United S ta tes Pa tent [ 1 9 1

T u c h y ner et a l .
4 , 0 4 7 , 1 1 7
S ep t. 6 , 1 9 7 7
[ 1 1 ]
[ 4 5 ]
[ 5 4 ] MULT I-LEVEL LAS ER ILLUMINAT OR
Pr im a r y Exa m iner -S C. B u c z ins k i
Atto r ney , Ag ent, o r F ir m - W a l ter J . Ada m ; W il l ia m H .
[ 7 5 ] Inv ento r s : H a r o l d J . T u c h y ner , Lo s Ang el es ; .
Ro b er t C. B ens o n, Ca no g a Pa r k , b o th Ma c Al h s ter J r
o f Ca l if .
[ 7 3 ] As s ig nee: H u g h es Air c r a f t Co m p a ny , Cu l v er [ 5 7 ] _ _ _
City , Ca m An 1 m p r o v ed l a s er l l l u m ina to r f o r ta r g et des 1 g na t1 o n,
s u c h a s f o r a ta r g et-s eek ing m is s il e o r o b j ec t in ? ig h t o r
[ 2 1 ] APPI' No -i 7 5 4 , 2 8 5 f r o m a tr a c k ing ta r g et s ta tio n, th a t s im u l ta neo u s l y p r o
[ 2 2 ] F il ed: D ec . 2 7 , 1 9 7 6 v ides o u tp u t p u l s es o f h ig h p ea k p o wer a t a l o w p u l s e
r ep etitio n r a te to m eet th e m a xim u m r a ng e r eq u ir e
Rel a ted U_ s _ Ap p l ic a tio n D a ta m ents o f th e des ig na tio n o r tr a c k ing s y s tem a nd p r o
_ v ides o u tp u t p u l s es o f l o w p ea k p o wer a t a h ig h p u l s e
[ 6 3 ] Cm m u a m " f S er - N - 4 3 4 1 1 4 5 J a n- 1 7 1 9 7 4 r ep etitio n r a te to p r o v ide th e h ig h tr a c k ing er r o r s ig na l
a b a ndo ned inf o r m a tio n r a tes needed a t c l o s e r a ng es . T h e il l u m ina
[ 5 1 ] Int. Cl . 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . H 0 1 5 3 / 0 0 ; F 4 1 G 7 / 0 0 to ! Op er a tes eith er f o l a c tiv e 0 1 ' s em i-a c tiv e g u ida nc e o f
[ 5 2 ] u s . 0 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 0 / 4 3 ; 2 4 4 / 3 1 6 ; a m is s il e to a ta r g et o r f o r tr a ek ing a n o b j ec t o r ta r g et
2 5 0 / 1 9 9 ; 3 3 2 / 7 5 1 ; 3 3 1 / ] ) [ Q _ 1 f r o m a ny s u ita b l e s ta tio n in eith er a n a c tiv e o r s em i
[ s s ] F iel d o f S ea r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 6 / 4 , 5 , 1 5 2 ; eetiv e m o de- In o ne a r r a ng em ent in a c c o r da nc e with
3 3 2 / 7 5 1 ; 3 3 1 / 9 4 _ 5 A; 3 3 0 / 4 3 ; 2 5 0 / 1 9 9 ; th e inv entio n, a l a s er o s c il l a to r is c o ntr o l l ed in s er ies
2 4 4 / 3 1 5 with a n a m p l i? er a r r a ng em ent to s el ec tiv el y p r o v ide
, th e h ig h p o wer a nd th e l o w p o wer p u l s es wh ic h a r e
[ 5 6 ] Ref er enc es c u ed tr a ns m itted a s a c o m m o n p u l s e tr a in. In a no th er a r
U. S . PAT ENT D OCUMENT S r a ng em ent in a c c o r da nc e with th e inv entio n, du a l o s c il
3 2 4 2 4 4 0 3 / 1 9 6 6 K o es ter et a 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 3 0 / 4 3 m m a r e Pm v ided in Pa r a l l el t deYe1 P th e1 w P e
3 : 2 9 8 : 0 2 4 l / 1 9 6 7 B o h m . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 4 3 / 1 2 a nd th e h ig h Po wer Pu l s es - T h e l l u m ina m r W m ": s
3 , 6 0 2 , 5 9 4 8 / 1 9 7 1 Co o k et a 1 3 5 6 / 5 with 8 . r el a tiv el y s m a l l a v er a g e p o wer a nd th er m a l diS S i
3 , 6 4 4 , 0 4 2 2 / 1 9 7 2 K o l b , J r , 6 1 3 1 3 5 6 / 5 p a tio n a nd a s a c o ns eq u enc e, h a s r el a tiv el y s m a l l s iz e
3 , 6 5 2 , 1 6 1 3 / 1 9 7 2 Ro s s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 6 / 5 a nd weig h t r eq u ir em ents f o r a ny g iv en l ev el o f o v er a l l
3 , 8 4 8 , 9 9 9 1 1 / 1 9 7 4 D a l l Ar m i . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 5 6 / 4 p er f o r m a nc e.
F OREIGN PAT ENT D OCUMENT S
1 , 9 1 4 , 2 5 0 1 0 / 1 9 7 0 Ger m a ny . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 4 / 3 1 6 1 1 Cl a im s , 5 D r a wing F ig u r es
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1
MULT I-LEVEL LAS ER ILLUMINAT OR
T h is is a c o ntinu a tio n o f a p p l ic a tio n S er . No . 4 3 4 , 1 4 5 ,
? l ed J a n. 1 7 , 1 9 7 4 , no w a b a ndo ned. '
B ACK GROUND OF T H E INVENT ION
1 . F iel d o f th e Inv entio n
T h is inv entio n r el a tes to l a s er ta r g et il l u m ina to r s y s
tem s a nd p a r tic u l a r l y to a s im p l i? ed a nd l ig h t weig h t
ta r g et il l u m ina to r th a t p r o v ides b o th h ig h p ea k p o wer
p u l s es a t a l o w p u l s e r a te s u ita b l e f o r l o ng r a ng e a c q u is i
tio n o r tr a c k ing a nd l o w p o wer p u l s es a t a h ig h p u l s e
r a te s u ita b l e f o r s h o r t r a ng e a c q u is itio n o r ter m ina l
g u ida nc e. . -
2 . D es c r ip tio n o f th e Pr io r Ar t
La s er ta r g et il l u m ina to r s m a y b e u til iz ed f o r g u ida nc e
o f m is s il es o r f o r tr a c k ing a ta r g et a nd m a y f u nc tio n in
a s y s tem o p er a ting eith er in th e a c tiv e o r s em i-a c tiv e
s ta te. Ac tiv e g u ida nc e o r tr a c k ing o c c u r s wh en b o th th e
il l u m ina to r a nd th e r ec eiv er a r e o n th e s a m e m is s il e o r
a t th e s a m e s ta tio n a nd s em i-a c tiv e g u ida nc e o r tr a c k ing
o c c u r s wh en th e il l u m ina to r is a t o ne p o s itio n s u c h a s in
a n a ir c r a f t, s h ip o r o n th e g r o u nd a nd th e r ec eiv er is a t
a no th er p o s itio n s u c h a s in a m is s il e o r o th er a ir c r a f t.
