Alignment of optical elements in telescopes using a laser beam with a holographic projection reticle

• US 6,025,908 A
• Filed: 05/18/1998
• Issued: 02/15/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LMD Applied Science LLC
• Original Assignee: William R. Houde-Walter
• Inventors: Houde-Walter, William R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): STAFIRA, MICHAEL PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US09/080,500
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 356/153, 356/172, 356/354, 356/5, 356/399-401, 359/827, 359/15, 359/432, 359/565, 359/503, 359/419, 359/435
• US Class Current: 356/153
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/26 for measuring angles or tapers; for testing the alignment of axes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/62 Optical apparatus specially adapted for adjusting optical elements during the assembly of optical systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 5/32 Holograms used as optical elements

Abstract

The present invention includes a diffractive optic and an illuminator for illuminating the diffractive optic. The illuminated diffractive optic forms a reticle image which is projected onto the optical elements to be aligned.

Claims

1. A method of aligning an optical element in a telescope, comprising:

(a) projecting a reticle image having one of a series of lines, dots, or crosshairs onto the optical element; and

(b) aligning the optical element in response to the projected reticle image.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the reticle image to include a crosshair and at least one circle.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the reticle image to include a plurality of spaced gradations.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating the optical element in a reflecting telescope.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising locating the optical element in a Newtonian telescope.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the reticle image with a laser.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising adjusting the optical element to reflect the image to a predetermined location.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising forming the reticle image with a laser having an elliptic cross sectional area.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting the reticle image to dispose a portion of the projected reticle image beyond a periphery of the optical element.

10. A method of aligning an optical element in a telescope, comprising:

(a) passing a laser through a diffractive optic to form a projected reticle pattern; and

(b) aligning the optical element in response to the projected pattern.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising employing a plurality of mirrors as the optical elements.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising employing a crosshair and at least one circle in the pattern.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising sizing the projected pattern to extend beyond a periphery of the optical element.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising employing a hologram as the diffractive optic.

15. A method of aligning an optical element in a telescope, comprising:

(a) projecting a holographic image onto at least a portion of an optical element to be aligned; and

(b) aligning the optical element in response to the projected holographic image.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising employing a mirror as the optical element.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising employing a reticle in the holographic image.

18. A method of aligning optical elements in a telescope, comprising:

(a) inserting a laser collimator into an eyepiece holder in the telescope;

(b) reconstructing a reticle image having one of a series of lines, dots, or crosshairs with the laser collimator and projecting the reconstructed reticle image onto a secondary mirror; and

(c) adjusting the secondary mirror in response to the reflected reticle image intersecting a portion of the primary mirror.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising adjusting the primary mirror to reflect the reticle image to a predetermined location.

20. An apparatus of aligning an optical element in a telescope, comprising:

(a) a housing sized to be releasably received within an eyepiece holder in the telescope;

(b) a laser generator located in the housing for generating a laser beam along an optical path; and

(c) a diffractive optic connected to the housing and disposed in the optical path to form an image reconstructable by the laser beam;

the diffractive optic located to dispose a portion of the reconstructed image beyond a periphery of an optical element to be aligned.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the diffractive optic is a hologram.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the reconstructed image is a reticle image.