US5422758A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustable beam splitter
Assignee: PRECO TECHNOLOGY VENTURES Inc
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Filing: 1993-09-08
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Granted: 1995-06-06
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Expires: 2013-09-08
Abstract
Abstract An adjustable beam splitter includes a pentaprism type reflector unit including a housing, a splitter mirror positioned in the housing for transmitting a portion of an input energy beam and for reflecting a portion of the input energy beam, and a reflective mirror mounted within the housing for directing the reflected portion of the input energy beam at a fixed angle to the input energy beam regardless of the angle of incidence of the input energy beam to the splitter mirror and regardless of manufacturing tolerances of the splitter mirror. Translation of the reflected portion of the input energy beam is reduced and the split ratio adjusted by rotating the pentaprism type unit about a line corresponding to the intersection of a plane containing the splitter mirror and a plane containing the reflective mirror.
Inventors
- 👤 William E. Lawson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 14:16
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B27/00; G02B27/10; G02B27/14; G02B27/144
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
146 words
An adjustable beam splitter for splitting an input energy beam into a first output energy beam and a second output energy beam, the beam splitter comprising: a splitter mirror positioned in an input path of the input energy beam for transmitting the first output energy beam through the splitter mirror along a first output path and for reflecting the second output energy beam along a second output path, the strength of the first and second beams being dependent on the angle of incidence of the input beam to the splitter mirror; and a reflective mirror positioned in the second output path, wherein movement of the reflective mirror is synchronized with movement of the splitter mirror for reflecting the second output energy beam at a fixed angle to the input energy beam regardless of the angle of incidence of the input energy beam to the splitter mirror.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
146 words
An adjustable beam splitter for splitting an input energy beam into a first output energy beam and a second output energy beam, the beam splitter comprising: a splitter mirror positioned in an input path of the input energy beam for transmitting the first output energy beam through the splitter mirror along a first output path and for reflecting the second output energy beam along a second output path, the strength of the first and second beams being dependent on the angle of incidence of the input beam to the splitter mirror; and a reflective mirror positioned in the second output path, wherein movement of the reflective mirror is synchronized with movement of the splitter mirror for reflecting the second output energy beam at a fixed angle to the input energy beam regardless of the angle of incidence of the input energy beam to the splitter mirror.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 1, wherein the fixed angle is 90°.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 1, wherein the splitter mirror and the reflective mirror are mounted together in a housing so that movement of the splitter mirror is synchronized with movement of the reflective mirror.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 3, wherein the angle of incidence of the input beam is adjusted by moving the splitter mirror and the reflective mirror in an arcuate path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 4, wherein the splitter mirror and the reflective mirror are rotated about a line corresponding to the intersection of a plane containing the splitter mirror and a plane containing the reflective mirror.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 5, wherein the plane containing the splitter mirror and the plane containing the reflective mirror are positioned at a 45° angle to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 1, wherein the angle of incidence of the input energy beam is between 0° and 45°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 1, wherein the input energy beam is an infrared laser beam.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 1, wherein the input energy beam is an ultraviolet energy beam.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 1, wherein the input energy beam is a laser beam produced by a CO 2 laser.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 3, wherein the reflective mirror is adjustable within the housing independent of the splitter mirror.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 11, wherein the reflective mirror positioned at a 45° angle to the splitter mirror and wherein the reflective mirror is adjustable independent of the splitter mirror over a range of ±1°.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
114 words
An adjustable beam splitter comprising: a splitter mirror position in a path of an input energy beam for transmitting a potion of the input energy beam and for reflecting a portion of the input energy beam, the adjustable beam splitter having a split ratio defined by the ratio of the transmitted portion of the input energy beam to the reflected portion of the input energy beam; a reflective mirror operable with the splitter mirror for directing the reflected portion of the input energy beam at a fixed angle to the input energy beam regardless of the split ratio; and wherein movement of the splitter mirror and the reflective mirror is synchronized with each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
114 words
An adjustable beam splitter comprising: a splitter mirror position in a path of an input energy beam for transmitting a potion of the input energy beam and for reflecting a portion of the input energy beam, the adjustable beam splitter having a split ratio defined by the ratio of the transmitted portion of the input energy beam to the reflected portion of the input energy beam; a reflective mirror operable with the splitter mirror for directing the reflected portion of the input energy beam at a fixed angle to the input energy beam regardless of the split ratio; and wherein movement of the splitter mirror and the reflective mirror is synchronized with each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The adjustable beam spitter of claim 13, wherein the fixed angle is 90°.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
43 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 13, wherein the split ratio is adjusted by rotating the splitter mirror and the reflective mirror about a line corresponding to the intersection of a plane containing the splitter mirror and a plane containing the reflective mirror.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 15, wherein the plane containing the splitter mirror and the plane containing the reflective mirror are positioned at a 45° angle to each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 13, wherein the splitter mirror and the reflective mirror are mounted together in a housing so that movement of the splitter mirror is synchronized with movement of the reflective mirror.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 17, wherein an angle of incidence of the input energy beam to the splitter mirror is between 0° and 45°.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
21 words
The adjustable beam splitter of claim 17, wherein the reflective mirror is adjustable within the housing independent of the splitter mirror.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
162 words
A beam splitter for transmitting a portion of an input energy beam and for reflecting a portion of the input energy beam, the adjustable beam splitter having a split ratio defined by the ratio of the transmitted portion of the input energy beam to the reflected portion of the input energy beam, the beam splitter comprising: a splitter mirror positioned in an input path of the input energy beam for transmitting the first output energy beam through the splitter mirror along a first output path and for reflecting the second output energy beam along a second output path, the strength of the first and second beams being dependent on the angle of incidence of the input beam to the splitter mirror; and a movable housing for mounting the splitter mirror therein and for varying the angle of incidence of the input energy beam on the splitter mirror by varying the position of the splitter mirror with respect to the input energy beam.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
162 words
A beam splitter for transmitting a portion of an input energy beam and for reflecting a portion of the input energy beam, the adjustable beam splitter having a split ratio defined by the ratio of the transmitted portion of the input energy beam to the reflected portion of the input energy beam, the beam splitter comprising: a splitter mirror positioned in an input path of the input energy beam for transmitting the first output energy beam through the splitter mirror along a first output path and for reflecting the second output energy beam along a second output path, the strength of the first and second beams being dependent on the angle of incidence of the input beam to the splitter mirror; and a movable housing for mounting the splitter mirror therein and for varying the angle of incidence of the input energy beam on the splitter mirror by varying the position of the splitter mirror with respect to the input energy beam.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
40 words
The beam splitter of claim 20, further comprising a reflective mirror mounted within the movable housing for directing the reflected portion of the input energy beam at a fixed angle to the input energy herein regardless of the split ratio.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
The beam splitter of claim 21, wherein the splitter mirror and the reflective mirror are rotated about a line corresponding to the intersection of a plane containing the splitter mirror and a plane containing the reflective mirror.
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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) | 1998-06-05 | 1998-12-05 | 1999-06-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-06-05 | 2002-12-05 | 2003-06-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-06-05 | 2006-12-05 | 2007-06-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |