Laser beam expander with adjustable collimation

US10095041B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Luis A. Ramos-Izquierdo · Washington, US
• Xiaoli Sun · Shandong, CN

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 13, 2016
• Grant date: Oct 9, 2018
• Expiry date: Jun 13, 2036

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/005
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A laser beam expander has at least two negative lenses with adjustable collimation. The amount of required motion can be reduced by an order of magnitude over single negative lens approaches by splitting the input lens in two and adjusting the small remaining air gap between the lenses. The change in collimation may be accomplished by heating/cooling (i.e., thermal), mechanical motion (e.g., motors), electro-optical means (e.g., applying or reducing an electric current), any combination thereof, or any other suitable mechanism.