Method and apparatus for transforming and steering laser beams
US5128509A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 4, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jul 7, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 4, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K26/035
- WIPO fieldMachine tools
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus for transforming and steering laser beams directed from a laser sources onto a target area and composed of a visible guide beam and an invisible power beam which is guided and aimed by observing the position of the visible beam on the target area. The optical system of the apparatus (10) consists of a concave mirror (42) and a convex mirror (76). Both mirrors face each other. A hole (43) is made in the concave mirror (42) to ensure unobstructed passage of both beams to the convex mirror (76) from which the beams are reflected in a diverging pattern onto the concave mirror (42). The latter reflects the beams in a converging form onto a beam reflecting unit, such as beam splitter (84). The beam splitter is connected to a steering mechanism, which allows manipulation of the beams reflected from the splitter so that the position of the beams on the target area can be controlled. The visible guide beam and the invisible power beam coincide with each other and produce on the target area beam spots of identical diameters. This gives to a surgeon more confidence and improves the reliability and accuracy of the operation.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.