Technique and apparatus using a moveable weak lens
AssigneeSpectra-Physics Laserplane, Inc.
InventorsJohn P. Dugan, James N. Hayes, Steve M. Elliott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An assembly for use in a laser instrument which produces a plane of laser light by reflection from a cone. The assembly includes a weak focusing lens which improves the control over the planarity of the plane of light produced. Because it is weak, the weak focusing lens can be positioned over a relatively large distance to produce slight changes in the focus of the beam which is reflected to produce the plane of light. Critical, time consuming, and expensive manufacturing requirements can be relaxed, while improved performance results in superior laser instruments.
Claims20
A laser instrument assembly for producing a laser light along a predetermined axis, said assembly comprising:
- a laser light source for generating said laser light;
- at least one focusing lens for focusing at least one portion of said laser light;
- a lens carrier for securing said focusing lens so as to intercept said at least one portion of said laser light;
- a plurality of radial leaf springs for supporting said lens carrier and said focusing lens;
- and
- adjustment means for displacing at least one of said plurality of radial leaf springs such that said focusing lens is displaced in a direction which is at an angle relative to said predetermined axis to direct said portion of said laser light source along said predetermined axis.
In a laser instrument, an assembly for producing a plane of laser light, said assembly comprising:
- a nearly collimating lens having a back focus distance defined along the focal axis thereof:
- a small laser light source substantially positioned at the back focus distance of said nearly collimating leans and oriented such that said collimated lens receives at least a portion of the laser light from said laser light source;
- a weak focusing lens disposed along the focal axis and spaced from said nearly collimating lens to receive said portion of said laser light;
- a lens carrier for mounting said focusing lens;
- a plurality of radial leaf springs for supporting said lens carrier and said focusing lens such that said focusing lens receives said portion of the laser light;
- adjustment means for displacing at least one of said plurality of radial leaf springs such that said focusing lens is proportionally displaced along at least one displacement axis which is at an angle relative to the focal axis of said nearly collimating lens to direct said portion of said laser light source along the focal axis;
- and
- a reflective cone positioned along said focal axis to reflect at least some of said portion of laser light substantially radially in an arc to produce a plane of light;
- whereby the spacing between said weak focusing lens and said nearly collimating lens provides fine control over the focus of said portion of laser light and, thereby, provides fine control over the planarity of said plane of light.
A method for adjusting the path of laser light in a laser instrument, said laser instrument having a housing, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a lens;
- mounting said lens in a lens carrier;
- mounting a plurality of radial leaf springs on said lens carrier and said housing, said radial leaf springs being mounted so as to position said lens to receive said laser light;
- and
- using adjustment means associated with at least one of said radial leaf springs to displace said at least one of said radial leaf springs whereby said lens is proportionally displaced along an axis at an angle to the path of said laser light to adjust the path of said laser light.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.