Optical: systems and elements – Lens – With support
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-06
2002-04-09
Epps, Georgia (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Lens
With support
C359S830000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06369959
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns an assembly comprising an optical element and a mount.
Assemblies with lenses as optical elements, which are connected to a fastening flange via inner rings, are already known from practice. Although the inner ring allows isolation in terms of deformation, it is disadvantageous in this case that rigidity is not adequate and some known designs also have problems in terms of structural space.
DE 197 35 831 A1 discloses a galvanoplastic optical mount in which small supporting feet are produced in a galvanoplastic way as supporting surfaces for an optical element. In this case, after being detached from a mold core, an inner ring produced in this way is severed between webs, so that the small supporting feet project freely from an outer ring without being connected to one another. In practice, the inner ring is separated in this way into a multiplicity of individual segments or small supporting feet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based on the object of providing an assembly of the type mentioned at the beginning which, with a relatively small radial structural space and a specifically selected design of the mount, makes it possible for the optical element to be isolated in terms of deformation, it being intended at the same time to obtain good rigidity.
This object is achieved according to the invention by an assembly corresponding to the features stated in claim 1.
According to the invention, a three-part mount, which has a fastening flange, an intermediate element in the form of a funnel and an inner ring, is used for the optical element, for example a lens. Each of the three parts of the mount in this case assumes a specific task and can, accordingly, be respectively adapted optimally to this task. The fastening flange is used for connecting the respective optical element to the assembly or to an assembly. The intermediate element in the form of a funnel is relatively rigid on account of its geometry and is therefore not readily deformed, while the fastening flange, which is generally designed as a flanged ring, can adapt to the deformations introduced. Production tolerances in the flange region can be isolated by a correspondingly designed connection between the intermediate element and the fastening flange. This can be assisted by cut-free, elastic elements on the fastening flange. Furthermore, weakenings of the cross section are possible in the region of the flange ring, the intermediate element and/or the connecting point between the two.
The intermediate element will generally be produced from a thin-walled metal sheet by a forming technique, giving it a rigid structure both in the axial direction and in the radial direction, which ensures that the optical elements are mounted under the required natural frequency. Any passing on of deformations to the optical element is additionally prevented by the inner ring, which serves for receiving the optical element and for isolating deformations.
Other configurations are, for example, monolithic production (the entire mount made from one piece) or electrodeposition (Ni) of the thin-walled intermediate element on a core with simultaneous growth at the fastening flange and at the inner ring. Depending on the shaping of the mold core, the galvanoplastically deposited intermediate element may likewise also comprise the inner ring and, if appropriate, also the supporting surfaces in the form of small supporting feet, in that it or they are integrated into the intermediate element.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, for this purpose the inner ring is provided with at least three elastic supporting surfaces, for example small supporting feet, which are arranged such that they are distributed over the circumference and on which the optical element is mounted.
By introducing into the region of the intermediate element elastic elements which can deform themselves when a deformation is introduced, the passing on of deformations to the inner ring is prevented to an even greater extent. A possible solution for this is to provide the intermediate element with incisions. The incisions may in this case run both in a radial direction and in an axial direction.
In a very advantageous development of the invention, a space-saving connection with adjacent mounts can be created by means of the fastening flange for the forming of a lens system. For this purpose, a plurality of mounts comprising a fastening flange, an intermediate element and an inner ring are connected to one another in one screwing-on plane of the fastening flanges.
In the case of known configurations of mounts, relatively considerable structural space is required on account of the connecting method with screws. The type of connection according to the invention in only one screwing-on plane allows not only low deformation but also at the same time a structural-space-saving connection to be established.
According to the invention, a type of connection by which each individual mount is readjustable is to be provided here. This means that all the screws for the corresponding mounts should be accessible from outside independently of one another.
In a very advantageous refinement of the invention, this is achieved by the mount (or mounts) following a mount with screwed-in screws being provided with through-bores in the fastening flange, which are in line with the screwed-in screws and have diameters which correspond at least to the greatest diameters of the screws.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5299066 (1994-03-01), Rombult
patent: 5570238 (1996-10-01), Leary
patent: 6166868 (2000-12-01), Holderer et al.
patent: 6188841 (2001-02-01), Kamata
patent: 6198579 (2001-03-01), Rupp
patent: 6229657 (2001-05-01), Holderer et al.
patent: 197 35 831 (1999-02-01), None
Gellrich Bernhard Dipl.-Ing
Gischa Roland Dipl.-Ing
Holderer Hubert
Rösch Cornelia
Trunz Michael
Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung
Seyrafi Saeed
Welsh & Katz
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