Telescopic Radiator for Directed Energy Beam Combining
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-energy radiators for directed energy applications, such as laser weapons, face challenges in achieving the required intensity and precision to effectively target objects at distances of several hundred meters to kilometers, necessitating costly and time-consuming development of high-energy emitters.
Innovation Solution
A radiator design incorporating telescopic optics with a collimating mirror and secondary mirror for beam coupling from multiple industrially available lasers, using light guide devices and a beam splitter mirror to focus beams coaxially onto a target, with alignment and correction systems involving cameras and position-sensitive detectors for precise targeting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-energy emitters are developed for directed energy applications, then the required intensity and precision for targeting objects at long distances is improved, but the development cost and time increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the high-energy beam generation into multiple separate laser sources (first laser source and second laser source), each operating at lower energy levels. These segmented sources are then combined through the optical system to achieve the required high intensity, avoiding the need to develop a single complex high-energy emitter while maintaining targeting precision through the combined beam focusability.
2Measurement precision
If high-energy emitters are developed for directed energy applications, then the required intensity and precision for targeting objects at long distances is improved, but the development cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the high-energy requirement into multiple manageable laser sources that can be manufactured separately using existing industrial laser technology. This segmentation allows each component to be produced through standard manufacturing processes rather than requiring costly custom development of a single high-energy emitter, thereby reducing overall development costs while achieving the necessary beam intensity through combination.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system serves multiple functions: it combines beams from different laser sources, focuses them to a common focal point, and enables precise targeting. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate systems for each function, reducing overall system cost and complexity while maintaining high targeting precision.
3Use of energy by moving object
If multiple laser sources are combined into a single beam, then the energy output is improved, but the beam quality and focusability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A beam combining optical system acts as an intermediary between the multiple laser sources and the final combined beam. This optical system includes optical elements that receive beams from different laser sources, combine them spatially, and direct them to a common focal point. The intermediary optical system ensures that the combined beam maintains good beam quality and focusability despite originating from multiple sources, thereby preserving manufacturing precision while achieving high energy output.
4Ease of manufacture
If commercially available lasers are used instead of custom high-energy emitters, then the cost is reduced, but the energy output and intensity at distance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system merges the output of multiple commercially available laser sources through a beam combining optical system. By combining the beams from several lower-power industrial lasers, the system achieves the high energy output and intensity required for long-distance targeting, while utilizing off-the-shelf components that reduce overall system cost compared to custom high-energy emitters.
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
Enables cost-effective application of high-energy beams to moving objects over long distances with precise alignment and correction, overcoming the limitations of existing technologies by utilizing commercially available emitters and improving beam focusing and alignment capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a beam combining device (1*) with telescopic optics, with a collimating mirror (2) and a secondary mirror (3), and a device (13) for receiving directed beams from a plurality of light guide devices (35) from which at least one beam generator (34) is formed
Implementation Method 2
the collimation mirror (2) serves, among other things, to align the thus bundled radiation onto a target object; further functions of the collimation mirror will be explained below and the secondary mirror (3) serves, among other things, to focus the combined beam onto a target object
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a radiating element (1) for focussed energy, comprising a device for coupling in rays from at least one beam generator (34) and a beam combining device (1'), which merges the beams to combined beams, wherein the beam combining device (1') comprises a telescopic lens having a collimation mirror (2) and a secondary mirror (3) and the device for receiving directed rays from a plurality of light guide devices (35) is formed from the at least one beam generator (34).