Beam pointing switch
First Claim
1. An apparatus for sequentially illuminating a plurality of target surface locations from a light beam, said apparatus comprising:
- a deflection means including a plurality of light deflecting segments, each of said light deflecting segments deflecting said light beam toward a location on said target surface at a predetermined angle of incidence;
means for directing said light beam sequentially to each of said plurality of light deflecting segments;
said directing means includes a retroreflector responsive to an input light beam for providing an output light beam parallel to and laterally displaced from said input light beam; and
means for rotating said retroreflector about an axis substantially coaxial with said input light beam.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical beam switch is disclosed for sequentially pointing a laser beam to a plurality of terrestrial target locations at predetermined depression angles and at angular positions relative to a reference direction. The switch includes a CW laser whose collimated output beam is directed into a rotating retroreflector. The moving beam reflected therefrom describes a continuous circular path across the upper surface of a beam deflection device. The beam deflection device comprises a plurality of beam refracting prisms. The index of refraction and angulation of each prism determines the depression angle and azimuthal angle of the deflected beam. The depression angle is held precisely constant as the incident beam describes its arcuate path across the upper surface of the prism. The retroreflector may comprise three mutually-perpendicular mirrors, joined at a vertex, for providing a reflected beam parallel to and displaced from the incident beam. Alternatively, the retroreflector may comprise a triple mirror prism.
33 Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for sequentially illuminating a plurality of target surface locations from a light beam, said apparatus comprising:
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a deflection means including a plurality of light deflecting segments, each of said light deflecting segments deflecting said light beam toward a location on said target surface at a predetermined angle of incidence; means for directing said light beam sequentially to each of said plurality of light deflecting segments; said directing means includes a retroreflector responsive to an input light beam for providing an output light beam parallel to and laterally displaced from said input light beam; and means for rotating said retroreflector about an axis substantially coaxial with said input light beam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for sequentially illuminating a plurality of target surface locations, said apparatus comprising:
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source means for generating a substantially collimated light beam; means for imparting motion to said collimated light beam; a deflection means including a plurality of light refracting segments, said deflection means being positioned so that said moving light beam sequentially impinges on an upper surface of each of said segments, each of said segments providing refraction of said light beam such that while said beam impinges said upper surface, said light beam, deflected by refraction, emerging from a lower surface thereof illuminates said target surface at a predetermined location and at a predetermined angle of incidence; said means for imparting motion to said collimated light beam includes a retroreflector responsive to an input light beam for providing an output light beam parallel to and laterally displaced from said input light beam; and means for rotating said retroreflector about and axis substantially coaxial with said input light beam. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A laser system comprising:
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source means for generating a substantially collimated light beam; means for imparting motion to said collimated light beam; a deflecting means including a plurality of light refracting segments, said deflecting means being positioned so that said moving light beam sequentially impinges on an upper surface of each of said segments, each of said segments providing refraction of said light beam such that while said beam impinges on said upper surface, said light beam, deflected by refraction, emerging from a lower surface thereof illuminates a target surface at a predetermined location and at a predetermined angle of incidence; means for detecting illumination reflected from said target surface and for generating an electrical signal indicative thereof; control means responsive to said electrical signal for determining the Doppler velocity of said target surface; said means for imparting motion to said collimated light beam includes a retroreflector responsive to an input light beam for providing an output light beam parallel to and laterally displaced from said input light beam; and means for rotating said retroreflector about an axis substantially coaxial with said input light beam. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. An apparatus for sequentially illuminating a plurality of locations on a target surface from a light beam, said apparatus comprising:
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stationary deflection means including a plurality of light refraction segments; and rotatable means for directing said light beam sequentially to each of said plurality of light refraction segments; each of said light refraction segments having angulation so as to deflect said light beam toward a location on said target surface at a predetermined angle of incidence.
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Specification