# US 2025/0147239 A1 · Compact optical beam combiner package > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2025/0147239 A1 - Document ID: US20250147239A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/816,799 - Filed: 2024-08-27 - Published: 2025-05-08 - Earliest claimed: 2023-11-08 - Assignees: Raytheon Company - Applicants: Raytheon Company - Inventors: Anthony D. Dichiara; David R. McCormick; Dustin R. Thielen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250147239A1 ## CPC - G02B 6/29362: {Serial cascade of filters or filtering operations, e.g. for a large number of channels} - G02B 27/141: {using dichroic mirrors} - G02B 5/003: {Light absorbing elements} - G02B 27/145: {having sequential partially reflecting surfaces} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract An apparatus includes a dichroic combiner array configured to combine multiple input optical beams and generate an output optical beam. The dichroic combiner array includes multiple mirrors and multiple dichroic filters. A first mirror is configured to reflect a first input optical beam towards a first dichroic filter, which is configured to combine the first input optical beam and a second input optical beam. A second mirror is configured to reflect a combined optical beam from the first dichroic filter to a second dichroic filter. A last dichroic filter is configured to generate the output optical beam. The apparatus also includes a beam dump array having multiple beam dumps configured to terminate stray optical energy. The stray optical energy includes at least one of: (i) optical energy reflecting from at least one of the dichroic filters and (ii) optical energy transmitted through at least one of the dichroic filters. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus comprising: a dichroic combiner array configured to combine multiple input optical beams and generate an output optical beam, the dichroic combiner array comprising: multiple mirrors; and multiple dichroic filters; wherein a first of the mirrors is configured to reflect a first of the input optical beams towards a first of the dichroic filters, the first dichroic filter configured to combine the first input optical beam and a second of the input optical beams; wherein a second of the mirrors is configured to reflect a combined optical beam from the first dichroic filter to a second of the dichroic filters; and wherein a last of the dichroic filters is configured to generate the output optical beam; and a beam dump array comprising multiple beam dumps configured to terminate stray optical energy, the stray optical energy comprising at least one of: (i) optical energy reflecting from at least one of the dichroic filters and (ii) optical energy transmitted through at least one of the dichroic filters. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: the dichroic combiner array is configured to receive n input optical beams; the multiple mirrors comprise a collection of n−1 mirrors; the multiple dichroic filters comprise a collection of n−1 dichroic filters; the beam dump array includes n beam dumps; and the dichroic filters are collectively configured to generate n−1 combined optical beams, a final combined optical beam representing the output optical beam. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein n is an integer equal to at least three. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a manifold configured to provide at least one fluid coolant to the beam dumps and to receive the at least one fluid coolant from the beam dumps. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a platform configured to carry the dichroic combiner array and the beam dump array; and multiple connectors configured to receive the input optical beams. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the multiple connectors are configured to be coupled to multiple optical fibers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising: a housing configured to receive an optical bench comprising the platform, the dichroic combiner array, and the beam dump array; and a cover configured to secure the optical bench in the housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: an interface plate configured to be connected to the housing and to an external structure; wherein the interface plate comprises a first port configured to receive at least one fluid coolant and a second port configured to provide the at least one fluid coolant. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the beam dumps of the beam dump array are arranged to allow the stray optical energy to strike the beam dumps at least three times, the beam dumps configured to absorb portions of the stray optical energy during each strike. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein each beam dump comprises two major surfaces, the major surfaces of each beam dump having grooves. ### Claim 11 A method comprising: combining multiple input optical beams using a dichroic combiner array to generate an output optical beam, the dichroic combiner array comprising: multiple mirrors; and multiple dichroic filters; wherein a first of the mirrors reflects a first of the input optical beams towards a first of the dichroic filters and the first dichroic filter combines the first input optical beam and a second of the input optical beams; wherein a second of the mirrors reflects a combined optical beam from the first dichroic filter to a second of the dichroic filters; and wherein a last of the dichroic filters generates the output optical beam; and terminating stray optical energy using a beam dump array comprising multiple beam dumps, the stray optical energy comprising at least one of: (i) optical energy reflecting from at least one of the dichroic filters and (ii) optical energy transmitted through at least one of the dichroic filters. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein: the dichroic combiner array receives n input optical beams; the multiple mirrors comprise a collection of n−1 mirrors; the multiple dichroic filters comprise a collection of n−1 dichroic filters; the beam dump array includes n beam dumps; and the dichroic filters collectively generate n−1 combined optical beams, a final combined optical beam representing the output optical beam. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: providing at least one fluid coolant to the beam dumps and receiving the at least one fluid coolant from the beam dumps using a manifold. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, further comprising: mounting the dichroic combiner array and the beam dump array on a platform; and using multiple connectors to receive the input optical beams. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the multiple connectors are configured to be coupled to multiple optical fibers. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the beam dumps of the beam dump array are arranged to allow the stray optical energy to strike the beam dumps at least three times, the beam dumps configured to absorb portions of the stray optical energy during each strike. ### Claim 17 A method comprising: placing an optical bench in a housing; and securing the optical bench within the housing; wherein the optical bench comprises: a dichroic combiner array configured to combine multiple input optical beams and generate an output optical beam, the dichroic combiner array comprising: multiple mirrors; and multiple dichroic filters; wherein a first of the mirrors is configured to reflect a first of the input optical beams towards a first of the dichroic filters, the first dichroic filter configured to combine the first input optical beam and a second of the input optical beams; wherein a second of the mirrors is configured to reflect a combined optical beam from the first dichroic filter to a second of the dichroic filters; and wherein a last of the dichroic filters is configured to generate the output optical beam; and a beam dump array comprising multiple beam dumps configured to terminate stray optical energy, the stray optical energy comprising at least one of: (i) optical energy reflecting from at least one of the dichroic filters and (ii) optical energy transmitted through at least one of the dichroic filters. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein securing the optical bench within the housing comprises: placing a cover over the optical bench; and connecting the cover to the housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, further comprising: connecting an interface plate to the housing, the interface plate also configured to be connected to an external structure; wherein the interface plate comprises a first port configured to receive at least one fluid coolant and a second port configured to provide the at least one fluid coolant. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the beam dumps of the beam dump array are arranged to allow the stray optical energy to strike the beam dumps at least three times, the beam dumps configured to absorb portions of the stray optical energy during each strike.