Laser beam translation system and method
First Claim
1. A light beam translation system comprising:
- a fixed base;
a translatable mirror mount having means for affixing a mirror thereto;
a first and a second arm assembly pivotally attached at lower ends to the base and pivotally attached at upper ends to the mirror mount, each arm assembly comprising a pair of generally upwardly extending arms connected in generally parallel, spaced-apart relation, a front arm attached adjacent a front edge of the base and the mirror mount and a rear arm attached adjacent a rear edge of the base and the mirror mount, the first and the second arm assemblies thereby forming a front and a rear parallelogram-shaped attachment element at a front and a rear of the base and mirror mount, respectively;
a first set of eight flexural pivots for providing the pivotal attachments, each flexural pivot having a thick portion oriented for achieving optimal stability, a first and a second flexural pivot positioned at a junction between the lower ends of the front arms and the base so that the thick portions of a front section thereof are oriented along an outer arc of the pivot, a third and a fourth flexural pivot positioned at a junction between the upper ends of the front arms and the mirror mount so that the thick portions of a front section thereof are oriented along a top arc of the pivot, a fifth and a sixth flexural pivot positioned at a junction between the lower ends of the rear arms and the base so that the thick portions of a front section thereof are oriented along an outer arc of the pivot, and a seventh and an eighth flexural pivot positioned at a junction between the upper ends of the rear arms and the mirror mount so that the thick portions of a front section thereof are oriented along a top arc of the pivot; and
means for translating the mirror mount in a generally horizontal plane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light-translation system includes a fixed base and translatable mirror mount having mirror-supporting brackets. A first and second arm are pivotally attached in parallel, spaced-apart relation adjacent first ends to the base and adjacent second ends to the mirror mount to form a parallelogram-shaped attachment with the base and mirror mount. The pivotal attachments are formed using flexural pivots, each having a thick portion oriented for achieving minimal angular deviation of the mirror. A first bracket has three pads for supporting one side of the mirror. A second bracket has two surfaces shaped to support an edge of the mirror, each surface positioned opposite a pad. A washer dimensioned to admit a mounting screw is positionable opposite a third pad against an outside wall of the mirror mount to removably retain the mirror without imposing appreciable bending stress thereon.
22 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A light beam translation system comprising:
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a fixed base;
a translatable mirror mount having means for affixing a mirror thereto;
a first and a second arm assembly pivotally attached at lower ends to the base and pivotally attached at upper ends to the mirror mount, each arm assembly comprising a pair of generally upwardly extending arms connected in generally parallel, spaced-apart relation, a front arm attached adjacent a front edge of the base and the mirror mount and a rear arm attached adjacent a rear edge of the base and the mirror mount, the first and the second arm assemblies thereby forming a front and a rear parallelogram-shaped attachment element at a front and a rear of the base and mirror mount, respectively;
a first set of eight flexural pivots for providing the pivotal attachments, each flexural pivot having a thick portion oriented for achieving optimal stability, a first and a second flexural pivot positioned at a junction between the lower ends of the front arms and the base so that the thick portions of a front section thereof are oriented along an outer arc of the pivot, a third and a fourth flexural pivot positioned at a junction between the upper ends of the front arms and the mirror mount so that the thick portions of a front section thereof are oriented along a top arc of the pivot, a fifth and a sixth flexural pivot positioned at a junction between the lower ends of the rear arms and the base so that the thick portions of a front section thereof are oriented along an outer arc of the pivot, and a seventh and an eighth flexural pivot positioned at a junction between the upper ends of the rear arms and the mirror mount so that the thick portions of a front section thereof are oriented along a top arc of the pivot; and
means for translating the mirror mount in a generally horizontal plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification