Integrated lightweight optical bench and miniaturized laser transmitter using same

US6289031A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Raytheon Company · US

Inventors

• Robert D. Stultz · Tecate Mission Road, US
• Daniel E. Maguire · Valencia, US
• David R. Rockafellow · Los Angeles, US
• Ashok Bakul Patel · Needham, US
• Mario P. Palombo · Manhattan Beach, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 14, 1999
• Grant date: Sep 11, 2001
• Expiry date: May 14, 2019

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01S3/17
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An unproved optical bench for use in an optical system, such as a miniaturized laser transmitter, or the like. The optical bench has a housing with a plurality of V-shaped grooves formed therein. Optical elements of the optical system in which the optical bench is used are secured, such as by bonding, in the plurality of V-shaped grooves. The optical bench thus rigidly mounts the optical elements of the optical system to produce a compact and lightweight structure that is relatively insensitive to environmental extremes.