Optics: measuring and testing – By dispersed light spectroscopy – With monochromator structure
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-31
2004-06-15
Evans, F. L. (Department: 2877)
Optics: measuring and testing
By dispersed light spectroscopy
With monochromator structure
C248S479000, C248S487000, C359S876000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06750965
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a mirror supporting structure for a monochromator, particularly to a mirror supporting structure for a monochromator suitably applicable to an optical spectrum analyzer.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In a monochromator used for an optical spectrum analyzer, a mirror is installed for irradiating light toward spectro-elements such as diffraction grating. To correct a light path of reflected light by a mirror, a mirror supporting structure for a monochromator is provided with an angle adjusting means for finely adjusting the attaching angles of the mirror.
Such a conventional mirror supporting structure
40
for a monochromator is described hereinafter with reference to the attached drawings.
FIG. 6
is a view showing a conventional mirror supporting structure
40
for a monochromator, FIG.
7
(A) is a plan view of FIG.
6
and FIG.
7
(B) is a side view of FIG.
6
. As shown in FIG.
6
and FIGS.
7
(A),
7
(B), the mirror supporting structure
40
for a monochromator comprises a plate-like base
41
, a mirror holding block
42
mounted on the base
41
and a mirror
43
fixed to the mirror holding block
42
. The mirror holding block
42
is fixed to the base
41
via bolts
52
and the mirror
43
is fixed to a mirror bonding face of the mirror holding block
42
by an adhesive and the like. The mirror supporting structure
40
for a monochromator having such a construction has angle adjusting means
45
provided in the mirror holding block
42
.
The angle adjusting means
45
comprises a slit
44
which is formed in the mirror holding block
42
and is parallel with the plane direction of the base
41
, a slit upper wall part
42
a
and a slit lower wall part
42
b
which are respectively disposed on the mirror holding block
42
so as to sandwich the slit
44
therebetween, slit opening screws
61
a,
61
b
and slit closing screws
61
c,
61
d.
The slit opening screws
61
a,
61
b
are threaded into screw holes provided on the slit upper wall part
42
a,
and tip ends thereof are brought into contact with the slit lower wall part
42
b.
When the slit opening screws
61
a,
61
b
are turned so as to be fastened, the tip ends thereof push the slit lower wall part
42
b
to open the slit
44
. As a result, the mirror
43
is turned about the innermost part
44
a
of the slit
44
clockwise in FIG.
7
(B).
Meanwhile, the slit closing screws
61
c,
61
d
are inserted into the insertion holes provided in the slit upper wall part
42
a,
and the tip ends are threaded into the holes provided on the slit lower wall part
42
b.
When the slit closing screws
61
c,
61
d
are turned so as to be fastened, the heads thereof push the slit upper wall part
42
a
to close the slit
44
so that the mirror
43
is turned about the innermost part
44
a
of the slit
44
counterclockwise in FIG.
7
(B).
With the angle adjusting means
45
having the foregoing construction, when the slit
44
is opened or closed, the mirror holding block
42
is deformed so that the mirror
43
supported by the mirror holding block
42
is inclined so that the angle of the mirror can be adjusted by turning the mirror
43
about the innermost part
44
a
of the slit
44
.
However, the conventional mirror supporting structure
40
for a monochromator has the angle adjusting means
45
alone as means for adjusting the angle of the mirror
43
, and the mirror supporting structure
40
can turn the mirror
43
only about the axis line in one direction. Accordingly, there has been required a mirror supporting structure for a monochromator which can turn the mirrors about the axis line in one direction and also in an axis line crossing this axis line in other direction, namely, can turn the mirrors in two directions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention has been made to satisfy the foregoing requirement and it is an object of the invention to provide a mirror supporting structure for a monochromator capable of turning mirrors for the monochromator about axis lines which cross each other when the attachment angles of the mirrors of the monochromator are adjusted, thereby turning the mirrors for monochromator to adjust the attachment angles of the mirrors in two directions.
The mirror supporting structure for a monochromator of a first aspect of the invention is characterized in comprising first angle adjusting means for turning mirrors about a first axis line which does not cross each plane direction of the mirrors at right angles, and second angle adjusting means for turning the mirrors about a second axis line which does not cross each plane direction of the mirrors at right angles but is parallel with a line crossing the first axis line.
For the first angle adjusting means and the second angle adjusting means, a conventional structure or a structure having a bearing, a shaft and the like may be employed. Further, the first axis line of the first angle adjusting means and the second axis line of the second angle adjusting means may cross each other at right angles or may cross each other at a given angle.
The crossing at right angles or the crossing means a case where the first axis line of the first angle adjusting means and the second axis line of the second angle adjusting means are arranged in parallel with imaginary lines which cross each other at right angles or cross each other at a given angle as well as a case where the first axis line of the first angle adjusting means and the second axis line of the second angle adjusting means directly cross each other. With the mirror supporting structure for a monochromator having the foregoing construction, since the first and second angle adjusting means are provided and the first axis line of the first angle adjusting means and the second axis line of the second angle adjusting means cross each other, the attachment angles of the mirrors can be adjusted in two directions, thereby obtaining the foregoing object.
Further, the mirror supporting structure for a monochromator of the second aspect of the invention is characterized in that the first angle adjusting means of the first aspect of the invention comprises a first leg member and a second leg member which are spaced from each other, and a support member installed between the first and second leg members for supporting the mirrors, wherein the mirrors are supported in a manner that each plane direction of the mirrors do not cross the installing direction of the support member and the support member can be turned about a line which is parallel with the installing direction thereof.
For the support member, e.g. a plate-like or a bar member can be exemplified, and a structure for holding the mirrors via block-shaped mirror support member and the like can be employed. The support member may have folded parts at both ends, i.e. may be formed of substantially a U-shape, and it may have a structure to be turned about the first leg member and the second leg member via respective folded parts.
With the mirror supporting structure for a monochromator of the second aspect of the invention, since the mirrors are supported by the support member installed between the first and second leg members, the mirrors constituting the monochromator can be reliably attached, and the attachment angles of the mirrors can be freely adjusted.
With the mirror supporting structure for a monochromator of the second aspect of the invention, if the support member is formed substantially in U-shape, the first axis line of the first angle adjusting means and the second axis line of the second angle adjusting means can be disposed relatively to approach to each other, thereby minimizing the movement of the mirrors involved in the adjustment of the attachment angles.
The mirror supporting structure for a monochromator according to the third aspect of the invention is characterized in that multiple mirrors are attached to the support member. Respective mirrors may be disposed in substantially plane symmetry while sandwiching the plane which crosses the installing direction of the support member at right a
Ando Hiroshi
Ishikawa Eiji
Ando Electric Co. Ltd.
Evans F. L.
Flynn ,Thiel, Boutell & Tanis, P.C.
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