Birefringent Lens Beam Divergence Control Without Boresight Errors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical systems face challenges in controlling beam divergence while avoiding the creation of boresight and wavefront errors, which can occur when varying the distance between lenses, leading to undesirable line-of-sight and optical aberrations.

Innovation Solution

Utilizing a half waveplate in combination with lenses made of birefringent materials to control beam divergence by rotating or positioning the waveplate, thereby adjusting the polarization and refractive index without altering the lens spacing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the distance between lenses is varied to control beam divergence, then beam divergence control is achieved, but boresight and wavefront errors are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam divergence controlVSAvoidboresight and wavefront errors

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state or properties of the optical system by introducing birefringent materials and waveplates, allowing divergence control through polarization manipulation rather than mechanical lens spacing adjustment. This resolves the contradiction by achieving adaptability (divergence control) without the harmful side effects (boresight and wavefront errors) that occur with traditional mechanical adjustment methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical system of adjusting lens spacing with an optical system using birefringent materials and waveplates. Instead of mechanically moving lenses to control divergence, the system uses polarization manipulation through birefringent materials, substituting mechanical adjustment with optical field control, thereby eliminating mechanical errors.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If lens spacing is adjusted to achieve desired divergence, then beam divergence is controlled, but line-of-sight errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedivergence adjustmentVSAvoidline-of-sight accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the control parameter from mechanical lens spacing to optical polarization state. By using birefringent materials and waveplates, the system controls beam divergence through polarization manipulation, achieving adaptability without introducing line-of-sight errors that occur with mechanical lens positioning adjustments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Adaptability or versatility

If mechanical adjustment of lens distance is used for divergence control, then beam shaping is achieved, but optical aberrations are introduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam reshaping capabilityVSAvoidoptical aberrations

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical lens positioning with an optical field manipulation approach using birefringent materials. The beam reshaping is achieved through polarization control and optical path manipulation rather than mechanical displacement, eliminating the optical aberrations that arise from mechanical misalignment while preserving beam shaping capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces birefringent materials and waveplates as intermediary elements between the light source and the beam formation process. These intermediaries manipulate the polarization state of light to control beam divergence and shaping, acting as a mediator that achieves beam control without the harmful effects of direct mechanical lens adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Achieves precise beam divergence control without introducing boresight or wavefront errors, allowing for continuous or fixed divergence adjustments without physical changes to lens positioning.

Implementation Method 1

a half waveplate configured to alter a polarization of an input optical beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Implementation Method 2

at least one of the lenses includes one or more birefringent materials. A divergence of the output optical beam is based on the half waveplate and the at least one of the lenses including the one or more birefringent materials

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectBirefringence: Birefringence

Data Source

PatentUS20250244596A1Beam divergence control without creation of boresight or other errors

Publication Date: 2025.07.31 RAYTHEON CO

AI summary

A system includes an optical source configured to generate an input optical beam. The system also includes a half waveplate configured to alter a polarization of the input optical beam. The system further includes multiple lenses configured to reshape the input optical beam and generate an output optical beam, where at least one of the lenses includes one or more birefringent materials. A divergence of the output optical beam is based on the half waveplate and the at least one of the lenses including the one or more birefringent materials. In addition, the system includes an actuator configured to rotate or reposition the half waveplate in order to adjust the divergence of the output optical beam.