United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Elinor L Coates

Richard A Carreras

Mark G Baciak

Morton B Jenks

Patricia J Wallentine

David G Haralson

A system and method for large angle off-axis steering of the composite beam from a phased array telescope system.

Large angle off-axis beam steering of a phased telescope array

In an optically phased array of multiple laser telescopes, the phasing between the telescopes is accomplished by sampling adjacent outgoing wavefronts. The two samples of each wavefront are then combined to form an interference pattern on a camera. This image is then converted to digital signals, employing an error signal representative of the phase difference. It is necessary that the telescopes be pointing in the same direction. This is assured by having each telescope associated with an optical sensor which produces an X or Y tilt error. The X or Y tilt error is corrected by the optical component referred to as the optical path difference adjustor (OPDA). A signal processing circuit is disclosed which receives X and Y tilt error signals, as well as phase error signals, and produces therefrom drive signals which correct and drive the OPDA in an array of multiple laser telescopes.

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Albuquerque, NM, United States of America

Elinor L Coates