The invention relates to an adaptive optical system (1) comprising: an adaptive optical device (2) comprising an optical processing surface (3) and a driving device (5) for controllably modifying the optical behaviour of said optical processing surface (3), an optical analyser (6) intended to be subjected to an input light beam (7) in order to produce, in response, output signals (8, 9, 10), a control device (11) connected to the optical analyser (6) and to the driving device (5) in order to command the latter depending on said output signals (8, 9, 10), characterised in that said optical analyser (6) is designed to spatially demultiplex, via multi-plane light conversion, the input light beams (7) into a plurality of elementary output light beams (80, 90, 100). Adaptive optical systems.

A system includes a high energy laser (HEL) configured to transmit a HEL beam aimed at a first location on an airborne target. The system also includes a beacon illuminator laser (BIL) configured to transmit a BIL beam aimed at a second location on the target, wherein the second location is offset from the first location. The system also includes at least one fast steering mirror (FSM) configured to steer the BIL beam to be spatially and angularly offset from the HEL beam. The system also includes at least one Coudé path FSM configured to simultaneously receive both the HEL beam and the BIL beam and steer the HEL beam and the BIL beam to correct for atmospheric jitter of the HEL beam and the BIL beam while maintaining the offset of the BIL beam from the HEL beam.

A master clock signal for an image capture device and a light emission device is accessed. The master clock signal is divided to generate a high frequency clock signal. A frame timer is used to measure a frame time of the image capture device based on cycles of the high frequency clock signal. Based on an exposure timing signal from the image capture device, estimating an exposure start time for the image capture device; is estimated. Based on the estimated starting time, the light emission device begins emission of a positional tracking pattern at the estimated starting time and for a duration determined by the measured frame time of the image capture device.

A master clock signal for an image capture device and a light emission device is accessed. The master clock signal is divided to generate a high frequency clock signal. A frame timer is used to measure a frame time of the image capture device based on cycles of the high frequency clock signal. Based on an exposure timing signal from the image capture device, estimating an exposure start time for the image capture device; is estimated. Based on the estimated starting time, the light emission device begins emission of a positional tracking pattern at the estimated starting time and for a duration determined by the measured frame time of the image capture device.

A method of scanning a laser over a field of view, the method comprising: providing a laser to produce the laser beam; rasterizing the laser beam over a first sub-area of the field of view; deflecting the laser beam to a second sub-area of the field of view; and rasterizing the laser beam over the second sub-area of the field of view; and capturing image information produced by the laser beam so that, for each sub-area of the field of view, the rasterized laser beam defines a plurality of image segments; for each segment calculating an image correction and applying a correction to the laser according to the calculated image correction for the segment, and corresponding system.

In one example, an on-mirror adaptive optics system may include a substrate including a deformable surface, a controller and a plurality of pockets defined in a substrate. Each of the pockets may include a an electrooptical sensor and an actuator. The controller may be communicatively coupled to the electrooptical sensor and the actuator. The controller may be configured to generate control voltages based on signals received from the electrooptical sensor to deform a portion of the deformable surface proximate a corresponding pocket of the plurality of pockets.

An optical system including a dual-layer microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device, and methods of fabricating and operating the same are disclosed. Generally, the MEMS device includes a substrate having an upper surface; a top modulating layer including a number of light modulating micro-ribbons, each micro-ribbon supported above and separated from the upper surface of the substrate by spring structures in at least one lower actuating layer; and a mechanism for moving one or more of the micro-ribbons relative to the upper surface and/or each other. The spring structures are operable to enable the light modulating micro-ribbons to move continuously and vertically relative to the upper surface of the substrate while maintaining the micro-ribbons substantially parallel to one another and the upper surface of the substrate. The micro-ribbons can be reflective, transmissive, partially reflective/transmissive, and the device is operable to modulate a phase and/or amplitude of light incident thereon.

A light module includes an optical element and a base on which the optical element is mounted. The optical element has an optical portion which has an optical surface; an elastic portion which is provided around the optical portion such that an annular region is formed; and a pair of support portions which is provided such that the optical portion is sandwiched in a first direction along the optical surface and in which an elastic force is applied and a distance therebetween is able to be changed in accordance with elastic deformation of the elastic portion. The base has a main surface, and a mounting region in which an opening communicating with the main surface is provided. The support portions are inserted into the opening in a state where an elastic force of the elastic portion is applied.

A light module includes an optical element and a base on which the optical element is mounted. The optical element has an optical portion which has an optical surface; an elastic portion which is provided around the optical portion such that an annular region is formed; and a pair of support portions which is provided such that the optical portion is sandwiched in a first direction along the optical surface and in which an elastic force is applied and a distance therebetween is able to be changed in accordance with elastic deformation of the elastic portion. The base has a main surface, and a mounting region in which an opening communicating with the main surface is provided. The support portions are inserted into the opening in a state where an elastic force of the elastic portion is applied.

A beam positioner can be broadly characterized as including a first acousto-optic (AO) deflector (AOD) operative to diffract an incident beam of linearly polarized laser light, wherein the first AOD has a first diffraction axis and wherein the first AOD is oriented such that the first diffraction axis has a predetermined spatial relationship with the plane of polarization of the linearly polarized laser light. The beam positioner can include at least one phase-shifting reflector arranged within a beam path along which light is propagatable from the first AOD. The at least one phase-shifting reflector can be configured and oriented to rotate the plane of polarization of light diffracted by the first AOD.