Optical: systems and elements – Lens – With support
Patent
1997-03-14
1998-10-27
Ben, Loha
Optical: systems and elements
Lens
With support
359822, 359823, 211 411, G02B 702
Patent
active
058285024
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to optical bench system sets and includes a plurality of optical bench components in each set that may be used together to construct a multiplicity of optical instruments.
BACKGROUND ART
Of interest in the prior art is the German Offenlegungsschrift 26 36 657. Its elements include optical mounts which are implemented as square plates having perforations through which rods may extend at each corner. The optical mounts provide a relatively large opening in which optical elements such as lenses, mirrors, gratings and the like can be positioned at the center thereof. Pins are provided for the purpose of securing the optical mounts to the rods at selected positions. The plates are clamped together at right angles by means of corner connectors and separate pins. Although this apparatus and method for assembly is effective for rough, temporary set-up, sufficient rigidity is not maintained for precise optical alignment and additionally, the square shape of the plates limits the number of configurations in which the plates may be assembled.
The prior art also includes U.S. Pat. No. 5,035,333 to Hartmut Klingner for ARRANGEMENT FOR CONSTRUCTING A MICRO-OPTIC BENCH issued Jul. 30, 1991, and reference patents and documents cited therein. The device described in the Klingner patent provides mounts for holding optical elements that preferably are manufactured out of injection-molded plastic. It appears that this technique has been employed in order to provide an elastic snap-together feature between the rods and the optical mounts. The perforations through the mounts have elevations that have been called knobs or ribs distributed along their circumferences in order to establish this snap-together fastening facility. Although this system does not require set screws and is inexpensive to manufacture, it must be fabricated out of plastic and it does not offer any solution for mounting the plates together.
Of lesser import but still of interest are two Swiss patents numbered 340675 and 465238 provided herewith as being of interest in the general field.
In the prior art, the square shape of the optical mounting plates limits the angles-at which the plates can be mounted together. Plates are conventionally fastened together by means of screws, therefore, all four sides of the plates have to be provided with some threaded bores, whether the bores are used in every assembly or not. Further, the plates are joined together by corner connectors which must have equal numbers of bores through which the screws are secured. The plates are, therefore, highly labor intensive to produce. With the square shape, optical components must be held at four points since the retaining screws must be placed at each side of the plate. Three-point positional adjustment is more advantageous while at the same time allowing easier removal of the optical component. It should also be again especially noted that square plates are much more labor-intensive to manufacture than round plates. Square plates must be machined at four sides in order to achieve precise right angles at all corners whereas the machining of round plates only requires a simple lathe operation.
The prior art devices presented, including those cited in the Klingner patent, are commendable and show a creative spirit for their times. The inventors and their inventions have contributed remarkably to the technology involved. However, these prior art structures do not include those combined elements of the instant invention that provide greater facility of use and ingenious arrangement of components and that make the instant invention the high culmination in the art.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
Components in the field of optics are usually manufactured to strict tolerances and meticulously positioned by means of precision threads and screws. These optical components must, in certain applications, operate with high precision, thus justifying the high fabrication costs that prohibit these devices from being used in applications in which less accuracy i
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Ben Loha
Ware Paul H.
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