Abstract: An optical mount device for holographic and diffractive beam shaped image speckle reduction by active beam sampling by means of low and high frequency vibrations induced in the HOE/DOE optical mount. A holographic optical element or a diffractive optical element is placed into an optical mount which is isolated by small flexures or springs and is moved in an x-y plane at variable frequencies ranging from 1 to 50 kHz.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining a desired position of a collimated light beam are provided. An optical system includes one or more passive optical elements movably positioned in the beam path. Beam position is responsive to movement of at least one of the passive optical elements. The actual position of the beam is detected and compared with the desired beam position. An error signal is generated and the beam path is altered responsive to movement of one or more of the passive optical elements. In further aspects, beam shaping optics, such diffractive optics, are provided to shape the sensed beam portion. In still other aspects, thermal conditions of the laser may be monitored and a thermal map is provided to automatically compensate for estimated beam drift due to thermal conditions.

Abstract: An indicia for marking on an object, such as a cartridge case, for representing selected information, such as identification indicia identifying the firearm that discharged the cartridge, and methods and apparatus for generating, imprinting and reading the identification indicia. An indicia includes a multi-dimensional array of encoded marks, including encoded marks determined by spectral encoding variables representing the selected information wherein each spectral variable is spectrally distinguishable from others of the spectral variables representing variables, and an encoded pattern of the encoded marks is determined by algorithmic transformation of the selected information. An indicia may also include hologram related artwork. An indicia may be an encoded hologram multi-dimensional barcode, an encoded hologram or an encoded concentric circular barcode and may be formed of a single indicia or as an array of indicia.

Abstract: A radially non-symmetric beamforming element for transforming the input energy profile of an input laser beam subject to lateral shift that is variable in radial direction and magnitude into a desired output energy profile of an output laser beam. The beam forming element includes an optical element having a profile transformation function that includes a first profile transformation function for transforming the input energy profile into the desired output energy profile and a profile correction transformation function superimposed on the first profile transformation function for modifying the first profile transformation function to correct distortions in the output energy profile introduced be a lateral shift of the input laser beam.

Abstract: A laser beam system for measuring an aspect of a surface wherein a laser beam is reshaped into a corrected shaped laser beam having a corrected energy profile and subsequently reshaped into a measurement shaped laser beam having an measurement energy profile shaped to be effected by the at least one aspect of the surface. The measurement shaped laser beam is reflected from the surface, being modified by the aspect of interest of the surface, and to a sensor array wherein the sensors measure the reflected laser beam to determine the aspect of interest of the surface.

Abstract: Aligning and testing alignment of optical elements in a laser beam delivery system using non-visible radiation. An alignment mirror replaces a beam redirection mirror and includes a fluorescing substrate and a dielectric coating on an incident face of the fluorescing substrate that reflects a major part of an incident laser beam along a next leg of the beam path and transmits a part of the beam into the fluorescing substrate, which is transmissive to visible radiation and fluoresces when irradiated by the beam to emit a visible light image from a back face of the alignment mirror. An alignment target on the back face indicates a preferred point of incidence of the beam on the alignment mirror for a desired alignment of the at least one laser beam. A lens may be tested and the properties of the lens determined by use of a fluorescing target plate.

Abstract: Fiber lasers and methods for constructing and using fiber lasers for micro-/nano-machining with output beams including stacked pulses and combinations of continuous wave, pseudo-continuous wave and pulse sequence components.

Abstract: An indicia for marking on an object, such as a cartridge case, for representing selected information, such as identification indicia identifying the firearm that discharged the cartridge, and methods and apparatus for generating, imprinting and reading the identification indicia. An indicia includes a multi-dimensional array of encoded marks, including encoded marks determined by spectral encoding variables representing the selected information wherein each spectral variable is spectrally distinguishable from others of the spectral variables representing variables, and an encoded pattern of the encoded marks is determined by algorithmic transformation of the selected information. An indicia may also include hologram related artwork. An indicia may be an encoded hologram multi-dimensional barcode, an encoded hologram or an encoded concentric circular barcode and may be formed of a single indicia or as an array of indicia.

Abstract: A grayscale mask for imaging operations, including a substrate layer and a mask layer having a plurality of apertures forming a mask pattern to form a grayscale image. Each edge of each aperture includes a plurality segments forming a serrated edge, resulting in mixed edge diffraction. The apertures may be in an irregular and non-symmetric pattern and may be of variable size. A random diffusing layer may be in proximity to or integral with the substrate layer. The grayscale mask may be used for generating an optical element by printing the initial grayscale mask onto a photoresist layer and transferring the photoresist pattern onto a transparent layer and the mask may include areas or layers of variable transmission. Also described are methods for diffractive intensity averaging, diffractive error diffusion, diffractive spatial dithering, and diffractive intensity averaging.

Abstract: Imprinting an identification indicia on a cartridge in a difficult context, such as on a coated cartridge or on a high power cartridge. A marking indicia is formed on a base surface located in the interior surface of a cartridge chamber containing the cartridge and includes marking lands raised with respect to the base surface and a maximum marking indicia elevation above the base surface that is coplanar with the interior surface. The marking indicia is thereby recessed with respect to the interior surface and the identification indicia is thereby recessed with respect to the imprint surface.

Abstract: An indicia for marking on an object, such as a cartridge case, for representing selected information, such as identification indicia identifying the firearm that discharged the cartridge, and methods and apparatus for generating, imprinting and reading the identification indicia. An indicia includes a multi-dimensional array of encoded marks, including encoded marks determined by spectral encoding variables representing the selected information wherein each spectral variable is spectrally distinguishable from others of the spectral variables representing variables, and an encoded pattern of the encoded marks is determined by algorithmic transformation of the selected information. An indicia may also include hologram related artwork. An indicia may be an encoded hologram multi-dimensional barcode, an encoded hologram or an encoded concentric circular barcode and may be formed of a single indicia or as an array of indicia.

Abstract: A radially non-symmetric beamforming element for transforming the input energy profile of an input laser beam subject to lateral shift that is variable in radial direction and magnitude into a desired output energy profile of an output laser beam. The beam forming element includes an optical element having a profile transformation function that includes a first profile transformation function for transforming the input energy profile into the desired output energy profile and a profile correction transformation function superimposed on the first profile transformation function for modifying the first profile transformation function to correct distortions in the output energy profile introduced be a lateral shift of the input laser beam.

Abstract: A compensator/remapper and method for compensation and remapping of a laser beam for control and correction of laser pointing and thermal drift instability in a laser beam delivery system including a laser generating a laser beam and a plurality of optical elements for directing, shaping and focusing the laser beam along a beam path to a target. A compensator/remapper includes a compensator element and a remapper element. The compensator element receives an input laser beam having a range of input angles and lateral displacements and redirects components of the input laser beam into an aligned laser beam having evenly distributed and parallel components. The remapper element is illuminated by the aligned laser beam from the compensator element and remaps the components of the aligned laser beam into a shaped laser beam having a profile that is optimum for remapping into a flat top laser beam.