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US 11,143,838 B2Granted
Optical element retainers
AssigneeN2 Imaging Systems, LLC
InventorsDarren M. Zack, Jay Meyer, Justin Jun, Scott Richman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical element retainer includes a ring body defined about a central axis. The ring body includes an inner diametric surface, an outer diametric surface opposed to the inner diametric surface, a first annular axial surface, and a plurality of flexures extending from a second annular axial surface opposite the first annular axial surface.
Claims12
An optical element retainer comprising:
- a ring body defined about a central axis and having an inner diametric surface, an outer diametric surface opposed to the inner diametric surface, a first annular axial surface, and a plurality of flexures extending from a second annular axial surface opposite the first annular axial surface, wherein each flexure includes an axially extending base extending from the second annular axial surface to a radially inwardly extending head, wherein a radially inward surface of the head is substantially planar and configured to support along a planar surface of the radially inward surface a polymeric optical element at a surface-to-surface contact while accommodating radial expansion and contraction thereof by radial flexure of the base.
An optical assembly comprising:
- an optical element retainer including a ring body defined about a central axis and having an inner diametric surface, and outer diametric surface opposed to the inner diametric surface, an annular axial surface, and a plurality of flexures extending from a second annular axial surface opposite the first annular axial surface;
- and
- a polymeric optical element assembled to the flexures, wherein each flexure includes an axially extending base extending from the second annular axial surface to a radially inwardly extending head, wherein a radially inward surface of the head is substantially planar and configured to support along a planar surface of the radially inward surface the polymeric optical element at a surface-to-surface contact while accommodating radial expansion and contraction thereof by radial flexure of the base.
A method of making an optical element retainer comprising:
- lathing a ring body having an inner diametric surface, an outer diametric surface opposed to the inner diametric surface, and a first annular axial surface;
- and
- forming with electrical discharge machining (EDM) at least a portion of each flexure in a plurality of flexures extending from a second annular axial surface opposite the first annual surface, wherein each flexure includes an axially extending base extending from the second annular axial surface to a radially inwardly extending head, wherein a radially inward surface of the head is substantially planar and configured to support along a planar surface of the radially inward surface a polymeric optical element at a surface-to-surface contact while accommodating radial expansion and contraction thereof by radial flexure of the base.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.