Kinematic and non-kinematic passive alignment assemblies and methods of making the same
AssigneeSiwave, Inc.
InventorsRobert J. Calvet, Roman C. Gutierrez, Tony Kai Tang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Micromachined passive alignment assemblies and methods of using and making the same are provided. The alignment assemblies are used to align at least one optical element. The alignment assemblies may be configured with kinematic, pseudo-kinematic, redundant or degenerate support structures. One alignment assembly comprises a base and a payload, which supports at least one optical element. The payload may be coupled to the base via connecting structures. The base, the payload and/or the connecting structures may have internal flexure assemblies for preloading a connection, thermal compensation and/or strain isolation.
Claims20
An assembly configured to support at least one optical element to a pre-determined position, the assembly comprising:
- a first micromachined structure having three protrusions, each protrusion having a pre-determined height;
- and
- a second micromachined structure having three grooves, each groove having a pre-determined depth, the depth of each groove being less than a height of each protrusion, each groove being configured to contact one of the protrusions and control the protrusion in two degrees of freedom when a preload is applied to the assembly, the grooves and protrusions being configured to constrain the second micromachined structure in only six degrees of freedom with respect to the first micromachined structure, the second micromachined structure being configured to support at least one optical element.
An assembly configured to support at least one optical element, the assembly comprising:
- a first micromachined structure having three protrusions, each protrusion having four sidewalls, each sidewall being substantially perpendicular to a plane of the first micromachined structure, each protrusion having a sidewall facing a center point of the first micromachined structure;
- and
- a second micromachined structure having three grooves, the grooves being configured to contact the protrusions to restrain the second micromachined structure with respect to the first micromachined structure in six degrees-of-freedom (DOFs), the second micromachined structure being configured to support at least one optical element at a pre-determined position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.