# US 11,994,691 B1 · Lens installation system, lens mount and method for opto-mechanical lens mounting for high-G survivability > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,994,691 B1 - Document ID: US11994691B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 17/708,425 - Filed: 2022-03-30 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2022-03-30 - Assignees: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Applicants: Lockheed Martin Corporation - Inventors: Chase M. Burchett; Jacob A. Diez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11994691B1 ## CPC - G02B 27/62: Optical apparatus specially adapted for adjusting optical elements during the assembly of optical systems - G02B 1/02: made of crystals, e.g. rock-salt, semi-conductors (G02B1/08 takes precedence) - G02B 7/008: {with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation} - G02B 13/14: for use with infrared or ultraviolet radiation ({G02B13/008, } G02B13/16 take precedence) - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A lens installation system that includes a tool for a keyhole in an imaging system housing. The tool includes a base having a first diameter dimensioned to fit below a lens housing cavity of an imaging system housing. The base has a top end forming a shoulder to seat the shoulder below the lens housing cavity. The tool includes a lens centering seat integrated with the base. The seat includes a ring and a recessed cavity within the ring. The ring is defined by an outer surface dimensioned to contact an inner diameter of an inner surface of the keyhole below the lens housing cavity, a first sloped surface providing a chamfered edge that is inclined for a distance above the outer surface, and a second sloped surface descending from an upper edge of the first sloped surface by a predetermined distance. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lens installation system, comprising: a tool for a keyhole in an imaging system housing comprising: a base having a first diameter dimensioned to fit below a lens housing cavity of the imaging system housing, the base having a top end forming a shoulder to seat the shoulder below the lens housing cavity; and a lens centering seat integrated with the base, the lens centering seat includes a ring and a recessed cavity within the ring, the ring defined by: an outer surface dimensioned to contact an inner diameter of an inner surface of the keyhole below the lens housing cavity, a first sloped surface providing a chamfered edge that is inclined for a distance above the outer surface, and a second sloped surface descending from an upper edge of the first sloped surface by a predetermined distance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the tool comprises polytetrafluoroethylene. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of alignment pins, configured to align the lens in the recessed cavity of the lens centering seat. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, further comprising cradle material configured to cradle and float the lens within the lens housing cavity relative to an inner surface of the lens housing cavity. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The system according to claim 3, further comprising an adhesive material, the adhesive material used to back fill holes created from removal of the alignment pins. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system according to claim 5, further comprising an ultra-violet (UV) lamp, wherein the adhesive is curable using the UV lamp. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one cleaning solution to clean at least one of the tool, a lens surface of the lens, and the lens housing cavity of the imaging system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A method of installing an infrared lens, comprising: installing a lens using a lens installation system according to claim 1, in a lens housing cavity of an imaging system housing; forming a lens cradle for the lens in the imaging system housing, using a cradle material, the lens cradle wraps around a portion of an aft edge of the lens; and removing a lens installation tool of the lens installation system after the lens cradle is formed. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising, during the installing of the lens, aligning the lens with a plurality of alignment pins in the lens housing cavity. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the forming of the lens cradle includes: installing an epoxy material in a gap between the lens and the lens housing cavity; removing the plurality of alignment pins from the lens housing cavity; and back filling holes with an adhesive material, the holes formed by removing the alignment pins. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, further comprising curing the adhesive material with an ultra-violet (UV) lamp. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising, prior to installing the lens in the lens housing cavity, cleaning at least one of the lens, the lens housing cavity and the lens installation tool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, further comprising, prior to installing the lens in the lens housing cavity, inserting the lens installation tool into a keyhole of the imaging system housing below the lens housing cavity. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method according to claim 8, wherein the installing the lens includes: positioning the tool in a keyhole of the imaging system housing below the lens housing cavity. ### Claim 15 An imaging system, comprising: an imaging system housing having a lens cavity and a keyhole below the lens cavity; a lens in the lens housing cavity; a lens cradle for the lens that wraps around a portion of an aft edge of the lens so that the lens is floated in the lens housing cavity by the lens cradle; and electro-optical hardware components configured to receive absorbed thermal energy of an electromagnetic radiation spectrum captured by the lens. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein: the lens comprises arsenic selenide; and the lens cradle configured to cushion the lens to withstand 10,000G forces. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the lens cradle includes: an epoxy material in a gap between the lens and the lens housing cavity; and an adhesive material which back fills holes formed in the epoxy material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the lens is a first lens and further comprising a second lens installed forward the first lens in the imaging system housing. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the imaging system housing further comprising an interface for attachment to a launchable guided munition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The imaging system according to claim 15, wherein the lens captures wavelengths in a long-wavelength infrared (LWIR) range.