Mirror mounting structures and methods for scanners employing limited rotation motors

• US 7,471,432 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2007
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Novanta Corporation (Novanta Inc.)
• Original Assignee: GSI Group Corporation (Novanta Inc.)
• Inventors: Pruyn, Kristopher
• Primary Examiner(s): AMARI, ALESSANDRO V
• Application Number:
  US11/734,080
• Publication Number:
  US 20070183067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 359/198, 359/199, 359/200, 359/202, 359212-214, 359/871, 359/872, 359/877, 359/881
• US Class Current: 359/198.1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 26/105 with one or more pivoting mirrors or galvano-mirrors G02B26/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/1821 for rotating or oscillating mirrors

Abstract

A scanning assembly is disclosed for providing controlled movement of a mirror. The scanning assembly includes a motor shaft of a limited rotation motor, a scanning device, and a scanning device mounting unit. The mirror mounting unit includes a tapered base for coupling the scanning device mounting unit to the output shaft of the limited rotation motor. One of the tapered base and the output shaft includes a cylindrical tapered male plug having a decreasing inner diameter that decreases along a direction of coupling of the tapered base and the output shaft for engaging the tapered base to the output shaft. The tapered base includes an overall taper angle of at most about 4.0 degrees from the rotational axis of the output shaft.

Claims

1. A scanning assembly for providing controlled movement of a mirror, said scanning assembly comprising a motor output shaft of a limited rotation motor, a scanning device, and a scanning device mounting unit, said scanning device mounting unit comprising a tapered base for coupling the scanning device mounting unit to the motor output shaft of the limited rotation motor, one of said tapered base and the motor output shaft including a cylindrical tapered male plug having a decreasing inner diameter that decreases along a direction of coupling of the tapered base and the motor output shaft for engaging the tapered base to the motor output shaft, said tapered base including an overall taper angle of at most about 4.0 degrees from the rotational axis of the motor output shaft.

2. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tapered base is a tapered male plug for engaging a female end of the motor output shaft.

3. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tapered base is a tapered female end for engaging a male end of the motor output shaft.

4. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tapered base includes a taper angle of between about 1.7 degrees from the rotational axis of the motor output shaft to about 4.0 degrees from the longitudinal axis of the motor output shaft.

5. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tapered base is formed of a material that is different than a material of the motor output shaft.

6. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mirror is cemented into a slotted opening in said mirror mounting unit.

7. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a taper angle on the tapered base and an engagement length are selected such that an interface between the base and the motor output shaft forms a permanent lock.

8. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein a taper angle on the tapered base and an engagement length are selected such that an interface between the base and motor the output shaft forms a non-permanent engagement of the plug and the motor output shaft.

9. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tapered base is bonded to the motor output shaft.

10. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanning device mounting unit is formed of any of silicon carbide, titanium, and beryllium.

11. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanning device is coupled to said scanning device mounting unit via a receiving means for receiving said scanning device on said scanning device mounting unit.

12. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanning device is integrally formed with said scanning device mounting unit as a unitary structure.

13. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tapered base includes a taper that is linear.

14. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanning assembly is provided in a laser drilling system.

15. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanning assembly is provided in a laser marking system.

16. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanning assembly is provided in a substrate machining system.

17. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said scanning assembly is provided in a laser trimming system.

18. A scanning assembly for providing controlled movement of a mirror, said scanning assembly comprising a motor output shaft of a limited rotation motor, a scanning device, and a scanning device mounting unit, said scanning device mounting unit comprising a tapered base for coupling the scanning device mounting unit to the motor output shaft of the limited rotation motor, one of said tapered base and the motor output shaft including a tapered male plug having a decreasing inner dimension that decreases along a direction of coupling of the tapered base and the motor output shaft for engaging the tapered base to the motor output shaft, said tapered base including a taper angle of between about 1.7 degrees and about 4.0 degrees from the rotational axis of the output shaft.

19. The scanning assembly as claimed in claim 18, wherein no adhesive is required to maintain contact between the tapered base and the motor output shaft during assembly, yet re-adjustment of the angular position of the motor output shaft during assembly and alignment of the mirror mounting unit is permitted.

20. A scanning assembly for providing controlled movement of a mirror, said scanning assembly comprising a motor output shaft of a limited rotation motor, a scanning device, and a scanning device mounting unit, said scanning device mounting unit comprising a tapered base for coupling the scanning device mounting unit to the motor output shaft of the limited rotation motor, one of said tapered base and the motor output shaft including a tapered male plug having a decreasing inner dimension that decreases along a direction of coupling of the tapered base and the motor output shaft for engaging the tapered base to the motor output shaft, said tapered base including an overall taper angle of at most about 4.0 degrees from the rotational axis of the motor output shaft, and said scanning device mounting unit being formed of any of silicon carbide, titanium, and beryllium.