Active optical system for beam-steering a laser beam

A method for beam-steering an incoming laser beam, comprising the steps of:

• a) adjusting an incoming laser beam in accordance with first desired wavelength, polarization and beam propagation parameters;
• b) producing a driver laser beam;
• c) adjusting said driver laser beam in accordance with second desired wavelength, polarization and beam propagation parameters;
• d) constraining the adjusted incoming optical laser beam and the adjusted driver laser beam to provide a propagation direction modified laser beam that propagates at a different angle than the incoming laser beam and at a difference wavelength thereof;
• e) adjusting the combined, co-linear propagation output wavefront in accordance with desired wavelength, polarization, and beam propagation parameters, the output of the egressing optics having the laser beam propagation direction shifted relative to the incoming laser beam direction.

An active beam-steered telescope, comprising:

• an active optical system, comprising:
• a) a first control optics assembly for receiving an incoming laser beam and adjusting that incoming laser beam in accordance with first desired wavelength, polarization and beam propagation parameters;
• b) a driver element for producing a driver laser beam;
• c) a second control optics assembly for receiving said driver laser beam and adjusting that driver laser beam in accordance with second desired wavelength, polarization and beam propagation parameters;
• d) a second order non-linear optical element (SONOE) for receiving an output from the first control optics assembly and an output from the second control optics assembly, said SONOE providing a non-linear optical interaction between said outputs such that a propagation direction modified laser beam is provided that propagates at a different angle than the incoming laser beam and at a difference wavelength thereof;
• e) egressing optics for receiving said propagation direction modified laser beam and adjusting that laser beam in accordance with desired wavelength, polarization, and beam propagation parameters, the output of the egressing optics having the laser beam propagation direction shifted relative to the incoming laser beam direction;
• and
• an imaging system comprising real image formation optics in series with an optical detector, said real image formation optics for receiving the output of the egressing optics and providing a real image therefrom which is directed to said optical detector for conversion of said real image to a spatially registered electronic signal.

An active beam-steered optical communications receiver system, comprising:

• an active optical system, comprising:
• a) a first control optics assembly for receiving an encoded incoming laser beam and adjusting that incoming laser beam in accordance with first desired wavelength, polarization and beam propagation parameters;
• b) a driver element for producing a driver laser beam;
• c) a second control optics assembly for receiving said driver laser beam and adjusting that driver laser beam in accordance with second desired wavelength, polarization and beam propagation parameters;
• d) a second order non-linear optical element (SONOE) for receiving an output from the first control optics assembly and an output from the second control optics assembly, said SONOE providing a non-linear optical interaction between said outputs such that a propagation direction modified laser beam is provided that propagates at a different angle than the incoming laser beam and at a difference wavelength thereof;
• e) egressing optics for receiving said propagation direction modified laser beam and adjusting that laser beam in accordance with desired wavelength, polarization, and beam propagation parameters, the output of the egressing optics having the laser beam propagation direction shifted relative to the incoming laser beam direction;
• and
• a receiver comprising intensity collection optics in series with an optical-to-electronic converter, said intensity collection optics for receiving the output of the egressing optics and delivering an optically encoded laser to said optical-to-electronic converter, said optical-to-electronic converter providing an electronic signal having an encoding that duplicates that of the encoded incoming laser beam.

An active beam-steered optical microlithography system, comprising:

• an active optical system, comprising:
• a) a first control optics assembly for receiving an incoming laser beam and adjusting that incoming laser beam in accordance with first desired wavelength, polarization and beam propagation parameters;
• b) a driver element for producing a driver laser beam;
• c) a second control optics assembly for receiving said driver laser beam and adjusting that driver laser beam in accordance with second desired wavelength, polarization and beam propagation parameters;
• d) a second order non-linear optical element (SONOE) for receiving an output from the first control optics assembly and an output from the second control optics assembly, said SONOE providing a non-linear optical interaction between said outputs such that a propagation direction modified laser beam is provided that propagates at a different angle than the incoming laser beam and at a difference wavelength thereof;
• e) egressing optics for receiving said propagation direction modified laser beam and adjusting that laser beam in accordance with desired wavelength, polarization, and beam propagation parameters, the output of the egressing optics having the laser beam propagation direction shifted relative to the incoming laser beam direction;
• and
• a microlithographic optical system for manufacturing integrated circuit semiconductors, comprising beam area reducing optics positionable to be in series with a semiconductor to be processed, said beam area reducing optics for receiving the output of the egressing optics and delivering a small beam area optical spot to the semiconductor to by processed by lithographic techniques.