Low stress mounting configuration for optical component
AssigneeQioptiq Limited
InventorKenneth David Ball
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system includes a dome-shaped optical component having a substantially circular edge and a mounting base for the optical component. A recess is in an outer surface of the optical component. A projection on an inner surface of the mounting base and is configured to engage the recess. An adhesive material is between the optical component and the mounting base. The adhesive material forms an upper band and a lower band with a void between the upper band and the lower band. The void is positioned relative to the recess in the outer surface of the optical component such that a bending stress in the optical component at the recess is less than what the bending stress would be without the void. A heater is inside and thermally coupled to the optical component.
Claims21
A system for mounting an optical component to a mounting base, the system comprising:
- a first retention mechanism configured to hold the optical component and the mounting base together;
- and
- a second retention mechanism configured to hold the optical component and the mounting base together, wherein the second retention mechanism comprises:
- a projection in an inwardly-facing cylindrical surface of the mounting base;
- and
- a recess in an outwardly-facing cylindrical surface of the optical component,
- wherein the projection is configured to engage the recess,
- wherein the first retention mechanism comprises an adhesive material in a joint extending around a perimeter between the optical component and the mounting base, and wherein the adhesive material forms an upper band and a base band with a void at least partially extending around the perimeter between the upper band and the base band, and wherein the perimeter comprises a substantially circular edge region of the optical component,
- wherein the mounting base comprises:
- an annular base portion;
- and
- a cylindrical wall portion that extends from an outer end of the base portion substantially perpendicularly to the base portion,
- wherein the wall portion is configured to extend up an outer surface of the optical component, and
- wherein a heater is inside and thermally coupled to the optical component.
A system comprising:
- an optical component having a substantially circular edge;
- a mounting base for the optical component;
- a first retention mechanism configured to hold the optical component and the mounting base together;
- and
- a second retention mechanism configured to hold the optical component and the mounting base together, wherein the second retention mechanism comprises:
- a projection in an inwardly-facing surface of the mounting base;
- and
- a recess in an outwardly-facing surface of the optical component,
- wherein the projection is configured to engage the recess, and
- wherein the first retention mechanism comprises an adhesive material in a joint extending around a perimeter between the optical component and the mounting base, and wherein the adhesive material forms an upper band and a base band with a void at least partially extending around the perimeter between the upper band and the base band, and wherein the perimeter comprises a substantially circular edge region of the optical component.
A method comprising:
- providing an optical component having a perimeter that comprises a substantially circular edge region, and a recess in an outwardly-facing cylindrical surface of the optical component;
- providing a mounting base for the optical component, wherein the mounting base has a projection on an inwardly-facing cylindrical surface of the mounting base, wherein the projection is configured to engage the recess to hold the optical component and the mounting base together;
- attaching the optical component to the mounting base;
- and
- providing an adhesive material in a joint extending around a perimeter between the optical component and the mounting base, wherein the adhesive material forms an upper band and a base band with a void at least partially extending around the perimeter between the upper band and the base band, and wherein the perimeter comprises a substantially circular edge region of the optical component;
- and
- providing a heater inside and thermally coupled to the optical component.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.