US4902125A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical system having beam amplification
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1988-06-30
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Granted: 1990-02-20
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Expires: 2008-06-30
Abstract
Abstract A laser radar system having amplification of the optical beam. In a system where it is desired to achieve greater information content or greater system sensitivity, one or more laser amplifiers in the beam paths provide greater optical power for increased distance. Eleven system architectures are disclosed for use with a modified Mach-Zehnder interferometer, eleven are disclosed for use with a Fizeau interferometer, and three are disclosed for use in a noncoherent optical system. The embodiments are distinguished by the number and placement of the laser amplifiers in the optical paths of the system.
Inventors
- 👤 Wayne H. Keene
- 👤 Albert V. Jelalian
- 👤 David B. McVicker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 18:26
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/23; H01S3/2308; G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/06; G01S17/08; G01S17/32; G01S7/00; G01S7/48; G01S7/481; G01S7/499; H01S3/10; H01S3/13; H01S3/139; H01S3/2316
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
A laser radar system for transmitting an optical beam toward a target and for detecting the target-reflected portion of said beam, said system including: a laser for producing a beam of optical energy along a first path; a beamsplitter in said first path for transmitting a first portion of said beam along said first path and for reflecting a second portion of said beam along a second path; means in said first path for altering the polarization of said first portion of said beam transmitted toward said target, and for further altering the polarization of said target-reflected portion of said beam; means in said first path responsive to the polarization of said first beam portion for transmitting said first beam portion therethrough, and responsive to the polarization of said target-reflected beam portion altered by said altering means for reflecting said target-reflected portion along a third path; a beam combiner for providing a combined beam from said second beam portion and said target-reflected portion on said third path, and for directing said combined beam along a fourth path; detector means responsive to said combined beam on said fourth path; and means in at least one of said first and third paths for amplifying the optical energy in said at least one path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
A laser radar system for transmitting an optical beam toward a target and for detecting the target-reflected portion of said beam, said system including: a laser for producing a beam of optical energy along a first path; a beamsplitter in said first path for transmitting a first portion of said beam along said first path and for reflecting a second portion of said beam along a second path; means in said first path for altering the polarization of said first portion of said beam transmitted toward said target, and for further altering the polarization of said target-reflected portion of said beam; means in said first path responsive to the polarization of said first beam portion for transmitting said first beam portion therethrough, and responsive to the polarization of said target-reflected beam portion altered by said altering means for reflecting said target-reflected portion along a third path; a beam combiner for providing a combined beam from said second beam portion and said target-reflected portion on said third path, and for directing said combined beam along a fourth path; detector means responsive to said combined beam on said fourth path; and means in at least one of said first and third paths for amplifying the optical energy in said at least one path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a laser amplifier in the optical path between said beamsplitter and said means responsive to beam polarization.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said beam combiner.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said polarization altering means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said beamsplitter and said means responsive to beam polarization and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said polarization altering means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said beamsplitter and said means responsive to beam polarization and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said beam combiner.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said polarization altering means and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said beam combiner.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said beamsplitter and said means responsive to beam polarization, and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said polarization altering means, and a third laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said beam combiner.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a laser amplifier in the optical path between said polarization altering means and said target.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said beamsplitter and said means responsive to beam polarization and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said polarization altering means and said target.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said polarization altering means and said target and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said beam combiner.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said beamsplitter and said means responsive to beam polarization, and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said polarization altering means and said target, and a third laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said beam combiner.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said means responsive to beam polarization for transmitting and reflection comprises a Brewster angle polarizer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system according to claim 1 wherein said polarization altering means comprises a quarter-waveplate.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system according to claim 11 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said laser and said means responsive to beam polarization and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said local oscillator generating means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
51 words
The system according to claim 11 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said local oscillator generating means and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said detector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
The system according to claim 11 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said laser and said means responsive to beam polarization, and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said local oscillator generating means, and a third laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said detector.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
183 words
A laser radar system for transmitting an optical beam toward a target and for detecting the target-reflected portion of said beam, said system including: a laser for producing a beam of optical energy along a first path; local oscillator generating means in said first path, said local oscillator generating means for altering the polarization of an optical beam passing therethrough, said local oscillator generating means additionally reflecting a portion of said beam from said laser; means in said first path responsive to the polarization of said beam from said laser for transmitting said beam from said laser therethrough, and responsive to the polarization of said target-reflected beam altered by said local oscillator generating means for reflecting said target-reflected portion along a second path, and responsive also to the polarization of said beam portion reflected by said local oscillator generating means for reflecting said reflected beam portion along said second path; detector means responsive to said beam on said second path; and means in at least one of said first and second paths for amplifying the optical energy in said at least one path.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
183 words
A laser radar system for transmitting an optical beam toward a target and for detecting the target-reflected portion of said beam, said system including: a laser for producing a beam of optical energy along a first path; local oscillator generating means in said first path, said local oscillator generating means for altering the polarization of an optical beam passing therethrough, said local oscillator generating means additionally reflecting a portion of said beam from said laser; means in said first path responsive to the polarization of said beam from said laser for transmitting said beam from said laser therethrough, and responsive to the polarization of said target-reflected beam altered by said local oscillator generating means for reflecting said target-reflected portion along a second path, and responsive also to the polarization of said beam portion reflected by said local oscillator generating means for reflecting said reflected beam portion along said second path; detector means responsive to said beam on said second path; and means in at least one of said first and second paths for amplifying the optical energy in said at least one path.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system according to claim 18 wherein said amplifying means comprises a laser amplifier in the optical path between said laser and said means responsive to beam polarization.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system according to claim 18 wherein said amplifying means comprises a laser amplifier in the optical path between said local oscillator generating means and said target.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system according to claim 18 wherein said amplifying means comprises a laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said detector.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system according to claim 18 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said laser and said means responsive to beam polarization and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said local oscillator generating means and said target.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
48 words
The system according to claim 18 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said laser and said means responsive to beam polarization and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said detector.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
47 words
The system according to claim 18 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said local oscillator generating means and said target and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said detector.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
66 words
The system according to claim 18 wherein said amplifying means comprises a first laser amplifier in the optical path between said laser and said means responsive to beam polarization, and a second laser amplifier in the optical path between said local oscillator generating means and said target, and a third laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said detector.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system according to claim 18 wherein said amplifying means comprises a laser amplifier in the optical path between said means responsive to beam polarization and said local oscillator generating means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system according to claim 18 wherein said means responsive to beam polarization comprises a polarizing beamsplitter.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-19 | 1993-08-21 | 1994-02-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-19 | 1997-08-21 | 1998-02-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-19 | 2001-08-21 | 2002-02-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |