Optical: systems and elements – Polarization without modulation – Polarization by reflection or refraction
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-16
2001-07-10
Shafer, Ricky D. (Department: 2872)
Optical: systems and elements
Polarization without modulation
Polarization by reflection or refraction
C359S490020, C359S490020, C359S490020, C359S199200, C359S618000, C359S629000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06259560
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to multiple laser beam devices. More specifically, but without limitation thereto, the present invention relates to a beam combiner for multiple lasers.
Generally, laser beam combiners do not provide for varying each laser beam in a continuous fashion, i.e. only a fixed fraction of each laser beam is combined to generate a composite beam.
Applications such as displaying colors often require a combination of red, green, and blue light mixed in different proportions. A need therefore exists for a laser beam combiner in which the proportion of each beam may be varied continuously.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to overcoming the problems described above and may provide further related advantages. No embodiment of the present invention described herein shall preclude other embodiments or advantages that may exist or become obvious to those skilled in the art.
A continuously variable beam combiner of the present invention combines multiple input beams of different wavelengths into a single output beam in which the power of each input beam may be varied continuously.
An advantage of the continuously variable beam combiner of the present invention is that a continuous spectrum of colors may be generated in a single collimated beam.
Another advantage is that the power of several beams may be combined into a single collimated beam.
The features and advantages summarized above in addition to other aspects of the present invention will become more apparent from the description, presented in conjunction with the following drawings.
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Fendelman Harvey
Lipovsky Peter A.
Shafer Ricky D.
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of
Whitesell Eric James
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