Patent Description:
As is known, the atmosphere induces aberrations and phase errors in the optical radiations passing therethrough. For this reason, optical systems which adopt the propagation of optical radiation in the atmosphere generally require a recovery of the aberrations and phase errors induced by the propagation in the atmosphere.

To reduce or eliminate the aforesaid aberrations and the aforesaid phase errors, adaptive optical systems have been developed which generally comprise an optical device which is controllable for emitting and/or reflecting and/or transmitting an optical radiation having a wavefront, a wavefront distortion measurement of the optical radiation, a control system adapted to control the optical device in order to reduce or eliminate the measured distortion.

The use of adaptive optical systems is convenient or appropriate for several reasons: for example turbulence influences the propagation path of optical radiation in the air and this alters the phase relationships within a common path of light rays. When transmitting light through the atmosphere, phase alteration can distort the beam, blur it, or simply reduce light intensity due to mismatched phases. The result is the deformation of the optical path and this can cause various drawbacks, such as:.

Currently there are several solutions but none of the known solutions is efficient enough to allow the miniaturization of an effective solution and, even if adaptive optics could be used, the size of the solution would not be compatible in many applications. For example, adaptive optics are used in telescopes but these systems are considerably cumbersome. Some known adaptive optical systems comprise linear analog amplifiers to implement a linear voltage control of the controllable optical device. This causes numerous drawbacks, since for example it requires relatively large dimensions and weight, limits the system bandwidth and requires relatively high costs. <NPL> discloses a low voltage ASIC driver for MEMS deformable mirrors that can be used in adaptive optical systems. <CIT> and <CIT> disclose prior art adaptive optical systems.

A general object of the present description is to provide an adaptive optical system which allows to remedy in whole, or at least in part, the problems described above with reference to the adaptive optical systems of the background art.

The aforesaid object, as well as other objects which will become clearer hereinafter, are achieved by an adaptive optical system as defined in claim <NUM>. Preferred and advantageous embodiments of the aforesaid system are defined in the appended dependent claims.

The invention will be better understood from the following detailed description of particular embodiments thereof, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings which are briefly described in the following paragraphs.

<FIG> shows an exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of an adaptive optical system <NUM>. The aforesaid adaptive optical system <NUM> may be applied in several fields, such as power lasers, optical communications in free space, LIDAR, remote detection systems. In particular, with regard to power lasers, the adaptive optical system <NUM> can be used to concentrate a high optical power on an object or target, for example to work or modify or destroy the object or target, with possible uses in both civil and military fields.

The depiction of the diagram of the adaptive optical system <NUM> of <FIG> is not to scale, thus it is possible to envisage that the parts forming it are arranged in a spatial concentration relationship or a distributed arrangement relationship. Furthermore, the adaptive optical system <NUM> can be arranged in whole or in part on a fixed platform or on a movable platform, for example on one or more fixed stations and/or on one or more land, naval, air or space vehicles.

The adaptive optical system <NUM> comprises at least one optical device <NUM> which is controllable for emitting and/or reflecting and/or transmitting an optical radiation ο_s having a wavefront. The aforesaid optical radiation ο_s is, for example, a laser ray or comprises a plurality of laser rays which form a relatively concentrated beam of laser rays. Said optical radiation o_s preferably has an overall optical power greater than <NUM> kW, or more preferably greater than <NUM> kW, for example equal to 20kW or <NUM> kW. However, possible embodiments are not excluded in which the optical radiation ο_s has a much lower power than those indicated above.

The optical device <NUM> may comprise a plurality of optical devices, for example a plurality of lasers, and/or a plurality of mirrors and/or a plurality of lenses. As will be explained below, the optical device <NUM> can also comprise electromechanical or electrooptical devices or systems or elements which together allow to emit and/or reflect and/or transmit an optical radiation o_s intended to be transmitted by propagation through the atmosphere <NUM>.

The adaptive optical system <NUM> further comprises a distortion measurement module <NUM> adapted to measure, or estimate, a wavefront distortion of the optical radiation o_s to provide a first signal s1 representative of the measured or estimated distortion. The aforesaid first signal s1 is for example an electrical signal, but possible implementations in which the first signal s1 is a radio signal or an optical signal are not excluded.

In accordance with an advantageous and non-limiting embodiment, the distortion measurement module <NUM> comprises at least one Shack-Hartmann sensor. Sensors of this type are known and will therefore not be further described in greater detail. According to alternative embodiments, the distortion measurement module <NUM> comprises a pyramid sensor or a curvature sensor.

