Stress-Optic Laser Scanning for Matrix Code Reading, Laser Communications and Directed Energy

Seaver Engineering proposes to develop a laser scanner that is both highly innovative technically and applicable to a broad and deep commercial market. The innovation lies in its use of stress-induced beam refraction in ordinary optical glasses; the commercial potential lies in its use as a "code reader"in the large bar and matrix code markets. It is solid-state, high-speed, with high optical throughput and reads in two-dimensions. Its precise beam, tracking, pointing and reporting, its low cost and its visible-through-infrared capability make it unique in its field. Its specifications after the phase I work is completed would be: scan angle, > 15 in two dimensions, two-dimensional beam pointing accuracy, lOKHz and 200 frames per second; optical power throughput, > lOO's of watts, co-linear transmit and receive optics; operable at 1.5 microns; capable of computer control and reporting of beam position; mass-producible; and with a shelf life > 2 years. The goals of phase I are to improve the maximum scan range and pointing accuracy of our innovative, two dimensional prototype scanning technique. This will be done through the use of new optical glasses and a new technique for imposing the index of refraction gradient within the steerer, as well as by reducing the noise in the beam pointing train