Partial-Beam Retro-Reflector Alignment for Laser Boresight Maintenance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
High-energy laser systems face alignment errors due to thermal differences, and existing methods like cameras and external reflectors suffer from limitations such as requiring high-energy beam firing or losing fine tracking.
Innovation Solution
An active partial-beam alignment system using a switchable retro-reflector that can be moved into and out of the optical path, allowing one sensor to capture a visible see-spot and another sensor to internally verify alignment, enabling detection of misalignment and corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a camera is used to view where the high-energy beam actually strikes, then alignment accuracy can be improved, but the system cannot be used in systems that shield their cameras from the wavelength(s) of their high-energy beams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external reflector as an intermediary element that receives the high-energy beam and redirects it to a camera. This mediator allows the camera to indirectly observe the beam strike location without being directly exposed to the high-energy wavelength, thus resolving the contradiction between measurement precision and system compatibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates an optical copy of the high-energy beam path by reflecting it to a separate camera location. Instead of requiring the camera to be in the direct beam path, the system copies the beam's positional information through reflection, enabling alignment measurement without direct wavelength exposure
2Measurement precision
If an external reflector is used to determine beam alignment, then alignment measurement is enabled, but the system loses fine tracking of a target or target area when a beam is temporarily redirected to the external reflector
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic switching between alignment measurement mode (using external reflector) and normal tracking mode. The beam is temporarily redirected to the reflector only when alignment checks are needed, then quickly returned to the original path for continuous tracking, maintaining both measurement capability and tracking speed through time-multiplexed operation
3Reliability
If the alignment beam follows a common optical path with the high-energy beam, then boresight alignment can be maintained, but thermal differences cause alignment errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the optical path into separate channels for the high-energy beam and the alignment/monitoring beam. By using separate optical paths with different wavelengths, the system prevents thermal interference between the high-power beam and the sensitive alignment detection, while still maintaining boresight correlation through the shared target reference
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
This system provides accurate alignment and boresight maintenance by generating an internal see-spot within the laser system, allowing for thermal difference compensation and maintaining fine tracking during operation.
Implementation Method 1
the one or more reflective faces are configured to reflect a first portion of the alignment beam
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus includes a reflector having one or more reflective faces and an opening. The reflector is selectively movable into and out of an optical path of an alignment beam. When the reflector is located within the optical path of the alignment beam, (i) the one or more reflective faces are configured to reflect a first portion of the alignment beam and (ii) the opening is configured to allow passage of a second portion of the alignment beam through the reflector. The reflector may include a retro-reflector, the retro-reflector may include multiple reflective faces, and the multiple reflective faces may be positioned around the opening.