US3731103A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Adaptive arrays
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1971-02-24
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Granted: 1973-05-01
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Expires: 1991-02-24
Abstract
Abstract Herein are disclosed multiple beam laser systems with adaptive phase control for establishing, at a target, an in-phase condition between the corresponding electromagnetic fields of all the beams. Phase modulation at different frequencies or differing waveforms is applied in the transmission paths of selected radiating elements of the array; and modulation components in the received energy are utilized to control phase shifters in the transmission paths so as to maintain the cophase condition at the target.
Inventors
- 👤 Meara T O
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 20:05
CPC Classifications
B; B26; B26B; B26B1/00; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/23; H01S3/2383; G; G01; G01S; G01S17/00; G01S17/02; G01S17/87; G01S7/00; G01S7/02; G01S7/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
The method of transmitting a plurality of beams of optical energy such that the plurality of beams are substantially in phase at a target, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of beams of coherent optical energy; modulating each said beam at a different frequency by varying the transmission path delay of each of said beams at the modulating frequency of that beam; transmitting said plurality of modulated beams at a target; receiving a portion of the energy reflected from the target; and controlling the mean phase of each of said beams to cause the amplitude modulation components in the received energy, which are at approximately the same frequency as the modulating frequency of that beam, to be nulled.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
The method of transmitting a plurality of beams of optical energy such that the plurality of beams are substantially in phase at a target, said method comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of beams of coherent optical energy; modulating each said beam at a different frequency by varying the transmission path delay of each of said beams at the modulating frequency of that beam; transmitting said plurality of modulated beams at a target; receiving a portion of the energy reflected from the target; and controlling the mean phase of each of said beams to cause the amplitude modulation components in the received energy, which are at approximately the same frequency as the modulating frequency of that beam, to be nulled.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
213 words
A system for transmitting a plurality of beams of optical energy and for controlling their relative phase so that the beams are substantially in phase at a remotely located target, said system comprising: a laser; an array of electronically controllable optical phase shifters; a laser power amplifier; lens means for applying the output beam from said laser through said array of optical phase shifters to said laser power amplifier; identifying modulation means for applying modulation drive signals at a different frequency to each of said electronically controllable optical phase shifters, whereby each of the output beams from said phase shifters are phase modulated at different modulation frequencies; telescope means for transmitting the output beams from said laser power amplifier towards the target; receiving means for receiving a portion of the transmitted energy reflected from the target; and control means responsive to modulation signal components in the received energy for controlling the mean phase of each of said electronically controllable optical phase shifters so as to null the modulation signal components in the received energy which are at the frequency of the modulation drive signal applied to the respective optical phase shifter; whereby the phase of said plurality of beams is adaptively controlled so that said beams are substantially in phase at the target.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
213 words
A system for transmitting a plurality of beams of optical energy and for controlling their relative phase so that the beams are substantially in phase at a remotely located target, said system comprising: a laser; an array of electronically controllable optical phase shifters; a laser power amplifier; lens means for applying the output beam from said laser through said array of optical phase shifters to said laser power amplifier; identifying modulation means for applying modulation drive signals at a different frequency to each of said electronically controllable optical phase shifters, whereby each of the output beams from said phase shifters are phase modulated at different modulation frequencies; telescope means for transmitting the output beams from said laser power amplifier towards the target; receiving means for receiving a portion of the transmitted energy reflected from the target; and control means responsive to modulation signal components in the received energy for controlling the mean phase of each of said electronically controllable optical phase shifters so as to null the modulation signal components in the received energy which are at the frequency of the modulation drive signal applied to the respective optical phase shifter; whereby the phase of said plurality of beams is adaptively controlled so that said beams are substantially in phase at the target.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
151 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said identifying modulation means including a different reference oscillator for supplying the modulation drive signal to each of said electronically controllable optical phase shifters; and said control means including a plurality of control circuits, with each control circuit coupled for controlling the phase of a different one of said beams and comprising a filter having a passband centered at the frequency of the modulation drive signal of the associated beam, and means for applying amplitude modulation signal components of the received energy to said filter, a phase sensitive detector having a signal input coupled to the output of the filter of that control circuit, a reference input coupled to the output of the reference oscillator which supplies the modulation drive signal for the associated beam, and an output coupled to the electronically controllable optical phase shifter disposed in the transmission path of the associated beam.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
50 words
The system of claim 3 wherein each of said electronically controllable phase shifters is a piezoelectrically driven mirror electrically coupled to the associated reference oscillator for applying phase modulation, and is electrically coupled to the output of the associated phase detector for adjusting the mean phase value of said beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The device of claim 3 wherein each said phase shifters is an electro-optical device electrically coupled to said reference oscillator of the associated beam for providing phase modulation of said beam, and is Electrically coupled to the output of said phase detector for correcting the mean phase value of said associated beam.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 2 wherein said receiving means comprises a plurality of receiving circuits; means for sensing a phase difference between signals in said plurality of receiving circuits; and means for adjusting the phase delay within said plurality of circuits to null the phase difference.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said receiving means comprises a plurality of receiving circuits; means for sensing a phase difference between signals in said plurality of receiving circuits; and means for adjusting the phase delay within said plurality of circuits to null the phase difference.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-04-30 | 1976-10-30 | 1977-05-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-04-30 | 1980-10-30 | 1981-05-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-04-30 | 1984-10-30 | 1985-05-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |