US5198653A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wide FOV retro-null outgoing wavefront sensor
Assignee: Goodrich Corp
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Filing: 1992-05-04
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Granted: 1993-03-30
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Expires: 2012-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A wavefront sensor includes a plurality of holographic optical elements (HOEs 50) that are disposed on a surface of a mirror (12) that defines a pupil, each of the HOEs diffracting a portion of an output beam for providing an associated sample beam. An optical wavefront sensor (54) has an input that is optically coupled to each of the sample beams through a low aberration optical train and through a transfer lens (54a) that focuses the sample beams at a focal plane (FP). A detector (54b) is positioned in a plane parallel to and offset from the focal plane (focus-biased) for detecting spot images of the sample beams. Each of the HOEs has a prescribed amount of optical power associated therewith for causing the associated sample beam to be focussed by the transfer lens at the plane of the detector, and further has a prescribed amount of optical tilt associated therewith for compensating for a distortion of the sample beam due to a distortion of the pupil for different FOV angles.
Inventors
- 👤 Gon Y. Shen
- 👤 William P. Zmek
- 👤 Ker L. Shu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 17:59
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/06; G01; G01J; G01J9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A wavefront sensor, comprising: a plurality of beam sampling means disposed for intercepting a portion of an optical beam that is incident thereon for providing a plurality of sample beams, said plurality of beam sampling means being located at a pupil; an optical train for relaying said plurality of sample beams; transfer lens means disposed for receiving said plurality of sample beams from said optical train, said transfer lens means focussing said sample beams at a focal plane; and detector means disposed in a plane parallel to and offset from said focal plane for detecting said focussed sample beams; wherein each of said beam sampling means has an optical power associated therewith for causing an associated one of said sample beams to be focussed by said transfer lens means at the plane of the detector, each of said beam sampling means further having an optical tilt associated therewith for compensating for a distortion of an associated one of said sample beams due to a distortion of said pupil, whereby a combination of the optical power and the optical tilt results in a location of the associated one of the sample beams at the plane of the detector being primarily a function of an aberration of said optical beam, and not primarily a function of a distortion of said pupil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A wavefront sensor, comprising: a plurality of beam sampling means disposed for intercepting a portion of an optical beam that is incident thereon for providing a plurality of sample beams, said plurality of beam sampling means being located at a pupil; an optical train for relaying said plurality of sample beams; transfer lens means disposed for receiving said plurality of sample beams from said optical train, said transfer lens means focussing said sample beams at a focal plane; and detector means disposed in a plane parallel to and offset from said focal plane for detecting said focussed sample beams; wherein each of said beam sampling means has an optical power associated therewith for causing an associated one of said sample beams to be focussed by said transfer lens means at the plane of the detector, each of said beam sampling means further having an optical tilt associated therewith for compensating for a distortion of an associated one of said sample beams due to a distortion of said pupil, whereby a combination of the optical power and the optical tilt results in a location of the associated one of the sample beams at the plane of the detector being primarily a function of an aberration of said optical beam, and not primarily a function of a distortion of said pupil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A wavefront sensor as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of beam sampling means is comprised of a holographic optical element that diffracts a portion of said optical beam that is incident thereon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
A wavefront sensor as set forth in claim 1 wherein the pupil is coincident with a primary mirror of a beam expander, said beam expander further having a secondary mirror and a tertiary mirror arranged in such a manner that said primary mirror receives said optical beam from said tertiary mirror via said secondary mirror for providing an expanded output beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A wavefront sensor as set forth in claim 3, wherein said optical train includes said secondary mirror.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
A wavefront sensor as set forth in claim 4, wherein said primary mirror is a paraboloid, wherein said secondary mirror is a hyperboloid, wherein said tertiary mirror is a paraboloid, and further including a transfer mirror means disposed for relaying with low intrinsic aberration said sample beams from said secondary mirror to said transfer leans means, and wherein said transfer mirror means includes a parabolic mirror having a shape similar to a shape of said tertiary mirror.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A wavefront sensor as set forth in claim 5 wherein said tertiary mirror and said parabolic mirror of said optical transfer mirror means are disposed on opposite sides of an optical axis that passes through said primary mirror and said secondary mirror.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
