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AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsWayne B. Lloyd, Robert J. Bernhard, Dale R. Logan, Ronald W. Minarik
Estimating the term…
An autoalignment system for a laser having a pair of reflector assemblies capable of providing six degrees of freedom of movement to the reflector element formed as part of each of the reflector assemblies. Each reflector assembly is made up of a reflector unit, a gimbal knuckle joint and a translator mechanism. The interconnection between the reflector unit and the gimbal knuckle joint provides for two degrees of freedom while the translator mechanism and its interconnection with the gimbal knuckle joint provides the additional four degrees of freedom. Cooling of the reflector elements is accomplished by way of a coolant system which is incorporated within the autoalignment system of the laser, while motivation of the autoalignment system is in the form of a plurality of drivers operably connected to the various elements of the reflector assembly. During utilization of the system in a vibrational environment, the autoalignment system maintains the correct relationship between the reflecting elements of the laser as well as providing sufficient cooling thereof.
In a laser having a pair of end walls and a pair of side walls defining a laser cavity and an optical resonator located within said laser cavity bounded at opposed ends thereof by a first and second reflecting element, the improvement therein residing in a laser autoalignment system capable of providing six degrees of freedom of movement to said first and second reflecting elements, said autoalignment system comprising a first and a second reflector assembly disposed at opposite ends of said laser cavity, said first reflector assembly incorporating therein said first reflector element and said second reflector assembly incorporating therein said second reflector element, each of said first and second reflector assemblies comprising a reflector unit, a gimbal knuckle joint and a translator mechanism, said reflector unit having mounted on one end thereof one of said reflector elements, a pair of appendages protruding from each side of said reflector unit, each of said appendages passing through an opening located in each of said side walls, respectively, of said laser, at least one of said appendages having means connected to an end thereof and located outside of said laser cavity for aligning said reflector assemblies and means located within each of said openings in said side walls for sealing said opening between said appendage and said side wall, said gimbal knuckle joint having means at one end thereof for operably connecting the other end of said reflector unit to said gimbal knuckle joint for two degrees of freedom of movement with respect thereto, said translator mechanism having means at one end thereof for operably connecting the other end of said gimbal knuckle joint thereto for four degrees of freedom of movement with respect thereto, said translator mechanism being fixedly secured at the other end thereof to one of said end walls of said laser, means operably connected to said translator mechanism, said gimbal knuckle joint and said reflector unit for moving each of said reflector assemblies in said six degrees of freedom, and said alignment means on each of said reflector assemblies being in operable relationship with one another so as to provide signals to said moving means thereby enabling said moving means to provide each of said reflector assemblies with said six degrees of movement in accordance with said signals.
An autoalignment system for providing six degrees of freedom of movement comprising at least one support assembly, said support assembly having a body, a gimbal knuckle joint and a translator mechanism, said gimbal knuckle joint having means at one end thereof for operably connecting said body to said gimbal knuckle joint for two degrees of freedom of movement with respect thereto, said translator mechanism having means at one end thereof for operably connecting the other end of said gimbal knuckle joint thereto for four degrees of freedom of movement with respect thereto and means operably connected to said translator mechanism, said gimbal knuckle joint and said body for moving said support assembly in said six degrees of freedom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.