Self-aligning deflector device for transmission line offset correction

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10162138-B2
Application number	US-201615259278-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 8, 2016
Priority date	Sep 8, 2016
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

Disclosed is a self-aligning mirror device for transmission line offset correction. The disclosed self-aligning mechanism automatically adjusts deflectors to couple radiation between two or more offset waveguides or optical fibers.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A self-aligning waveguide deflector device which automatically adjusts deflectors present in the device, to thereby couple radiation between two or more offset or non-collinear locations or points, the device comprising:
a first base platform and a second base platform;
a first lower control arm connected to each of the first base platform the second base platform via pivots;
a second lower control arm connected to each of the first base platform and the second base platform via pivots;
wherein the first lower control arm, the second lower control arm and the pivots upon which they are mounted define a first parallelogram;

a first moveable waveguide deflector mount mounted via a centrally located pivot to the first base platform;
a second moveable waveguide deflector mount mounted via a centrally located pivot to the second base platform;
a first upper control arm mounted via the said centrally ted pivots;
a second upper control arm mounted via pivots to the first moveable waveguide deflector mount and the second moveable waveguide deflector mount;
wherein the first upper control arm, the second upper control arm and the pivots Ripon which they are mounted define a second parallelogram;

a control rod extending outwardly from the first waveguide deflector mount and which is perpendicular to the centrally located pivot of the first waveguide deflector mount, a portion of the control rod in sliding engagement with a sleeved pivot, sleeved pivot mounted in a first equalizer arm and in a second equalizer arm,
the first equalizer arm mounted via a pivot to a part of the first base platform;
the second equalizer arm mounted via a pivot to a part of the second upper control arm;
wherein the distance from the sleeved pivot and the further pivot of the first equalizer arm is equal to the distance from the sleeved pivot and the further pivot of the second control arm; and, and the distance between the centrally located pivot of the first waveguide deflector mount and the further pivot of the first equalizer arm is equal to the centrally located pivot of the first waveguide deflector mount and the further pivot of the second equalizer arm;

and, the first base platform and the second base platform are moveable with respect to one another; wherein
a first waveguide deflector (mirror) at a determined distance from a first offset waveguide creates a first focal length;
a second waveguide deflector (mirror) at a determined distance from a second offset waveguide creates a second focal length,
wherein the distance between the first mirror and second minor create a third focal length, and the angles between the first and second focal lengths, and third focal length are alternate interior angles, congruent to one another and bisected by the center of the mirrors to allow for wave passage.

2. The waveguide device of claim 1 , wherein the distance from one waveguide to the first mirror is 1 focal length, the distance between the two mirrors is 2 focal lengths, and the distance from the second mirror to the second waveguide is 1 focal length.

3. A method for coupling two waveguides or radiation sources/radiation collectors which are offset or non-collinear with respect to each other, which method includes the steps of:
providing a self-aligning device according to claim 1 , and
utilizing the said device deflect radiation passing through the said device.

4. The waveguide deflector device of claim 1 , wherein the said first, second, and third focal lengths have a ratio of 1-2-1 focal lengths respectively.

5. The waveguide deflector device of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the deflectors present in the device are mirrors.

6. The waveguide deflector device of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the deflectors present in the device are flat mirrors.

7. The waveguide deflector device of claim 1 , wherein one or more of the deflectors are minors which comprise waves with small spot sizes.

8. The waveguide deflector device of claim 7 , wherein the waves with small spot sizes are lasers.

9. The waveguide deflector device of claim 1 which further includes at least one spring.

Assignees

• Univ Princeton

Inventors

• Gomez Michael G
• Bagley Cara A
• Tobias Benjamin J
• Zolfaghari Ali
• Gerakis Alexandros
• DEMETILLO Mary Angelique

Classifications

• F16H35/18

  Turning devices for rotatable members, e.g. shafts · CPC title

• G02B6/4244

  Mounting of the optical elements · CPC title

• G02B7/1824

  Manual alignment · CPC title

• G02B6/4226 Primary

  Positioning means for moving the elements into alignment, e.g. alignment screws, deformation of the mount · CPC title

• F16H21/44

  for conveying or interconverting oscillating or reciprocating motions · CPC title