Target with diffractive elements for use with laser beam generating devices

• US 6,622,392 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2000
• Issued: 09/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hexagon Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Laser Alignment, Inc. (Hexagon AB)
• Inventors: Bourget, Paul L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fulton, Christopher W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): VERBITSKY, GAIL KAPLAN
• Application Number:
  US09/527,372
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 359/452, 359/453, 359/566, 359/617, 359/599, 359/565, 332/93--96, 332/86
• US Class Current: 33/293
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/002 Active optical surveying means optical plumbing G01C15/105

Abstract

A target for use with a laser generating device is disclosed which diffracts a reference laser beam of light directed to the target along an optical axis of the target to provide a diffracted beam of light offset from the optical axis which is more easily visible to a detector, such as a human eye. Preferably, the diffracted beam includes at least one lobe offset from the optical axis at least 40° and, further, is diffracted in a multi-lobe pattern. For example, the target body may include diffractive bodies either in the substrate forming the body or on a carrier member which is mounted to the target body. The diffractive bodies are dimensioned on the same order of magnitude as the wavelength of the light of the reference laser beam of light. Preferably, the diffractive bodies have a diameter in a range of approximately 0.1 microns to 5.0 microns, more preferably, 0.1 microns to 2.0 microns and, most preferably, 0.5 microns to 1.0 microns. The diffractive bodies may be formed by a colloidal suspension in the optical material or may be dispersed in the substrate forming the target body prior to molding.

Claims

1. A device for use with a laser generating unit, said laser generating unit generating a reference laser beam of light, said device comprising:

a construction laser target comprising;

a target body formed from an optical material, said target body having an optical axis; and

said target body adapted to diffract the reference laser beam of light directed from the laser generating unit to said target body along said optical axis to provide a diffracted beam of light angled with respect to said optical axis, and said diffracted beam including at least one lobe offset from said optical axis at an angle greater than 40°

so that the position of the reference laser beam as it passes through said laser target is more easily detected by the human eye.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said angle is greater than 50°

.

3. The device according to claim 2, wherein said angle is greater than 60°

.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said target body diffracts the reference laser beam in a multi-lobe pattern.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein at least one lobe is angled at an angle greater than 40°

from said optical axis.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein said angle is greater than 50°

.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said angle is greater than 60°

.

8. The device according to claim 4, wherein said multi-lobe pattern includes more than three lobes.

9. The device according to claim 1, wherein said optical material is adapted to diffract the reference laser beam.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein said optical material includes a plurality of diffractive bodies, said diffractive bodies being sized to diffract the reference laser beam.

11. The device according to claim 10, wherein said diffractive bodies comprises macromolecules.

12. The device according to claim 10, wherein said diffractive bodies are dimensioned in a range of approximately 0.1 microns to 5.0 microns.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein said diffractive bodies are dimensioned in a range of approximately 0.1 microns to 2.0 microns.

14. A laser target for use with a laser generating unit, said laser generating unit generating a reference laser beam of light, said laser target comprising:

a target body formed from an optical material, said target body having an optical axis; and

said optical material adapted to diffract the reference laser beam of light directed to said target body along said optical axis to provide a diffracted beam of light which is more easily visible to a detector, said optical material including a plurality of diffractive bodies, said diffractive bodies being sized to diffract the reference laser beam, wherein said diffractive bodies are dimensioned on the same order of magnitude as a wave length of light of the reference laser beam of light.

15. The laser target according to claim 14, wherein said diffractive bodies comprise generally spherical particles.

16. A device for use with a laser generating unit, said laser generating unit generating a reference laser beam of light, said device comprising:

a construction laser target comprising;

a target body formed from an optical material, said target body having an optical axis, said laser target for diffracting a reference laser beam directed from the laser generating unit to said body along said optical axis; and

said body including a plurality of diffractive bodies, said diffractive bodies diffracting the reference laser beam of light directed to said target along said optical axis to produce a diffractive beam having at least one lobe at an angle in a range of about 40°

to 90°

from said optical axis.

17. The device according to claim 16, wherein said diffractive bodies are dimensioned in a range of about 0.1 microns to 5.0 microns.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein said diffractive bodies are dimensioned in a range of about 0.1 microns to 2.0 microns.

