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:
Jul. 03, 2007
Filed:
Mar. 09, 2006
Scott E. Christensen, Boulder, CO (US);
Iain T. Mckinnie, Denver, CO (US);
Jose Robert Unternahrer, Lafayette, CO (US);
Scott E. Christensen, Boulder, CO (US);
Iain T. McKinnie, Denver, CO (US);
Jose Robert Unternahrer, Lafayette, CO (US);
Lockheed Martin Coherent Technologies, Inc., Louisville, CO (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for combining laser beams into a single high power output beam. The apparatus includes a self-imaging waveguide (SIWG) with parallel reflective elements that have a length that is an integer multiple of the self-imaging or Talbot length of the waveguide or an integer fraction of this self-imaging length. The apparatus also includes a system for controlling the phase of each of laser beams provided to an inlet of the waveguide. The phases are controlled, e.g., with phase shifters using active feedback or control signals from the inlet to the waveguide, such that a coherently combined beam is produced at the outlet of the waveguide; and this beam is typically a high power beam of 1 kW or higher. The phase shifters are often controlled to phase-lock the input beams and may be operated to steer or aim the output beam from the waveguide.