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US 9,314,980 B2Granted
High correctability deformable mirror
AssigneeGoodrich Corporation
InventorBari M. Southard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A telescope, mirror assembly and method of forming an aspheric mirror is disclosed. The telescope includes the mirror assembly which has a substantially spherical surface contour in a relaxed state. A plurality of actuators distributed substantially along an outer edge of the mirror is configured to apply a load to the mirror assembly to deform the mirror to obtain a substantially aspheric surface contour.
Claims20
A method of forming an aspheric mirror, comprising:
- manufacturing a mirror segment having a substantially spherical surface contour;
- attaching actuator assemblies at a plurality of contact points along an outer edge of the mirror segment, wherein an actuator assembly includes a first pair of actuators for controlling a radial force and a tangential moment on the mirror segment at the contact point and a second pair of actuators for controlling an axial force and a radial moment on the mirror segment at the contact point;
- and
- activating the actuator assemblies to apply a load to deform the mirror segment to a substantially aspheric surface contour,
- wherein the mirror segment includes a central hole that defines an inner edge of the mirror segment, further comprising attaching actuator assemblies at each of a plurality of contact points along the inner edge of the mirror segment and activating the actuator assemblies along the inner edge of the mirror segment.
2 more elements
A mirror assembly, comprising:
- a mirror segment having a substantially spherical surface contour in a relaxed state;
- a plurality of actuator assemblies attached to the mirror segment at a plurality of contact points distributed substantially along an outer edge of the mirror segment, wherein an actuator assembly includes a first pair of actuators for controlling a radial force and a tangential moment on the mirror segment at the contact point and a second pair of actuators for controlling an axial force and a radial moment on the mirror segment at the contact point;
- and
- a processor to activate each of the plurality of actuator assemblies to apply a load to deform the mirror segment to a substantially aspheric surface contour,
- wherein the mirror segment includes a central hole that defines an inner edge of the mirror segment and a plurality of actuator assemblies are configured to apply a radial force, axial force, radial moment, and tangential moment substantially simultaneously at each of a plurality of contact points along the inner edge.
2 more elements
A telescope, comprising:
- a mirror segment having a substantially spherical surface contour in a relaxed state;
- a plurality of actuator assemblies attached to the mirror segment at a plurality of contact points distributed substantially along an outer edge of the mirror segment, wherein an actuator assembly includes a first pair of actuators for controlling a radial force and a tangential moment on the mirror segment at the contact point and a second pair of actuators for controlling an axial force and a radial moment on the mirror segment at the contact point;
- and
- a processor to activate each of the plurality of actuator assemblies to apply a load to deform the mirror segment to a substantially aspheric surface contour,
- wherein the mirror segment includes a central hole that defines an inner edge of the mirror segment and a plurality of actuator assemblies are configured to apply a radial force, axial force, radial moment, and tangential moment substantially simultaneously at each of a plurality of contact points along the inner edge.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.