Multiple axis reticle

• US 4,957,357 A
• Filed: 10/06/1989
• Issued: 09/18/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The United States of America As Represented By The Secretary of Agriculture
• Original Assignee: United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration
• Inventors: Barns, Chris E., Gunter, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US07/418,374
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 350/565, 350/566, 350/576, 33/233, 33/245, 33/246, 33/253, 33/261, 33/297, 33/289, 33/299
• US Class Current: 359/505
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/32 Fiducial marks and measuring scales within the optical system
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/64 Imaging systems using optical elements for stabilisation of the lateral and angular position of the image

Abstract

A reticle (10) permits the alignment of three orthogonal axes (X, Y and Z) that intersect at a common target point (30). Thin, straight filaments (12, 14 and 16) are supported on a frame (20). The filaments are each contained in a different orthogonal plane (S_xy, S_xz, and S_yz) and each filament intersects two of the three orthogonal axes. The filaments, as viewed, along the frame axis (22), give the appearance of a triange (24) with a V (17) extending from each triangle vertex (25, 26, and 27). When axial alignment is achieved, the filament portions adjacent to a triangle vertex are seen (along the axis of interest) as a right-angle cross, whereas these filament portions are seen to intersect at an oblique angle when axial misalignment occurs. The reticle is open in the region near the target point leaving ample space for alignment aids such as a pentaprism 54 or a cube mirror 41.

Claims

1. A three-axis reticle comprising a frame having an axis, three straight filaments supported by said frame, each filament occupying a different orthogonal plane, and said filaments arranged to form, as viewed along the frame axis, a triangle with a V extending from each triangle vertex.

2. A three-axis reticle as set forth in claim 1 further including adjustment means for moving each filament within its respective plane.

3. A three-axis reticle as claimed in claim 2 wherein said adjustment means includes a micrometer screw device coupled to each filament end for moving the corresponding filament end in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the filament.

4. A three-axis reticle as set forth in claim 1 wherein said frame has a cylindrical shape.

5. A three-axis reticle as described in claim 1 wherein said triangle is an equilateral triangle.

6. A reticle for aligning three orthogonal axes that intersect at a common point comprising:

a frame having an axis, three straight filaments supported by said frame in spaced apart relationship, each filament occupying a different orthogonal plane and intersecting two of the three orthogonal axes, and said filaments arranged to form, as viewed along the frame axis, a triangle with a V extending from each triangle vertex.

7. Apparatus for aligning three orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes that intersect at a common target point comprising:

a reticle having a frame with first, second, and third straight filaments supported thereon;

said first, second and third filaments occupying orthogonal planes that contain said X, Y, and Z axes, respectively;

said frame having an axis and said filaments appearing, when viewed along said frame axis, to form triangle with a V extending from each triangle vertex;

said reticle, when viewed along each of the orthogonal axes, presenting an image of a cross centered on one of said vertexes.

8. Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 including means for sighting along each of the three orthogonal axes.

9. Apparatus as described in claim 8 further including a pentaprism and a support for positioning said pentaprism at said target point, said pentaprism enabling sighting from one orthogonal axis to another.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 wherein a cube mirror is located at said target point and said sighting means includes means for autocollimating on three sides of said cube.

11. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 further including adjustment means for moving each filament within its respective plane.

12. Alignment apparatus for aligning three orthogonal X, Y, and Z axes which intersect at a common target point comprising:

a frame, first, second, and third linear wire filaments each having first and second end portions, said filaments being supported by said frame, said first filament occupying a a plane containing said Y and Z axes, said second filament occupying a plane containing said X and Z axes, said third filament occupying a plane containing said X and Y axes, said first end portion of said first filament and said second end portion of said third filament intersecting said Y axis, said second end portion of said first filament and said first end portion of said second filament intersecting said Z axis, said second end portion of said second filament and said first end portion of said third filament intersecting said X axis whereby the filament end portions form a cross when viewed along the orthogonal axis which they intersect.

13. Alignment apparatus as set forth in claim 12 including means for sighting along each of the three orthogonal axes.

14. Alignment apparatus as described in claim 13 further including a pentaprism and a platform for positioning said pentaprism at said target point, said pentaprism enabling sighting from one orthogonal axis to another.

15. Alignment apparatus as described in claim 13 wherein a cube mirror is located at said target point and said sighting means includes means for autocollimating on the three sides of said cube associated with the X, Y, and Z axes, respectively.

16. Alignment apparatus as set forth in claim 12 further including means for positioning each wire within its respective plane.

17. Alignment apparatus as described in claim 16 wherein said positioning means includes a micrometer screw device coupled to each wire end for moving the corresponding filament end in a direction normal to the wire longitudinal axis.

18. Alignment apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said frame has a cylindrical shape.

19. Alignment apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein said triangle is an equilateral triangle.