Optical Lens Refraction Elements Beacon Beam Generation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Optical communication systems face challenges in detecting directed laser beams due to their narrow angular divergence, leading to difficulties in establishing communication over long distances, especially when mechanical mounts or brackets are used to divert light, resulting in reduced beam intensity and data communication rates.

Innovation Solution

A laser communication terminal equipped with a lens having one or more refraction elements that divert a portion of the light to generate a beacon beam, eliminating the need for mechanical mounts and maintaining beam intensity and data rate with reduced transmission power.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If mechanical mounts or brackets are used to divert light for beacon beam generation, then the beacon beam can be generated to improve beam detectability, but light loss occurs which reduces primary beam intensity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam detectabilityVSAvoidlight loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the beacon beam generation function with the primary beam optical path by integrating a beam splitter directly into the optical path. This merging eliminates the need for separate mechanical mounts and brackets, allowing both the primary beam and beacon beam to be generated simultaneously from the same light source without additional light loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a beam splitter as an intermediary optical element that divides the primary beam into two paths: one continuing as the primary beam and another forming the beacon beam. This intermediary component enables efficient light division without the mechanical complexity and associated light losses of traditional mounting systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If mechanical mounts or brackets are used to position light-diverting elements, then beacon beam generation is enabled, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeam detectabilityVSAvoidmechanical mounting complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical mounting systems with an integrated optical solution. Instead of using mechanical brackets and mounts to position light-diverting elements, the beam splitter is optically integrated into the existing optical path, eliminating complex mechanical structures while maintaining the beacon beam generation capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the beacon beam generation function with the existing primary beam optical system. By integrating the beam splitter into the optical path rather than adding separate mechanical mounting structures, the system achieves beacon functionality without increasing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If a dedicated beacon optical source is used, then beacon beam generation is reliable, but system complexity and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebeacon beam reliabilityVSAvoidoptical source complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the primary beam light source serve multiple functions: generating both the primary communication beam and the beacon beam. By using the same light source for both purposes through the beam splitter arrangement, the system eliminates the need for a dedicated beacon optical source, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The primary beam optical system serves itself by generating the beacon beam as a byproduct of its normal operation. The beam splitter enables the primary light source to automatically provide both communication and beacon functions without requiring additional dedicated components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

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 solution enhances the detectability of the primary beam by generating a beacon beam with a larger angular divergence, reducing light loss and maintaining desired beam intensity and data communication rates without increasing transmission power.

Implementation Method 1

The lens includes one or more refraction elements positioned on a surface of the lens. The one or more refraction elements are configured to generate the beacon beam by diverting a portion of light emitted from a light-source

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentEP2979374B1Method for extracting optical energy from an optical beam

Publication Date: 2017.11.08 THE BOEING CO

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AI summary

A method includes generating a primary beam using light emitted by a light-source. The method includes generating a secondary beam using a portion of the light using a lens of a telescope. The lens includes one or more refraction elements positioned on a first surface of the lens, and the secondary beam is generated by diverting the portion of the light using the one or more refraction elements.