Apparatus for alignment of optical elements in an array
AssigneeSol Focus, Inc.
InventorsLawrence Tom, Stephen J. Horne, Mark James Spencer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Apparatus for fabricating an array of aligned optical elements. A base tool is used to receive and align a planar material such as a glass sheet. A template tool is used to deposit secondary mirrors and adhesive patches onto the glass sheet. The adhesive patches are used to receive and mount primary mirrors. The primary mirrors are selectively held by an assembly tool. The primary mirrors are brought into alignment with the glass sheet by using actuators on the base tool and by using a registration mechanism to align the assembly tool with the glass sheet.
Claims20
An apparatus for aligning optical components in an array, the apparatus comprising:
- a planar sheet;
- a first set of through holes in the planar sheet, wherein the through holes in the first set are used to position secondary mirrors onto a surface by using the planar sheet as a template;
- and
- a second set of through holes in the planar sheet, wherein the second set of through holes includes groups of through holes, wherein each group of through holes is associated with a different hole in the first set, wherein the through holes in a particular group in the second set are used to position adhesive patches in a predetermined relationship to a corresponding secondary mirror placed onto the surface using the planar sheet.
An apparatus for aligning optical components in an array, the apparatus comprising:
- a first registration mechanism for registering a material having a surface, wherein the first registration mechanism also provides for registering a template in alignment with the material, wherein the template provides for depositing a plurality of first optical elements and for determining a mounting position for a plurality of second optical elements;
- and
- a second registration mechanism for registering an assembly in alignment with the material, wherein the assembly deposits the second optical elements in a predetermined alignment with at least one first optical elements according to the determined mounting positions.
An apparatus for aligning an array of optical elements, the apparatus comprising:
- means for selectively holding a plurality of primary mirror to the apparatus;
- means for registering the plurality of primary mirrors to a plurality of secondary mirrors.
An apparatus for aligning optical components for use in a photovoltaic array, the apparatus comprising:
- a base tool for receiving a sheet of material;
- a template tool for depositing a plurality of secondary mirrors onto the sheet of material and for depositing adhesive patches onto the sheet of material for securing primary mirrors, wherein each primary mirror is associated with a different one of the secondary mirrors;
- and
- an assembly tool for selectively holding the primary mirrors, wherein the base tool includes a mechanism to bring the assembly tool into alignment with the sheet of material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.