US5051571A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cascaded adaptive optics system
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1986-12-02
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Granted: 1991-09-24
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Expires: 2006-12-02
Abstract
Abstract A cascaded adaptive optics system for correction of aberrations in a light beam. The system includes a plurality of spatial light modulators (SLMs) in a cascaded arrangement to provide an adaptive optics system characterized by wide range, rapid response, and high resolution. The spatial light modulators may be identical or have characteristics that are complementary in providing a combined output that advantageously corrects for aberrations. A conventional adaptive optics system such as a deformable mirror may be used as one or more of the SLMKs. Liquid crystal light valves (LCLVs) may be advantageously used as one or more of the SLMs in the invention. A single LCLV may be cascaded with itself in a multiple-pass configuration by means of suitable reflectors.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilbur P. Brown, Jr.
- 👤 Thomas R. O'Meara
- 👤 David M. Pepper
- 👤 Uzi Efron
- 👤 Bernard H. Soffer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:12
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A cascaded adaptive optics system comprising: a first spatial light modulator (SLM) disposed to receive an aberrated reference light beam and operative to provide a first reflected beam in response thereto; first error means, operative to provide, at an error input of the first SLM, a first error signal indicative of any aberration in the first reflected beam, said first SLM being responsive to the first error signal to compensate for the aberration in the reference beam by inducing in the first reflected beam aberration that is a conjugate of the aberration in the reference beam; at least one additional SLM, disposed to receive the first reflected beam and operative to provide another reflected beam in response thereto; and additional error means, operative to provide, at an error input of the additional SLM, an error signal indicative of any aberration in the additional reflected beam, said additional SLM being responsive to the second error signal to compensate for the aberration in the first reflected beam by inducing in the additional reflected beam aberration that is a conjugate of the aberration in the first reflected beam.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A cascaded adaptive optics system comprising: a first spatial light modulator (SLM) disposed to receive an aberrated reference light beam and operative to provide a first reflected beam in response thereto; first error means, operative to provide, at an error input of the first SLM, a first error signal indicative of any aberration in the first reflected beam, said first SLM being responsive to the first error signal to compensate for the aberration in the reference beam by inducing in the first reflected beam aberration that is a conjugate of the aberration in the reference beam; at least one additional SLM, disposed to receive the first reflected beam and operative to provide another reflected beam in response thereto; and additional error means, operative to provide, at an error input of the additional SLM, an error signal indicative of any aberration in the additional reflected beam, said additional SLM being responsive to the second error signal to compensate for the aberration in the first reflected beam by inducing in the additional reflected beam aberration that is a conjugate of the aberration in the first reflected beam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 1 wherein the SLMs have complementary speed and dynamic range characteristics.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The adaptive optics system according to claim 1 wherein said SLMs comprise Liquid Crystal Light Valves (LCLVs).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 3 wherein one of the LCLVs includes a cadmium sulfide photoconductor.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 3 wherein a first one of the LCLVs includes a silicon photoconductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 5 wherein a second one of the LCLV includes a cadmium sulfide photoconductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 1 and further comprising a laser source for projecting a laser beam toward the second SLM along a path followed by the second reflected beam, the laser beam propagating oppositely thereto whereby the laser beam is reflected in turn by the second SLM and the first SLM, the laser beam thence propagating oppositely to the reference beam, the SLMs being operative to induce in the laser beam when thusly reflected aberrations that is a conjugate of the aberration present in the reference beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 1 wherein the first error means comprises means for generating a local reference beam and wherein the first error signal comprises an interference pattern between the local beam and the first reflected beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 8 wherein the means for generating the local beam comprises a spatial filter disposed to receive a portion of the first reflected beam and operative to derive therefrom the local beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
158 words
A cascaded liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) adaptive optics system comprising: a first LCLV disposed to receive an aberrated reference light beam and operative to provide a first reflected beam in response thereto; a second LCLV disposed to receive the first reflected beam and operative to provide a second reflected beam in response thereto; and error means, operative to provide, at error inputs of the first and second LCLSs, an error signal indicative of any aberration in the second reflected beam, the first LCLV being responsive to the error signal to compensate for the aberration in the reference beam by inducing in the first reflected beam aberration that is a conjugate of the aberration in the reference beam, and the second LCLV being responsive to the error signal to compensate for any aberration in the first reflected beam by inducing in the second reflected beam aberration that is a conjugate of the aberration in the first reflected beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
158 words