La s er ta r g et il l u m ina to r s m a y b e u til iz ed to p r o v ide
b o th tr a c k ing o r r a ng ing a t a r el a tiv el y l o ng r a ng e a nd
m a y b e u til iz ed to p r o v ide tr a c k ing o r r a ng ing a t r el a
tiv el y s h o r t r a ng es , s u c h a s f o r ter m ina l g u ida nc e o r
r a ng e? nding . Co nv entio na l il l u m ina to r s u s e a r el a tiv el y
c o ns ta nt p ea k p u l s e p o wer l ev el a nd a r e th er ef o r e l im
ited in s a tis f y ing b o th th e l o ng r a ng e a c q u is itio n a nd th e
s h o r t r a ng e ter m ina l g u ida nc e r eq u ir em ents s im u l ta
neo u s l y exc ep t b y u s ing a r el a tiv el y h ig h a v er a g e p o wer
il l u m ina to r with its a s s o c ia ted h ea t dis s ip a tio n p o wer
s u p p l y a nd weig h t p r o b l em s . F o r l o ng r a ng e o p er a tio ns ,
th e a ttenu a tio n o f th e l a s er ener g y b y th e a tm o s p h er e is
s u c h th a t h ig h p o wer p u l s es a r e r eq u ir ed in o r der th a t
s u f ? c ient ener g y is r ef l ec ted b a c k to th e r ec eiv er wh il e
a t s h o r ter r a ng es r el a tiv el y l o w a m p l itu de p u l s es m a y b e
u til iz ed. On th e o th er h a nd, a t l o ng r a ng es ta r g et tr a c k
ing a c c u r a c y is no t c r itic a l a nd l o w tr a c k ing da ta r a tes ,
a nd l o w p u l s e r ep etitio n r a tes m a y b e to l er a ted, wh il e a t
s h o r t r a ng es h ig h tr a c k ing da ta r a tes a nd h ig h p u l s e
r ep etitio n r a tes a r e r eq u ir ed. It wo u l d b e a s u b s ta ntia l
a dv a nta g e to th e a r t if a l a s er il l u m ina to r s y s tem wer e
dev el o p ed th a t wo u l d o p er a te wel l a t b o th l o ng a nd
s h o r t r a ng es a nd p r o v ide s u ita b l e da ta r a tes f o r b o th
r a ng es with th e s y s tem u til iz ing a m inim u m a m o u nt o f
a v er a g e p o wer a nd h a v ing a m inim u m a m o u nt o f c o m
, p l exity .
S UMMARY OF T H E INVENT ION
T h e dis c l o s ed l a s er il l u m ina to r s y s tem , o p er a b l e a t a
s ta tio n wh ic h m a y b e s ta tio na r y o r o n a m o v ing c r a f t
a nd wh ic h m a y b e f o r des ig na ting a ta r g et o r o p er a b l e
in a m o v ing ta r g et s eek ing v eh ic l e, g ener a tes h ig h p ea k
p o wer p u l s es a t a r el a tiv el y l o w p u l s e r ep etitio n r a te f o r
l o ng r a ng e ta r g et il l u m ina tio n with in a c o m m o n p u l s e
tr a in a l s o c o nta ining l o w p ea k p o wer p u l s es a t a h ig h
p u l s e r ep etitio n r a te f o r s h o r t r a ng e il l u m ina tio n s u c h a s
f o r ter m ina l m is s il e g u ida nc e. As a r es u l t, th e s y s tem
p r o v ides a v er a g e p o wer a nd h ea t dis s ip a tio n r eq u ir e
m ents s u b s ta ntia l l y r edu c ed f r o m th e r eq u ir em ents o f
c o nv entio na l s y s tem s . In o ne a r r a ng em ent in a c c o r
da nc e with th e inv entio n, th e l a s er tr a ns m itter c o ns is ts
o f a l a s er o s c il l a to r s ta g e f o l l o wed b y a s el ec ted nu m b er
o f l a s er a m p l i? er , s ta g es with th e o s c il l a to r s ta g e no r
m a l l y o p er a ting a t a ? r s t p u l s e r ep etitio n r a te a nd a t
1 5
2 0
2 5
4 0
4 5
6 5
2
ev er y nth o s c il l a to r c y c l e th e a m p l i? er s ta g es a r e a c ti
v a ted to p r o v ide a dditio na l o u tp u t ener g y o f r el a tiv el y
h ig h p o wer p u l s es . T h u s th e a v er a g e l a s er o u tp u t p o wer
is a r el a tiv el y s m a l l p er c enta g e o f th e a v er a g e o u tp u t
r eq u ir ed if th e f u l l p o wer o f th e l o w du ty c y c l e p u l s es
wa s o b ta ined a t th e h ig h p u l s e r ep etitio n r a te.
It is th er ef o r e a n o b j ec t o f th is inv entio n to p r o v ide a
l a s er il l u m ina to r th a t o p er a tes s a tis f a c to r il y a t b o th l o ng
a nd s h o r t r a ng es with a m inim u m o f a v er a g e p o wer .
It is a f u r th er o b j ec t o f th is inv entio n to p r o v ide a
l a s er il l u m ina to r th a t o p er a tes b o th du r ing ta r g et a c q u i
s itio n b y a m is s il e o r tr a c k ing s ta tio n a nd du r ing ter m i
na l g u ida nc e o f th e m is s il e o r tr a c k ing s ta tio n with a
m inim u m o f a v er a g e p o wer a nd th er m a l r eq u ir em ents .
It is a s til l f u r th er o b j ec t o f th is inv entio n to p r o v ide
a l a s er il l u m ina to r s y s tem f o r ta r g et il l u m ina tio n th a t
p r o v ides r el ia b l e o p er a tio n with a m inim u m o f b o th s iz e
a nd weig h t f o r a ny g iv en l ev el o f o v er a l l p er f o r m a nc e.
It is a no th er o b j ec t o f th is inv entio n to p r o v ide a
s im p l i? ed l a s er ta r g et il l u m ina to r s y s tem th a t o p er a tes
a t r el a tiv el y l o ng r a ng es a nd in r el a tiv el y u ndes ir a b l e
wea th er c o nditio ns wh il e p r o v iding a h ig h da ta r a te f o r
s h o r t r a ng e o p er a tio n.
It is s til l a no th er o b j ec t o f th is inv entio n to p r o v ide a
h ig h l y c o m p a c t a nd s im p l i? ed l a s er ta r g et il l u m ina to r
f o r s em i-a c tiv e g u ida nc e o f a m o v ing m is s il e th a t m eets
th e h ig h p ea k p o wer r eq u ir em ents o f l o ng r a ng e a c q u i
s itio n b y th e m is s il e o f a des ig na ted ta r g et a nd th e h ig h
p u l s e r ep etitio n f r eq u enc y r eq u ir em ents o f s h o r t r a ng e
g u ida nc e o f th e m is s il e to th e ta r g et.
