Apparatus and a method for detecting the position of a laser beam
US5574225A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 20, 1994 |
| Grant date | Nov 12, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 20, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB23K26/04
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a method of detecting the spatial position of a laser beam relative to a body locatable in the path of the laser beam by detecting an acoustic signal produced by the beam in the body, wherein the laser beam carries a power modulation signal and the body has a plurality of acoustic sensors for detecting the acoustic signal produced in the body by the laser beam, the method includes detecting in the outputs of the acoustic sensors signals corresponding to the power modulation of the incident laser beam and detecting any difference in phase between the detected signals. A processor may be provided for processing the outputs of the acoustic sensors, the processor including a sensor for sensing in the respective outputs signals corresponding to the power modulation of the output beam of the laser and a phase sensitive detector for detecting differences in phase between the detected signals. There may be at least three acoustic sensors whereby the spatial position of the laser beam may be detected in two dimensions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.