Optical element retainers

• US 11,143,838 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2019
• Issued: 10/12/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2019
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: N2 Imaging Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: N2 Imaging Systems LLC
• Inventors: Zack, Darren M., Meyer, Jay, Jun, Justin, Richman, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Lei, Jie
• Application Number:
  US16/242,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20200218029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 359819, 359820, 359808, 359811, 359818, 359611, 359703, 359704, 359740, 359900
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/004 Manual alignment, e.g. micromanipulators
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/021 for more than one lens
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/023 permitting adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/026 using retaining rings or springs G02B7/027 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 7/028 with means for compensating for changes in temperature or for controlling the temperature; thermal stabilisation

Abstract

An optical element retainer includes a ring body defined about a central axis. The ring body includes an inner diametric surface, an outer diametric surface opposed to the inner diametric surface, a first annular axial surface, and a plurality of flexures extending from a second annular axial surface opposite the first annular axial surface.

Claims

1. An optical element retainer comprising:

a ring body defined about a central axis and having an inner diametric surface, an outer diametric surface opposed to the inner diametric surface, a first annular axial surface, and a plurality of flexures extending from a second annular axial surface opposite the first annular axial surface, wherein each flexure includes an axially extending base extending from the second annular axial surface to a radially inwardly extending head, wherein a radially inward surface of the head is substantially planar and configured to support along a planar surface of the radially inward surface a polymeric optical element at a surface-to-surface contact while accommodating radial expansion and contraction thereof by radial flexure of the base.

2. The optical element retainer as recited in claim 1, wherein the radially-inward surface the head of each of the flexures has a surface finish characteristic of electrical discharge machining (EDM).

3. The optical element retainer as recited in claim 1, wherein the head of each flexure includes a chin surface facing the second annular axial surface, wherein the chin surface has a surface finish characteristic of lathing.

4. The optical element retainer as recited in claim 1, wherein the flexures number at least sixteen.

5. The optical element retainer as recited in claim 1, wherein the inner and outer diametric surfaces have surface finishes characteristic of lathing.

6. The optical element retainer as recited in claim 1, wherein each flexure includes an outward surface which has a surface finish characteristic of lathing.

7. The optical element retainer as recited in claim 1, wherein each flexure includes a pair of opposed circumferential surfaces, wherein at least one of the circumferential surfaces has a surface finish characteristic of electrical discharge machining (EDM).

8. An optical assembly comprising:

an optical element retainer including a ring body defined about a central axis and having an inner diametric surface, and outer diametric surface opposed to the inner diametric surface, an annular axial surface, and a plurality of flexures extending from a second annular axial surface opposite the first annular axial surface; and

a polymeric optical element assembled to the flexures, wherein each flexure includes an axially extending base extending from the second annular axial surface to a radially inwardly extending head, wherein a radially inward surface of the head is substantially planar and configured to support along a planar surface of the radially inward surface the polymeric optical element at a surface-to-surface contact while accommodating radial expansion and contraction thereof by radial flexure of the base.

9. The assembly as recited in claim 8, wherein the polymeric optical element is a first lens element mounted in a housing and further comprising a plurality of lens elements optically-coupled to the first lens element and mounted in housing.

10. A method of making an optical element retainer comprising:

lathing a ring body having an inner diametric surface, an outer diametric surface opposed to the inner diametric surface, and a first annular axial surface; and

forming with electrical discharge machining (EDM) at least a portion of each flexure in a plurality of flexures extending from a second annular axial surface opposite the first annual surface, wherein each flexure includes an axially extending base extending from the second annular axial surface to a radially inwardly extending head, wherein a radially inward surface of the head is substantially planar and configured to support along a planar surface of the radially inward surface a polymeric optical element at a surface-to-surface contact while accommodating radial expansion and contraction thereof by radial flexure of the base.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising assembly the polymeric lens.

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein forming at least a portion of each flexure includes forming at least sixteen flexures.