Precision Optical Mount for Optical Devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018618-A1
Application number	US-201414337034-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 21, 2014
Priority date	Jul 21, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An optical mount and mounting system including an optical device, a housing, and a plurality of optical mounts that couple the optical device to the optical housing. Each mount includes a sleeve attached to the optical device and each sleeve includes a bore. Studs are attached to the optical housing and each stud includes an outer bonding surface extending through the bore of each sleeve. Once the optical device is aligned properly, a curable material is deposited into the sleeve and cured between the sleeve and the stud, such that the curable material couples the sleeve and the stud to each other to provide a robust structural joint that minimizes self-induced stresses into the optic. A series of annular conical portions and corresponding surfaces are provided to retain registration of the optical device against dynamic shearing and bending forces. A method of aligning and mounting an optical device is provided.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An optical device mount, comprising:
a sleeve having a bore defining an inner bonding surface and having an outer portion attached to an optical device; a stud at least partially extending through the bore of the sleeve and having an outer bonding surface, the stud having an optical housing interface that mates to an optical housing; and a curable material deposited within a volume of space defined by the outer bonding surface of the stud and the inner bonding surface of the sleeve.

2 . The optical device mount of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve and the stud are not in direct contact with each other such that the optical device and optical housing are only coupled by the curable material, thereby minimizing or eliminating forces exertable on the optical device.

3 . The optical device mount of claim 1 , wherein the sleeve and the stud are comprised of the same type of material as the optical device such that thermal expansion properties of the sleeve, stud, and optical device are the same or substantially similar.

4 . The optical device mount of claim 1 , wherein the outer portion of the sleeve includes a conical portion that mates against a corresponding conical surface of the optical device.

5 . The optical device mount of claim 4 , wherein the conical portion comprises a conical angle between about 82 and 120 degrees.

6 . The optical device mount of claim 4 , wherein the conical portion comprises a conical angle of 100 degrees.

7 . The optical device mount of claim 1 , wherein the stud includes a conical portion that mates against a corresponding conical surface of the optical housing.

8 . The optical device mount of claim 1 , wherein the stud includes an opening through a distal end of the stud, and includes at least one passageway in fluid communication with the bore of the sleeve, whereby the curable material is positioned in the passageway of the stud and in the bore of the sleeve to occupy the volume of space.

9 . The optical device mount of claim 1 , wherein the optical housing is movable in six degrees of freedom relative to the optical housing, such that the optical device may be precisely aligned relative to another optical device before being bonded to the optical housing.

10 . The optical device mount of claim 1 , further comprising a retaining collar and a washer, the retaining collar positioned around the sleeve to attach the sleeve to the optical device, and the washer positioned adjacent the sleeve and between the sleeve and the optical housing to prevent the curable material from contacting the optical housing.

11 . A mount system for alignment and mounting of an optical device, the mount system comprising:
an optical device; a housing; a plurality of mounts coupling the optical device to the housing, each mount including:
a sleeve extending through a mounting hole of the optical device and attached to the optical device, the sleeve having a bore defining an inner bonding surface;
a stud attached to the optical housing and having an outer bonding surface at least partially extending through the bore of the sleeve; and
a curable material deposited within a volume of space defined by the outer bonding surface of the stud and the inner bonding surface of the sleeve.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the sleeve and the stud of each mount are not in direct contact with each other such that the optical device and optical housing are only coupled by the curable material, thereby minimizing or eliminating forces exertable on the optical device.

13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the sleeve and the stud are comprised of the same type of material as the optical device such that thermal expansion properties of the sleeve, stud, and optical device are the same or substantially similar.

14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the sleeve of each mount includes a conical portion that mate against a corresponding conical surface of the optical device, and wherein the stud includes a conical portion that mates against a corresponding conical surface of the optical housing.

15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the stud of each mount includes an opening through a distal end of the stud, and a passageway in fluid communication with the opening of the stud and with the bore of the sleeve, whereby the curable material is positioned in the passageway of the stud and in the bore of the sleeve to occupy the volume of space.

16 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the optical housing is movable in six degrees of freedom relative to the optical housing, such that the optical device may be precisely aligned relative to another optical device before bonded to the optical housing.

17 . A method of aligning and mounting an optical device, the method comprising:
attaching a stud to an optical housing, the stud having an outer bonding surface extending from the optical housing; attaching a sleeve to the optical device, the sleeve having a bore defining an inner bonding surface; positioning the outer bonding surface of the stud through the bore of the sleeve; aligning the optical device to a desired position; and depositing a curable material into a volume of space defined by the outer bonding surface of the stud and the inner bonding surface of the sleeve.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein aligning the optical device to the desired position includes moving the optical device according to the position of a primary optical device or an alignment tool, whereby the optical device is movable in six degrees of freedom.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein depositing the curable material includes inserting the curable material through an opening of the stud whereby the curable material flows between a passageway of the stud to the inner bonding surface of the sleeve to occupy the volume of space, whereby the optical device and optical housing are only coupled by the curable material.

20 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising performing the steps of claim 15 for at least three mounting systems that couple the optical device to the optical housing via only the curable material, whereby the studs, the sleeves, and the optical device are comprised of the same type of material having the same or substantially similar thermal expansion properties.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the attaching the sleeve includes fastening the sleeve to the optical devices with a retaining collar, the retaining collar having a conical portion that mates against a corresponding conical surface of the optical device, and wherein the sleeve includes a conical portion that mates against an opposing corresponding conical surface of the optical device.

22 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
allowing the curable material to cure; removing the sleeve from the stud by breaking the bond of the curable material; removing the stud from the optical housing and removing the sleeve from the optical device, and repeating the steps of claim 17 for replacement of the stud and the sleeve.

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Marr Lyale F
• Hartnett Douglas J
• White Randy W
• Scott Richard L

Classifications

• B32B2551/00

  Optical elements · CPC title

• G02B7/003 Primary

  Alignment of optical elements (G02B7/001, G02B7/002 take precedence; for mirrors G02B7/1822) · CPC title

• B32B37/1292

  selectively, e.g. in stripes, in patterns (B32B37/0076 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B32B2037/1253

  curable adhesive · CPC title

• B32B37/142

  Laminating of sheets, panels or inserts, e.g. stiffeners, by wrapping in at least one outer layer, or inserting into a preformed pocket · CPC title