# US 12,763,744 B2 · RF control of acousto-optic deflector > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,763,744 B2 - Document ID: US12763744B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/444,635 - Filed: 2024-02-17 - Published: 2025-04-24 - Granted: 2026-10-13 - Earliest claimed: 2023-06-10 - Applicants: John Bopp; John Lekavich; Bao Tran; Khanh Le - Inventors: John Bopp; John Lekavich; Bao Tran; Khanh Le - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12763744B2 ## CPC - H03G 3/3036: {in high-frequency amplifiers or in frequency-changers (H03G3/3052, H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence)} - G02F 1/33: Acousto-optical deflection devices {(circuit or control arrangements therefor G02F1/113)} - H03F 1/565: {using inductive elements} - H03F 3/211: {using a combination of several amplifiers (H03F3/60 takes precedence)} - H03F 3/213: in integrated circuits - H03F 2200/09: A balun, i.e. balanced to or from unbalanced converter, being present at the output of an amplifier - H03F 2200/387: A circuit being added at the output of an amplifier to adapt the output impedance of the amplifier - H03F 2200/451: the amplifier being a radio frequency amplifier - H03G 2201/103: being an amplifying element - H03G 2201/307: being radio frequency signal - H03G: CONTROL OF AMPLIFICATION - G02F: OPTICAL DEVICES OR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CONTROL OF LIGHT BY MODIFICATION OF THE OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THE MEDIA OF THE ELEMENTS INVOLVED THEREIN; NON-LINEAR OPTICS; FREQUENCY-CHANGING OF LIGHT; OPTICAL LOGIC ELEMENTS; OPTICAL ANALOGUE/DIGITAL CONVERTERS - H03F: AMPLIFIERS ## Abstract An acousto-optic deflector includes an optical element having a surface with one or more steps formed thereon; a conductive layer formed on the surface with the steps; one or more crystals secured to each step; and electrodes positioned on each surface of each crystal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A radio frequency (RF) system, comprising: a Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA) configured to control the overall gain of the RF power; an amplifier providing a fixed gain to a pre-amp stage; a multi-stage amplification system including a large signal driver stage and a final stage delivering the RF power signal; bi-directional couplers positioned between the final amplifier stage and the RF power output, enabling the sampling of forward and reverse power; RF power detectors converting sampled power into a DC voltage equivalent for feedback and control purposes; and a controller managing gain, bias currents, and shutdown based on feedback from the RF power detectors an acousto-optics device with: an optical element having a surface with one or more steps formed thereon; a conductive layer formed on the surface with the steps; one or more crystals secured to each step; and electrodes positioned on each surface of each crystal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller regulates a gain of the VGA and sets bias currents for one or more amplifier stages with a Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) for compensation over a predetermined operating temperature range. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising an amplification stage coupled to the controller to deliver variable drive power levels to provide scalability for one or more operational requirements. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller initiates an immediate shutdown of an RF driver upon detecting one or more predetermined forward or reflected power levels using feedback received from the RF power detectors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a serial communication interface enabling exchange of system health and status information between the microcontroller and an external controller. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising, comprising and AOD with: an optical element having a surface with one or more steps formed thereon; a conductive layer formed on the surface with the steps; one or more crystals secured to each step; and electrodes positioned on each surface of each crystal. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a tuning element to match a predetermined impedance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a tuning element providing an output impedance of 50 ohms. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising a tuning element including inductive and capacitive passive components. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, comprising tuning element comprises 1:1 balun, 4:1 transformer, a capacitor, and an inductor. ### Claim 11 A method to deflect a laser beam, comprising: applying the laser beam to an optical element having one or more steps each with a predetermined height and one or more crystals or transducers on the one or more steps formed thereon; a conductive layer formed on the surface with the steps; one or more crystals secured to each step; and electrodes positioned on each surface of each crystal; impedance matching the electrical input of the transducers to a 50-ohm load; providing an electrical input to deflect the laser at the two or more frequencies; and generating a sound field in the optical element to deflect a laser beam based on two or more frequencies; controlling the crystals or transducers with a controller, a Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA) configured to control the overall gain of the RF power, an amplifier providing a fixed gain to a pre-amp stage, a multi-stage amplification system including a large signal driver stage and a final stage delivering the RF power signal, a bi-directional couplers positioned between the final amplifier stage and the RF power output, enabling the sampling of forward and reverse power, RF power detectors converting sampled power into a DC voltage equivalent for feedback and control purposes, wherein the controller manages gain, bias currents, and shutdown based on feedback from the RF power detectors. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising controlling the crystals or transducers with a controller, a Variable Gain Amplifier (VGA) configured to control the overall gain of the RF power, an amplifier providing a fixed gain to a pre-amp stage, a multi-stage amplification system including a large signal driver stage and a final stage delivering the RF power signal, a bi-directional couplers positioned between the final amplifier stage and the RF power output, enabling the sampling of forward and reverse power, RF power detectors converting sampled power into a DC voltage equivalent for feedback and control purposes, wherein the controller manages gain, bias currents, and shutdown based on feedback from the RF power detectors. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising matching the input of the transducers to a predetermined impedance. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising providing a tuning element coupled to the transducers with an output impedance of 50 ohms. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising a tuning element including inductive and capacitive passive components. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising tuning element comprises a 1:1 balun, a 4:1 transformer, a capacitor, and an inductor. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the optical element comprises a slanted end, wherein the slanted end comprises a compound angle to move reflected sound field out of a laser beam working range, wherein the slanted end forms a 30 degree angle measured from a long side of the optical element to a short side of the optical element, and wherein a surface of the slanted end comprises a 2 degree slope. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the optical element comprises germanium, tellurium dioxide (TeO2), lithium niobate, PZT, fused silica, chalcogenide glasses, glass. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the tuning element matches a deflector output impedance at 40 MHz and at 60 MHz to a 50 ohm impedance. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, comprising providing gain adjustment, temperature compensation, and autonomous fault recovery capabilities with an RF power amplifier having redundant fault detection for excessive forward and reverse power with a measurement-based power detection means and a threshold-based power detection means, and monitoring an operating temperature to maintain consistent RF power output.