268 words
A wavefront sensor for use with a beam expander of a type having a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, and a tertiary mirror, said primary mirror receiving an optical beam from said tertiary mirror via said secondary mirror and providing an output beam, said primary mirror defining a pupil of the beam expander, said wavefront sensor comprising; a plurality of holographic optical elements disposed on a surface of said primary mirror for intercepting a portion of the optical beam that is incident thereon for providing a plurality of sample beams; an optical train for relaying said plurality of sample beams; transfer lens means disposed for receiving said plurality of sample beams from said optical train, said transfer lens means focussing said sample beams at a focal plane; and detector means disposed in a plane parallel to and offset from said focal plane for detecting said focussed sample beams; wherein each of said holographic optical elements has an optical power associated therewith for causing an associated one of said sample beams to be focussed by said transfer lens means at the plane of the detector, each of said holographic optical elements further having an optical tilt associated therewith for compensating for a distortion of an associated one of said sample beams due to a distortion of the pupil, whereby a combination of the optical power and the optical tilt results in a location of the associated one of the sample beams at the plane of the detector being primarily a function of an aberration of said optical beam, and not primarily a function of a distortion of said pupil.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
268 words
A wavefront sensor for use with a beam expander of a type having a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, and a tertiary mirror, said primary mirror receiving an optical beam from said tertiary mirror via said secondary mirror and providing an output beam, said primary mirror defining a pupil of the beam expander, said wavefront sensor comprising; a plurality of holographic optical elements disposed on a surface of said primary mirror for intercepting a portion of the optical beam that is incident thereon for providing a plurality of sample beams; an optical train for relaying said plurality of sample beams; transfer lens means disposed for receiving said plurality of sample beams from said optical train, said transfer lens means focussing said sample beams at a focal plane; and detector means disposed in a plane parallel to and offset from said focal plane for detecting said focussed sample beams; wherein each of said holographic optical elements has an optical power associated therewith for causing an associated one of said sample beams to be focussed by said transfer lens means at the plane of the detector, each of said holographic optical elements further having an optical tilt associated therewith for compensating for a distortion of an associated one of said sample beams due to a distortion of the pupil, whereby a combination of the optical power and the optical tilt results in a location of the associated one of the sample beams at the plane of the detector being primarily a function of an aberration of said optical beam, and not primarily a function of a distortion of said pupil.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
A wavefront sensor as set forth in claim 7, wherein said optical train includes said secondary mirror.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
A wavefront sensor as set forth in claim 8, wherein said primary mirror is a paraboloid, wherein said secondary mirror is a hyperboloid, wherein said tertiary mirror is a paraboloid, and wherein said optical train further includes transfer mirror means disposed for relaying said sample beams from said secondary mirror to said transfer lens means, and wherein said transfer mirror means is a paraboloid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
100 words
A wavefront sensor as set forth in claim 8 wherein the beam expander forms a portion of a laser beam directive and adaptive system, the system including: a laser for generating a laser beam; a deformable mirror for reflecting and adjusting the wavefront of said laser beam; a beam compactor for receiving said laser beam reflecting from said deformable mirror and for relaying said laser beam; and scanning mirror means for receiving said relayed laser beam and for reflecting same at a predetermined orientation to said tertiary mirror for causing said output beam to be pointed in a desired direction.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
A wavefront sensor as set forth in claim 10 wherein said optical train further includes transfer mirror means disposed for relaying said sample beams from said secondary mirror to said transfer lens means, wherein said scanning mirror means induces a tilt into said relayed laser beam, and wherein said transfer mirror means includes a second scanning mirror means that induces an equal and opposite tilt into said sample beams.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
A wavefront sensor as set forth in claim 10, wherein said system further comprises: control means having an input coupled to an output of said optical wavefront sensor and an output coupled to said deformable mirror, said control means being responsive to a shift of the image of the sample beam, as indicated by said detector, for generating a deformable mirror activation signal for generating an aberration in said laser beam that is equal to and opposite the aberration of said output beam.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
