Positioning mechanism for aligning an optical device and an image sensor
AssigneeRaytheon Canada Limited
InventorPeter Rozitis
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A positioning mechanism for aligning an optical device and an image sensor is disclosed. The positioning mechanism includes a base operable with a support for an image sensor, a tube operable with an optical device, and an adjuster disposed between the base and the tube. In one aspect, the adjuster is positionable relative to the base in a translational degree of freedom and two rotational degrees of freedom. In another aspect, the tube is positionable relative to the adjuster in two translational degrees of freedom, and a rotational degree of freedom.
Claims20
A positioning mechanism for aligning an optical device and an image sensor, comprising:
- a base operable with a support for an image sensor;
- a tube operable with an optical device;
- and
- an adjuster disposed between the base and the tube,
- wherein the adjuster is positionable relative to the base along an axis in a translational degree of freedom and about two axes in two rotational degrees of freedom, and
- wherein, at an interface of the adjuster and the tube, the tube is positionable relative to the adjuster along two axes in two translational degrees of freedom, and about an axis in a rotational degree of freedom.
An optics system, comprising:
- an optical device;
- an image sensor mounted on a support;
- and
- a positioning mechanism for aligning the optical device and the image sensor, the positioning mechanism having
- a base coupled to the image sensor support,
- a tube coupled to the optical device, and
- an adjuster disposed between the base and the tube,
- wherein the adjuster is positionable relative to the base along an axis in a translational degree of freedom and about two axes in two rotational degrees of freedom, and
- wherein, at an interface of the adjuster and the tube, the tube is positionable relative to the adjuster along at least two axes in at least two translational degrees of freedom, and about an axis in a rotational degree of freedom to align the optical device relative to the image sensor.
A method of facilitating alignment of an optical device and an image sensor, comprising:
- providing a positioning mechanism for aligning an optical device relative to an image sensor, the positioning mechanism having
- a base operable with a support for the image sensor,
- a tube operable with the optical device, and
- an adjuster disposed between the base and the tube;
- facilitating movement of the adjuster relative to the base along an axis in a translational degree of freedom and about two axes in two rotational degrees of freedom;
- and
- facilitating, at an interface of the adjuster and the tube, movement of the tube relative to the adjuster along two axes in two translational degrees of freedom, and about an axis in a rotational degree of freedom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.