Bidirectional Beam Director for Laser Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high energy laser (HEL) systems face challenges with large, heavy turrets that disrupt aerodynamic performance, high costs due to numerous optical components, substantial power loss from gaps between beam directors, and heating issues from unused beam power, particularly when trying to steer and track laser beams over a wide field of view.
Innovation Solution
A bidirectional beam director using a pair of optically coupled diffraction gratings that rotate independently to steer both incoming and outgoing laser beams, reducing the number of components and eliminating the need for individual beam directors, thus minimizing power loss and aerodynamic disruption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional turrets are used as beam directors, then beam steering capability is achieved, but the system becomes large, heavy and aerodynamically disruptive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple beam director functions into a single integrated unit that can handle multiple beams simultaneously. The beam director is integrated with the laser transmitter array, eliminating the need for separate turrets for each beam, thereby reducing overall weight and complexity while maintaining full steering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam director is designed as a universal system that can steer multiple laser beams across a wide field of view (90-120 degree cone). This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple specialized beam directors, reducing total system weight while providing comprehensive beam steering capability for all laser pathways.
2Ease of operation
If traditional turrets are used as beam directors, then beam steering capability is achieved, but aerodynamic performance is substantially impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The beam director is merged with the laser transmitter array and mounted conformally within the aircraft structure. This integration eliminates the need for external turret mounts that protrude into the aerodynamic flow, thereby reducing aerodynamic disruption while maintaining full beam steering functionality through the aircraft skin.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam director is mounted conformally within the aircraft structure, utilizing the aircraft skin as a mounting surface. This approach allows the beam director to be integrated smoothly into the aerodynamic envelope, minimizing flow disruption and enabling supersonic operation while maintaining steering capability.
3Ease of operation
If individual beam directors are used for each beam, then beam steering is achieved, but the number of optical components increases leading to high cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a single beam director that handles multiple laser beams simultaneously, consolidating what would otherwise require multiple separate beam directors. This merging reduces the total number of optical components from dozens per beam to a shared set serving all beams, dramatically lowering system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The beam director is designed as a universal steering mechanism that can direct multiple laser beams independently across the full field of view. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for duplicate optical components for each beam, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining independent steering capability for all beams.
4Ease of operation
If individual beam directors are used for each beam, then beam steering is achieved, but gaps between beams occur reducing area fill factor
Solution Approach 1:
By using a single beam director for multiple beams, the patent eliminates the mounting structures and mechanisms that create gaps between individual beam paths. The beams are steered through a unified optical path, maximizing the area fill factor and preventing power loss that would occur with separate beam directors positioned in discrete locations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The bidirectional beam director simplifies the design, increases the fill factor to nearly 100%, reduces heating and scatter, and allows for compact, conformal installation, enhancing the performance and efficiency of HEL systems while maintaining aerodynamic capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
A bidirectional beam director using a pair of optically coupled diffraction gratings that rotate independently to steer both incoming and outgoing laser beams
Data Source
AI summary
A bidirectional beam director includes a pair of optically coupled diffraction gratings, each being independently rotatable so that a laser beam passing through the pair of gratings can be steered by rotation of at least one of the gratings. The bidirectional beam can be coupled to many types of optical systems, including optical phased arrays, multi-beam laser transmitters and receivers, telescopes, and high energy laser beam control systems.