US 12,261,406 B2
Spectral beam combiner supporting embedded auto-alignment scheme
Justin R. Paul, Melissa, TX (US); David R. McCormick, Celina, TX (US); and Justin O. Compton, Plano, TX (US)
Assigned to Raytheon Company, Arlington, VA (US)
Filed by Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA (US)
Filed on Nov. 19, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/688,535.
Prior Publication US 2021/0151948 A1, May 20, 2021
Int. Cl. H01S 3/086 (2006.01); H01S 3/00 (2006.01); H01S 3/02 (2006.01); H01S 3/139 (2006.01)
CPC H01S 3/086 (2013.01) [H01S 3/0014 (2013.01); H01S 3/02 (2013.01); H01S 3/139 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
an auto-alignment laser configured to generate an auto-alignment laser beam; and
a spectral beam combiner comprising a diffraction grating that is configured to:
diffract multiple input laser beams to produce a combined beam having a higher power or energy compared to the individual input laser beams; and
diffract the auto-alignment laser beam so that a portion of the auto-alignment laser beam co-propagates in a common direction with the combined beam.