Lockheed Martin Corporation

Luke L Wieczorek

Michael L Tartaglia

Jesse William Fisher

Joel Richard Blum

Micah Boyd

Timothy Roland Hilby

Andrew Jonathan Gleason

Ezra Takara

Robert Andrew Sims

Ross Hartman

Samuel David Field

Zachary William Prezkuta

Provided herein are various improvements to optical-inertial stabilization systems, such as those employed on electro-optical systems that receive or emit optical energy. In one example, a system includes an optical reference element rigidly coupled to a primary mirror. The optical reference element propagates a reference signal through optic elements that form at least a portion of an optical path corresponding to the primary mirror. A measurement of the reference signal is made after propagation through the optic elements to determine errors associated with the optical path. The system can also include inertial sensors rigidly coupled to the primary mirror and optical reference element to form an assembly. The inertial sensors are configured to measure inertial rotation of the assembly. Rotational adjustments about two axes can be produced for the assembly based at least on the inertial rotation properties to correct for disturbance or drift.

Optical-inertial stabilization for electro-optical systems

A planar waveguide laser crystal assembly includes an optical bench and a laser crystal mount mounted on the optical bench. The laser crystal mount includes an upper housing having an interior horizontal surface and an exterior horizontal, a lower housing coupled to the upper housing and having an interior horizontal surface and an exterior horizontal surface, and a cavity defined between the interior horizontal surfaces of the upper and lower housings. A laser crystal is mounted in the cavity of the laser crystal mount. Each of the exterior horizontal surfaces of the upper and lower housings is oriented parallel to a length of the laser crystal. The laser crystal assembly further includes a heat dissipating structure thermally coupled to at least one of the exterior horizontal surfaces of the upper and lower housings to dissipate heat transferred from the laser crystal mount.

Systems and methods for planar waveguide mounting and cooling

Growing community of inventors

Erie, CO, United States of America

Luke L Wieczorek