Roy A Nelson

45882622, May 13, 1986

Aug 6, 1984

6/637806

Roy D. Nelson - Lafayette CO

Ball Corporation - Muncie IN

G02F 530

350401

A laser switching system has at least two relatively fixed lasers, a primary and a standby, arranged to selectively transmit linearly polarized laser light along an optical path. The switching system also includes at least one polarized beam splitter disposed in the optical path. For example, the first one may be used for passing through laser light from one of the lasers and for reflecting light from the other laser along the optical path. Subsequent polarized beam splitters may be associated with each further laser to also reflectively direct its output along the optical path and to pass properly polarized laser light emanating from upstream along the optical path. Half-wave plates are selectively movable into and out of the optical path subsequent to the polarized beam splitters depending on which laser is transmitting light along the optical path. The half-wave plates are the only required moving components of the assembled switching system and are used to properly align the linearly polarized laser output(s) to permit passage through subsequent polarized beam splitters or to properly orient the final linearly polarized output of the system.