Integrated lightweight optical bench and miniaturized laser transmitter using same
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorsRobert D. Stultz, Daniel E. Maguire, David R. Rockafellow, Ashok B. Patel, Mario P. Palombo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An unproved optical bench for use in an optical system, such as a miniaturized laser transmitter, or the like. The optical bench has a housing with a plurality of V-shaped grooves formed therein. Optical elements of the optical system in which the optical bench is used are secured, such as by bonding, in the plurality of V-shaped grooves. The optical bench thus rigidly mounts the optical elements of the optical system to produce a compact and lightweight structure that is relatively insensitive to environmental extremes.
Claims18
A miniaturized laser transmitter, comprising:
- an optical bench comprising a housing having a plurality of V-shaped grooves formed therein;
- a laser resonator rigidly secured in one of the V-shaped grooves of the optical bench;
- a visible light aiming diode rigidly secured in one of the V-shaped grooves of the optical bench;
- a beamsplitter rigidly secured to an end of the optical bench and wherein the optical bench is rigidly secured to the laser resonator and the visible light aiming diode and the beamsplitter to prevent optical misalignment and provide a lightweight structure that is substantially insensitive to temperature and environmental extremes.
A miniaturized laser Apparatus containing one or more optical elements, the apparatus comprising:
- an optical bench comprising a housing having a plurality of laterally separated V-shaped grooves formed therein;
- and
- one or more optical elements of the optical system bonded in the plurality of laterally separated V-shaped grooves.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.