US4973115A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Free expansion pseudo-zoom for laser projector
Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corp
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Filing: 1989-12-22
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Granted: 1990-11-27
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Expires: 2009-12-22
Abstract
Abstract The angle of divergence of a laser beam (29) is controlled without significant variation of beam power by using a movable corner cube (18) to vary the length of the optical path of a noncollimated beam (12) so as to present a beam of varying diameter to a telescope lens (26). In a second aspect of the invention, the beam is made insensitive to vibration of the corner cube (18) by covering a portion of its beam-receiving face with a second reflector (32) which causes the beam to make a second pass through the corner cube (18) in a parallel but opposite direction therey cancelling any beam displacement caused by the vibration of the corner cube (18).
Inventors
- 👤 Byron Edwards
- 👤 George W. Stewart, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:15
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/09; G02B27/0927; G02B17/00; G02B17/02; G02B17/04; G02B27/0938; G02B27/095; G02B27/0972
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for varying the divergence angle of a laser beam without substantial power loss, comprising: (a) a laser; (b) telescope means in the path of said beam for transmitting said beam with a divergence angle depending upon the length of the optical path between said laser and said telescope; means and (c) movable reflecting means interposed in the path of said beam between said laser and said telescope means for varying the length of said optical path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for varying the divergence angle of a laser beam without substantial power loss, comprising: (a) a laser; (b) telescope means in the path of said beam for transmitting said beam with a divergence angle depending upon the length of the optical path between said laser and said telescope; means and (c) movable reflecting means interposed in the path of said beam between said laser and said telescope means for varying the length of said optical path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1, in which said movable reflecting means is a corner cube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising second reflecting means positioned to reflect said beam back into said corner cube upon exit therefrom, whereby any displacement of said beam caused by transverse motion or rotation of said corner cube is cancelled out.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 3, in which said second reflecting means is a dihedral prism.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising scanning means interposed in the path of said beam for causing said beam to scan a field of view.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 5, in which said scanning means is interposed between said movable reflecting means and said telescope means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
135 words
A motion-insensitive corner cube assembly, comprising: (a) a corner cube acting as a first reflector; (b) means for causing an incident beam to enter said corner cube at a first location and to exit therefrom at a second location; and (c) a second reflector for intercepting said beam upon exit from said corner cube and reflecting it back into said corner cube at a third location so as to cause it to exit therefrom at a fourth location such that any displacement of said beam upon its first exit from said corner cube caused by transverse motion or rotation of said corner cube is cancelled upon its second exit therefrom; (d) said second reflector being positioned in the path of said beam at said second and third locations but not said first and fourth locations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
135 words
A motion-insensitive corner cube assembly, comprising: (a) a corner cube acting as a first reflector; (b) means for causing an incident beam to enter said corner cube at a first location and to exit therefrom at a second location; and (c) a second reflector for intercepting said beam upon exit from said corner cube and reflecting it back into said corner cube at a third location so as to cause it to exit therefrom at a fourth location such that any displacement of said beam upon its first exit from said corner cube caused by transverse motion or rotation of said corner cube is cancelled upon its second exit therefrom; (d) said second reflector being positioned in the path of said beam at said second and third locations but not said first and fourth locations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The assembly of claim 7, in which said second reflector is a dihedral prism covering a portion, but less than all, of the face of said corner cube upon which said beam impinges.
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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) | 1993-11-26 | 1994-05-28 | 1994-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-11-26 | 1998-05-28 | 1998-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-11-26 | 2002-05-28 | 2002-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |