Method and apparatus for generating a structured light beam array
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorsJohn Taboada, Bruce R. Altschuler
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Abstract
Apparatus for simultaneously generating a space volume-filling structural light beam array utilizes a prism assembly which refracts a laser light beam so as to partition it into four separate segments. The four segments produced the two-by-two rectangular beam array by coherent interference of the segments.
Claims15
A method of simultaneouslu generating a space volume-filling structured light beam array for projection upon an object in non-contact surface metrology, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a coherent light beam;
- (b) projecting said beam with slight divergence through a predetermined plane;
- (c) partitioning said beam received at said plane into four light beam segments of predetermined spacing and pattern;
- (d) generating from said beam segment pattern, a two-dimensional array comprising an interference pattern of said beam segments;
- and
- (e) projecting said array in a direction orthogonal to the plane of the array onto said object.
Apparatus for generating a space volume-filling structured light beam array for projection upon an object in non-contact surface metrology comprising:
- (a) means for generating a coherent light beam;
- (b) means for projecting said beam with slight divergence through a predetermined plane;
- (c) means for partitioning said beam received at said plane into four light beam segments of predetermined spacing and pattern;
- (d) means for generating from said beam segment pattern, a two dimensional array comprising an interference pattern of said beam segments;
- and
- (e) means for projecting said array onto said object.
A method of simultaneously generating multiple space volume-filling structured light beam arrays of predetermined wavelengths in any combination, comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating coherent light beams of said predetermined wavelengths, including four different wavelengths of light generated as four beams from four sources;
- (b) projecting said beams with slight divergence through a predetermined plane;
- (c) partitioning each beam received at said plane into four light beam segments of predetermined spacings and patterns;
- (d) generating from said beam segment patterns two-dimensional arrays comprising interference patterns of said beam segments;
- and
- (e) projecting said arrays onto an object in which the derived arrays from each wavelength overlap on the object.
Apparatus for simultaneously generating multiple space volume-filling light beam arrays of predetermined wavelengths in any combination, comprising;
- (a) means for generating coherent light beams of said predetermined wavelengths, including four different wavelengths of light generated as four beams from four sources;
- (b) means for projecting said beams with slight divergence through a predetermined plane;
- (c) means for partitioning each beam received at said plane into four light beam segments of predetermined spacings and patterns;
- (d) means for generating from said beam segment patterns two dimensional arrays comprising interference patterns of said beam segments;
- and
- (e) means for projecting said arrays onto an object in which the derived arrays from each wavelength overlap on the object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.