Optical element support structure and methods of using and making the same
AssigneeSiwave, Inc.
InventorsRobert John Calvet, Roman Carlos Gutierrez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Optical element support structures and methods of using and making the same. One support structure is configured to restrain an optical element in at least two degrees of freedom. The structure comprises a first jaw, a first flexure, a second jaw and a second flexure. The first jaw has a first jaw face configured to contact the optical element. The first flexure is attached to the first jaw. The second jaw has a second jaw face configured to contact the optical element. The second flexure is attached to the second jaw. The first jaw face and the second jaw face are configured to restrain the optical element in at least two degrees of freedom.
Claims58
A support structure configured to restrain an optical element in at least two degrees of freedom, the structure comprising:
- a first jaw with a first jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- a first flexure attached to the first jaw;
- a second jaw with a second jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- and
- a second flexure attached to the second jaw, wherein the first jaw face and the second jaw face are configured to restrain the optical element in at least two degrees of freedom, wherein the first flexure comprises a first collinear pair of plates, and the second flexure comprises a second collinear pair of plates.
A support structure configured to restrain an optical element in at least two degrees of freedom, the structure comprising:
- a first jaw with a first jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- a first flexure attached to the first jaw;
- a second jaw with a second jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- and
- a second flexure attached to the second jaw, wherein the first jaw face and the second jaw face are configured to restrain the optical element in at least two degrees of freedom;
- wherein the two restrained degrees of freedom comprise a first vector parallel with at least one flexure and a rotation about a second vector substantially perpendicular to the plane of at least one flexure.
A support structure configured to restrain an optical element in at least two degrees of freedom, the structure comprising:
- a first jaw with a first jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- a first flexure attached to the first jaw;
- a second jaw with a second jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- and
- a second flexure attached to the second jaw, wherein the first jaw face and the second jaw face are configured to restrain the optical element in at least two degrees of freedom;
- wherein the first flexure allows a portion of the first jaw to twist away from the optical element as the optical element contacts the first jaw face.
A support structure configured to restrain an optical element in at least two degrees of freedom, the structure comprising:
- a first jaw with a first jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- a first flexure attached to the first jaw;
- a second jaw with a second jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- and a second flexure attached to the second jaw, wherein the first jaw face and the second jaw face are configured to restrain the optical element in at least two degrees of freedom;
- wherein the second jaw face has at least a first surface and a second surface configured to contact the optical element, wherein the surfaces are not parallel;
- wherein a radial flexibility of the second jaw face is substantially equal to 1/Cos θ multiplied by a radial flexibility of the first jaw face, where θ is an angle between a plane of the second flexure in an unflexed state and the first surface.
A support structure configured to restrain an optical element in at least two degrees of freedom, the structure comprising:
- a first jaw with a first jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- a first flexure attached to the first jaw;
- a second jaw with a second jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- and
- a second flexure attached to the second jaw, wherein the first jaw face and the second jaw face are configured to restrain the optical element in at least two degrees of freedom;
- wherein a length of the second flexure is substantially equal to (1/Cos θ)⅓ multiplied by a length of the first flexure.
A support structure configured to restrain an optical element in at least two degrees of freedom, the structure comprising:
- a first jaw with a first jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- a first flexure attached to the first jaw;
- a second jaw with a second jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- a second flexure attached to the second jaw, wherein the first jaw face and the second jaw face are configured to restrain the optical element in at least two degrees of freedom;
- a third flexure attached to the first jaw;
- and
- a fourth flexure attached to the second jaw.
A support structure configured to restrain an optical element in at least two degrees of freedom, the structure comprising:
- a first jaw with a first jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- a first flexure attached to the first jaw;
- a second jaw with a second jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- a second flexure attached to the second jaw;
- a third jaw with a third jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- and
- a third flexure attached to the third jaw, wherein the first, second and third jaw faces are configured to restrain the optical element in at least two degrees of freedom.
A structure configured to restrain an optical fiber in at least two degrees of freedom, the structure comprising:
- a first jaw with a first jaw face configured to contact the fiber;
- a first pair of flexure plates attached to the first jaw;
- a second jaw with a second jaw face configured to contact the fiber;
- and
- a second pair of flexure plates attached to the second jaw, wherein the first jaw face and the second jaw face are configured to restrain the fiber in at least two degrees of freedom and allow the first and second jaws to move in substantially opposite directions perpendicular to a plane of at least one flexure as the fiber enters a recess formed by the first and second jaw faces.
A method of forming an optical element support structure, the method comprising:
- using radiation and a patterned mask to affect pre-determined areas of a photo-sensitive film on a substrate, the mask outlining:
- a first jaw with a first jaw face configured to contact an optical element;
- a first flexure attached to the first jaw;
- a second jaw with a second jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- and
- a second flexure attached to the second jaw, wherein the first jaw face and the second jaw face are configured to restrain the optical element in at least two degrees of freedom;
- and
- using a micromachining process to form the first jaw, first flexure, second jaw and second flexure in the substrate based on the mask outline.
A structure configured to restrain an optical element in at least two degrees of freedom, the structure comprising:
- a frame;
- a first jaw with a first jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- a first flexure attached to the first jaw and the frame;
- a second jaw with a second jaw face configured to contact the optical element;
- and
- a second flexure attached to the second jaw and the frame, wherein the first jaw face and the second jaw face are configured to restrain the optical element in at least two degrees of freedom, wherein the frame, first jaw, first flexure, second jaw and second flexure are formed from a single piece of material with spaces formed in the piece of material to define the frame, first jaw, first flexure, second jaw and second flexure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.