The distortion measurement module <NUM> is configured to directly receive the optical radiation o_s emitted by the optical device <NUM>, or it is configured to receive an optical signal obtained therefrom or related thereto, for example an optical signal deriving from a reflection of the aforesaid optical radiation o_s or obtained by tapping a portion of the aforesaid optical radiation o_s or obtained by acquiring an image of the aforesaid optical radiation o_s by one or more imaging devices such as cameras, video cameras or thermal cameras. The distortion measurement module <NUM> can also measure the distortion of the wavefront of the optical radiation o_s also based on a signal independent of the optical radiation, for example based on an electromagnetic signal reflected or emitted by a remote object with respect to the optical device <NUM>, such as a target, or based on image analysis of the remote object.

The adaptive optical system <NUM> further comprises a control system <NUM> adapted to control the optical device <NUM> in order to reduce or eliminate the distortion measured by the measurement module <NUM>.

The control system <NUM> comprises a processing module <NUM> operatively connected to the measurement module <NUM> to receive in input the first signal s1 and output a control signal c_s. Furthermore, the optical device <NUM> is operatively connected to the processing module <NUM> to receive in input the control signal c_s.

According to an advantageous and non-limiting embodiment, the processing module <NUM> is or comprises an SoC, i.e., a so-called System on a Chip.

The control signal c_s supplied by the processing module <NUM> is a digital signal coded with a delta-sigma modulation. By virtue of this expedient, it is possible to obtain a significant reduction in overall dimensions and costs while ensuring a control accuracy comparable or even higher than that of the adaptive control systems of the background art. Preferably, the aforesaid control signal c_s is a one-bit digital signal having a frequency of the order of MHz or equal to <NUM> or equal to about <NUM>. Thereby, with a <NUM>-bit digital control signal it is possible to obtain an equivalent resolution of <NUM> bits or higher.

In accordance with an embodiment, the optical device <NUM> comprises at least one actuator <NUM> and at least one optical component <NUM> which is configurable by the actuator <NUM> to vary at least one emission and/or reflection and/or transmission parameter of the optical component <NUM>. The actuator <NUM> is configured to receive in input the control signal c_s to configure the optical component <NUM>.

In accordance with an embodiment, the aforesaid optical device <NUM> comprises a plurality of optical devices. In this case, it can be envisaged that the optical device <NUM> comprises a plurality of actuators <NUM> and a plurality of optical components <NUM>, in which each actuator <NUM> is preferably operatively associated with a respective optical component <NUM>.

In the case in which the optical device <NUM> comprises a plurality of optical devices, it can be envisaged that the processing unit <NUM> outputs a plurality of control signals, each one dedicated to control a respective optical device <NUM>.

In accordance with an embodiment, the aforesaid optical component <NUM> comprises at least one deformable and/or movable mirror. Such a deformable and/or movable mirror allows for example to vary the direction and/or focus of an optical radiation emitted by a laser source <NUM>. In accordance with an embodiment, the optical component <NUM> comprises an array of deformable and/or movable mirrors, for example a two-dimensional array, for example a square, rectangular, hexagonal or circular array, each mirror of the array being associated with a respective optical source <NUM>, for example each mirror of the array being associated with a respective laser source <NUM>. Thus in this case, the resulting optical radiation o_s is a beam of laser rays which can, for example, be focused by controlling the array of deformable and/or movable mirrors.

For example, the actuator <NUM> is, or comprises, at least one electromechanical actuator, preferably a piezoelectric actuator, more preferably a two-axis piezoelectric actuator. If the optical component <NUM> comprises a deformable and/or movable mirror, the electromechanical actuator is operatively coupled to the mirror to deform it along one or more axes and/or tilt it along one or more axes and/or translate it along one or more axes.

In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the control system <NUM> further comprises a signal amplifier <NUM> operatively interposed between the processing module <NUM> and the optical device <NUM> adapted and configured to receive in input the control signal c_s and output an amplified control signal. In this case, for example, the control signal c_s supplied by the processing unit <NUM> is a logic signal of a few volts (for example a logic signal 0V - 5V), while the signal amplifier <NUM> is configured to increase the amplitude of such a signal c_s, for example to make it of the order of tens of Volts, for example equal to <NUM> Volts, thus for example a signal with amplitude -50V, + 50V or a signal with amplitude 0V, + 100V. Thereby the necessary power is obtained to control the optical device <NUM>, for example to control the actuator <NUM>, which as already explained is for example a piezoelectric actuator. According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the signal amplifier <NUM> comprises an H-bridge or a half-H bridge. Since an amplifier with an H-bridge or a half-H bridge comprises electronic switches (for example, MOSFETs) which must be controlled by control signals, it can be envisaged that it is the processing module <NUM> itself to supply the amplifier <NUM> with the control signals required for the operation thereof.

