Spring clamp for optics
AssigneeLumentum Operations LLC
InventorsYong Yin, Bryed Billerbeck, Felix Brunner, Yves Netzer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical device may include an optic disposed in an optical path. The optical device may include a mount to dispose the optic in the optical path. The optical device may include a plurality of spring clamps to attach the optic to the mount. The spring clamp, of the plurality of spring clamps, may include a body, a spring, and a screw. The screw may be to attach to the mount and to compress the spring. The spring may be to dispose a leading edge of the body against the optic. The spring clamp may be to maintain the optic in the optical path for a thermal cycle of at least between approximately −50° C. and approximately 130° C.
Claims21
A clamp, comprising:
- a body,
- the body including:
- a leading edge to clamp an optic to a mount;
- and
- an opening to receive a spring and a screw,
- the leading edge including a surface having at least a portion in contact with the optic and the portion in contact with the optic being positioned laterally adjacent to the opening,
- the screw to longitudinally compress the spring, and
- the screw to cause the spring to apply a force to the leading edge to clamp the optic to the mount,
- where the mount, the body, and the optic are associated with at least two coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) values that differ by at least 10×10{circumflex over ( )}−6/Kelvin (K).
An optical system, comprising:
- a mount;
- a plurality of clamps,
- where the plurality of clamps include at least one spring clamp,
- where the at least one spring clamp includes:
- a body including a leading edge to clamp an optic to the mount,
- the leading edge including a surface having at least a portion in contact with the optic and the portion in contact with the optic being positioned laterally adjacent to an opening of the body,
- a spring compressed longitudinally in the opening of the body, and
- an attachment piece disposed into the opening of the body;
- and
- the optic attached to the mount by the plurality of clamps,
- where the optic has a diameter of greater than approximately 5 millimeters (mm).
An optical device, comprising:
- an optic disposed in an optical path;
- a mount to dispose the optic in the optical path;
- and
- a plurality of spring clamps to attach the optic to the mount,
- a spring clamp, of the plurality of spring clamps, including a body, a spring, and a screw,
- the body including a leading edge to clamp the optic to the mount,
- the leading edge including a surface having at least a portion in contact with the optic and the portion in contact with the optic being positioned laterally adjacent to an opening of the body,
- the screw to attach to the mount and to longitudinally compress the spring,
- the spring to dispose a leading edge of the body against the optic, and
- the spring clamp to maintain the optic in the optical path for a thermal cycle of at least between approximately −50° C. and approximately 130° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.