Mounting for optical components

Details Mounting for optical components Mounting for optical components

2000-11-09

2001-11-27

Robinson, Mark A. (Department: 2872)

Optical: systems and elements

Mirror

With support

C359S892000, C248S476000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06322223

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to mountings for optical components, for example for use in spectroscopic systems.
Description of Prior Art
A Raman spectroscopic system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,438 (Batchelder et al) which is incorporated herein by reference. Laser light is reflected by a dichroic filter arrangement, towards a microscope, in order to illuminate a sample which is to be examined under the microscope. Raman and Rayleigh back-scattered light is collected by the microscope objective and returned to the dichroic filter arrangement. This rejects the Rayleigh light at the laser wavelength, while passing the Raman scattered light at shifted wavelengths, towards a spectroscopic analyser and detector.
The dichroic filter arrangement may comprise a holographic filter, at a low angle of incidence such as 10°. In commercial embodiments of the apparatus described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,438, the scattered light passes through two such filters in series, to improve the rejection of the Rayleigh scattered light.
When using such apparatus, it is often desirable to use a different laser wavelength. When the laser wavelength is changed, it is necessary also to change (amongst other things) the holographic or other dichroic filters, so that they reflect and reject the new laser wavelength. It is necessary for the new filters to be properly aligned.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Preferred embodiments of the present invention seek to provide more convenient ways to exchange optical components, for example in the apparatus of U.S. Pat. No. 5,442,438.
In one aspect, the invention provides a mounting device for optical components, comprising:
a base, the base being rotatable about an axis relative to an optical path;
a plurality of mounts for optical components, located or locatable in respective mounting positions on the base, the mounts being movable by rotation of the base such that when optical components are mounted therein they are moved between operative and inoperative positions relative to the optical path, an optical component in one mount being brought to an inoperative position when an optical component in another mount is brought to an operative position;
at least one of said mounts being capable of holding at least first and second such optical components, said first and second optical components being located on opposite sides of the optical path when in an inoperative position, with a gap between them which permits passage of a light beam along the optical path.


REFERENCES:
patent: 4082464 (1978-04-01), Johnson, Jr.
patent: 5442438 (1995-08-01), Batchelder et al.
patent: 5505422 (1996-04-01), Elterman
patent: 5661557 (1997-08-01), Da Silva et al.
“Optics Guide 5” Melles Griot, 1990, p. 23-35.

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