APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR COMBINING AND SEPARATING MULTIPLE BEAMS

• US 20150338640A1
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Published: 11/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Plc
• Inventors: Stacey, Craig Daniel, Stace, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 9,366,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/08 for controlling the direction of light in light guides G02B6/35
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0816 by means of one or more reflecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0833 the reflecting element being a micromechanical device, e.g. a MEMS mirror, DMD G02B26/0825 takes precedence; micromechanical devices in general B81B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0875 by means of one or more refracting elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/1006 for splitting or combining different wavelengths G02B27/1086, G02B27/141 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/126 The splitting element being a prism or prismatic array, including systems based on total internal reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/30 Collimators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/29373 utilising a bulk dispersive element, e.g. prism

Abstract

A method of combining and co-aligning a plurality of radiation beams each having a respective waveband, includes the steps of passing each of said radiation beams to a respective lateral deflector to impart a selected lateral displacement to said beam. Each of said radiation beams with respective imparted lateral displacements is then passed to an optical collimating element which passes said radiation beams to an optical deflecting element which applies a wavelength dependent deflection to the radiation beams. The respective lateral displacements are selected having regard to the waveband of each beam to cause all to exit the optical deflecting element at the same angle so they are co-aligned.

Claims

1. Apparatus for co-aligning a plurality of input radiation beams each having a respective waveband, which includes:

a plurality of respective lateral deflectors to impart in use a selected respective lateral displacement to each input beam;

an optical collimating element for passing each of said radiation beams with respective imparted lateral displacements; and

an optical deflecting element for receiving the radiation beams passed by said optical collimating element;

wherein said respective lateral displacements are selected having regard to the waveband of each beam to cause the radiation passed by said optical deflecting element to be co-aligned.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lateral deflector includes an element mounted for angular movement and adapted to impart at least a component of lateral displacement to said beam.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said deflecting element comprises an element of transmissive material through which said radiation beam passes.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said element of transmissive material comprises spaced parallel planar inlet and outlet surfaces whereby a lateral displacement is imparted to a beam passing therethrough.

5. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said deflecting element comprises a reflecting surface on which said beam is incident, the reflecting surface being mounted for angular movement about an axis spaced from an axis of said beam whereby movement of said reflecting element imparts a component of lateral displacement to said beam.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical collimating element comprises a mirror.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical collimating element comprises a lens or lens system.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said optical deflecting element is adapted to apply a wavelength-dependent angular deflection to said beam.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said optical deflecting element comprises a prism.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said optical deflecting element comprises a diffractive optical element.

11. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said lateral deflector element includes a MEMS device for effecting angular movement thereof.

12. A method of co-aligning a plurality of input radiation beams each having a respective waveband, which includes:

passing each of said input radiation beams to a respective lateral deflector to impart a selected lateral displacement to said beam; and

passing each of said radiation beams with respective imparted lateral displacements to an optical collimating element which passes said radiation beams to an optical deflecting element;

wherein said respective lateral displacements are selected having regard to the waveband of each beam to cause the radiation beams passed by said optical deflecting element to be co-aligned.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. A beam steering apparatus for steering a beam of radiation which comprises:

a lateral deflector for imparting a selected lateral displacement to said radiation beam; and

a collimating optical element;

wherein said lateral deflector is adjustable to impart an adjustable displacement to the beam to cause the axis of the beam passing said optical collimating element to be correspondingly angularly adjusted.

16. (canceled)

17. A directional receiver for angularly deflecting a detection beam, which comprises a focussing element for receiving a radiation beam along a line of sight, and a lateral deflector for receiving the beam passed by said focussing element, wherein said lateral deflector is adjustable to apply a selected lateral displacement to said beam, whereby the line of sight of said receiver varies according to the extent of lateral displacement applied to said beam.

18. (canceled)