam from such desired alignment; and (c) detecting the positional relationship between the shadow cast by the reticle and the outline of the beam image.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method as in claim 5 further comprising the step of adjusting the beam alignment such that the observed positional relationship of step (c) coincides with the first positional relationship of step (b).

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 33 words

A method as in claim 15 further comprising the step of adjusting the beam alignment such that the observed positional relationship of step (c) coincides with the first positional relationship of step (b).

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1987-06-05	1987-12-05	1988-06-05	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1991-06-05	1991-12-05	1992-06-05	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1995-06-05	1995-12-05	1996-06-05	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Beam alignment tool and method

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