Releasable and stress-free securing assembly for optical elements

• US 6,310,735 B1
• Filed: 05/24/2000
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leica Camera AG (Lisa Germany Holding GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Leica Camera AG (Lisa Germany Holding GmbH)
• Inventors: Best, Stefan Uwe, Schnabel, Rainer
• Primary Examiner(s): Epps, Georgia
• Assistant Examiner(s): SEYRAFI, SAEED HMT
• Application Number:
  US09/576,892
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 359/819, 359/829, 359/830
• US Class Current: 359/819
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/026 using retaining rings or springs G02B7/027 takes precedence

Abstract

A releasable and stress-free securing assembly for an optical element (2, 3) positioned in a centered manner in a mount (1) is provided. The optical element (2, 3) is provided, in the border region which is to be retained, with a beveled surface (6) inclined in the direction of the mount (1). The mount (1) has a groove (4) which is open axially in front of the optical element (2, 3). A ring element (5) which is elastically deformable in the axial direction is pressed in between the beveled surface (6) and groove (4). The angle of inclination of the beveled surface (6) is between 40° and 50°. The boundary (11′) of the groove (4) in the region of the optical element (2, 3) is level with a bevel edge (8), which is oriented toward the mount (1), and the boundary (11) of the groove (4) in front of the optical element (2, 3) is undercut at an angle of from 10° to 15°. The depth of the groove (4) is greater than the radius of the ring element (5) by from 0.15 to 0.2 mm, and a free opening between a bevel edge (10), which is located on the optical element (2, 3) toward the center, and the front edge (12) of the undercut boundary (11) of the groove (4) is equal to 0.8 of the diameter of the ring element (5).

Claims

1. A securing assembly, comprising:

a mount;

an optical element positioned in a centered manner in the mount, the optical element being provided, in a border region which is to be retained, with a beveled surface inclined in the direction of the mount;

a groove, in the mount, which is open axially in front of the optical element; and

a ring element, which is elastically deformable in the axial direction of the mount, pressed in between the beveled surface and groove, wherein

an angle of inclination of the beveled surface is between 40° and

50°

;

a boundary of the groove in the region of the optical element is level with a bevel edge of the beveled surface which is oriented toward the mount, and a boundary of the groove in front of the optical element is undercut at an angle of from 10°

to 15°

,

the depth of the groove is greater than the radius of the ring element by from 0.15 to 0.2 mm, and

a free opening between a bevel edge of the beveled surface which is located toward a centerline of the optical element and a front edge of an undercut boundary of the groove is equal to 0.8 of the diameter of the ring element.

2. The securing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the front edge of the undercut boundary of the groove is rounded.

3. The securing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the Shore hardness of the ring element is approximately 70.

4. The securing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring element is a radial annular spring, wherein ring elements can be indented by the bevel edge of the beveled surface which is located toward the centerline of the optical element.

5. The securing assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ring element is a radial annular spring wherein spring force acts between the beveled surface and the undercut boundary of the groove by inclination of ring elements.