Beam combiner for optical beams with differing beam properties
An apparatus includes a beam combiner structured as a prism. The beam combiner includes a first side configured to transmit a first beam generated from a first beam generator into the prism. The beam combiner also includes a second side configured to internally reflect the first beam and transmit a second beam generated from a second beam generator into the prism. The beam combiner further includes a third side configured to transmit the first beam and the second beam as a combined beam to a beam receiver.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a beam combiner comprising a prism, the prism comprising:
a first side configured to transmit a first beam generated from a first beam generator into the prism;
a second side configured to internally reflect the first beam and transmit a second beam generated from a second beam generator into the prism; and
a third side configured to transmit the first beam and the second beam as a combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein the prism is configured to orthogonally transmit the combined beam through the third side.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prism is configured to coaxially combine the first beam and the second beam to form the combined beam.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prism is configured to receive the second beam at a location on the second side where the first beam is internally reflected.
4. An apparatus comprising:
a beam combiner comprising a prism, the prism comprising:
a first side configured to transmit a first beam generated from a first beam generator into the prism;
a second side configured to internally reflect the first beam and transmit a second beam generated from a second beam generator into the prism; and
a third side configured to transmit the first beam and the second beam as a combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein the prism is configured to receive the first beam orthogonally through the first side.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the prism is configured to orthogonally transmit the combined beam through the third side.
6. An apparatus comprising:
a beam combiner comprising a prism, the prism comprising:
a first side configured to transmit a first beam generated from a first beam generator into the prism;
a second side configured to internally reflect the first beam and transmit a second beam generated from a second beam generator into the prism; and
a third side configured to transmit the first beam and the second beam as a combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein an angle θ c between the first side and the second side of the prism is defined by:
θ
c
=
sin
-
1
(
n
2
n
1
)
where n 1 is a refractive index of a material forming the prism and n 2 is a refractive index of a material surrounding the prism.
7. An apparatus comprising:
a beam combiner comprising a prism, the prism comprising:
a first side configured to transmit a first beam generated from a first beam generator into the prism;
a second side configured to internally reflect the first beam and transmit a second beam generated from a second beam generator into the prism; and
a third side configured to transmit the first beam and the second beam as a combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein an angle θ B ′ between the second side and the third side of the prism is defined by:
θ
B
′
=
sin
-
1
(
n
1
n
2
sin
θ
B
)
where:
θ
B
=
tan
-
1
(
n
1
n
2
)
where n 1 is a refractive index of a material forming the prism and n 2 is a refractive index of a material surrounding the prism.
8. A system comprising:
a first beam generator configured to generate a first beam;
a second beam generator configured to generate a second beam; and
a prism configured to combine the first beam and the second beam into a combined beam, the prism comprising:
a first side configured to transmit the first beam into the prism;
a second side configured to internally reflect the first beam and transmit the second beam into the prism; and
a third side configured to transmit the first beam and the second beam as the combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein the prism is configured to receive the first beam orthogonally through the first side.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the prism is configured to coaxially combine the first beam and the second beam to form the combined beam.
10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the prism is configured to receive the second beam at a location on the second side where the first beam is internally reflected.
11. A system comprising:
a first beam generator configured to generate a first beam;
a second beam generator configured to generate a second beam; and
a prism configured to combine the first beam and the second beam into a combined beam, the prism comprising:
a first side configured to transmit the first beam into the prism;
a second side configured to internally reflect the first beam and transmit the second beam into the prism; and
a third side configured to transmit the first beam and the second beam as the combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein the prism is configured to orthogonally transmit the combined beam through the third side.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the prism is configured to receive the first beam orthogonally through the first side.
13. A system comprising:
a first beam generator configured to generate a first beam;
a second beam generator configured to generate a second beam; and
a prism configured to combine the first beam and the second beam into a combined beam, the prism comprising:
a first side configured to transmit the first beam into the prism;
a second side configured to internally reflect the first beam and transmit the second beam into the prism; and
a third side configured to transmit the first beam and the second beam as the combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein an angle 74 c between the first side and the second side of the prism is defined by:
θ
c
=
sin
-
1
(
n
2
n
1
)
where n 1 is a refractive index of a material forming the prism and n 2 is a refractive index of a material surrounding the prism.
14. A system comprising:
a first beam generator configured to generate a first beam;
a second beam generator configured to generate a second beam; and
a prism configured to combine the first beam and the second beam into a combined beam, the prism comprising:
a front side configured to transmit the first beam into the prism;
a second side configured to internally reflect the first beam and transmit the second beam into the prism; and
a third side configured to transmit the first beam and the second beam as the combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein an angle θ B ′ between the second side and the third side of the prism is defined by:
θ
B
′
=
sin
-
1
(
n
1
n
2
sin
θ
B
)
where:
θ
B
=
tan
-
1
(
n
1
n
2
)
where n 1 is a refractive index of a material forming the prism and n 2 is a refractive index of a material surrounding the prism.
15. A method comprising:
transmitting, through a first side of a prism, a first beam generated from a first beam generator into the prism;
internally reflecting the first beam on a second side of the prism;
transmitting, through the second side of the prism, a second beam generated from a second beam generator into the prism; and
transmitting, through a third side of the prism, the first beam and the second beam as a combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein the combined beam is orthogonally transmitted through the third side.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the first beam and the second beam are coaxially combined to form the combined beam.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the second beam is received at a location on the second side where the first beam is internally reflected.
18. A method comprising:
transmitting, through a first side of a prism, a first beam generated from a first beam generator into the prism;
internally reflecting the first beam on a second side of the prism;
transmitting, through the second side of the prism, a second beam generated from a second beam generator into the prism; and
transmitting, through a third side of the prism, the first beam and the second beam as a combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein the first beam is orthogonally transmitted through the first side.
19. A method comprising:
transmitting, through a first side of a prism, a first beam generated from a first beam generator into the prism;
internally reflecting the first beam on a second side of the prism;
transmitting, through the second side of the prism, a second beam generated from a second beam generator into the prism; and
transmitting, through a third side of the prism, the first beam and the second beam as a combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein an θ c angle between the first side and the second side of the prism is defined by:
θ
c
=
sin
-
1
(
n
2
n
1
)
where n 1 is a refractive index of a material forming the prism and n 2 is a refractive index of a material surrounding the prism.
20. A method comprising:
transmitting, through a first side of a prism, a first beam generated from a first beam generator into the prism;
internally reflecting the first beam on a second side of the prism;
transmitting, through the second side of the prism, a second beam generated from a second beam generator into the prism; and
transmitting, through a third side of the prism, the first beam and the second beam as a combined beam to a beam receiver;
wherein an angle θ B ′ between the second side and the third side of the prism is defined by:
θ
B
′
=
sin
-
1
(
n
1
n
2
sin
θ
B
)
where:
θ
B
=
tan
-
1
(
n
1
n
2
)
where n 1 is a refractive index of a material forming the prism and n 2 is a refractive index of a material surrounding the prism.