Abstract

Meters detect power parameter information about laser beams using liquid crystals to propagate the beam therethrough with photodiode detectors. The power parameters include intensity in watts per square meter, beam waist size, and the location of the focal spot based in light induced orientational phenomena in the liquid crystal. The detectors can can count the number of interference fringe rings produced by a laser beam passing through the liquid crystal(LC). Alternatively, the time between the occurrence of each interference fringe ring can be measured to determine the power parameters. A preferred embodiment has a standard liquid crystal oriented at approximately 45 degrees to the axis of an incoming laser beam to be measured. The beam passing through the LC can be centered through a pinhole on a planar plate causing the interference fringe rings to appear on the surface of the plate. An alternative embodiment measures intensity based on determining the voltage necessary to produce

Document Type

Patent

Patent Number

US 5,621,525

Application Serial Number

08/384,661

Issue Date

4-15-1997

Current Assignee

UCFRF

Assignee at Issuance

UCFRF

College

College of Optics and Photonics

Department

CREOL

Allowance Date

8-20-1996

Filing Date

2-6-1995

Assignee at Filing

UCFRF

Filing Type

Nonprovisional Application Record

Donated

no

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