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US 12,717,282 B2Granted
Atomic sensor with self-aligned components
AssigneeHoneywell International Inc.
InventorsLuke Horstman, Caleb Sjoquist, Chad Fertig
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Techniques are provided self-aligning components of an atomic sensor including a first cover, a second cover, a structure-cell including a structure and a cell, containing a vapor of atoms, in the structure. Atomic sensor components are aligned in a cover in which they are form fitted into a recess or mounted on a surface of a pedestal. Each cover is aligned with the structure-cell or component(s) therein using guide holes in each of the cover and the structure-cell into each of which an alignment pin is inserted. Due to such alignments, each component is self-aligned with respect another component or to a region of the structure-cell, e.g., the cell or an atomic vapor in the cell.
Claims20
An apparatus for self-aligning components of an atomic sensor, the apparatus comprising:
- a center structure-cell (SC) comprising a first SC surface, a second SC surface opposite the first SC surface, a center structure, and a cell which is in the center structure and which contains a vapor of atoms;
- a first cover comprising a first cover surface contacting the first SC surface, a first recessed surface facing the first SC surface, and at least one of:
- one or more first pedestals and one or more first recesses, wherein each first pedestal projects from the first recessed surface and has a first pedestal surface facing the center structure-cell, and wherein each first recess is formed with the first recessed surface and faces the center structure-cell;
- at least one of:
- (a) a first set of atomic sensor components, wherein each atomic sensor component, of the first set of atomic sensor components, is affixed to the first pedestal surface of a unique first pedestal and is self-aligned with respect to at least one of a portion of the center structure-cell and an atomic sensor component of one of a third set of atomic sensor components and a fourth set of atomic sensor components;
- and
- (b) a second set of atomic sensor components, wherein each atomic sensor component, of the second set of atomic sensor components, is form fitted in a unique first recess and is self-aligned with respect to at least one of a portion of the center structure-cell and an atomic sensor component of one of the third set of atomic sensor components and the fourth set of atomic sensor components;
- at least one of:
- a first set of N guide holes each of which is in the center structure-cell and through the first SC surface and a second set of N guide holes each of which is through the first cover;
- N alignment pins each of which is inserted into either:
- (a) a guide hole of the first set of N guide holes, (b) a guide hole of the second set of N guide holes, or (c) a pair of a guide hole of the first set of N guide holes and a guide hole of the second set of N guide holes, wherein N is an integer greater than one;
- a second cover comprising a second cover surface configured to contact the second SC surface, a second recessed surface configured to face the second SC surface, and at least one of:
- one or more second pedestals and one or more second recesses, wherein each second pedestal projects from the second recessed surface and has a second pedestal surface facing the center structure-cell, and wherein each second recess is formed with the second recessed surface and faces the center structure-cell;
- at least one of:
- a third set of M guide holes in the center structure-cell and through the second SC surface and a fourth set of M guide holes each of which is through the second cover;
- M alignment pins each of which is inserted into either:
- (a) a guide hole of the third set of M guide holes, (b) a guide hole of the fourth set of M guide holes, or (c) a pair of a guide hole of the third set of M guide holes and a guide hole of the fourth set of M guide holes, wherein M is an integer greater than one;
- at least one of:
- (a) the third set of atomic sensor components, wherein each atomic sensor component, of the third set of atomic sensor components, is affixed to a second pedestal surface of a unique second pedestal and is self-aligned with respect to at least one of a portion of the center structure-cell and an atomic sensor component of one of the first set of atomic sensor components and the second set of atomic sensor components;
- and
- (b) the fourth set of atomic sensor components, wherein each atomic sensor component, of the fourth set of atomic sensor components is form fitted in a unique second recess and is self-aligned with respect to at least one of a portion of the center structure-cell and an atomic sensor component of one of the first set of atomic sensor components and the second set of atomic sensor components.
18 more elements
A method for self-aligning components of an atomic sensor including a center structure-cell, a first cover, and a second cover, the method comprising:
- at least one of:
- (a) form fitting each atomic sensor component of a first set of atomic sensor components into a unique recess in the first cover and (b) affixing each atomic sensor component of a second set of atomic sensor components to a pedestal surface of a unique pedestal projecting from the first cover;
- at least one of:
- (a) form fitting each atomic sensor component of a third set of atomic sensor components into a unique recess in the second cover and/or (b) affixing each atomic sensor component of a fourth set of atomic sensor components to a pedestal surface of a unique pedestal projecting from the second cover;
- aligning each guide hole of a first set of guide holes in the first cover is aligned with a unique guide hole of a second set of guide holes in the center structure-cell, and inserting an alignment pin into each aligned pair of a guide hole of the first set of guide holes and a guide hole of the second set of guide holes;
- and
- aligning each guide hole of a third set of guide holes in the second cover with a unique guide hole of a fourth set of guide holes in the center structure-cell, and inserting an alignment pin into each aligned pair of a guide hole of the third set of guide holes and a guide hole of the fourth set of guide holes;
- wherein each atomic sensor component of the first set of atomic sensor components and the second set of atomic sensor components is self-aligned with respect to at least one of a portion of the center structure-cell and an atomic sensor component of one of the third set of atomic sensor components or the fourth set of atomic sensor components;
- wherein each atomic sensor component of the third set of atomic sensor components and the fourth set of atomic sensor components is self-aligned with respect to at least one of a portion of the center structure-cell and an atomic sensor component of the first set of atomic sensor components or the second set of atomic sensor components.
6 more elements
An atomic sensor, comprising:
- a center structure-cell (SC) comprising a center structure, a cell which is in the center structure and which contains a vapor of atoms, and a first set of guide holes, a first SC surface and a second SC surface opposite the first SC surface;
- a first cover comprising (a) a second set of guide holes and (b) at least one of:
- a first set of recesses in a first surface of the first cover and a first set of pedestals projecting from the first surface of the first cover, wherein each recess of the first set of recesses is form fitted with either a first wire coil, a first mirror, or a first photosensor, and wherein either the first wire coil, the first mirror, or the first photosensor is mounted on each pedestal of the first set of pedestals;
- and
- a second cover comprising (a) a third set of guide holes and (b) at least one of:
- a second set of recesses in a second surface of the second cover and a second set of pedestals projecting from the second surface of the second cover, wherein each recess of the second set of recesses is form fitted with either a photonic grating, a second wire coil, a second mirror, or a second photosensor, and wherein either the photonic grating, the second wire coil, the second mirror, or the second photosensor is mounted on each pedestal of the second set of pedestals;
- wherein the first cover is mechanically attached to the center structure-cell;
- wherein the first surface is adjacent to the first SC surface;
- wherein the second cover is mechanically attached to the center structure-cell;
- wherein the second surface is adjacent to the second SC surface;
- wherein each guide hole of the first set of guide holes configured to be aligned, with a guide hole of at least one of the second set of guide holes and the third set of guide holes, forming a set of aligned guide holes;
- wherein a component on a pedestal or in a recess of the first cover or the second cover is self-aligned with at least one of a portion of the center structure-cell and another component on another pedestal or in another recess of respectively the second cover or the first cover.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.