Scanning monochromator
AssigneeIMO Industries, Inc.
InventorsRobert J. Krupa, Edward E. Owen, Stanley L. Shiller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In its preferred embodiment, a scanning monochromator uses a pulse-driven micro-stepping motor to drive a spectral-dispersion element via a reduction-gear harmonic drive. The motor is directly coupled to the input hub of the reduction-gear drive, and the output hub of the reduction-gear drive directly supports the spectral-dispersion element. By selecting a motor with a great number of steps per revolution, and a harmonic drive with a great reduction ratio, a resolution of 5 million pulsed steps is available, per single rotation of the output hub of the reduction-gear drive. This translates into more than 600,000 incremental angular-displacement steps over a usable 45.degree. range of dispersion-element rotation.
Claims16
A scanning monochromator system, comprising a system housing, including means defining an entrance aperture and means defining an exit aperture, a diffraction grating mounted for rotation within said housing and arranged for spectral dispersion of radiation passing through said entrance aperture for transmission toward said exit aperture, a gear-reducing harmonic drive mounted to said housing and having an output hub within said housing, a turntable mounting said diffraction grating and connected for direct-drive rotation by said output hub, brake means reacting between said turntable and said housing for imposing torsional drag on rotation of said turntable, a micro-stepping motor connected for direct-drive rotation of said harmonic drive, and control means including a pulse counter and means for supplying stepping-pulse signals to said motor.
A scanning monochromator system, comprising a system housing, including means defining an entrance aperture and means defining an exit aperture, a diffraction grating mounted for rotation within said housing and arranged for spectral dispersion of radiation passing through said entrance aperture for transmission toward said exit aperture, a gear-reducing harmonic drive mounted to said housing and having an output hub within said housing and an input hub that is accessible externally of said housing, a turntable mounting said diffraction grating and connected for direct-drive rotation by said output hub, brake means reacting between said turntable and said housing for imposing torsional drag on rotation of said turntable, drive means including an electric motor and speed-reduction means connected for direct drive of said input hub, and control means including angle-sensing means responsive to instantaneous angular orientation of said input hub.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.