Optical system providing several beams from a single source
A system to produce orthogonal beams includes a laser diode operating in conjunction with a collimating lens, with or without an aperture, and a simple compact optic. At least one collimated beam is directed toward an optic comprised of components that are bonded together. Beams are reflected from at least one optical components at right angles to produce a plumb beam. Additionally, a beam is reflected from the optic at a right angle, as well as transmitted through the optic, to produce square and level beams. All beams are orthogonal to each other, have relatively equal power, and are aligned and oriented so as to appear to be originating from a coincident point. An optional orthogonal beam may be produced. An optic in the shape of a cuboid comprised of six small components is also disclosed.
1. A system to produce orthogonal beams, the system comprising:
a light source for generating a beam of laser light;
a collimating lens producing a collimate beam of laser light;
an optic to receive the collimated beam of laser light, reflecting and transmitting the collimated beam of laser light to produce at least three orthogonal beams of light, said orthogonal beams of light being oriented and positioned so as to appear to have originated at a single coincident point, and said three orthogonal beams of light being generally equal in power, wherein the optic comprises:
a right angle triangular solid component,
a first right angle trapezoidal solid component, wherein the right angle trapezoidal solid component is positioned to reflect one of said collimated parallel beams of laser light, and
a second right angle trapezoidal solid component that is positioned adjacent to the right angle triangular solid component, the side adjacent to the right angle triangular solid component being coated with a partially reflective material both to reflect and to transmit the incoming portion of the collimated beam of laser light, wherein the right angle triangular solid component and the second right angle trapezoidal solid component have the same refraction index and wherein the second right angle trapezoidal solid component transmits without refraction the portion of the beam which is transmitted through the right angle triangular component; and
printed aperture on the outer surfaces of said optic.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein said aperture is pad printed on said optic.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein said light source comprises a light emitting diode.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said light source comprises a laser diode.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said optic is comprised of components.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein said components comprise geometric solids of optical material.
7. The system of claim 5 , wherein said components of the optic are bonded together by an optical adhesive.
8. The system of claim 5 , wherein said components of the optic are held together by glass straps, secured to said components.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first right angle trapezoidal solid component has a reflective coating on an angled face to reflect a collimated beam.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the reflective material comprises a 50/50 beamsplitter coating designed for a 45° angle of incidence.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second right angle trapezoidal solid component has an anti-reflective coating on its straight non-parallel face.
12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the right angle triangular solid component has an anti-reflective coating on its non-hypotenuse faces.
13. The system of claim 1 in which said right angle triangular solid component has a second face coated with a partially reflective material both to reflect and transmit one of said collimated beams of laser light whereby an additional orthogonal beam of light is produced.
14. A system to produce orthogonal beams, the system comprising:
a light source for generating a beam of laser light;
a collimating lens and aperture arrangement producing at least three collimated, apertured parallel beams of laser light; and
an optic to receive the three collimated parallel beams of laser light, reflecting and transmitting the three collimated parallel beams of laser light to produce at least three orthogonal beams of light, said orthogonal beams of light being oriented and positioned so as to appear to have originated at a single coincident point, and said at least three orthogonal beams of light being generally equal in power, wherein said optic comprises:
a right angle triangular solid component,
a first right angle trapezoidal solid component, wherein the right angle trapezoidal solid component is positioned to reflect one of said collimated parallel beams of laser light, and
a second right angle trapezoidal solid component that is positioned adjacent to the right angle triangular solid component, the side adjacent to the right angle triangular solid component being coated with a partially reflective material both to reflect and to transmit the incoming portion of the collimated beam of laser light, wherein the right angle triangular solid component and the second right angle trapezoidal solid component have the same refraction index and wherein the second right angle trapezoidal solid component transmits without refraction the portion of the beam which is transmitted through the right angle triangular component.
15. The system of claim 14 in which said right angle triangular solid component has a second face coated with a partially reflective material both to reflect and transmit one of said collimated beams of laser light whereby an additional orthogonal beam of light is produced.
16. The system of claim 14 , wherein the power of two of said collimated, apertured, parallel beams of laser light is approximately one fourth of the total power of the apertured beams of laser light produced by said light source, and another of said collimated, apertured, parallel beams of laser light has approximately half the total power of the apertured beams of laser light produced by said light source.
17. A system to produce orthogonal beams, the system comprising:
a light source for generating a beam of laser light;
a collimating lens producing at least one collimated beam of laser light; and
an optic to receive the collimated beam of laser light, reflecting and transmitting the collimated beam of laser light to produce at least thee orthogonal beams of light, said orthogonal beams of light being oriented and positioned so as to appear to have originated at a single coincident point, and said three orthogonal beams of light being generally equal in power, wherein said optic comprises:
a right angle triangular solid component, wherein the right angle triangular solid component hypotenuse face is positioned and coated with a reflective material both to reflect and to transmit one of said collimated parallel beams of laser light,
at least two right angle trapezoidal solid components, wherein the right angle trapezoidal solid components are each positioned to reflect one of said collimated parallel beams of laser light, said two right angle trapezoidal solid components reflecting beams in opposite directions, and
a right angle trapezoidal solid component that is positioned adjacent to the hypotenuse face of the right angle triangular solid component coated with the reflective material, wherein the right angle triangular solid component and right angle trapezoidal solid component have the same refracting index and wherein the right angle trapezoidal solid component transmits without refraction the portion of the beam which is transmitted through said right angle triangular component.