B RIEF D ES CRIPT ION OF T H E D RAW INGS
T h e no v el f ea tu r es o f th is inv entio n a s wel l a s th e
inv entio n its el f b o th a s to its m eth o d o f o r g a niz a tio n a nd
m eth o d o f o p er a tio n, wil l b e b es t u nder s to o d f r o m th e
a c c o m p a ny ing des c r ip tio n ta k en in c o nnec tio n with
a c c o m p a ny ing dr a wing s , in wh ic h l ik e r ef er enc e c h a r
a c ter s r ef er to l ik e p a r ts , a nd in wh ic h ;
F IG. 1 is a s c h em a tic p l a n v iew o f a m is s il e a nd a
ta r g et f o r exp l a ining th e r eq u ir em ents o f p o wer a nd
p u l s e r ep etitio n f r eq u enc y du r ing b o th l o ng r a ng e a c
q u is itio n a nd du r ing ter m ina l g u ida nc e o f a n a c tiv e o r
s em i-a c tiv e m is s il e;
F IG. 2 is a s c h em a tic b l o c k dia g r a m o f th e m u l ti
p o wer l ev el l a s er il l u m ina to r s y s tem in a c c o r da nc e with
th e inv entio n;
F IG. 3 is a s c h em a tic b l o c k dia g r a m o f a n a r r a ng e
m ent o f th e l a s er il l u m ina to r s y s tem o f F IG. 2 with th e
l a s er o s c il l a to r a nd a m p l i? er s o p er a ted in s er ies ;
F IG. 4 is a s c h em a tic dia g r a m o f eith er v o l ta g e o r
p o wer a s a f u nc tio n o f tim e f o r f u r th er exp l a ining th e
o p er a tio n o f th e l a s er il l u m ina to r o f F IG. 3 ; a nd
F IG. 5 is a s c h em a tic b l o c k dia g r a m o f a l a s er il l u m i
na to r s y s tem in a c c o r da nc e with th e inv entio n u til iz ing
du a l o s c il l a to r s o p er a ting in p a r a l l el with a r el a tiv el y
s im p l i? ed c o l l im a ting s y s tem .
D ES CRIPT ION OF T H E PREF ERRED
EMB OD IMENT
Ref er r ing ? r s t to F IG. 1 wh ic h is a p l a n v iew o f a
m is s il e 1 0 a t a p o s itio n 1 0 a m o v ing to wa r d a ta r g et T , it
c a n b e s een th a t s inc e th e m is s il e 1 0 is a t a r el a tiv el y
l o ng r a ng e f r o m th e ta r g et T , th er e is no need to p r e
c is el y l o c a te th e ta r g et a s l o ng a s th e ta r g et s ta y s with in
th e m is s il e s tr a c k ing s y s tem ? el d o f v iew 0 a nd th a t th e
m is s il e m a y g u ide to wa r d th e ta r g et in r es p o ns e to a
r el a tiv el y l o w da ta r a te. W h en th e m is s il e 1 0 m o v es
c l o s e to th e ta r g et T a t p o s itio n 1 0 b , th e m is s il e is in th e
4 , 0 4 7 , 1 1 7
3
? na l , ter m ina l g u ida nc e m o de r eq u ir ing a c c u r a te ta r g et
tr a c k ing , th er ef o r e r eq u ir ing h ig h tr a c k ing da ta r a tes
a nd th u s r eq u ir ing a h ig h p u l s e r ep etitio n f r eq u enc y
il l u m ina tio n. T h u s , f o r th e l o ng r a ng e p o s itio n a t 1 0 a a
l o w p u l s e r ep etitio n tr a ns m is s io n r a te a nd th e c o r r e
s p o nding l o w tr a c k ing da ta r a te m a y b e u til iz ed wh il e
p r o v iding s u f ? c ient tim e to ef f ec t a ng u l a r c h a ng es a nd
c o r r ec tio ns . F o r th e s h o r t r a ng e p o s itio n a t 1 0 b a h ig h
p u l s e r ep etitio n r a te a nd th e c o r r es p o nding h ig h r a te o f
tr a c k ing da ta r a te is r eq u ir ed b ec a u s e th e m is s il e m u s t
r a p idl y c h a ng e th e dir ec tio n o f ? ig h t if r eq u ir ed to h it
th e ta r g et T . B ec a u s e th e r etu r n s ig na l is p r o p o r tio na l to '
[ 6 _ K ( RD + RT ) ] / R T 2 wh er e R D is th e r a ng e f r o m th e des ig
na to r to th e ta r g et a nd RT is th e r a ng e f r o m th e m is s il e
o r tr a c k ing s ta tio n to th e ta r g et a nd th e ta r g et dia m eter
is s m a l l er th a n th e l a s er b ea m dia m eter , r el a tiv el y h ig h
p o wer p u l s es a r e r eq u ir ed a t th e l o ng er r a ng es o f ta r g et
a c q u is itio n in o r der to r ec eiv e s u f ? c ient ener g y a t th e
r ec eiv er . F o r a n a c tiv e s y s tem , th e r a ng e RD is eq u a l to
RT a nd is r ep r es ented b y R, o r R2 wh il e f o r a s em i
a c tiv e s y s tem , th e r a ng e RD is f r o m th e il l u m ina to r s u c h
a s a t I1 o r I; to th e ta r g et T a nd RT is f r o m th e ta r g et to
th e r ec eiv er s u c h a s a t 1 0 a o r 1 0 b . It is to b e no ted th a t
a l th o u g h F IG. 1 is s h o wn in th e a z im u th dim ens io n, a
s im il a r p r inc ip l e a p p l ies in th e el ev a tio n dim ens io n f o r
th e a c q u is itio n a nd ter m ina l g u ida nc e r eq u ir em ents . It is
to b e no ted th a t th e p r inc ip l es o f th e inv entio n a p p l ic a
b l e to a m is s il e a r e eq u a l l y a p p l ic a b l e to a ny s h el l , p r o
j ec til e o r m o v ing o b j ec t. Al s o th e p r inc ip l es o f th e
inv entio n a p p l ic a b l e to o p er a tio n a t a s ta tio n a r e eq u a l l y
a p p l ic a b l e to s ta tio na r y a s wel l a s to m o v ing s ta tio ns
s u c h a s a n a ir c r a f t, s h ip o r a ny m o v ing v eh ic l e o r c r a f t.
