Ring Amplifier for Steerable Laser Transmitter
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing steerable laser transmitters and active situational awareness sensors face challenges in achieving a 360° field-of-view with reduced size, weight, power, and cost (SWaP-C) while minimizing atmospheric backscatter and mechanical scanning complexities.
Innovation Solution
A ring amplifier is used to amplify spot-beams that scan a circular pattern in a two-dimensional field-of-view, employing mechanical, solid-state, or optical phase array techniques, with synchronized pumping and thermal control to extend the range and flexibility of the laser transmitter or sensor, allowing for rapid scanning and adaptation to changing conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If flash illumination is used to simultaneously illuminate the entire FOV, then the ability to detect objects across the full field is improved, but atmospheric backscatter increases and reduces signal-to-noise ratio
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the illumination approach by using a single laser to create a collimated spot-beam that is mechanically scanned across the FOV rather than illuminating the entire FOV simultaneously. This segmentation of the illumination process in space and time reduces atmospheric backscatter while maintaining detection capability across the full field-of-view.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs periodic mechanical scanning of the spot-beam across the FOV to achieve comprehensive coverage. The mirror rotates periodically to scan the collimated spot-beam over a 360 degree horizontal FOV, providing systematic coverage without simultaneous full-FOV illumination, thereby minimizing atmospheric backscatter.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a single laser with mechanical scanning is used to scan the collimated spot-beam over 360 degree FOV, then atmospheric backscatter is reduced, but mechanical structures and motors increase size, weight, and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent acknowledges the trade-off by using mechanical scanning to achieve the desired FOV coverage with reduced atmospheric backscatter. While mechanical structures are present, the design optimizes the system by using a single laser source and efficient scanning mechanics to minimize overall SWaP-C compared to alternative approaches like flash illumination.
3Power
If multiple small emitter/detector pairs are used to provide 360 degree horizontal FOV, then laser power requirements are reduced, but mechanical rotation to scan the horizontal FOV increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple emitter/detector pairs into a single laser source with mechanical scanning capability. This consolidation reduces the number of components and simplifies the system architecture while maintaining the ability to scan a collimated spot-beam across the 360 degree horizontal FOV, balancing power requirements with device complexity.
4Measurement precision
If a more powerful laser is used to provide requisite energy density over the FOV, then detection capability is improved, but size, weight, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic mechanical scanning to concentrate the laser energy into a collimated spot-beam that is swept across the FOV. This allows a less powerful laser to achieve the requisite energy density at any given point in the FOV by concentrating energy temporally and spatially, rather than requiring a high-power laser to illuminate the entire FOV simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for high-power laser illumination with a mechanical scanning system that concentrates lower-power laser energy into a focused spot-beam. This substitution allows detection capability to be maintained or improved while reducing the power requirements and associated size, weight, and cost of the laser system.
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 enables efficient scanning of a 360° horizontal field-of-view with reduced SWaP-C, improved signal-to-noise ratio, and flexibility in scanning patterns, suitable for complex systems like aviation and robotics, by using a single laser without mechanical rotation and minimizing atmospheric backscatter.
Implementation Method 1
A ring amplifier amplifies one or more spot-beams that scan a circular pattern in a two-dimensional FOV
Implementation Method 2
a ring amplifier comprising one or more pumps configured to pump a gain medium in a form of a ring
Data Source
AI summary
A ring amplifier amplifies one or more spot-beams that scan a circular pattern in a two-dimensional FOV to extend the range of range steerable laser transmitter or an active situational sensor. Mechanical, solid-state or optical phase array techniques may be used to scan the spot-beam(s) in the circular pattern. Mirrors are preferably positioned to redirect the spot-beams to enter and exit the ring amplifier through sidewalls to amplify the spot-beam and return it along a path to scan the circular pattern. For efficiency, the pumps and thermal control may be synchronized to the circular scan pattern to only pump and cool the section of gain medium in which the spot-beam is currently scanned and the next section of gain medium in the circular scan pattern.