19. The device according to claim 16, wherein said diffractive bodies each are dimensioned in a range of about 0.1 microns to 5.0 microns.

20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said diffractive bodies vary in their dimensions in said range.

21. The device according to claim 16, wherein said body includes a carrier, said carrier including said diffractive bodies.

22. The device according to claim 21, wherein said carrier comprises a tape.

23. The device according to claim 22, wherein said tape includes a hologram, said hologram including said diffractive bodies.

24. The device according to claim 22, wherein said tape includes submicron dots, said submicron dots comprising said diffractive bodies.

25. The device according claim 16, wherein said target body includes smooth outer surfaces.

26. The device according to claim 16, wherein said diffractive bodies diffract the laser beam in a multi-lobe pattern.

27. A device for use with a laser generating unit, said laser generating unit generating a reference laser beam of light, said device comprising:

a construction laser target comprising;

a target body formed from an optical material, said target body having an optical axis, said laser target for diffracting a reference laser beam directed to said body along said optical axis; and

said body including a plurality of diffractive bodies, said diffractive bodies diffracting the reference laser beam of light directed to said target along said optical axis to produce a diffractive beam having at least one lobe at an angle in a range of about 40°

to 90°

from said optical axis, said diffractive bodies diffracting the reference laser beam of light in a multi-globe pattern, wherein at least one of said lobes extends over a limited angular arc in a range of 0.1 to 0.3 sr wherein said at least one lobe forms a diffractive beam that has a high intensity more readily visible to the human eye.

28. The device according to claim 27, wherein each of said lobes extends over a limited angular arc in a range of 0.1 to 0.3 sr.

29. The device according to claim 28, wherein said lobes extend over an angular arc of about 70°

.

30. A laser beam system comprising:

a laser generating unit, said laser generating unit generating a reference laser bean of light; and

a laser target having a target body, said target body having a first side, a second side, an optical axis said target body comprising an optical material, said reference laser beam of light being selectively directed toward said target along said optical axis to said first side, and said target body being adapted to diffract said reference laser beam of light and generating a diffracted beam of light through said second side angled away from said optical axis at an angle of greater than about 60°

for directing said diffracted beam to a detector.

31. The laser beam system according to claim 30, wherein said laser generating unit generates a green laser beam.

32. The laser beam according to claim 30, wherein said target body includes a plurality of diffractive bodies.

33. The laser beam system according to claim 32, wherein said diffractive bodies are generally spherical.

34. The laser beam system according to claim 33, wherein said diffractive bodies are dimensioned in a range of about 0.1 micron to 5.0 microns.

35. The laser beam system according to claim 32, wherein said diffractive bodies comprise one of a plurality of particles, macromolecules, and submicron dots.

36. The laser beam system according to claim 30, wherein said optical material comprises a polymer.

37. The laser beam system according to claim 30, wherein said target body is adapted to diffract said reference laser beam of light in a multi-lobe pattern.

38. A laser beam system comprising:

a laser generating unit, said laser generating unit generating a reference laser beam of light; and

a laser target having a target body, said target body having an optical axis and comprising an optical material, said reference laser beam of light being selectively directed toward said target along said optical axis and said target body being adapted to diffract said reference laser beam of light as a diffracted beam of light angled away from said optical axis at an angle of greater than about 60°

for directing said diffracted beam to a detector, said target body including a plurality of diffractive bodies, said diffractive bodies comprising one of a plurality of particles, macro molecules and sub-micron dots, wherein said diffractive bodies are dimensioned on the same order of magnitude as a wave length of said reference laser beam.

39. A device for use with a laser generating unit, said laser generating unit generating a reference laser beam of light, said device comprising:

a construction laser target comprising;

a target body formed from an optical material, said target body having an optical axis, said laser target for diffracting a reference laser beam directed to said body along said optical axis; and

said body including a plurality of diffractive bodies, said diffractive bodies diffracting the reference laser beam of light directed to said target along said optical axis to produce a diffractive beam having at least one lobe at an angle in a range of about 40°

to 90°

from said optical axis, said body including a carrier, said carrier including said diffractive bodies, said carrier comprising a tape, and wherein said diffractive bodies are photo-etched on said tape.