公开(公告)号：EP0442193A3

公开(公告)日：1991-10-09

申请号：EP90311055.9

申请日：1990-10-09

Applicant: SPECTRA-PHYSICS LASERPLANE, INC.

Inventor： Winckler, Peter Stanhope ,  Klemer, Daniel Richard ,  Dugan, John Patrick

IPC: G01C15/00

CPC classification number: G01B11/26 ,  G01C15/004

Abstract: An orthogonal light plane generator is associated with a primary light plane generator (100) to convert a portion of a first light plane (108) projected by the primary light plane generator (100) into a second light plane (110) substantially orthogonal to the first light plane. The orthogonal light plane generator comprises a diverter (102) which defines three or more reflecting surfaces for receiving a portion of the first light plane (108) and redirecting that portion as the second light plane (110). The three or more reflective surfaces are oriented relative to one another such that tilting of the orthogonal light plane generator is compensated to maintain the orthogonality between the two light planes. Tilting about one axis results in offset of the second light plane and tilting about a second axis orthogonal to the first results in a shifting of the sector (112) within which the second light plane is projected, but tilting about either axis does not affect the orthogonality between the planes (108,110). Preferably the three or more reflective surfaces are defined by one or more prisms (104,106) formed of an optical material having an index of refraction which enlarges the sector angle encompassed by the second light plane when compared to mirrored surfaces supported within air. The performance of the diverter can be further enhanced by optical devices positioned at its input and/or output. The optical devices can be one or more conventional lenses or angled wedges of optical material.

公开(公告)号：EP0442193A2

公开(公告)日：1991-08-21

申请号：EP90311055.9

申请日：1990-10-09

Applicant: SPECTRA-PHYSICS LASERPLANE, INC.

Inventor： Winckler, Peter Stanhope ,  Klemer, Daniel Richard ,  Dugan, John Patrick

IPC: G01C15/00

CPC classification number: G01B11/26 ,  G01C15/004

Abstract: An orthogonal light plane generator is associated with a primary light plane generator (100) to convert a portion of a first light plane (108) projected by the primary light plane generator (100) into a second light plane (110) substantially orthogonal to the first light plane. The orthogonal light plane generator comprises a diverter (102) which defines three or more reflecting surfaces for receiving a portion of the first light plane (108) and redirecting that portion as the second light plane (110). The three or more reflective surfaces are oriented relative to one another such that tilting of the orthogonal light plane generator is compensated to maintain the orthogonality between the two light planes. Tilting about one axis results in offset of the second light plane and tilting about a second axis orthogonal to the first results in a shifting of the sector (112) within which the second light plane is projected, but tilting about either axis does not affect the orthogonality between the planes (108,110). Preferably the three or more reflective surfaces are defined by one or more prisms (104,106) formed of an optical material having an index of refraction which enlarges the sector angle encompassed by the second light plane when compared to mirrored surfaces supported within air. The performance of the diverter can be further enhanced by optical devices positioned at its input and/or output. The optical devices can be one or more conventional lenses or angled wedges of optical material.

Abstract translation: 正交光平面发生器与初级光平面发生器（100）相关联，以将由主光平面发生器（100）投影的第一光平面（108）的一部分转换成基本上与第一光平面发生器（100）正交的第二光平面（110） 第一光平面。 正交光平面发生器包括限定三个或更多个反射表面的分流器（102），用于接收第一光平面（108）的一部分并将该部分重定向为第二光平面（110）。 三个或更多个反射表面相对于彼此定向，使得正交光平面发生器的倾斜被补偿以保持两个光平面之间的正交性。 围绕一个轴倾斜导致第二光平面的偏移并且围绕与第一光轴正交的第二轴倾斜导致其中投射第二光平面的扇形部分（112）的偏移，但是绕任一轴线倾斜不影响 平面之间的正交性（108,110）。 优选地，三个或更多个反射表面由一个或多个由具有折射率的光学材料形成的棱镜（104,106）限定，当与支撑在空气中的镜面相比较时，可以扩大由第二光平面包围的扇形角。 可以通过位于其输入和/或输出处的光学装置来进一步提高分流器的性能。 光学装置可以是一种或多种常规透镜或成角度的光学材料楔形物。