Controlling mirror shape for generating interference patterns and the like
AssigneeLucent Technolgies Inc.
InventorsBenjamin J. Eggleton, Kenneth S. Feder, Mikhail Sumetskiy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A reflecting apparatus includes a flexible mirror and at least one rocker arm coupling an applied force to a plurality of spaced-apart locations on the mirror to adjust the shape of the mirror. The reflecting apparatus may be used in an interferometer in the path of one of the interfering beams, and adjustments of the shape of the mirror may be used to control the interference pattern generated. The interference pattern created by the apparatus may be used to create fiber Bragg gratings and phase masks, including chirped gratings and masks. An interferometer may use such a reflecting apparatus in the path of each interfering beam.
Claims32
An arrangement having a first reflecting apparatus, the first reflecting apparatus comprising:
- (a) a first mirror;
- (b) a first support structure configured to support the first mirror;
- and
- (c) a first mirror-flexing assembly configured to apply force to the supported first mirror, wherein:
- the first mirror-flexing assembly comprises:
- (1) a first rocker-arm sub-assembly comprising a rocker arm and two force-distribution members spaced apart on the rocker arm and configured to contact at two different locations on the supported first mirror;
- and
- (2) a first force generator configured to generate a force that is pivotably applied to a pivot point of the rocker arm, wherein the force is applied through the force-distribution members to affect the shape of the supported first mirror.
A method, comprising the steps of:
- (a) supporting a first mirror of a first reflecting apparatus of an arrangement using a first support structure;
- (b) applying force to the supported first mirror using a first mirror-flexing assembly, wherein:
- the first mirror-flexing assembly comprises:
- (1) a first rocker-arm sub-assembly comprising a rocker arm and two force-distribution members spaced apart on the rocker arm and configured to contact at two different locations on the supported first mirror;
- and
- (2) a first force generator configured to generate a force that is pivotably applied to a pivot point of the rocker arm, wherein the force is applied through the force-distribution members to affect the shape of the supported first mirror.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.