Laser sensor holder
AssigneeKodak Polychrome Graphics LLC
InventorRobert K. Armitage
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A laser sensor holder apparatus for enabling a power sensor to be held in the path of a laser beam to measure the beams power comprises a base unit including a mounting frame, and translation stages to enable the movement of a sensor mounting plate to a desired position in the path of a laser beam. The apparatus is useful in measuring the power of a laser beam. Applications of the apparatus include its use in direct imaging systems whereby the previous method of manually holding a power sensor in the path of a class 4 laser and all of its inherent disadvantages may be avoided.
Claims19
A sensor holder apparatus for a laser power sensor, the apparatus comprising:
- (i) a base unit arranged for mounting on a supporting surface of a laser beam unit;
- (ii) a sensor mounting means arranged to be rigidly coupled to a laser power sensor by a connecting elongate bar therebetween;
- and
- (iii) an attachment means for movably attaching the sensor mounting means to the base unit, the attachment means being arranged for movement of the sensor mounting means into a position in which the sensor can be positioned in the path of a laser beam to be monitored and exposed to the whole cross-section of the laser beam wherein the attachment means comprises (i) first, second and third translation stages, and (ii) a plurality of adjustment means comprising adjustment screws, each adjustment means being coupled to each of the translation stages, each translation stage and each adjustment means being arranged to move the sensor mounting means with respect to the base unit along a different axis of movement.
A laser beam unit comprising a laser, a laser beam omitting part having at least an adjacent supporting surface, and a sensor holding apparatus comprising:
- (i) a base unit arranged for mounting on a supporting surface of the laser beam unit;
- (ii) a sensor mounting means arranged to be rigidly coupled to a laser power sensor by a connecting elongate bar therebetween;
- and
- (iii) an attachment means for movably attaching the sensor mounting means to the base unit, the attachment means being arranged for movement of the sensor mounting means into a position in which the sensor can be positioned in the path of a laser beam to be monitored and exposed to the whole cross-section of the laser beam wherein the attachment means comprises (i) first, second and third translation stages, and (ii) a plurality of adjustment means comprising adjustment screws, each adjustment means being coupled to each of the translation stages, each translation stage and each adjustment means being arranged to move the sensor mounting means with respect to the base unit along a different axis of movement.
A method of measuring the power of a laser beam, the method comprising:
- mounting a sensor holder apparatus on a supporting surface of a laser beam unit, the sensor holder apparatus comprising
- (i) a base unit arranged for mounting on a supporting surface of the laser beam unit;
- (ii) a sensor mounting means arranged to be rigidly coupled to a laser power sensor by a connecting elongate bar therebetween;
- and
- (iii) an attachment means for movably attaching the sensor mounting means to the base unit, the attachment means being arranged for movement of the sensor mounting means into a position in which the sensor can be positioned in the path of a laser beam to be monitored and exposed to the whole cross-section of the laser beam wherein the attachment means comprises (i) first, second and third translation stages, and (ii) a plurality of adjustment means comprising adjustment screws, each adjustment means being coupled to each of the translation stages, each translation stage and each adjustment means being arranged to move the sensor mounting means with respect to the base unit along a different axis of movement;
- manipulating attachment means of the sensor holder so as to bring about movement of the laser power sensor into a position in which the sensor is in the path of a laser beam and exposed to the whole cross-section of the laser beam to be monitored, and
- obtaining a power reading from the laser power sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.