Telescope
AssigneesUniversity Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Montana State University, NASA Langley Research Center
InventorScott M. Spuler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shared optics and telescope for transmitting a transmission beam and receiving a return signal is provided. The shared optics and telescope includes a pair of axicon lenses operable to shape the transmission beam into an annular beam having an outer diameter and an inner diameter, a secondary mirror operable to deflect the annular beam into a deflected annular transmission beam, and a primary mirror that includes an inner mirror portion and an outer mirror portion, the inner mirror portion operable to expand the deflected annular transmission beam, and the outer mirror portion operable to collect the return signal.
Claims10
A shared optics and telescope for transmitting a transmission beam and receiving a return signal, the shared optics and telescope comprising:
- a pair of axicon lenses operable to shape the transmission beam into an annular beam having an outer diameter and an inner diameter;
- a secondary mirror operable to deflect the annular beam into a deflected annular transmission beam;
- and
- a primary mirror having a single focal length that includes an inner mirror portion and an outer mirror portion, the inner mirror portion operable to expand the deflected annular transmission beam, and the outer mirror portion operable to collect the return signal.
A method for transmitting a transmission beam and receiving a return signal through a shared optics and telescope, the method comprising the steps of:
- shaping the transmission beam into an annular pattern using a pair of axicon lenses to create an annular transmission beam;
- deflecting the transmission beam towards a primary mirror having a single focal length using a secondary mirror to generate a deflected annular transmission beam;
- expanding the deflected annular transmission beam using an inner mirror portion of the primary mirror and a telescope lens;
- and
- collecting a return signal using an outer mirror portion of the primary mirror.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.