High sensitivity-wide dynamic range optical tilt sensor
Patent 5287165 Issued on February 15, 1994. Estimated Expiration Date: 
September 30, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.
September 30, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesSensor system for detecting wavefront distortion in a return beam of light Optical wavefront sensing system Optical centroid processor wavefront sensor Patent #: 5083015 InventorsAssigneeApplicationNo. 769351 filed on 09/30/1991US Classes:356/121, LAMP BEAM DIRECTION OR PATTERN250/201.9Light beam wavefront phase adaptationExaminersPrimary: Rosenberger, Richard A.Assistant: Hantis, K. P. Attorney, Agent or FirmInternational ClassG01J 001/00AbstractA new and improved adaptive optics wavefront tilt sensor having both very high sensitivity and wide dynamic range is presented. In accordance with this invention, distortion is induced in each subaperture beam by passing a high f-number beam through a field lens having large amounts of spherical aberration. The distortion provides transition from a wide dynamic range, low sensitivity wavefront tilt measurement to a narrow dynamic range, high sensitivity wavefront tilt measurement. This beam is then impinged on a single photodector which provides at least one electrical signal indicative of centroid position. | |
