Shared aperture separator for reciprocal path optical beams
AssigneeThe Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.
InventorJoseph D. Coccoli
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Abstract
Apparatus for reflecting an incident laser beam to direct the beam outgoing along a path toward a target, including a stepped array of reflector elements. The array elements have reflective surfaces arranged so that the surfaces are overlapping as seen by the incident beam. In addition, the elements are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the path so that light returning from the target passes between the elements.
Claims13
A method for monitoring conditions along the propagation path of reciprocal path optical signals, comprising the steps of:
- directing an incident laser beam toward a target by way of a stepped array of parallel reflecting surfaces arranged on spaced apart elements, in which said reflecting surfaces overlap as seen by the incident beam and the elements are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to said path, whereby said incident laser beam is split into a plurality of coherent laminar beams propagating toward said target, and said laminar beams have controlled relative phase displacements, and
- detecting an optical signal returning on said path from said target which passes between said spaced apart elements.
Shared aperture reciprocal path optical signal separating apparatus comprising:
- transmit means for splitting an input coherent optical beam into a plurality of substantially parallel laminar beams directed through a shared aperture along transmit paths in a predetermined direction, and wherein the coherence of said input optical beam is maintained in said laminar beams, and said laminar beams have controlled relative phase displacements,
- receiving means for receiving a received signal through said shared aperture and splitting said received signal into a plurality of substantially parallel laminar beams along received paths parallel to and interleaved with said transmit paths.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.