Patent ID: 11885676
Assignee: AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Measurement (Instruments)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 16:
17. A modular optical device comprising at least first and second modules, wherein:
one of the first and second modules comprises a first coupling portion and the other of the first and second coupling portions comprises a second coupling portion, the first and second coupling portions configured to mate in kinematic constraint via a first mounting interface and at least two further mounting interfaces, wherein:
the first coupling portion comprises a first mounting element and the second coupling portion comprises a socket, and
the first mounting element is receivable in the socket at the first mounting interface such that the first mounting interface constrains lateral displacements of the first coupling portion relative to the second coupling portion when mated; and

the first module comprises a beam source and the second module comprises a beam target, configured such that the beam source transmits a beam of light along an optical axis onto the beam target when the first and second coupling portions are mated,
wherein the optical axis is not laterally removed from the first mounting interface by more than half the distance between the first mounting interface and the nearest of the further mounting interfaces.