Bi-directionally actuated thin membrane mirror

• US 20060114585A1
• Filed: 11/30/2004
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Ho, James G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,192,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 359/846
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/06 for controlling the phase of light G02B26/08 takes precedence , measuring optical phase difference G01J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/0825 the reflecting element being a flexible sheet or membrane, e.g. for varying the focus flexible mirrors for cosmetic use A45D42/24

Abstract

A deformable membrane mirror and a related method for its use, the mirror including a deformable membrane having a reflective front face and a back face, and further including electrodes located on both sides of the membrane, to provide a desired surface contour without imparting a concave bias to the membrane. The electrodes include a first set of electrodes spaced from the back face of the membrane, and at least one additional electrode spaced from the front face of the membrane.

Claims

1. A thin membrane deformable mirror, comprising:

a deformable membrane having a mirrored front face and a back face;

a mirror frame for supporting the deformable membrane;

a set of independently controllable electrodes spaced from the back face of the membrane;

at least one additional electrode spaced from the front face of the membrane; and

means for applying actuating electrical voltages to the set of electrodes, to deform the membrane to a desired surface profile needed to apply wavefront corrections to an optical beam impinging on the mirror, and to the at least one additional electrode, to compensate at least in part for any concave bias in the surface profile resulting from actuation of the set of electrodes.

2. A thin membrane deformable mirror as defined in claim 1, and further comprising:

a substrate supporting the set of electrodes spaced from the back face of the membrane; and

a spacer member supported on the substrate;

wherein the deformable membrane is, in turn, supported on the spacer member, to maintain the set of electrodes at a desired distance from the deformable membrane.

3. A thin membrane deformable mirror as defined in claim 2, and further comprising:

an aperture plate supported on the frame and providing support for the at least one additional electrode;

wherein the aperture plate has an aperture through which the optical beam is directed.

4. A thin membrane deformable mirror as defined in claim 3, wherein:

the means for applying actuating electrical voltages include a conductive coating on the mirror frame and the aperture plate.

5. A thin membrane deformable mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein:

the deformable membrane has a conductive layer on the back face.

6. A method for deforming a thin membrane deformable mirror, comprising the steps of:

holding a deformable membrane in a mirror frame, the deformable membrane having a mirrored front face and a back face;

locating a set of electrodes in spaced relation to the back face of the deformable membrane;

locating at least one additional electrode in spaced relation to the front face of the deformable membrane;

applying voltage control signals to the set of electrodes and to the at least one additional electrode; and

deforming the deformable mirror to attain a surface profile to effect wavefront corrections to an optical beam impinging on the mirror, without imposing a concave bias on the surface profile.