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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 27, 1998
Filed:
Feb. 26, 1997
Margarete Neumann, Penetanguishene, CA;
Robert Pursel, Victoria Harbor, CA;
Raytheon Company, Lexington, MA (US);
Abstract
A system (50) for separating and combining frequency bands (64, 74, 78) from a beam (62) of electromagnetic energy adapted for use with a beam of white light (62) having a first (64), second (74) and third (78) frequency band. The inventive system (50) includes a first surface (58) for transmitting the first frequency band (64) and reflecting the second (70, 78) and third (70, 74) frequency bands. A second surface (60) reflects the second frequency band (74) and transmits the third (78) frequency band. A transparent support structure (52, 54, 56) supports the first surface (58) and the second surface (60) in a pre-determined orientation that provides for a low angle of incidence (66, 72) of electromagnetic energy impinging on the first surface (58) and the second surface (60) to minimize undesirable polarization effects. In a specific embodiment, the angle (66, 72) is 22.5 degrees. The predetermined orientation includes the first surface (58) angled with respect to the second surface (60) so that the first (64), second (74), and third (78) frequency bands have first (64), second (74), and third (78) separate paths respectively. In the illustrative embodiment, the support structure (52, 54, 56) includes a glass pentaprism (52). The first surface (58) has a dichroic coating on a first lateral surface (58) of the pentaprism (52) and the second surface (60) has a dichroic coating on the other lateral surface (60). The support structure (52, 54, 56) further includes a first (54) and second (56) glass surface attachment attached to the first (58) and second (60) surface respectively.