Homogenizing optical beam combiner
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsFrank T. Cianciotto, George H. Butler, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical homogenizing and combining apparatus, comprises a one piece, hollow, tubular body having a first input leg, a second input leg and an output leg, each leg having a polygonal cross-section and highly reflective interior surfaces in accordance with an embodiment. The body has a shape corresponding to first and second bent tubes, the tubes being truncated along a plane and joined at a junction lying in the plane. The a first end of the first tube defines the first input leg, a first end of the second tube defines the second input leg, and a second end of the first tube and a second end of the second tube define the output leg.
Claims20
An optical homogenizing and combining apparatus, comprising:
- a one piece, hollow, tubular body having a first input leg, a second input leg and an output leg, each leg having a polygonal cross-section and highly reflective interior surfaces;
- and
- wherein the body has a shape corresponding to first and second bent tubes, the tubes being truncated along a plane and joined at a junction lying in the plane, wherein a first end of the first tube defines the first input leg, a first end of the second tube defines the second input leg, and a second end of the first tube and a second end of the second tube define the output leg.
A method of forming a light combining and homogenizing apparatus, comprising:
- forming a mandrel, wherein the mandrel has a shape corresponding to two symmetrical, bent, truncated polygonal rods joined at a planar truncation face;
- depositing a body on lateral surfaces of the mandrel;
- and
- removing the mandrel from an interior of the body.
A light combining and homogenizing apparatus, comprising:
- a first curved, hex-shaped input leg having a first input opening at one end and a first junction edge at a second end;
- a second curved, hex-shaped input leg having a second input opening at one end and a second junction edge at a second end, wherein the first and second input legs are joined at the first and second junction edges;
- a hex-shaped output leg connected to the first and second input legs;
- and
- wherein the first input leg, the second input leg and the output leg have highly reflective interior surfaces, wherein a first input beam received at the first input opening and a second input beam received at the second input opening are homogenized and combined into an output beam emitted from the output opening and having an intensity equal to about the sum of intensities of the first and second input beams and having a top hat profile.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.