Pulsed laser beam deviation apparatus
Abstract
A pulsed laser beam aiming apparatus is configurated such that substantially 100 percent of the energy from a pulsed laser beam from a Q-switched pulsed laser device is accurately aimed at a distant target/obstacle in space. The pulsed laser beam is reflected off of a multifacet polygonal mirror spinning about its axis and perpendicularly affixed to a rotatable azimuthal table wherein the spinning mirror provides elevational orientation, and, in conjunction with the rotatable azimuthal table, azimuthal orientation. Control circuit and associated equipment cause the Q-switched pulsed laser device to be triggered on when a facet of the mirror is in the proper elevational and azimuthal orientation for the pulsed laser beam to hit the target/obstacle. Correct aiming of the pulsed laser beam at the target/obstacle is accomplished when the coordinates thereof are specific only as an elevational angle 5 above and/or below the horizon and an azimuthal angle between 0 and 360 degrees.
- Publication:
-
Patent Department of the Navy
- Pub Date:
- November 1990
- Bibcode:
- 1990navy.reptR....B
- Keywords:
-
- Circuits;
- Laser Beams;
- Polygons;
- Pulsed Lasers;
- Q Switched Lasers;
- Rotating Mirrors;
- Spin Dynamics;
- Angles (Geometry);
- Azimuth;
- Bearing (Direction);
- Patents;
- Lasers and Masers