US 2006/0215166 A1Published application

Compact infrared spectrometer, and methods and systems for manufacture and assembly of components used in same

AssigneeWilmington Infrared Technologies, Inc.

InventorMei-Wei Tsao

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A compact spectrometer operable in a wavelength range of 4.5 or more microns includes an entrance slit, a collimating mirror, a grating, a focusing mirror and a first focal plane. At least some radiation passing through the slit follows an optical path in which at least some radiation passing through the slit is reflected by the collimating mirror onto the grating, which in turn reflects at least some radiation onto the focusing mirror, which in turn reflects and focuses at least some radiation at a first focal plane and onto the two-dimensional array of detectors. Each column in the two-dimensional array of detectors corresponds to a wavelength in the 4.5 or more micron range, the two-dimensional array includes a plurality of columns that collectively correspond to wavelengths spanning the 4.5 or more micron range, and each adjacent pair of columns in the two-dimensional array of detectors corresponds to two wavelengths that differ by an equal amount. The entrance slit, the collimating mirror, the grating, the focusing mirror and the first focal plane are positioned within a volume that is equal or less than 192 cubic inches in size.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A method for aligning and coupling an optical component to a substrate with a precision of at least 12.5 microns in position and 0.075 degrees in angular orientation, comprising:

(a) machining an optical component from a material selected from the group consisting of at least one of aluminum, aluminum alloys, stainless steel, nickel, copper and beryllium;
(b) affixing the optical component to a mount having a flat bottom surface that defines a first plane, wherein a cylindrical rod extends away from the flat bottom surface of the mount at an angle perpendicular to the first plane, and wherein at least first and second screws are disposed in first and second cylindrical openings that extend through the bottom surface of the mount, the first and second cylindrical openings in the mount being aligned perpendicular to the first plane and having an inner diameter that matches an outer diameter of the first and second screws;
(c) providing a substrate having a flat upper surface that defines a second plane, wherein a first cylindrical opening extends from the upper surface of the substrate into the substrate at an angle perpendicular to the second plane, and wherein at least second and third threaded openings extend from the upper surface of the substrate into the substrate at an angle perpendicular to the second plane;
(d) positioning the mount with respect to the substrate by simultaneously aligning the metal rod with the first opening in the substrate, the first opening in the mount with the second threaded opening in the substrate, and the second opening in the mount with the third threaded opening in the substrate;
(e) while the mount and the substrate are aligned, inserting the cylindrical rod into the first cylindrical opening in the substrate until the bottom surface of the mount contacts the upper surface of the substrate, wherein, following said inserting, friction between the cylindrical rod and the first opening in the substrate inhibits rotation of the mount about an axis perpendicular to the first and second planes and tightness between the first opening in the substrate and the cylindrical rod restricts lateral movement of the mount with respect to the substrate;
and
(f) after step (e), rotating the first and second screws into the second and third threaded openings respectively in the substrate, whereby the mount is coupled to the substrate with said precision.

4 more elements

A method for aligning and coupling an optical component to a mount with a precision of at least 12.5 microns in position and 0.075 degrees in angular orientation, comprising:

(a) machining an optical component from a material selected from the group consisting of at least one of aluminum, aluminum alloys, stainless steel, nickel, copper and beryllium, wherein said machining includes forming at least first, second and third cylindrical openings in the material, and said second and third cylindrical openings in the material are threaded;
(b) providing a cylindrical rod positioned in the first cylindrical opening in the machined optical component, wherein the cylindrical rod extends away from a flat back surface of the optical component at an angle perpendicular to the flat back surface;
(c) providing a mount having a flat front surface and at least first, second and third cylindrical openings that extend from the flat front surface into the mount at an angle perpendicular to the flat front surface, wherein at least first and second of the plurality of cylindrical openings in the mount pass completely through a thickness of the mount, wherein first and second screws are respectively disposed in the first and second cylindrical openings in the mount, the first and second screws having an outer diameter that matches an inner diameter of the first and second cylindrical openings in the mount;
(d) after step (b), positioning the mount with respect to the optical component by simultaneously aligning the metal rod extending from the optical component with the third opening in the mount, the second threaded opening in the optical component with the first opening in the mount, and third threaded opening in the optical component with the second opening in the mount;
(e) while the mount and the optical component are aligned, pressing the cylindrical rod into the third cylindrical opening in the mount until the back surface of the optical component contacts the front surface of the mount, wherein, following said inserting, friction between the cylindrical rod and the third opening in the mount inhibits rotation of the mount about an axis perpendicular to the front and back surfaces and tightness between the third cylindrical opening in the mount and the cylindrical rod restricts lateral movement of the mount with respect to the optical component;
and
(f) after step (e), rotating the first and second screws into the second and third threaded openings respectively in the optical component, whereby the mount is coupled to the optical component with said precision.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/444,051Filed 31 May 2006
Priority: 22 Jun 2004
Published: 28 Sep 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G01J 3/02
Spectrometry; Spectrophotometry; Monochromators; Measuring colours: details
G01J 3/0202
Details: mechanical elements; Supports for optical elements
G01J 3/0256
Details: compact construction
G01J 3/0264
Details: electrical interface; User interface

Family

Application10/873,780Division · filed 22 Jun 2004
Application11/444,051Division · filed 31 May 2006
US 2005/0279941 A1Published application
US 7,075,082 B2Related patent
US 7,304,814 B2Related patent
US 2006/0215166 A1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.