Ref er r ing no w to th e b l o c k dia g r a m o f F IG. 2 , a l a s er
p u l s e g ener a to r 1 6 is p r o v ided b eing r es p o ns iv e to a
PRF ( Pu l s e Rep etitio n F r eq u enc y ) c o ntr o l a nd tim ing
u nit 1 8 dev el o p ing a s er ies o f c o ntr o l p u l s es a t a r el a
tiv el y h ig h f r eq u enc y a s s h o wn b y a wa v ef o r m 2 0 a nd
r es p o ns iv e to a div ide c ir c u it 2 2 . T h e tim ing u nit 1 8
a p p l ies p u l s es to th e div ide c ir c u it 2 2 wh ic h ' dev el o p s a
s er ies o f c o ntr o l p u l s es a t a r el a tiv el y l o w PRF a s
s h o wn b y a wa v ef o r m 2 4 . T h e l a s er p u l s e g ener a to r 1 6
in o ne a r r a ng em ent in a c c o r da nc e with th e inv entio n
( F IG. 3 ) , m a y inc l u de a n o s c il l a to r a nd a s el ec ted nu m
b er o f l a s er a m p l i? er s a r r a ng ed in s er ies a nd r es p o nding
to c o ntr o l p u l s es o f th e wa v ef o r m s 2 0 a nd 2 4 to p a s s th e
l a s er p u l s es th r o u g h a c o l l im a ting tel es c o p e 2 8 to b e
tr a ns m itted in s p a c e a s a c o m p o s ite p u l s e tr a in indic a ted
b y a wa v ef o r m 3 0 . Al s o th e p r inc ip l es o f th e inv entio n
a r e a p p l ic a b l e to o th er a r r a ng em ents ( F IG. 5 ) , s u c h a s
o ne h a v ing two l a s er s o p er a ting in p a r a l l el a nd r es p o nd
ing to th e c o ntr o l p u l s es o f th e wa v ef o r m s 2 0 a nd 2 4 to
p r o v ide a c o m p o s ite o u tp u t p u l s e o f th e wa v ef o r m 3 0 .
T h u s , th e l a s er il l u m ina to r dev el o p s h ig h ener g y p u l s es
a t a l o w p u l s e r ep etitio n r a te th a t wil l p r o v ide s u f f ic ient
ener g y r ec ep tio n f o r l o ng r a ng e o p er a tio n a nd dev el o p s
p u l s es a t a h ig h p u l s e r ep etitio n r a te th a t h a v e a s u f ?
c ient da ta r a te to m eet th e r eq u ir em ents o f s h o r t r a ng e
o p er a tio n s u c h a s f o r a c c u r a te ter m ina l g u ida nc e. A
c o o l ing s o u r c e 2 5 is c o u p l ed to th e l a s er p u l s e g ener a to r
a nd b ec a u s e o f th e r el a tiv el y l o w a v er a g e p o wer u ti
l iz ed f o r o p er a tio n o f th e s y s tem o f th e inv entio n, is
o nl y r eq u ir ed to h a ndl e a r el a tiv el y s m a l l l ev el o f h ea t
' dis s ip a tio n.
A p o wer s o u r c e ( no t s h o wn) s u p p l ies p o wer to th e
l a s er p u l s e g ener a to r a nd is s im il a r l y r eq u ir ed to s u p p l y
a r el a tiv el y s m a l l a m o u nt o f p o wer . Ref er r ing no w to
F IG. 3 wh ic h s h o ws th e m u l ti-l ev el il l u m ina to r in a c
c o r da nc e with th e inv entio n, o p er a ting with a n o s c il l a
H 5
2 0
3 5
4 5
6 0
6 5
4
to r 3 6 a nd l a s er a m p l i? er s 4 0 , 4 2 a nd 4 4 c o u p l ed in a
s er ies a r r a ng em ent to p a s s a c o m p o s ite p u l s e o f th e
wa v ef o r m 3 0 th r o u g h th e tel es c o p e 2 8 a nd into s p a c e.
T h e l a s er p u l s e g ener a to r 1 6 o f F IG. 2 m a y b e c o ns id
er ed to inc l u de th e o s c il l a to r 1 6 a nd th e a m p l i? er s 4 0 , 4 2
a nd 4 4 with th eir a s s o c ia ted c o ntr o l c ir c u itr y . T h e l a s er
o s c il l a to r 3 6 inc l u des a p u m p ing c a v ity 5 0 h a v ing a l a s er
r o d 5 2 a nd a p u m p ing l a m p 5 4 with th e c a v ity c o o l ed
f r o m th e c o o l ing s o u r c e 2 5 b y a s u ita b l e g a s o r l ig u id, a s
is wel l k no wn in th e a r t. A to ta l r e? ec tiv e m ir r o r 5 6 is
p o s itio ned a l o ng th e o p tic a l a xis with a Q -s witc h 5 8
wh ic h m a y b e a Po c k el c el l , f o r exa m p l e, p o s itio ned
b etween th e m ir r o r 5 6 a nd th e l a s er r o d 5 2 o u ts ide o f
th e p u m p ing c a v ity 5 0 . A p a r tia l l y tr a ns m itting a nd
r ef l ec ting m ir r o r 6 0 is p o s itio ned a t th e o p p o s ite end o f
th e l a s er r o d 5 2 to p r o v ide a n o u tp u t p u l s e o f l a s er
ener g y . T h e a m p l i? er 4 0 inc l u des a l a s er r o d 6 6 with a
l a m p 6 8 inc l u ded in a p u m p ing c a v ity 7 0 , a s is wel l
k no wn in th e a r t. T h e l a s er o s c il l a to r s 4 2 a nd 4 4 a r e
s im il a r to th e o s c il l a to r 4 0 a nd h a v ing th e c o m p o nents
r es p ec tiv el y des ig na ted b y th e s a m e nu m b er s exc ep t
with th e a dditio n th er eto o f s u b s c r ip ts a a nd b . T h e
c o l l im a ting tel es c o p e 2 8 r ec eiv es th e p u l s e tr a ins th a t
p a s s f r o m th e l a s t o s c il l a to r s ta g e 4 4 f o r tr a ns m is s io n to
th e ta r g et to b e il l u m ina ted. T h e o s c il l a to r 3 6 h a s its
l a m p 5 4 ener g iz ed b y a PF N ( Pu l s e F o r m ing Netwo r k )
p o wer s u p p l y 8 6 wh ic h m a y r ec eiv e a tim ing c o ntr o l
s ig na l f r o m th e PRF c o ntr o l a nd tim ing c ir c u it 1 8 . A
tr ig g er tr a ns f o r m er 8 8 is c o u p l ed to th e l a m p 5 4 f o r
tr ig g er ing th e tu b e a t ea c h PRF inter v a l a s deter m ined
b y th e PRF c o ntr o l a nd tim ing c ir c u it 1 8 .
T h e Q s witc h 5 8 is c o ntr o l l ed b y a tim ing p u l s e r e
c eiv ed f r o m th e c ir c u it 1 8 a nd del a y ed b y a del a y c ir c u it
9 2 s o th a t th e l a s er r o d ener g y inv er s io n h a s a tta ined a
s u f f ic ient l ev el b ef o r e th e p u l s e is a l l o wed to b e p a s s ed
to th e r ef l ec tiv e m ir r o r 5 6 . T h e ? a s h l a m p 6 8 a l s o h a s a
PF N p o wer s u p p l y 9 4 a nd is tr ig g er ed b y a tr ig g er
tr a ns f o r m er 9 6 to o p tic a l l y p u m p th e l a s er r o d 6 6 a nd
th er eb y to p r o v ide a m p l i? c a tio n o f th e p u l s es r ec eiv ed
f r o m th e o s c il l a to r 3 6 . T h e p o wer s u p p l y 9 4 r es p o nds to
a tim ing c o ntr o l s ig na l p r o v ided b y th e div ide c ir c u it 2 2
r ec eiv ing th e h ig h PRF p u l s es f r o m th e tim ing c ir c u it
1 8 a nd dev el o p ing l o w PRF p u l s es a s r eq u ir ed f o r th e
s y s tem o p er a tio n. T r ig g er tr a ns f o r m er s 9 6 a a nd 9 6 b , a s
wel l a s PF N p o wer s u p p l ies 9 4 a a nd 9 4 b o f th e a m p l i?
er s 4 2 a nd 4 4 , a l s o r ec eiv e th e l o wer PRF c o ntr o l s ig
na l s f r o m th e div ide c ir c u it 2 2 .
