Importance

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Abstract

A device and method for aligning the focal point of a laser beam into coincidence with the active area of a detector includes an optical element for focusing the laser beam to the focal point at a location on the surface of the detector. Also included is a selectively activated light source and a camera which establishes a reference location for the active area within an x-y grid coordinate system whenever the surface of the detector is illuminated by the light source. Further, by using the light that is reflected from the focal point location through a beam splitter, the camera also establishes the location of the laser beam focal point in the same coordinate system. The optical element is then adjusted to move the focal point in the x and y directions, as required, to thereby bring the focal point location into coincidence with the active area. When an optical system, such as a reflector telescope, is used to establish a partially obscured in-coming beam, a lens and prism can be positioned in the obscuration to collect and focus light scattered from the focal point at the detector and direct it toward the camera for alignment purposes.

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First Claim