Patent ID: 6563646
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: G01C,G02B

Abstract:
A portable laser instrument for producing a plurality of substantially orthogonal output light beams, comprising:a laser diode and collimator lens providing a collimated laser beam, a reflective element positioned in the path of the collimated laser beam for producing a plurality of orthogonal laser output beams from the collimated beam, the reflective element having at least three reflective facets each positioned at angles of substantially 45Â° to the collimated beam and having a beam-transmitting portion through the reflective element in the path of a center beam region to pass a high-intensity central portion of the cross section of the laser beam, a periscope beam splitter positioned before the beam-transmitting center potion with a first reflector positioned over the beam-transmitting center portion and a second reflector positioned laterally outwardly relative to the collimated beam, the first reflector comprising a beam splitter transmitting a preselected portion of the beam's power in the center beam region through the reflective element to produce one output beam, and reflecting essentially a remaining portion of the center beam region's power laterally outwardly to be reflected from the second reflector in a direction essentially parallel to the one output beam and then onto one of the three 45Â°-angled reflective facets of the reflective element to be further reflected laterally outwardly in a direction essentially perpendicular to the one output beam, thereby to produce a second output beam, two opposed 45Â°-angled reflective facets on the reflective element positioned in the paths of two opposite, outer portions of the collimated beam's cross section, outward from said center beam region to produce two oppositely directed output beams each at substantially 90Â° to the one output beam and to the second output beam, whereby the instrument produces four essentially orthogonal output beams.