T h e l a s er r o d 5 2 o f th e l a s er o s c il l a to r s ta g e 3 6 m a y b e
a ny s u ita b l e m a ter ia l a s neo dy m iu m ( Nd) : YAG o r Nd:
g l a s s o r r u b y a s a r e wel l k no w in th e a r t a nd th e o s c il l a
to r s ta g e m a y , f o r exa m p l e, o p er a te a t a no m ina l 3 0
p u l s es p er s ec o nd ( PPS ) r ep etitio n r a te a t 5 0 m il l ij o u l es
p er p u l s e o u tp u t f o r a Q -s witc h ed Nd: YAG s y s tem .
T h u s th e PRF c o ntr o l a nd tim ing c ir c u it 1 8 m a y p r o
v ide c o ntr o l p u l s es a t a r a te o f 3 0 p u l s es p er s ec o nd. It
is to b e no ted th a t th e p u l s e r ep etitio n r a te m a y b e p r e
c is el y c o ntr o l l ed a t s el ec ta b l e r a tes to p r o v ide a p l u r a l
ity o f p u l s e r ep etitio n r a te c o des , a s a r e wel l k no wn in
th e a r t. In th is il l u s tr a ted exa m p l e du r ing ev er y s ixth
o s c il l a to r c y c l e, th e a m p l i? er s ta g e wo u l d b e a c tiv a ted
to p r o v ide a dditio na l o u tp u t ener g y s u c h a s p u l s es o f
o ne-h a l f to o ne j o u l e. It is to b e no ted th a t if nec es s a r y ,
a nd with in th e s c o p e o f th e inv entio n, th e o s c il l a to r
s ta g e c o u l d b e p u m p ed h a r der du r ing th e h ig h ener g y
p u l s e c y c l e th a n in th e l o w ener g y p u l s e c y c l es to p r o
v ide a v er y l a r g e h ig h ener g y p u l s e. T h e r o ds o f th e
a m p l i? er s ta g es 4 0 , 4 2 a nd 4 4 m a y b e a ny s u ita b l e m a te
4 , 0 4 7 , l l 7
5
r ia l s u c h a s Nd: YAG o r Nd: g l a s s o r r u b y to s p ec tr a l l y
m a tc h th e o s c il l a to r l a s er r o d 5 2 .
Ref er r ing no w a l s o to th e wa v ef o r m s o f F IG. 4 , th e
PRF c o ntr o l p u l s es f r o m th e c ir c u it 1 8 a r e s h o wn b y a
wa v ef o r m 1 0 2 a nd th e c o ntr o l p u l s e a p p l ied to th e Q
s witc h 5 8 a f ter a s l ig h t del a y td a r e s h o wn b y a . wa v e
f o r m 1 0 4 , b o th h a v ing f o r th e il l u s tr a ted exa m p l e, a
p u l s e r ep etitio n f r eq u enc y o f 3 0 p u l s es p er s ec o nd.
Af ter th e c o ntr o l s ig na l o f th e wa v ef o r m 1 0 2 is a p p l ied
to th e div ide c ir c u it 2 2 , th e c o ntr o l p u l s e o f th e wa v e
f o r m 1 0 6 h a v ing a p u l s e r ep etitio n f r eq u enc y o f 5 p u l s es
p er s ec o nd is a p p l ied to th e tr ig g er tr a ns f o r m er s 9 6 , 9 6 a
a nd 9 6 b o f th e a m p l i? ter s ta g es . A c o m b ined o r c o m
p o s ite p u l s e tr a in o f a wa v ef o r m 1 1 0 is th e il l u m ina to r
o u tp u t s ig na l f r o m th e a m p l i? er s ta g e 4 4 a s wel l a s a f ter
b eing c o l l im a ted in th e tel es c o p e 2 8 , f o r il l u m ina ting th e
ta r g et du r ing b o th l o ng r a ng e a nd s h o r t r a ng e o p er a
tio n. F o r a c q u is itio n, th e m is s il e m a y , f o r exa m p l e, h a v e
a th r es h o l d c ir c u it to r es p o nd o nl y to r etu r ns f r o m th e
h ig h p o wer , l o w PRF p u l s es a nd du r ing ter m ina l g u id
a nc e to r es p o nd to r etu r ns f r o m a l l o f th e l o w p o wer
h ig h PRF p u l s es in a dditio n.
T h e il l u s tr a ted Q s witc h ed des ig na to r del iv er ing 5 0
m il l ij o u l es a t 3 0 p u l s es p er s ec o nd a nd nea r l y o ne j o u l e
a t 5 p u l s es p er s ec o nd with th e o s c il l a to r p u m p ed a t 1 2
j o u l es r es u l ts in a n o s c il l a to r h ea t l o a d o f 3 6 0 wa tts th a t
m u s t b e dis s ip a ted. T h e net l a s er o u tp u t th r o u g h th e
a m p l i? er r o ds wh en u np u m p ed is a p p r o xim a tel y 5 0
m il l ij o u l es p er p u l s e a nd wh en p u m p ed a t 8 0 to 9 0 j o u l es
a nd _ 5 p u l s es p er s ec o nd, th e to ta l l a s er o u tp u t du r ing th e
h ig h ener g y p u l s e c y c l e is 8 0 0 m il l ij o u l es to o ne j o u l e
p er p u l s e. It is to b e no ted in th e il l u s tr a ted exa m p l e, th e
a m p l i? er h ea t l o a d is a p p r o xim a tel y 4 0 0 wa tts wh ic h is
s u b s ta ntia l l y th e s a m e a s th e o s c il l a to r h ea t l o a d. Co ns e
q u entl y a l l l a s er r o ds wil l b e a t nea r l y th e s a m e tem p er a
tu r e s o th a t s p ec tr a l -b a ndwidth m a tc h ing is a s s u r ed f o r
o p tim u m a p l i? c a tio n. T h u s , b ec a u s e o f th e r el a tiv el y
l o w h ea t l o s s o r l o w a v er a g e h ea t l o s s , th e r o d a nd ? a s h
l a m p c o o l ing is g r ea tl y s im p l i? ed b y th e s y s tem o f th e
s u b j ec t inv entio n. .
