초록 ▼

A detector for aligning a laser beam has been provided. The detector includes an insulative substrate, and a thermally conductive planar face attached to the substrate. The face is divided into thermally isolated sectors, each sector having the same shape and area. A corresponding thermal sensitive

A detector for aligning a laser beam has been provided. The detector includes an insulative substrate, and a thermally conductive planar face attached to the substrate. The face is divided into thermally isolated sectors, each sector having the same shape and area. A corresponding thermal sensitive device is provided for each sector. Each sector is in thermal contact with a corresponding one of the thermal sensitive devices, and each thermal sensitive device produces a response proportional to the amount of laser energy impinging thereon to thereby provide indication of the misalignment of the laser beam relative to the transport path.

대표청구항 ▼

A detector responsive to laser energy impinging thereon for sensing the position of a laser beam to be aligned, the laser beam having an axis and being of a given cross-sectional area smaller than the detector, the laser beam being directed toward said detector which is centered relative to a desire

A detector responsive to laser energy impinging thereon for sensing the position of a laser beam to be aligned, the laser beam having an axis and being of a given cross-sectional area smaller than the detector, the laser beam being directed toward said detector which is centered relative to a desired path for the laser beam comprising: a substrate; a plurality of thermally conductive sectors carried by the substrate, each of said sectors being thermally isolated from each other and symmetrically located relative to a center of the detector for intercepting a portion of the beam cross-section and for absorbing a portion of the laser energy impinging thereon in proportion to the portion of the beam cross-section intersected by each sector, each sector converting a portion of said absorbed laser energy to heat,; and a corresponding thermal sensitive means for each sector in thermal contact therewith for sensing the heat of the absorbed laser energy impinging on each corresponding sector, each of said thermal sensitive means being thermally isolated from the other sectors and responsive to the heat absorbed by its corresponding sector for producing a response corresponding to the amount of the laser energy impinging on its said corresponding sector in proportion to the beam cross-section intersected by said sector, relative differences in the response of each thermal sensitive means providing an indication of the relative misalignment of the laser beam axis with respect to the desired path.