Erectable large optic for outer space application
AssigneeThe United States of American as represented by the Secretary of the Army
InventorsThomas G. Roberts, Thomas E. Honeycutt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An erectable large optics for outer space application which includes a beam expander optic which is constructed as the output coupling portion of a feedback mirror of an unstable optical resonator and a large erectable gas lens has the focusing optic of an output aperture of a telescope.
Claims5
An erectable optics for outer space applications comprising a housing having a resonator cavity therein with reflective mirror means at opposite ends of the resonator cavity for reflecting light out of the resonator cavity, a beam reflector and a beam expander mounted on said housing for receiving said reflected out light and for expanding said light, a gas dynamic lens mounted relative to said housing, and said gas dynamic lens being constructed so as to focus and direct the expanding light coming from said beam expander toward a target.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.