System for producing orthogonal, intersecting light beams
AssigneeTrimble Navigation Limited
InventorKent W. Kahle
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for producing three light beams on orthogonal, intersecting lines, includes a diode laser source providing a laser beam, and a lens for collimating the beam. A pair of reflective surfaces reflect first and second portions of the collimated beam, producing first and second substantially orthogonal output beams, while permitting a third portion of the collimated beam to pass unreflected as a third output beam. The third output beam is substantially orthogonal to the first and second output beams. The three output beams are projected along beam paths that intersect at a common point. The power levels of the three beams are substantially the same.
Claims15
A system for producing three light beams on orthogonal, intersecting lines, comprising:
- a diode laser source providing a laser beam,
- a lens for collimating the beam, the collimated laser beam being generally oval in share in cross-section, and having varying power over the beam cross-section, and
- a pair of reflective surfaces positioned obliquely in the path of the collimated beam to reflect first and second portions of the collimated beam, said first and second portions of the collimated beam each being reflected only once by an associated one of said pair of reflective surfaces in directions which are orthogonal to said collimated laser beam and to each other, thereby producing first and second substantially orthogonal output beams, while permitting a third portion of the collimated beam to pass unreflected as a third output beam that is substantially orthogonal to said first and second output beams, said first, second and third output beams being projected along beam paths that intersect at a common point, and wherein said pair of reflective surfaces are positioned with regard to said collimated beam such that the power of each of said first, second and third beam portions is substantially equal.
A system for producing three light beams on orthogonal, intersecting lines, comprising:
- a diode laser source providing a laser beam, said beam being oval in cross-section,
- a collimating lens, positioned in the path of the laser beam for providing a collimated laser beam, said collimated laser beam being oval in cross-section,
- a reflective element defining a pair of reflective surfaces positioned in the path of the collimated beam to reflect only once first and second portions of the collimated beam, thereby producing first and second substantially orthogonal output beams, while permitting a third portion of the collimated beam to pass as a third output beam that is substantially orthogonal to said first and second output beams, said first, second and third output beams being projected along beam paths that intersect at a common point, and wherein said pair of reflective surfaces are positioned with regard to said collimated beam such that the power of each of said first, second and third beam portions is substantially equal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.