365 words
A system for directing laser energy, comprising: a laser for generating a laser beam; means for reflecting and adjusting a wavefront of said laser beam; means for receiving the reflected laser beam and for pointing the laser beam in a desired direction; beam expander means disposed for receiving the laser beam reflected from said pointing means, said beam expander means expanding the laser beam to provide an output beam, said beam expander having a pupil associated therewith; and a wavefront sensor, said wavefront sensor comprising, a plurality of beam sampling means disposed for intercepting a portion of the output beam that is incident thereon for providing a plurality of sample beams; an optical train for relaying said plurality of sample beams; transfer lens means disposed for receiving said plurality of sample beams from said optical train, said transfer lens means focussing said sample beams at a focal plane; detector means disposed in a plane parallel to and offset from said focal plane for detecting said focussed sample beams; wherein each of said beam sampling means has an optical power associated therewith for causing an associated one of said sample beams to be focussed by said transfer lens means at the plane of said detector means, each of said beam sampling means further having an optical tilt associated therewith for compensating for a distortion of an associated one of said sample beams due to a distortion of said pupil, whereby a combination of the optical power and the optical tilt results in a location of the associated one of the sample beams at the plane of the detector means being primarily a function of an aberration of said optical beam, and not primarily a function of a distortion of said pupil; said system further including control means having an input coupled to an output of said detector means and an output coupled to said adjusting means, said control means being responsive to a shift of an image of said sample beams, as indicated by said detector means, for generating an activation signal to said adjusting means for generating an aberration in said laser beam that is equal to and opposite the aberration of said output beam.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
365 words
A system for directing laser energy, comprising: a laser for generating a laser beam; means for reflecting and adjusting a wavefront of said laser beam; means for receiving the reflected laser beam and for pointing the laser beam in a desired direction; beam expander means disposed for receiving the laser beam reflected from said pointing means, said beam expander means expanding the laser beam to provide an output beam, said beam expander having a pupil associated therewith; and a wavefront sensor, said wavefront sensor comprising, a plurality of beam sampling means disposed for intercepting a portion of the output beam that is incident thereon for providing a plurality of sample beams; an optical train for relaying said plurality of sample beams; transfer lens means disposed for receiving said plurality of sample beams from said optical train, said transfer lens means focussing said sample beams at a focal plane; detector means disposed in a plane parallel to and offset from said focal plane for detecting said focussed sample beams; wherein each of said beam sampling means has an optical power associated therewith for causing an associated one of said sample beams to be focussed by said transfer lens means at the plane of said detector means, each of said beam sampling means further having an optical tilt associated therewith for compensating for a distortion of an associated one of said sample beams due to a distortion of said pupil, whereby a combination of the optical power and the optical tilt results in a location of the associated one of the sample beams at the plane of the detector means being primarily a function of an aberration of said optical beam, and not primarily a function of a distortion of said pupil; said system further including control means having an input coupled to an output of said detector means and an output coupled to said adjusting means, said control means being responsive to a shift of an image of said sample beams, as indicated by said detector means, for generating an activation signal to said adjusting means for generating an aberration in said laser beam that is equal to and opposite the aberration of said output beam.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein said beam expander means includes a primary mirror, a secondary mirror, and a tertiary mirror, said tertiary mirror receiving the laser beam from said pointing means, said primary mirror receiving said laser beam from said tertiary mirror via said secondary mirror and providing the output beam, said primary mirror being coincident with said pupil.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as set forth in claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of beam sampling means is comprised of a holographic optical element that diffracts a portion of said output beam that is incident thereon.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said optical train includes said secondary mirror and also transfer mirror means disposed for relaying said sample beams from said secondary mirror to said transfer lens means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5124542A
Cited
US5128530A
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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) | 1996-03-29 | 1996-09-28 | 1997-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-03-29 | 2000-09-28 | 2001-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-03-29 | 2004-09-28 | 2005-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |