A method for aligning a first optical transceiver includes steps of splitting, directing, recording, and actuating. The splitting step includes splitting a light beam into a) a reference beam that propagates along a common optical path within the first optical transceiver and b) a transmit beam that that propagates away from the first optical transceiver and toward a second optical transceiver. The directing step includes directing, with a beam director, a receive beam from the second optical transceiver onto the common optical path. The recording step includes recording, with a tracking focal-plane array (FPA) that intersects the common optical path, a reference-position of the reference beam and an initial-received-position of the receive beam on the tracking FPA. The actuating step includes actuating the beam director based upon the initial-received-position to achieve a subsequent position of the receive beam on the tracking FPA.

A laser sensor system including a common optical bench that is configured to receive and process different beams of a high energy laser (HEL). The common optical bench is configured to handle the different beams using a modular set of optical components. Optical components of the common optical bench include a filtering device configured to reduce the power of the beams, a common collecting optical element that is configured to set an imaging position and focal length for the beams, a position sensitive detector (PSD) arrangement that is configured to measure angular and positional errors in the beams, and various compaction optical elements, such as mirrors, that are configured to enable compaction of the laser sensor system by increasing the focal length of the beams.

A laser sensor system including a common optical bench that is configured to receive and process different beams of a high energy laser (HEL). The common optical bench is configured to handle the different beams using a modular set of optical components. Optical components of the common optical bench include a filtering device configured to reduce the power of the beams, a common collecting optical element that is configured to set an imaging position and focal length for the beams, a position sensitive detector (PSD) arrangement that is configured to measure angular and positional errors in the beams, and various compaction optical elements, such as mirrors, that are configured to enable compaction of the laser sensor system by increasing the focal length of the beams.

A heating appliance includes a translucent cooktop and a burner in communication with the cooktop. The burner is operable between deactive and active states. The upper surface of the cooktop defines a cooldown state after the burner is moved from the active to the deactive state. A light module includes a light source and is in an illuminated state when the burner is in the active state and when the cooktop is in the cooldown state. A light guide extends from the light module and around a portion of the burner. The light guide is positioned such that the light source directs light through the light guide. The outer surface of the light guide includes a formed surface that directs light upward and through the cooktop, wherein the light guide is visible through the cooktop when the light module is in the illuminated state.

A heating appliance includes a translucent cooktop and a burner in communication with the cooktop. The burner is operable between deactive and active states. The upper surface of the cooktop defines a cooldown state after the burner is moved from the active to the deactive state. A light module includes a light source and is in an illuminated state when the burner is in the active state and when the cooktop is in the cooldown state. A light guide extends from the light module and around a portion of the burner. The light guide is positioned such that the light source directs light through the light guide. The outer surface of the light guide includes a formed surface that directs light upward and through the cooktop, wherein the light guide is visible through the cooktop when the light module is in the illuminated state.

There is provided a retroreflector device, comprising: an incident object made of a material transparent to electromagnetic radiation, the incident object designed to refract an incident ray hitting an incident surface to generate a refracted ray that hits a back surface, and a retroreflective surface positioned in proximity to the back surface of the incident object, wherein the retroreflective surface and the incident object are configured to refract the incident ray to generate the refracted ray for hitting the retroreflective surface at an angle of incidence below a threshold.

There is provided a retroreflector device, comprising: an incident object made of a material transparent to electromagnetic radiation, the incident object designed to refract an incident ray hitting an incident surface to generate a refracted ray that hits a back surface, and a retroreflective surface positioned in proximity to the back surface of the incident object, wherein the retroreflective surface and the incident object are configured to refract the incident ray to generate the refracted ray for hitting the retroreflective surface at an angle of incidence below a threshold.

Embodiments of this disclosure comprise of an optical cube, a light source, a cube holder connection point, a plurality of pins, a plurality of cavities sized and configured to receive said pins, a magnet, and a magnetic element located to attract and adhere to said magnet. An optical device with coaxial illumination for reflected light and fluorescence detection includes one or more optical cubes to redirect light along the optical axis. The cube holder connection point can be in a fixed position, moved translationally, or moved rotationally to engage a cube within the optical device. An optical cube can be attached to the cube holder connection point utilizing locating pins and magnetic coupling to constrain all 6 degrees of freedom. Use of such devices reduces the need to use screws or other locking hardware and permits a larger number of optical cubes to be inserted in the same area and makes it easier to exchange optical cubes.

Embodiments of this disclosure comprise of an optical cube, a light source, a cube holder connection point, a plurality of pins, a plurality of cavities sized and configured to receive said pins, a magnet, and a magnetic element located to attract and adhere to said magnet. An optical device with coaxial illumination for reflected light and fluorescence detection includes one or more optical cubes to redirect light along the optical axis. The cube holder connection point can be in a fixed position, moved translationally, or moved rotationally to engage a cube within the optical device. An optical cube can be attached to the cube holder connection point utilizing locating pins and magnetic coupling to constrain all 6 degrees of freedom. Use of such devices reduces the need to use screws or other locking hardware and permits a larger number of optical cubes to be inserted in the same area and makes it easier to exchange optical cubes.

Described is a device for placing markings on components. The device comprises a contact part to be placed against the component, a sliding element which is arranged slidably on the contact part between a first and a second position, and a reflector which is connected to the sliding element. The contact part comprises at least one continuous marking hole defining a marking point. The marking point and the reflector are arranged along an alignment axis when the sliding element is in the first position. In a second position of the sliding element, the marking hole is accessible.