A cascaded liquid crystal light valve (LCLV) adaptive optics system comprising: a first LCLV disposed to receive an aberrated reference light beam and operative to provide a first reflected beam in response thereto; a second LCLV disposed to receive the first reflected beam and operative to provide a second reflected beam in response thereto; and error means, operative to provide, at error inputs of the first and second LCLSs, an error signal indicative of any aberration in the second reflected beam, the first LCLV being responsive to the error signal to compensate for the aberration in the reference beam by inducing in the first reflected beam aberration that is a conjugate of the aberration in the reference beam, and the second LCLV being responsive to the error signal to compensate for any aberration in the first reflected beam by inducing in the second reflected beam aberration that is a conjugate of the aberration in the first reflected beam.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 10 wherein the two LCLVs have complementary speed and dynamic range characteristics.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 10 wherein one of the LCLVs comprises a cadmium sulfide photoconductor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 10 wherein a first one of the LCLVs comprises a silicon photoconductor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 11 wherein a second one of the LCLVs comprises a cadmium sulfide photoconductor.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 10 and further comprising a laser source for projecting a laser beam toward the second LCLV along a path followed by the second reflected beam, the laser beam propagating oppositely thereto whereby the laser beam is reflected in turn by the second LCLV and the first LCLV, the laser beam thence propagating oppositely to the reference beam, the valves being operative to induce in the laser beam when thus reflected aberration that is a conjugate of the aberration present in the reference beam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 10 wherein the error means comprises means for generating a local reference beam and wherein the error signal comprises an interference pattern between the local beam and the second reflected beam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 16 wherein the means for generating the local beam comprises a spatial filter disposed to receive a portion of the second reflected beam and operative to derive therefrom the local beam.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
118 words
A hybrid cascaded adaptive optics system comprising: adaptive optical compensation means, disposed to receive a aberrated reference light beam and operative to provide a aberration-compensated first reflected beam in response thereto; a spatial light modulator (SLM), disposed to receive the first reflected beam and operative to provide a second reflected beam in response thereto; and error means, operative to provide, at an error input of the SLM, an error signal indicative of any aberration in the second reflected beam, the SLM being responsive to the error signal to compensate for the aberration in the first reflected beam by inducing in the second reflected beam aberration in that is a conjugate of the aberration in the first reflected beam.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
118 words
A hybrid cascaded adaptive optics system comprising: adaptive optical compensation means, disposed to receive a aberrated reference light beam and operative to provide a aberration-compensated first reflected beam in response thereto; a spatial light modulator (SLM), disposed to receive the first reflected beam and operative to provide a second reflected beam in response thereto; and error means, operative to provide, at an error input of the SLM, an error signal indicative of any aberration in the second reflected beam, the SLM being responsive to the error signal to compensate for the aberration in the first reflected beam by inducing in the second reflected beam aberration in that is a conjugate of the aberration in the first reflected beam.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
112 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 18 wherein the adaptive optical compensation means comprises: a deformable mirror, disposed to receive the distorted reference light beam and operative to provide the first reflected beam in response thereto; means for providing a mirror correction beam from the first reflected beam; mirror control means, disposed to receive the mirror correction beam and operative to provide a deformation signal indicative of any aberration therein; and mirror deforming means, responsive to the deformation signal to compensate for the aberration in the reference beam by deforming the mirror to induce in the first reflected beam aberration that is a conjugate of the aberration in the reference beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 18 wherein the SLM comprises a cadmium sulfide photoconductor.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 18 wherein the SLM comprises a silicon photoconductor.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
94 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 18 and further comprising a laser source for projecting a laser beam toward the SLM along a path described by the second reflected beam, the laser beam propagating oppositely thereto whereby the laser beam is reflected in turn by the LCLV and the adaptive optical compensation means, the laser beam thence propagating oppositely to the reference beam, the LCLV and the compensation means being operative to induce in the laser beam when thusly reflected aberration that is a conjugate of the aberration present in the reference beam.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 18 wherein the error means comprises means for generating a local reference beam and wherein the error signal comprises an interference pattern between the local beam and the second reflected beam.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
38 words
An adaptive optics system according to claim 23 wherein the means for generating the local beam comprises a spatial filter disposed to receive a portion of the second reflected beam and operative to derive therefrom the local beam.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4271355A
Cited
US4825062A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-09-23 | 1995-03-25 | 1995-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-09-23 | 1999-03-25 | 1999-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-09-23 | 2003-03-25 | 2003-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |