Apparatus and method for aiming a particle beam
US4701616A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 13, 1986 |
| Grant date | Oct 20, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 13, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05H3/00
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
In aiming a neutral particle beam cross hair sights are first lined up relative to a target, and then the beam is lined up with the cross hair sights. Blocking means is disposed in a particle beam so as to absorb, scatter and/or otherwise remove particles from the beam and thereby create a downstream shadow of predetermined size and shape in the beam. Shadow detecting means is disposed in the beam downstream of the blocking means and senses the particles and emits steering signals systematically related to the extent to which the shadow detecting means is in the shadow of the blocking means. Aligning means lines up the blocking means and the shadow means in a desired direction relative to the target. The steering signals are thus systematically related to the direction of the beam relative to the desired direction. The steering signal from the sensing means is used to direct the neutral particle beam to hit the target.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.