Optical: systems and elements – Lens – With support
Reexamination Certificate
2002-05-14
2004-07-20
Ben, Loha (Department: 2873)
Optical: systems and elements
Lens
With support
C359S811000, C359S819000, C359S872000, C372S009000, C372S107000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06765733
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to adjustably mounting objects and, more particularly, to providing adjustable mounting having multiple degrees of freedom.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the field of optics, and micro-optics in particular, it is often desirable to dispose particular components with a precise relationship with respect to one another. Such a precise relationship may not only involve a precise spacing, but may also include such attributes as proper relative orientation, position, and/or the like. Accordingly, challenges are presented with respect to initially placing components in such positions as well as retaining the desired precise relationship throughout a useful life of the system.
For example, in the past micro-optics manufacturers have utilized various adjustable mounting structures to allow the imprecise positioning of various components during an initial manufacturing process to be adjusted during a later manufacturing process in order to provide, or approach, a desired precise relationship of components. One such prior solution has been to utilize a metal strap or straps coupling an optic mount to a surface, and physically deforming the metal of the strap or straps to provide controlled movement of the optical mount in pitch, roll, or yaw. Although being a relatively widely accepted technique for positioning microoptics, this technique suffers from several disadvantages. For example, deformation of the metal straps for positioning the optical mount results in putting stress into the straps, generally later resulting in “creep,” or the relaxing of stresses in the stressed components, which will result in altering the position of the optic mount. A further disadvantage of such prior techniques is that, although such techniques are well suited for providing movement with respect to one or two degrees of freedom for an optical mount, it is often very difficult to provide movement having three simultaneous degrees of freedom in an optic mount using such techniques.
Another solution used in the past to provide, or approach, a desired precise relationship of components has been to use a flexure mount. A typical flexure mount configuration provides a flexure arm having a pivot point and a flexure adjustment mechanism, such as a screw, engaging the flexure arm. An optic mount may be disposed at the pivot point, such that adjustment of the adjustment mechanism will cause the flexure arm to flex and, thus, provide translation to the optic mount. For example, an adjustment mechanism screw may be operated to engage the flexure arm and, thereby, push on the flexure arm. Pressure from the adjustment mechanism screw may cause the flexure arm to deform under the stress and provide a desired movement of the optic mount. The flexure mount technique, although relying upon stressing components thereof to provide optic mount translation, typically result in lessened adverse effects associated with creep than the above mentioned strap deformation technique as the flexure mount technique typically employs an adjustment mechanism which continues to apply an adjustment force against the flexure arm throughout the operational life of the system. However, such a technique suffers from disadvantages nonetheless. For example, in order to provide very fine resolution with respect to the adjustment provided a very long flexure arm is generally required which can result in a very large and cumbersome embodiment. Moreover, the use of such flexure techniques are not easily adapted to provide more than one degree of freedom with respect to translation of an optic mount.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to systems and methods which provide adjustable mounting techniques providing multiple degrees of freedom, such as three degrees of freedom allowing controlled adjustment of pitch, roll, and/or yaw. Preferred embodiments of the invention are adapted to provide a plurality of degrees of freedom in movement of a mount, such as a micro-optical mount, substantially without applying stress to mounting components. Accordingly, preferred embodiments of the present invention are adapted to not only provide for precise placement of particular components, such as micro-optic components disposed upon a micro-optic mount, but to reliably maintain such precise placement throughout the useful life of a system.
Embodiments of the invention provide three degrees of angular freedom using a ball and socket configuration. Such embodiments provide complete freedom to move an optic, or other component, angularly. Moreover, preferred embodiments provide a very small optic mounting apparatus which is suitable for use in confined areas, such as the cavity of an incoherently beam combined (IBC) laser. However, it should be appreciated that embodiments of the present invention may be utilized with other types of resonators, optical devices, etcetera.
According to a preferred embodiment, a ball member of a ball and socket mounting apparatus is disposed upon a surface, such as an IBC laser cavity surface, in a particular position corresponding to a desired position of a component to be mounted. Thereafter, a mount having a socket portion sized and shaped to correspond to a mating surface of the ball member is placed in communication with the ball member. The mount may have a component to be mounted placed thereon after the mount is placed in communication with the ball member. However, a preferred embodiment of the present invention disposes a component to be mounted upon the mount prior to its being placed in communication with the ball member, to facilitate precise placement of the component upon the mount and/or to provide a technique more readily adapted to automated production.
Preferably as part of the system manufacturing process, an adjustment mechanism is placed in communication with the mount and provides manipulating forces thereto, preferably causing the socket portion of the mount to slidably engage the mating surface of the ball member, in order to precisely position a component mounted thereon. Accordingly, preferred embodiments of the mount are adapted to engage an adjustment mechanism and receive bias forces consistent with three degrees of movement with respect to the mount. Additionally, embodiments of the mount and/or the ball member are preferably adapted to retain a particular position, such as through the application of an adhesive, weld, or other fastening technique to a fastening portion thereof.
It is believed that the use of ball and socket mounting configurations, such as those of embodiments of the present invention, have been avoided in the past due at least in part to the difficulty typically experienced in separating yaw, pitch, and roll movement thereof in order to provide independent selection and control with respect to these various degrees of freedom of movement. Preferred embodiment mounting apparatus described herein facilitate independent selection and control of movement with respect to each of the available degrees of freedom, preferably using an external adjustment mechanism. However, it should be appreciated that alternative embodiments of the present invention may provide multiple coupled translation axes such that two or more rotational axes of a mount are simultaneously involved in an adjustment thereof.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention not only provide isolated movement in various degrees of freedom, but provide such movement with nominal translation of a component to be adjusted about the pivot point. The ability to provide freedom of adjustment of a component mounted upon a mounting apparatus of the present invention while introducing zero to nominal translation about the pivot point is particularly useful in certain optical applications.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention remove much of the complexity associated with providing controlled movement to external tooling, which can be relatively complicated because it will likely be deployed in relatively small numbers, pro
Igl Scott A.
Johnson Roger F.
Rook David W.
Schulte Derek E.
Ben Loha
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
Nlight Photonics Corporation
LandOfFree
System and method for mounting components using ball and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System and method for mounting components using ball and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System and method for mounting components using ball and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3253668