Patent ID: 8009280
Filing Date: 2011-08-30
Classification: G01J

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for determining at least some of the characteristics of the wavefront of a beam and, using such determined characteristics, to at least partially reshape such wavefront, the apparatus including: a. means, positioned in the beam path, for sampling the curvature of the wavefront without the need for an artificially generated reference, the curvature sampling means including means for generating outputs; b. means, also positioned in the beam path, for at least partially reshaping the wavefront, the wavefront reshaping means including controls responsive to inputs; and c. means, connected to the curvature sampling means and to the wavefront reshaping means, for (i) receiving the outputs from the curvature sampling means, (ii) proportioning the outputs from the curvature sampling means to match the inputs needed to drive the controls of the wavefront reshaping means, and (iii) sending the proportioned outputs to the wavefront reshaping means to change the shape of the wavefront reshaping means.