Thermal stabilization for an acousto-optic device
AssigneeLitton Systems, Inc.
InventorsMichael G. Price, Otis G. Zehl, Robert D. Bonney
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Abstract
An acousto-optic device is shown which permits the use of a temperature sensitive solid state laser. The laser is mounted in a heat sink that displaces the laser as a function of temperature in a direction which cancels the drift of the laser's blur spot due to the laser's increased wavelength as a function of temperature.
Claims11
An acousto-optic device utilizing collimated light from a solid state laser that passes through an acousto-optic modulator, comprising:
- means for mounting said solid state laser to direct said collimated light toward and through said acousto-optic modulator at an input angle thereto;
- said solid state laser generating a beam of collimated light whose wavelength increases as heat within said laser increases;
- said acousto-optic modulator causing the diffraction of said collimated light beam to increase as said wavelength of said beam increases for directing said beam from said modulator at an increased exit angle;
- and
- said means for mounting said laser including heat sink means to displace said laser and thereby reduce said input angle as heat within said laser increases, wherein said laser displacement reduces said input angle to offset said increase in said exit angle of said beam.
Temperature compensation means within an acousto-optic device using a solid state laser to direct a light beam at an input angle toward a Bragg cell which diffracts said beam to exit said cell at an exit angle comprising:
- said solid state laser generating said beam with an increasing wavelength as the temperature within said laser increases;
- said Bragg cell diffracting said beam at an increased exit angle as said wavelength increases;
- and
- means for mounting said solid state laser including heat sink means which displaces said laser to decrease said input angle of said beam toward said Bragg cell as the temperature within said heat sink increases wherein said displacement of said heat sink and said laser compensates for said increasing wavelength of said laser.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.