System for automatic alignment, stabilization, and focus for an off-axis telescope using biased angle sensors
US8748857B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 26, 2010 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B23/02
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An off-axis telescope having a primary optical element configured to reflect an energy beam from an optical reference source that emits the energy beam along an optical path. The telescope includes angle sensors arranged on a periphery of the primary optical element to determine angular motion of the energy beam from the optical reference source. The angle sensors are operable to be biased to positional settings associated with a desired pointing direction of the energy beam. A secondary optical element is arranged in the optical path and translated along three orthogonal axes. A plurality of steering mirrors arranged between the optical reference source and the secondary optical element is configured to be tilted in response to a control signal. A controller auto-aligns the telescope by at least translating the secondary optical element and tilting the steering mirrors via the control signal using at least inputs from the plurality of angle sensors.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.