In accordance with the claimed invention, the processing unit <NUM> is adapted and configured to receive in input asecond signal s2 carrying status information of the optical device <NUM>. The processing unit <NUM> is configured to produce the control signal c_s based on said first signal s1 and based on said second signal s2. Thereby, it is possible to implement a feedback control which, through the first signal s1, allows to reduce the deformation of the wavefront detected by the measurement module <NUM> and which meanwhile takes into account, through the second signal s2, the real status assumed by the optical device <NUM> following the control actions performed thereon based on the control signal c_s.

For example, the second signal s2 carries status information of the actuator <NUM>. In this case, preferably such status information is or comprises position information of the actuator <NUM>. Such status information can be provided for example by a system integrated in the actuator <NUM>, for example by a position encoder, or by one or more sensors outside the actuator <NUM>, for example by one or more position sensors.

According to a preferred embodiment, the control system <NUM> comprises an analog to digital converter <NUM> which, by acquiring status information from the optical device <NUM> by means of an analog signal, is configured to produce the second signal s2 as a digital signal. In accordance with an advantageous embodiment, the analog-digital converter <NUM> is a delta-sigma converter. According to the claimed invention, the second signal s2 is a signal coded with a delta-sigma modulation as well.

With reference to <FIG>, the above description for the adaptive optical system <NUM> also extends to a control method <NUM> of an adaptive optical system <NUM>, in which the adaptive optical system <NUM> comprises at least one optical device <NUM> which is controllable for emitting and/or reflecting and/or transmitting an optical radiation ο_s having a wavefront, the control method <NUM> comprising the steps of:.

In the control method <NUM> the processing step <NUM> comprises an operation of coding said control signal c_s with a delta-sigma modulation.

Preferably, the control method <NUM> further comprises a step of amplifying <NUM> the control signal c_s by means of an H-bridge or a half-H bridge.

According to a particularly advantageous embodiment, the control method <NUM> further comprises a step of acquiring at least one image of said optical radiation o_s by means of one or more imaging devices such as cameras, video cameras or thermal cameras and in which the step of measuring a distortion <NUM> is performed by analyzing said at least one image.

Further features of the control method <NUM> can be derived directly from the above description for the adaptive optical system and for this reason they will not be described again.

From the above, it is apparent that an adaptive optical system <NUM> of the type described above allows to fully achieve the preset objects in terms of overcoming the drawbacks of the background art. In fact, an adaptive optical system <NUM> of the type described above can allow to obtain a considerable cost reduction with respect to the known systems, equal to at least <NUM>%. Furthermore, the aforesaid system can allow to obtain a considerable reduction in size with respect to the known systems, equal to at least <NUM>%.

According to a non-limiting embodiment, the aforesaid adaptive optical system <NUM> can be comprised or integrated in a weapon system, for example in the case in which the optical device <NUM> comprises one or more power lasers. With respect to what has been described above, the weapon system can include for example means for detecting and aiming a target, for example a radar system, and a shooting control system.

Claim 1:
An adaptive optical system (<NUM>) comprising:
- at least one optical device (<NUM>) which is controllable for emitting and/or reflecting and/or transmitting an optical radiation (o_s) having a wavefront;
- a distortion measurement module (<NUM>) adapted to measure a distortion of the wavefront of the optical radiation (o_s) to provide a first signal (s1) representative of the measured distortion;
- a control system (<NUM>) adapted to control the optical device (<NUM>) in order to reduce or eliminate the measured distortion;
wherein:
- the control system (<NUM>) comprises a processing module (<NUM>) operatively connected to the measurement module (<NUM>) to receive in input the first signal (s1) and output a control signal (c_s);
- wherein the optical device (<NUM>) is operatively connected to the processing module (<NUM>) to receive in input the control signal (c_s);
- the control signal (c_s) is a digital signal coded with delta-sigma modulation;
characterized in that:
the processing unit (<NUM>) is configured to receive in input a second signal (s2) encoded with a delta-sigma modulation and carrying status information of the optical device (<NUM>) and wherein the processing unit (<NUM>) is configured to produce said control signal (c_s) based on said first signal (s1) and based on said second signal (s2).