LCWG steered laser transmitter and situational awareness sensor with wavelength conversion
US9904081B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 20, 2016 |
| Grant date | Feb 27, 2018 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 23, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/2308
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A steerable laser transmitter and situational awareness sensor uses a liquid crystal waveguide (LCWG) to steer a spot-beam onto a conical mirror, which in turn redirects the spot-beam to scan a FOV. The spot-beam passes through one or more annular sections of non-linearly material (NLM) formed along the axis and around the conical mirror. Each NLM section converts the wavelength of the spot-beam to a different wavelength while preserving the steering of the spot-beam. The LCWG may shape or move the spot-beam along the axis of the conic mirror to sequentially, time or time and spatially multiplex the spot-beam between the original and different wavelengths. This provides multispectral capability from a single laser source. The transmitter also supports steering the spot-beam at a wavelength at which the LCWG cannot steer directly.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.