Large aperture, single axis, reactionless fast steering mirror
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorChristopher A. Cox
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method includes rotating a mirror assembly in a first direction using an actuator. The mirror assembly is rotationally coupled to a base and includes a mirror. A first end of the mirror is rotationally coupled to the base, and a second end of the mirror is not supported by or attached to another structure. The method also includes rotating a reaction inertia assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction using the actuator. The reaction inertia assembly is rotationally coupled to the base. The method further include restricting movement of the mirror assembly and the reaction inertia assembly in multiple degrees of freedom using multiple flexures.
Claims20
A system comprising:
- a base;
- a mirror assembly rotationally coupled to the base and comprising a mirror, the mirror assembly configured to rotate around only a single rotation axis;
- a reaction inertia assembly rotationally coupled to the base, the reaction inertia assembly configured to rotate around only the single rotation axis;
- and
- an actuator configured to drive rotation of the mirror assembly and the reaction inertia assembly;
- wherein a first end of the mirror is rotationally coupled to the base and a second end of the mirror is not supported by or attached to another structure;
- and
- wherein the mirror assembly includes first and second flexures disposed on opposite sides of a center of gravity of the mirror assembly and configured to support the mirror assembly, the first and second flexures disposed along the single rotation axis.
A system comprising:
- a base;
- a mirror assembly rotationally coupled to the base and comprising a mirror, the mirror assembly configured to rotate around only a single rotation axis;
- a reaction inertia assembly rotationally coupled to the base, the reaction inertia assembly configured to rotate around only the single rotation axis;
- an actuator configured to drive rotation of the mirror assembly and the reaction inertia assembly;
- and
- multiple flexures configured to support the mirror assembly and the reaction inertia assembly;
- wherein a first end of the mirror is rotationally coupled to the base and a second end of the mirror is not supported by or attached to another structure;
- and
- wherein the flexures comprise first and second mirror flexures disposed on opposite sides of a center of gravity of the mirror assembly and configured to support the mirror assembly, the first and second mirror flexures disposed along the single rotation axis.
A method comprising:
- rotating a mirror assembly around only a single rotation axis in a first direction using an actuator, the mirror assembly rotationally coupled to a base and comprising a mirror, wherein a first end of the mirror is rotationally coupled to the base and a second end of the mirror is not supported by or attached to another structure;
- rotating a reaction inertia assembly around only the single rotation axis in a second direction opposite the first direction using the actuator, the reaction inertia assembly rotationally coupled to the base;
- and
- restricting movement of the mirror assembly and the reaction inertia assembly in multiple degrees of freedom using multiple flexures;
- wherein the flexures comprise first and second mirror flexures disposed on opposite sides of a center of gravity of the mirror assembly and configured to support the mirror assembly, the first and second mirror flexures disposed along the single rotation axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.