HEL Beam Director Alignment and Burn-Through Detection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High energy laser (HEL) systems in error states can experience excessive beam walk, leading to hardware damage, safety risks, and boresight alignment issues, for which existing redundant sensing mechanisms are inadequate.
Innovation Solution
A beam director system comprising a high-energy laser beam source, a primary mirror, output optics, an auto-alignment system, a jitter correction system, and a burn-through detector, which includes a far field position sensitive detector, a near field sensing array, and a photodiode with dynamic range adjustment, to correct beam misalignments and detect burn-through events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If redundant sensing mechanisms are added to detect beam walk, then beam alignment monitoring capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions (beam walk detection, burn-through detection, alignment monitoring) into a single integrated sensor head that uses a single optical path. This merging approach improves measurement precision by coordinating multiple detection functions while avoiding the complexity of separate redundant sensing systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor head is designed as a multi-functional device that simultaneously performs beam walk detection, burn-through detection, and alignment monitoring through a single optical path. This universal design allows one component to fulfill multiple sensing roles, improving overall monitoring capability without proportionally increasing device complexity.
2Device complexity
If a single optical path sensor head is used for burn-through and beam walk detection, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent successfully merges burn-through detection and beam walk detection into a single optical path sensor head. The design uses a single lens and detector assembly that can simultaneously measure both the position of the beam footprint (for beam walk detection) and the presence of burn-through events, maintaining measurement precision while significantly reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor head is designed as a universal detection device that handles multiple measurement tasks through one optical path. By using a single lens to focus both beam walk position information and burn-through detection signals onto a common detector, the system achieves multi-functionality without compromising the precision of individual measurements.
3Measurement precision
If dynamic range adjustment is implemented in the burn-through detector, then detection accuracy across different power levels is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The burn-through detector incorporates dynamic range adjustment capability that allows the system to adapt its detection sensitivity based on the operating power level. This dynamic adjustment enables accurate detection across test power levels, intermediate ramp power levels, and full power conditions, improving detection accuracy while the adjustment mechanism is integrated into the existing detector architecture to minimize added complexity.
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 system effectively corrects beam misalignments and detects burn-through events in real-time, preventing hardware damage and ensuring personnel safety, while improving boresight alignment and reducing the risk of stray laser energy.
Implementation Method 1
The burn-through detector may include one or more burn strips surrounding a periphery of the primary mirror
Implementation Method 2
The jitter correction system may include a far field position sensitive detector and a near field sensing array
Implementation Method 3
a retroreflector associated with the primary mirror, with the retroreflector directing part of the auto-alignment back to one or more track sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A beam director system includes a high-energy laser (HEL) beam source for an HEL beam, a primary mirror disposed along an optical path downstream of the HEL beam source, output optics downstream of the primary mirror, an auto-alignment system associated with the HEL beam source, a jitter correction system downstream of the HEL beam source and upstream of the primary mirror, and a burn-through detector associated with the primary mirror.