HEL Beam Director Alignment and Jitter Control With Burn-Through Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
High energy laser (HEL) systems in error states experience excessive beam walk, which can damage hardware, affect personnel safety, and disrupt boresight alignment.
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, configured to correct beam misalignments and detect potential damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If redundant sensing mechanisms are added to detect beam walk, then system safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions (beam walk detection, burn-through detection, and alignment monitoring) into a single integrated optical path that uses the laser beam itself as the sensing medium. The burn-through detector and beam walk sensor share the same optical path and detection electronics, eliminating the need for separate redundant sensing systems while maintaining comprehensive safety monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical path serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the laser beam delivery path, a sensing path for beam walk detection, and a detection path for burn-through monitoring. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated sensing systems, thereby reducing overall device complexity while improving reliability through comprehensive monitoring.
2Reliability
If burn-through detector is added to monitor primary mirror, then hardware safety is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The burn-through detector is integrated into the existing optical path rather than being a separate system. It uses the same optical components and detection electronics as the beam walk sensing mechanism, combining hardware safety monitoring with the primary beam delivery function to avoid adding complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The laser beam itself serves as the sensing mechanism for burn-through detection. The beam interacts with the primary mirror and any burn-through events are detected by monitoring changes in the beam's optical properties along its path, eliminating the need for separate active sensing components.
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensing mechanisms are implemented, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensing functions are merged into a single optical path with shared detection electronics. The system uses the laser beam's interaction with optical components to simultaneously measure beam position, alignment, and potential burn-through events, achieving high measurement precision without multiplying the number of separate sensing systems.
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 walk and detects potential damage, ensuring hardware safety, personnel safety, and maintaining boresight alignment, thereby enhancing the operational reliability of HEL systems.
Implementation Method 1
The burn-through detector may be disposed along a burn-through path. The burn-through path may include at least one attenuator and a photo diode.
Implementation Method 2
The burn-through path may include at least one attenuator and a photo diode.
Implementation Method 3
The burn-through path may include at least one attenuator and a photo diode.
Data Source
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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.