US5020074A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser alignment system
Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corp
•
Filing: 1990-02-23
•
Granted: 1991-05-28
•
Expires: 2010-02-23
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for precisely aligning waveguide lasers. Each optical element of a waveguide laser is systematically and independently adjusted relative to pertinent waveguide segments. A test laser beam is propagated into a waveguide segment which is adjacent to a selected end port substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis running through the center of the waveguide segment so that the test laser beam contacts opposing wall portions along two axes of the selected end port. The test laser beam is reflected through each successive waveguide segment, the diffraction patterns of the reflected test laser beam are detected at the end opposite the reflecting means, and the reflecting elements are adjusted until the diffraction patterns of the reflected test laser beam are substantially symmetrical. After the test laser beam has propagated through all waveguide segments, it is reflected off the endmost reflecting element and back through the waveguide laser so that the beam exits through the selected end port. The diffraction patterns of the reflected test laser beam are then detected, and the position of the endmost reflecting element is adjusted until the diffraction patterns of the test laser beam are substantially symmetrical. As a final step, the reflecting element mounted adjacent to the selected end port is adjusted.
Inventors
- 👤 Gordon H. Lerfald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:06
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/081; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/0315; H01S3/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of aligning a waveguide laser having a waveguide bore with one waveguide segment, comprising the steps of: (a) propagating a test laser beam into a selected end port of the waveguide laser and through the waveguide bore substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide bore such that said test laser beam contacts opposing wall portions along a first axis and a second axis of said selected end port; (b) reflecting said test laser beam off an endmost reflecting element located at the end of the waveguide bore opposite said selected end and back through the waveguide bore so that said test laser beam exits from said selected end port; (c) detecting the waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam after said reflected test laser beam has exited from said selected end port; and (d) adjusting the position of the endmost reflecting element until said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam are substantially symmetrical.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
164 words
A method of aligning a waveguide laser having a waveguide bore with one waveguide segment, comprising the steps of: (a) propagating a test laser beam into a selected end port of the waveguide laser and through the waveguide bore substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide bore such that said test laser beam contacts opposing wall portions along a first axis and a second axis of said selected end port; (b) reflecting said test laser beam off an endmost reflecting element located at the end of the waveguide bore opposite said selected end and back through the waveguide bore so that said test laser beam exits from said selected end port; (c) detecting the waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam after said reflected test laser beam has exited from said selected end port; and (d) adjusting the position of the endmost reflecting element until said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam are substantially symmetrical.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
264 words
A method of aligning a waveguide laser having a waveguide bore with two waveguide segments, comprising the steps of: (a) propagating a test laser beam into a selected end port of the waveguide laser and through a first waveguide segment which includes said selected end port substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first waveguide segment such that said test laser beam contacts opposing all portions along a first axis and a second axis of said selected end port of the waveguide laser; (b) reflecting said test laser beam from the first waveguide segment through a second waveguide segment disposed adjacently thereto off a first intermediate reflecting element located near the junction of the first and second waveguide segments; (c) detecting the waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam at the end of the second waveguide segment opposite the first intermediate reflecting element; (d) adjusting the position of the first intermediate reflecting element until said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam are substantially symmetrical; (e) reflecting said test laser beam off an endmost reflecting element located at the end of the waveguide bore opposite said selected end and back through all waveguide segments so that said test laser beam exits from said selected end port; (f) detecting said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam after said reflected test laser beam has exited from said selected end port; and (g) adjusting the position of the endmost reflecting element until said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam are substantially symmetrical.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
264 words
A method of aligning a waveguide laser having a waveguide bore with two waveguide segments, comprising the steps of: (a) propagating a test laser beam into a selected end port of the waveguide laser and through a first waveguide segment which includes said selected end port substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the first waveguide segment such that said test laser beam contacts opposing all portions along a first axis and a second axis of said selected end port of the waveguide laser; (b) reflecting said test laser beam from the first waveguide segment through a second waveguide segment disposed adjacently thereto off a first intermediate reflecting element located near the junction of the first and second waveguide segments; (c) detecting the waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam at the end of the second waveguide segment opposite the first intermediate reflecting element; (d) adjusting the position of the first intermediate reflecting element until said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam are substantially symmetrical; (e) reflecting said test laser beam off an endmost reflecting element located at the end of the waveguide bore opposite said selected end and back through all waveguide segments so that said test laser beam exits from said selected end port; (f) detecting said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam after said reflected test laser beam has exited from said selected end port; and (g) adjusting the position of the endmost reflecting element until said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam are substantially symmetrical.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
