The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Oct. 30, 1990

Filed:

Jun. 16, 1988
Applicant:
Inventors:

Charles C Wang, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA (US);

Patrick L Smith, Redondo Beach, CA (US);

Assignee:

The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA (US);

Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G01J / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
2502011 ; 350360 ;
Abstract

A charge controlled adaptive-optics system is disclosed for correcting phase distortion in a wavefront of a propagating optical wavefront in real time. In a preferred embodiment a selectively deformable piezoelectric mirror receives an incoming distorted optical wavefront and reflects it to a lenslet array optical sensor. The sensor generates a large plurality of focused light points, the offset positions of which represent wavefront tilts at a plurality of locations on the distorted wavefront. A misalignment calibration system calculates a plurality of calibration signals representing aberrations in the mirror surface and the sensor, and converts the signals into a plurality of representative light rays of varying intensity. The light ray are then superimposed on the light points to form a plurality of calibrated light points, which are then input to an electron-beam generating system. The generating system generates a plurality of electron beams of varying intensity that operate to supply and remove electrical charges from electrodes mounted within the piezoelectric mirror. The local electric fields induced by the charges result in a selective deformation of the piezoelectric mirror that corrects the distortion in the reflected wavefront.


Find Patent Forward Citations

Loading…