Fast steering, deformable mirror system and method for manufacturing the same
AssigneeRaytheon Company
InventorKirk A. MILLER
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fast-steering, deformable mirror system is configured to manipulate a reflective surface in order to control the reflection of electromagnetic radiation off of the reflective surface. The system is configured to steer the reflective surface as a unit, and also to deform the reflective surface. The system is designed to reduce hysteresis in drive signals that control deformation of the reflective surface, to maintain an overall size and/or footprint of conventional fast-steering, non-deformable mirror systems, and/or provide other enhancements.
Claims16
A fast-steering, deformable mirror system comprising:
- a base;
- a deformable mirror assembly comprising a reflective surface and a plurality of deformation actuators configured to controllably deform the reflective surface, wherein the deformable mirror assembly is mounted to the base such that the deformable mirror assembly is movable as a unit with respect to the base with at least two degrees of freedom;
- a mirror steering assembly configured to actuate the deformable mirror assembly as a unit with respect to the base;
- and
- an electrical mirror interface physically connected to each of the base and the deformable mirror assembly, the electrical mirror interface being configured to convey control signals from a drive circuit to the deformable mirror assembly that drive the deformation actuators, the electrical mirror interface being formed in part from an elastically resilient polymer material.
A method of manufacturing a fast-steering, deformable mirror system, the method comprising:
- mounting a base and a deformable mirror assembly such that the deformable mirror assembly is movable as a unit with respect to the base with at least two degrees of freedom, wherein the deformable mirror assembly comprises a reflective surface and a plurality of deformation actuators configured to controllably deform the reflective surface;
- providing a mirror steering assembly on the base, the mirror steering assembly being configured to actuate the deformable mirror assembly as a unit with respect to the base;
- connecting an electrical mirror interface physically to each of the base and the deformable mirror assembly, the electrical mirror interface being configured to convey control signals from a drive circuit to the deformable mirror assembly that drive the deformation actuators, the electrical mirror interface being formed in part from an elastically resilient polymer material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.