T h e a v er a g e l a s er o u tp u t in th e il l u s tr a ted exa m p l e is
a b o u t 6 . 5 wa tts wh ic h is a b o u t 2 0 p er c ent o f th e a v er a g e
o u tp u t r eq u ir ed if th e f u l l o ne j o u l e p er p u l s e o u tp u t wa s
o b ta ined a t th e 3 0 p u l s es p er s ec o nd r a te. T h u s , c o ns id
er a b l e el ec tr ic a l p o wer inp u t a nd c o o l ing p o wer is
s a v ed wh il e s til l a c h iev ing s u f f ic ient p u l s e ener g y f o r
l o ng r a ng e o p er a tio n a nd h ig h r ep etitio n r a tes f o r s h o r t
r a ng e o p er a tio n.
T h e p r inc ip l es o f th e inv entio n a r e no t l im ited to th e
a r r a ng em ent o f F IG. 3 a nd th e two -l ev el l a s er des ig na
to r o r il l u m ina to r m a y u til iz e du a l p a r a l l el o p er a ting
o s c il l a to r s , a s s h o wn in F IG. 5 r es p o nding to th e c o n
tr o l p u l s es to p r o v ide c o m b ined h ig h PRF a nd l o w PRF
p u l s es . T h e h ig h ener g y l o w r ep etitio n r a te p u l s es a r e
p r o v ided b y a ? r s t o s c il l a to r 1 2 0 a nd th e l o w ener g y
h ig h r ep etitio n r a te p u l s es a r e p r o v ided b y a s ec o nd
o s c il l a to r 1 2 2 . T h e h ig h p o wer o s c il l a to r 1 2 0 r eq u ir es
th a t a r el a tiv el y l a r g e dia m etr r o d 1 2 8 b e u til iz ed b e
c a u s e r o d s iz e is p r o p o r tio na l to p ea k p o wer . A s ep a r a te
l o w m a g ni? c a tio n c o l l im a ting tel es c o p e 1 4 4 m a y b e
u til iz ed f o r th e l a r g er dia m eter r o d h ig h ener g y o s c il l a
to r 1 2 0 b ec a u s e a t l o ng er r a ng es l es s a ng u l a r a c c u r a c y is
r eq u ir ed f o r a c q u is itio n. T h u s , a t l o ng ta r g et r a ng es
wh er e h ig h des ig na to r p u l s e ener g ies a r e r eq u ir ed,
tr a c k ing p r ec is io n is no t r eq u ir ed a nd a r el a tiv el y s m a l l
l o w-p o wer c o l l im a ting tel es c o p e 1 4 4 a nd l a r g e l a s er
s p o t s iz es a r e a l l o wa b l e o n th e ta r g et. In s o m e ins ta nc es
tel es c o p e 1 4 4 m a y no t b e needed a t a l l . F o r th e l o w
2 0
3 5
4 5
5 5 .
6 0
6 5
6
ener g y h ig h PRF p u l s es , a na r r o w b ea m m u s t b e f o r m ed
f o r s h o r t r a ng e a c c u r a c y , b u t b ec a u s e o f th e s m a l l l a s er
r o d a r el a tiv el y s m a l l th o u g h h ig h p o wer c o l l im a ting
a p er tu r e a nd o p tic a l a r r a ng em ent o f a tel es c o p e 1 7 6 is
s a tis f a c to r y .
T h e o s c il l a to r 1 2 0 inc l u des a p u m p c a v ity 1 2 6 h a v ing
a l a s er r o d 1 2 8 a nd a ? a s h l a m p 1 3 0 th er ein with th e
c a v ity c o o l ed f r o m a s u ita b l e c o o l ing s o u r c e 1 3 4 . A
m ir r o r 1 3 6 a nd a Q -s witc h 1 3 8 wh ic h m a y b e a Po c k el
c el l f o r exa m p l e, is p r o v ided a t o ne end o f th e c a v ity
1 2 6 a nd a p a r tia l l y tr a ns m is s iv e m ir r o r 1 4 0 is p r o v ided
a t th e o u tp u t end o f th e c a v ity , to a p p l y p u l s es to th e
l o w m a g ni? c a tio n wide b ea m c o l l im a ting tel es c o p e 1 4 4
wh ic h in tu r n tr a ns m its h ig h ener g y l o w r ep etitio n r a te
p u l s es o f a wa v ef o r m 1 4 6 . T h e tr a ns m itted ener g y m a y
h a v e a r el a tiv el y l a r g e tr a ns m is s iv e b ea m width a s
s h o wn b y a b ea m 1 4 7 wh ic h is s u ita b l e f o r l o ng r a ng e
o p er a tio n b ec a u s e m o r e tim e is a v a il a b l e to m a k e tr a c k
ing c o r r ec tio ns , f o r exa m p l e. T h e PRF c o ntr o l a nd
tim ing s o u r c e 1 8 s u p p l ies p u l s es th r o u g h a div ide c ir c u it
2 2 a nd th r o u g h a del a y c ir c u it 1 5 0 to th e Q -s witc h 1 3 8
a s wel l a s to a tr ig g er tr a ns f o r m er 1 5 2 a nd a p u l s e f o r m
ing netwo r k ( PF N) a nd p o wer s u p p l y 1 5 4 f o r c o ntr o l
l ing th e ? a s h l a m p 1 3 0 .
T h e o s c il l a to r 1 2 2 inc l u des a p u m p c a v ity 1 6 0 h a v ing
a l a s er r o d 1 6 2 a nd a l a m p 1 6 4 with th e r o d 1 6 2 b eing
o nl y r eq u ir ed to b e o f s u f ? c ient s iz e to h a ndl e th e r el a
tiv el y l o w p o wer p u l s es wh il e th e r o d 1 2 8 o f th e o s c il l a
to r 1 2 0 is r eq u ir ed to h a v e s u f ? c ient s iz e to h a ndl e th e
l a r g e p o wer p u l s es with o u t r o d da m a g e. T h e c o o l ing
s o u r c e 1 3 4 m a y a l s o b e u til iz ed to c o o l th e p u m p c a v ity
1 6 0 with a s u ita b l e c o o l ing m a ter ia l s u c h a s a g a s o r a
l iq u id. At o ne end o f th e c a v ity 1 6 0 a r e p r o v ided a
to ta l l y r e? ec tiv e m ir r o r 1 7 0 a nd a Q -s witc h 1 7 2 wh ic h ,
f o r exa m p l e, m a y b e a Po c k el c el l a nd a p a r tia l l y tr a ns
m is s iv e m ir r o r 1 7 4 is p o s itio ned a t th e o u tp u t end o f th e
c a v ity 1 6 0 to a p p l y l o w p o wer p u l s es th r o u g h th e h ig h
m a g ni? c a tio n, na r r o w b ea m c o l l m ina ting tel es c o p e 1 7 6 .
