Compact, passively athermalized optical assembly
First Claim
1. Apparatus for providing athermalized collimation of a beam source by a beam collimating means, comprising:
- support means for fixing the beam source at a predetermined position thereon and for thereby defining a light beam optical axis;
flexure plate adapted for aligning the collimating means at a beam collimating means position on the optical axis, and having a kinematic hinge operable to displace the collimating means along the optical axis;
thermal compensation means operatively connected between the support means and the flexure plate, the thermal compensation means having a selected thermal response and being located with respect to the kinematic hinge so as to operate the kinematic hinge and thereby displace the collimating means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical assembly comprises a light beam source, a collimating lens, and a passive thermally-compensated structure. Concentric rings of dissimilar material are supported by a baseplate and arranged to support a flexure plate at a predetermined distance above the baseplate. The collimating lens is mounted on the flexure plate. A difference in the thermal coefficient of expansion of the rings is chosen so that the flexure plate moves to compensate for thermal shifts in system focal length, while maintaining radial and angular alignment of the lens relative to the laser diode source, so as to provide controlled axial movement of the collimating lens.
75 Citations
12 Claims
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1. Apparatus for providing athermalized collimation of a beam source by a beam collimating means, comprising:
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support means for fixing the beam source at a predetermined position thereon and for thereby defining a light beam optical axis; flexure plate adapted for aligning the collimating means at a beam collimating means position on the optical axis, and having a kinematic hinge operable to displace the collimating means along the optical axis; thermal compensation means operatively connected between the support means and the flexure plate, the thermal compensation means having a selected thermal response and being located with respect to the kinematic hinge so as to operate the kinematic hinge and thereby displace the collimating means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification