Optical Mount
AssigneeJAID Technologies, Inc.
InventorFrank DeWitt, IV
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical mount has a component support for an optical component, a clamp member and a frame. The frame has a component support interface that, when positioned against the component support, defines a first spherical curvature for pivoting the component support about a center of curvature. A clamping interface defines a second spherical curvature, concentric with the center of curvature of the component support interface, for pivoting the clamp member. A coupling is configured to urge the clamp member toward the component support against the frame.
Claims20
An optical mount comprising:
- a) a component support for an optical component;
- b) a clamp member;
- c) a frame having:
- (i) a component support interface that, when positioned against the component support, defines a first spherical curvature for pivoting the component support about a center of curvature;
- (ii) a clamping interface that defines a second spherical curvature, concentric with the center of curvature of the component support interface, for pivoting the clamp member;
- and
- d) a coupling that is configured to urge the clamp member and the component support against the frame.
An optical mount comprising:
- a) a frame having a first concave surface and a second convex surface opposite the first concave surface and having a channel extending through the frame between the first and second surfaces;
- b) a pivotable component support for an optical component, the component support having a convex base surface and having a tubular shaft formed to extend into the channel of the frame when the convex base surface is seated against the first concave surface of the frame;
- and
- c) a clamping member that is configured with an extending portion that fits within the tubular shaft of the pivotable component support, wherein the clamping member has a concave clamping surface that is featured for coupling against the second convex surface of the frame.
A method for mounting an optical component, the method comprising:
- providing a frame having:
- (i) a component support interface that defines a first spherical curvature for pivoting a component support about a center of curvature;
- (ii) a clamping interface that defines a second spherical curvature, concentric with the first spherical curvature, for pivoting the clamp member;
- (iii) a channel along an axis extending between the component support interface and the clamping interface;
- pivoting the component support to a rotational position for the optical component;
- urging the component support toward the clamp member by tightening a coupling that extends through the channel;
- and
- fixing the angular position of the component support by an adjustment that directs a force that is orthogonal to the axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.