T h e tr a ns m itted p u l s es h a v e a l o w ener g y a nd a h ig h
r ep etitio n r a te a s s h o wn b y wa v ef o r m 1 8 0 a nd th e c o l l i
m a to r 1 7 6 is s el ec ted s o th a t th e p u l s es a r e tr a ns m itted
with a r el a tiv el y na r r o w b ea m 1 8 1 . T h e c o l l im a to r 1 7 6
o p er a tes with o u t exc es s iv e a p er tu r e s iz e a nd weig h t,
a nd with a m inim u m o f c o m p l exity r eq u ir ed in th e o p
tic s b ec a u s e o f th e r el a tiv el y s m a l l dia m eter o f th e r o d
1 6 2 . T h e h ig h PRF p u l s es f r o m th e PRF c o ntr o l tim ing
c ir c u it 1 8 a r e a p p l ied th r o u g h a del a y c ir c u it 1 8 4 to th e
Q -s witc h 1 7 2 a nd a r e a l s o a p p l ied f r o m th e PRF c o ntr o l
c ir c u it 1 8 to a tr ig g er tr a ns f o r m er 1 8 6 a nd to a p u l s e
f o r m ing netwo r k a nd p o wer s u p p l y 1 8 8 f o r c o ntr o l l ing
th e l a m p 1 6 4 . A do tted b o x 1 9 0 c o u p l ed to th e two
tel es c o p es b y do tted l ines il l u s tr a tes th a t a c o m m o n
windo w o r s o m e c o m m o n o p tic s m a y b e u til iz ed in th e
s y s tem . '
T h u s , in th e a r r a ng em ent o f F IG. 5 a r el a tiv el y l a r g e
l a s er b ea m c o l l im a to r s tr u c tu r e is no t r eq u ir ed b ec a u s e
o f th e u s e o f a s ep a r a te wide b ea m c o l l im a ting tel e
s c o p e, if a ny , f o r th e l a r g e r o d. F o r th e h ig h PRF o s c il
l a to r , o nl y a r el a tiv el y s m a l l c o l l im a ting tel es c o p e 1 7 6 is
r eq u ir ed b ec a u s e o f th e l o w p o wer r eq u ir em ents a nd
th er ef o r e s m a l l r o d 1 6 2 p r o v iding a na r r o w b ea m f o r
th e s h o r t r a ng e o p er a tio n. T h e du a l o s c il l a to r a p p r o a c h
p r o v ides s a tis f a c to r y m is s il e g u ida nc e b ec a u s e a t l o ng
ta r g et r a ng es wh er e h ig h des ig na to r p u l s e ener g ies a r e
r eq u ir ed, tr a c k ing p r ec is io n is no t r eq u ir ed a nd b r o a d
l a s er s p o t s iz es a r e a l l o wa b l e a t th e ta r g et. In s o m e
des ig na to r s y s tem s in a c c o r da nc e with th e inv entio n th e
s y s tem m a y o p er a te with o u t a c o l l im a to r f o r th e h ig h
4 , 0 4 7 , l l 7
7
ener g y o s c il l a to r . F o r th e l o w ener g y h ig h r ep etitio n
r a te o s c il l a to r , r el a tiv el y g o o d tr a c k ing p r ec is io n is
r eq u ir ed, b u t a na r r o w b ea m a nd na r r o w l a s er s p o ts o n
th e ta r g et a r e p r o v ided b y a r el a tiv el y s m a l l s iz e c o l l i
m a to r . T h e l o w r ep etitio n r a te p u l s es o f th e wa v ef o r m
1 4 6 a nd h ig h r ep etitio n r a te p u l s es o f th e wa v ef o r m 1 8 0
a r e ef f ec tiv el y c o m b ined o n th e ta r g et a nd r e? ec ted
th er ef r o m a s a c o m m o n p u l s e tr a in a nd th e a r r a ng em ent
o f F IG. 5 p r o v ides b o th ef f ec tiv e o p er a tio n a t l o ng
r a ng es s u c h a s f o r a c q u is itio n a nd o p er a tio n a t s h o r t
r a ng es s u c h a s f o r ter m ina l g u ida nc e. T h e a r r a ng em ent
o f F IG. 5 h a s th e a dv a nta g es in a c c o r da nc e with th e
inv entio n th a t a r el a tiv el y s m a l l p o wer c o ns u m p tio n
a nd h ea t dis s ip a tio n is u til iz ed in o p er a tio n.
T h e p r inc ip l es o f th e inv entio n a r e a l s o a p p l ic a b l e to
il l u m ina to r s u til iz ed in tr a c k ing a s wel l a s in g u ida nc e
a nd to il l u m ina to r s u til iz ing l a s er s o th er th a n s o l id s ta te
l a s er s u c h a s g a s l a s er s in wh ic h a n el ec tr o n dis c h a r g e
a r r a ng em ent a nd a s s o c ia ted c o ntr o l s a r e u til iz ed f o r
tr ig g er ing th e g a s , a s is wel l k no wn in th e a r t, o r in
l iq u id l a s er s , wh ic h a r e o p tic a l l y p u m p ed a s a r e th e
s o l id s ta te l a s er s , a s is wel l k no wn in th e a r t.
T h u s , th er e h a s b een p r o v ided a s ing l e l a s er ta r g et
il l u m ina to r a s s em b l y f o r des ig na ting o r tr a c k ing to p r o
v ide b o th h ig h p ea k p o wer p u l s es f o r l o ng r a ng e o p er a
tio n s u c h a s ta r g et a c q u is itio n o r tr a c k ing a nd a h ig h
p u l s e r a te f o r a c c u r a te s h o r t r a ng e o p er a tio n s u c h a s
ter m ina l g u ida nc e to a ta r g et o r tr a c k ing . T h e s y s tem
g ener a tes h ig h p ea k p o wer p u l s es a t a r el a tiv el y l o w
du ty c y c l e with in a c o m m o n p u l s e tr a in c o nta ining l o w
p ea k p o wer p u l s es a t a r el a tiv el y h ig h du ty c y c l e f o r
l o ng a nd s h o r t r a ng e r eq u ir em ents r es p ec tiv el y . T h e
a v er a g e p o wer a nd h ea t dis s ip a tio n r eq u ir em ents a r e
s u b s ta ntia l l y r edu c ed wh ic h in tu r n l ea ds to a r edu c tio n
o f b o th s iz e a nd weig h t o f th e des ig na to r in a c c o r da nc e
with th e inv entio n f o r a ny g iv en l ev el o f o v er a l l p er
f o r m a nc e. Ano th er a dv a nta g e o f th e il l u m ina to r o f th e
inv entio n is th a t it c a n b e m a nu f a c tu r ed u s ing c o nv en
tio na l l a s er c o m p o nents . T h e p r inc ip l es o f th e inv entio n
inc l u de b o th a s ing l e o s c il l a to r a r r a ng em ent a nd a du a l
o s c il l a to r c o n? g u r a tio n, th e l a tter h a v ing a s im p l i? ed
c o l l im a ting s y s tem in s o m e a r r a ng em ents in a c c o r da nc e
with th e inv entio n. Al s o , th e p r inc ip l es o f th e inv entio n
a r e a p p l ic a b l e to g a s m ediu m l a s er s y s tem s a nd l iq u id
m ediu m l a s er s a s wel l a s l a s er s u s ing s o l id s ta te r o ds o r
m ediu m s .
