Patent ID: 6089076
Filing Date: 2000-07-18
Classification: G01M,G02F

Abstract:
A system for controlling the power level of a beam exiting an acousto-optic cell, comprising:(a) an acousto-optic cell capable of operating at a range of frequencies and diffracting at least one beam;(b) a beam splitter which receives and splits said beam into a passthrough beam and a reference beam;(c) a beam detector which receives said reference beam and produces a power signal indicative of the power level of said beam upon exiting said acousto-optic cell;(d) an error detector which receives said power signal, said error detector having a set-point controller set at a set-point corresponding to a predetermined power level, said error detector producing a correction signal indicative of the difference between said set-point and said power signal;(e) a signal controller producing a signal having a frequency and an amplitude; and(f) a variable amplitude source receiving said frequency signal and said correction signal and producing an amplitude adjusted signal such that when said acousto-optic cell receives said amplitude adjusted signal, said acousto-optic cell operates at said frequency and diffracts said beam at a predetermined angle having said predetermined power level.