Supports – Mirror or picture type
Patent
1996-09-20
1998-11-10
Gibson, Jr., Robert W.
Supports
Mirror or picture type
248174, 2481887, 2481889, 359817, 108165, A47B 9100, G02B 702
Patent
active
058332022
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The application relates to a mechanical fastening system for individual optical modules on a mounting plate for manufacturing optical or opto-electronic systems. This can involve arranging different optical components to make up complete uni- or multi-dimensional complete systems.
A great variety of framing and mounting technologies have become established for optical components such as lenses, prisms, and mirrors. They extend from sticking small prisms on supports, whereby the prism has to be held in the correctly aligned position until the adhesive has hardened, through to various prism "stools" with or without grips or spring-mounted clips, cf. H. Naumann and G. Schroder, "Optical components", 4th edition, Karl Hanser Verlag Munich and Vienna, 1983, page 272. This prior art reveals for example that the mounting of optical components has to be specially adapted to the individual component because of the many different forms and functions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is based on the assumption that a modern automatic optical system manufacturing process needs to use mechanically standardized components in which an individual optical component is mounted, especially an individual micro-optical component (light beam diameter 5 mm). Micro-optical elements can for example be laser diodes, micro-lenses, integrated optical modules, glass-fibre bundles, fibre-optic rods, diffractive elements, detectors, sensors, filters, mirrors, screens, etc.
The availability of standard components, which can for example be mounted within a rectangular parallelepiped shaped housing, is an initial fundamental simplification for handling and for the crucial positioning and orientation of this rectangular parallelepiped relative to a mounting plate.
The function of the present invention is to propose a mechanical fixing system for optical elements which are mounted in an individual housing. Further subfunctions are to propose processes for manufacturing such fastening elements and applications for them. Before finally fastening the micro-optical element mounted in a module, it (together with its housing) has all translational and rotational degrees of freedom, whilst after fastening on the mounting plate the position and orientation of the micro-optical element are permanently fixed (number of degrees of freedom: 0).
This technical function is performed in the device disclosed by the characteristic features of the main claim. Further beneficial provisions are disclosed in the sub-claims.
With the aid of the fastening system which is the object of the invention it is now possible to attach standardized components on a mounting plate with precision, for example using manipulation and robot systems. This makes it possible to produce 1- to 3-dimensional layouts. Standard elements of modular design can easily be aligned and attached in one assembly step, enabling flexible automated assembly of various micro-optic devices. With the fastening system based on the object of the invention it is possible to manufacture a permanent mechanical bond between the micro-optical element and the mounting plate, ensuring the position and orientation of each micro-optical element relative to the mounting plate.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the figures.
There is a diagrammatic view of:
FIG. 1: the assignment of a standard component to a mounting plate using a "tripod" frame based on the object of the invention;
FIG. 2: geometrical details of the "tripod" frame based on the subject of the invention with an indication of the standard rectangular parallelepiped shaped tripod component;
FIG. 3: the geometry of a 2-dimensional basic structure of a "tripod" based on the object of the invention.
FIG. 4: A second version of a basic structure for a fastening system based on the object of the invention with "ball-joints";
Fig. 4A: a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line A-B in FIG. 4;
FIG. 5: a third version of a 2-dimensi
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Gibson , Jr. Robert W.
Leica AG
Wentsler Stephen S.
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