Method and apparatus for quantizing radiation beams by optical diffraction
AssigneeGrumman Aerospace Corporation
InventorsJ. Walter Foster, Charles L. Dunkerley
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Abstract
A method and associated apparatus for quantizing radiation beams by optical diffraction including the steps of, and associated apparatus for, reflecting a majority of the energy in an incident radiation beam, optically diffracting portions of the non-reflected incident radiation beam to provide quantized radiation beam portions of reduced intensity, and individually detecting each of the quantized radiation portions. Advantageously, the detected radiation beam portions are converted to electrical signals which may be processed for display, as desired.
Claims22
A method for quantizing a radiation beam, including the steps of:
- sampling discrete portions of an incident radiation beam with a diffraction matrix to eliminate a substantial portion of the energy of the incident radiation beam;
- optically diffracting on-axis the sampled portions of the incident radiation beam to provide quantized radiation beam portions of reduced intensity;
- and
- individually detecting the quantized radiation beam portions with a receiving plate having a plurality of sensors affixed thereto.
A method of quantizing a laser beam, including the steps of:
- sampling with a diffraction matrix discrete portions of an incident laser beam to be quantized;
- absorbing a portion of the incident laser beam by the diffraction matrix during sampling thereof;
- optically diffracting on-axis the sampled portions of the incident laser beam to provide quantized laser beam portions of reduced intensity;
- absorbing some of the quantized laser beam after optical diffraction thereof;
- individually detecting the optically diffracted laser beam portions;
- transforming the detected quantized laser beam portions into electrical output signals;
- and
- processing the electrical signals representative of the quantized laser beam portions to provide information concerning the incident laser beam.
A method for quantizing radiation beams, including the steps of:
- positioning a diffraction matrix in the path of a high energy radiation beam;
- eliminating a substantial portion of the energy of the incident radiation beam;
- absorbing some of the energy of the incident radiation beam in the diffraction matrix;
- optically diffracting portions of the incident radiation beam through the diffraction matrix to provide quantized radiation beam portions of reduced intensity;
- arranging detectors at a predetermined distance from the diffracting matrix to receive the quantized radiation beam portions therefrom;
- and
- transforming the quantized radiation beam portions into electrical signals.
An apparatus for quantizing a radiation beam, comprising:
- a diffraction matrix positioned in the path of a high energy radiation beam, said diffraction matrix having an incident surface for eliminating a substantial portion of the incident radiation and a plurality of diffraction apertures arranged in a predetermined pattern for quantizing and reducing the intensity of portions of the radiation beam transmitted therethrough;
- and
- a receiving plate spaced a predetermined distance from said diffraction matrix, said receiving plate having a plurality of sensors affixed thereto and arranged in a pattern compatible with the pattern of said diffraction apertures, so that each of said sensors receives radiation energy from only one of said diffraction apertures, said sensors converting the radiant energy received thereby to electrical signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.