Laser alignment sensor
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsDavid W. Newton, Jeremiah E. Lange
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Abstract
An alignment sensor is provided for a laser system that emits a coherent beam. The sensor includes a dispersing prism, a focal plane array detector, a processor, and a transform lens. The dispersing prism receives the beam for deflection and wavelength separation as transmission into a plurality of dispersion beams. The transform lens focuses the plurality of dispersion beams towards the focal plane array to yield data. The focal plane array detector transmits the data. The processor receives the data.
Claims5
An alignment sensor for a laser system that emits a coherent beam, said sensor comprising:
- a dispersing prism for receiving the beam for deflection and wavelength separation as transmission into a plurality of dispersion beams;
- a transform lens that focuses said plurality of dispersion beams towards a focal plane as a plurality of concentration beams;
- a focal plane array detector for receiving said plurality of concentration beams and sensing a relative position for each focal intercept of said plurality of concentration beams;
- and
- a processor for receiving said relative position, determining an alignment error of said relative position, and providing a correction signal to a mirror for engaging spatial motion that compensates for said alignment error in the coherent beam.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.