W h a t is c l a im ed is :
1 . A l a s er ta r g et il l u m ina to r c o m p r is ing
l a s er o s c il l a to r m ea ns f o r g ener a ting h ig h p o wer
p u l s es a nd l o w p o wer p u l s es ,
a ? r s t c o ntr o l s o u r c e c o u p l ed to s a id l a s er o s c il l a to r
m ea ns f o r g ener a ting s a id h ig h p o wer p u l s es a t a
? r s t p u l s e r a te,
a s ec o nd c o ntr o l s o u r c e c o u p l ed to s a id l a s er o s c il l a
to r m ea ns f o r g ener a ting s a id l o w p o wer p u l s es a t a
s ec o nd p u l s e r a te h ig h er th a n s a id ? r s t p u l s e r a te,
a nd
o p tic a l m ea ns r es p o ns iv e to s a id l a s er o s c il l a to r m ea ns
to tr a ns m it a c o m b ined p u l s e tr a in to wa r d s a id ta r
g et.
2 . T h e c o m b ina tio n o f c l a im 1 in wh ic h s a id l a s er
o s c il l a to r m ea ns inc l u des l a s er r o ds o f a Neo dy m iu m :
YAG m a ter ia l .
3 . T h e il l u m ina to r o f c l a im 1 in wh ic h s a id l a s er o s c il
l a to r m ea ns inc l u des a l a s er o s c il l a to r a nd a t l ea s t o ne
5
1 5
2 5
3 0
3 5
4 0
4 5
5 0
5 5
6 5
8
l a s er a m p l i? er a r r a ng ed in a s er ies o p tic a l p a th with s a id
o p tic a l m ea ns ,
m ea ns c o u p l ing s a id ? r s t c o ntr o l s o u r c e to s a id l a s er
o s c il l a to r , a nd
m ea ns c o u p l ing s a id s ec o nd c o ntr o l s o u r c e to a l l o f
s a id l a s er a m p l i? er s .
4 . T h e il l u m ina to r o f c l a im 3 in wh ic h s a id s ec o nd
c o ntr o l s o u r c e p r o v ides p u l s es a t a s el ec ted p u l s e r ep eti
tiv e f r eq u enc y a nd s a id ? r s t c o ntr o l s o u r c e is a div ide
c ir c u it r es p o ns iv e to s a id s ec o nd c o ntr o l s o u r c e to p r o
v ide a m p l i? c a tio n o f s el ec ted p u l s es p r o v ided b y s a id
l a s er o s c il l a to r .
5 . T h e il l u m ina to r o f c l a im 1 in wh ic h s a id l a s er o s c il
l a to r m ea nd inc l u des ? r s t a nd s ec o nd l a s er o s c il l a to r s
o p er a ting in p a r a l l el , s a id ? r s t l a s er o s c il l a to r p r o v iding
h ig h ener g y l o w r ep etitio n r a te p u l s es in r es p o ns e to
s a id ? r s t c o ntr o l s o u r c e, a nd s a id s ec o nd l a s er o s c il l a to r
p r o v iding l o w ener g y h ig h r ep etitio n r a te p u l s es in
r es p o ns e to s a id s ec o nd c o ntr o l s o u r c e.
6 . T h e il l u m ina to r o f c l a im 5 in wh ic h s a id o p tic a l
m ea ns inc l u des ? r s t a nd s ec o nd c o l l im a to r s a nd s a id
? r s t c o l l im a to r r ec eiv es a p u l s e tr a in f r o m s a id ? r s t l a s er
o s c il l a to r a nd s a id s ec o nd c o l l im a to r r ec eiv es a p u l s e
tr a in f r o m s a id s ec o nd l a s er o s c il l a to r with s a id ? r s t
c o l l im a to r p r o v iding a r el a tiv el y wide b ea m a nd s a id
s ec o nd c o l l im a to r p r o v iding a r el a tiv el y na r r o w b ea m .
7 . T h e il l u m ina to r o f c l a im 5 in wh ic h s a id o p tic a l
m ea ns inc l u des na r r o w b ea m c o l l im a ting m ea ns r es p o n
s iv e to th e tr a in p u l s e f r o m s a id s ec o nd l a s er o s c il l a to r .
8 . A l a s er il l u m ina to r s y s tem f o r des ig na ting a ta r g et
f r o m a m o v ing c r a f t c o m p r is ing :
o s c il l a to r m ea ns inc l u ding a l a s er r o d, a r e? ec tiv e
m ir r o r , a p a r tia l l y tr a ns m is s iv e m ir r o r , a Q -s witc h
a nd a tr ig g er ing l a m p , f o r dev el o p ing l a s er ener g y ,
a t l ea s t o ne a m p l i? er m ea ns c o u p l ed in s er ies with
s a id o s c il l a to r m ea ns inc l u ding a l a s er r o d a nd a
tr ig g er ing l a m p f o r a m p l if y ing s a id l a s er ener g y ,
a s o u r c e o f tim ing p u l s es c o u p l ed to s a id Q -s witc h a nd
s a id tr ig g er ing l a m p o f s a id o s c il l a to r m ea ns ,
div iding m ea ns c o u p l ed b etween s a id s o u r c e o f tim ing
p u l s es a nd s a id tr ig g er ing l a m p o f a l l o f s a id a m p l i
? er m ea ns ; a nd
c o l l im a ting m ea ns r es p o ns iv e to th e ener g y a t th e
o u tp u t f r o m a l l o f s a id a m p l i? er m ea ns to tr a ns m it a
c o m b ined p u l s e o f a h ig h p u l s e r ep etitio n r a te f r o m
s a id o s c il l a to r m ea ns a nd a l o w p u l s e r ep etitio n r a te
wh en s a id a m p l i? er m ea ns is tr ig g er ed.
9 . T h e c o m b ina tio n o f c l a im 8 in wh ic h th e l a s er r o ds
f o r s a id o s c il l a to r m ea ns a nd f o r a l l o f s a id a m p l i? er s
m ea ns is o f a Neo dy m iu m : YAG m a ter ia l .
1 0 . A l a s er il l u m ina to r s y s tem f o r des ig na ting a ta r g et
f r o m a m o v ing c r a f t c o m p r is ing
? r s t a nd s ec o nd o s c il l a to r m ea ns ea c h inc l u ding a
l a s er r o d, a r e? ec tiv e m ir r o r , a p a r tia l l y tr a ns m is
s iv e m ir r o r , a Q -s witc h a nd a tr ig g er ing l a m p , f o r
dev el o p ing l a s er ener g y , s a id ? r s t a nd s ec o nd o s c il
l a to r m ea ns r es p ec tiv el y p r o v iding l o w p o wer a nd
h ig h p o wer p u l s es ,
a s o u r c e o f l o w PRF tim ing p u l s es c o u p l ed to s a id
Q -s witc h a nd s a id tr ig g er ing l a m p o f s a id ? r s t o s c il
l a to r m ea ns , a nd
a s o u r c e o f h ig h PRF tim ing p u l s es c o u p l ed to s a id
Q -s witc h a nd s a id tr ig g er ing l a m p o f s a id s ec o nd
o s c il l a to r m ea ns .
1 1 . T h e c o m b ina tio n o f c l a im 1 0 in wh ic h th e l a s er
r o ds o f s a id ? r s t a nd s ec o nd o s c il l a to r m ea ns a r e o f a
Neo dy m iu m : YAG m a ter ia l .
I! 4 ! I W ! k