163 words
The method as recited in claim 2, further comprising the following steps which are performed after adjusting said first intermediate reflecting element and before reflecting said test laser beam off said endmost reflecting element, for aligning a waveguide laser having a waveguide bore with at least three waveguide segments: (a) reflecting said test laser beam off a further intermediate reflecting element located near the end of the waveguide segment where detection last occurred through a next waveguide segment disposed adjacently thereto; (b) detecting said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam at the end of said next waveguide segment opposite said further intermediate reflecting element; (c) adjusting the position of said further intermediate reflecting element until said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam are substantially symmetrical; for each waveguide segment 2 through n-1, where waveguide segment n is the waveguide segment adjacent to said endmost reflecting element, and waveguide segment 2 is the second waveguide segment.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said propagating step includes: (a) detecting the waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said test laser beam at the end of the first waveguide segment of the waveguide laser opposite said selected end port; and (b) adjusting the position of said test laser beam relative to the first waveguide segment so that said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said test laser beam are substantially symmetrical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said propagating step includes: (a) detecting the waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said test laser beam at the end of the first waveguide segment of the waveguide laser opposite said selected end port; and (b) adjusting the position of said test laser beam relative to the first waveguide segment so that said waveguide wall diffraction patterns of said test laser beam are substantially symmetrical.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as recited in claim 3, further including the step of laterally translating said test laser beam along each said axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said translating step includes propagating said test laser beam through a rotating tiltable plane parallel transmission plate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method as recited in claim 3, further including the step of redirecting a portion of said reflected test laser beam after said reflected test laser beam has exited from said selected end port of the waveguide laser and before said detecting step, for detecting said diffraction patterns of said reflected test laser beam.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for aligning a waveguide laser having at least one waveguide segment and at least two reflecting elements, comprising: (a) a lasing element operative to produce a test laser beam; (b) means for systematically detecting the waveguide wall diffraction pattern of said test laser beam at each end of each waveguide segment of the waveguide laser, said diffraction pattern being produced by the interaction of the test laser beam with a wall of the waveguide segment; and (c) means for adjusting the position of the reflecting elements so that the detected diffraction patterns are substantially symmetrical.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
97 words
An apparatus for aligning a waveguide laser having at least one waveguide segment and at least two reflecting elements, comprising: (a) a lasing element operative to produce a test laser beam; (b) means for systematically detecting the waveguide wall diffraction pattern of said test laser beam at each end of each waveguide segment of the waveguide laser, said diffraction pattern being produced by the interaction of the test laser beam with a wall of the waveguide segment; and (c) means for adjusting the position of the reflecting elements so that the detected diffraction patterns are substantially symmetrical.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising a translating means disposed between said lasing element and the waveguide laser for laterally translating said test laser beam continuously between two opposing wall portions of said selected end port of the waveguide laser.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10, wherein said translating means includes a tiltable plane parallel transmission plate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 10, further including a rotating means for changing the axis along which said test laser beam is translated.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said detecting means includes a linear scanned photodiode array.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9, wherein said detection means includes a rotating means for changing the plane in which said diffraction pattern is detected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising an indicator means coupled to said detecting means for indicating the intensity of said diffraction pattern.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 15, wherein said indicator means includes an oscilloscope.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising an adjusting means disposed between said lasing element and the waveguide laser for adjusting the power of said test laser beam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein said adjusting means includes a neutral density filter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising a means disposed between said lasing element and the waveguide laser for collimating said test laser beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein said collimating means includes a beam conditioning telescope.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 9, further comprising an adjusting means disposed between said lasing element and the waveguide laser for adjusting the diameter of said test laser beam.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as recited in claim 21, wherein said adjusting means includes a beam conditioning telescope.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3437955A
Cited
US3614235A
Cited
US3999858A
Cited
US3977788A
Cited
US4387462A
Cited
US4438514A
Cited
US4676649A
Cited
US4815094A
Cited
US4891819A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-05-27 | 1994-11-26 | 1995-05-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-05-27 | 1998-11-26 | 1999-05-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-05-27 | 2002-11-26 | 2003-05-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |