Ronald D Freeman

US Patent:

40912744, May 23, 1978

Filed:

Dec 22, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/753337

Inventors:

Albert Wolcott Angelbeck - Glastonbury CT
Edward Wayne Vinje - Nashua NH
George Robert Wisner - Deep River CT
Ronald Harold Freeman - Delray Beach FL
Harold C. Reynolds - Palm Beach Gardens FL
Donald Lee Witt - North Palm Beach FL

Assignee:

United Technologies Corporation - Hartford CT

International Classification:

G01J 120

US Classification:

250201

Abstract:

Active laser mirror systems and methods for achieving near diffraction limited transmission of laser radiation by actively controlling a reflective surface are disclosed. The apparatus involved in the active mirror system includes a mirror having a deformable surface, a plurality of actuators attached at preselected locations to the nonreflecting side of the mirror, a control assembly for performing logic and providing drive signals to the actuators and a sensor system. The method of achieving the improved transmission includes setting the contour of a deformable reflective surface in accordance with predetermined data, reflecting the transmitted beam off the surface enroute to the target, optically monitoring the surface to determine operational changes thereon, computing corrective data, and applying appropriate changes to the mirror surface.