Patent ID: 9013814
Filing Date: 2015-04-21
Classification: G01B,G01J,G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An optical assembly for use with a precision instrument, comprising: a beamsplitter having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface and a fourth surface, the third surface extending between the first and second surfaces and having a first landing area thereon, and the fourth surface extending between the first and second surfaces and having a second landing area and a third landing area thereon, the beamsplitter comprising at least one first material; a frame comprising a first plate and a second plate, the first plate being disposed adjacent to the third surface of the beamsplitter and the second plate being disposed adjacent to the fourth surface of the beamsplitter, thereby having the beamsplitter extend between the first and second plates, the first plate including a first hole which faces the first landing area and the second plate including a second hole which faces the second landing area and a third hole which faces the third landing area; and a beamsplitter securing apparatus comprising three pins each having a first end and a second end, the three pins operating to kinematically mount the beamsplitter to the frame, wherein: the first landing area is configured to receive a first pin of the three pins of the beamsplitter securing apparatus thereon or thereagainst and to align with the corresponding first hole of the first plate such that the first pin is disposed in the first hole of the first plate, thereby forming an attachment between the beamsplitter and the first plate, the second landing area is configured to receive a second pin of the three pins of the beamsplitter securing apparatus thereon or thereagainst and to align with the corresponding second hole of the second plate such that the second pin is disposed in the second hole of the second plate, thereby forming an attachment between the beamsplitter and the second plate, the third landing area is configured to receive a third pin of the three pins of the beamsplitter securing apparatus thereon or thereagainst and to align with the corresponding third hole of the second plate such that the third pin is disposed in the third hole of the second plate, thereby forming an attachment between the beamsplitter and the second plate, the frame comprises at least a second material that is different from the at least one first material; and the at least one first material has a coefficient of thermal expansion that is at least one of identical to, substantially similar to, and as close as practicable to a coefficient of thermal expansion of the at least second material such that the beamsplitter has limited or no exposure to at least one of bending, warping, tilting and distorting.