Abstract:
A compact optical mount for adjust optical component in 3 dimensions. Based on the traditional 2D adjustable optical mount, its inner space is utilized for installing the third dimension angular adjustment. By virtue of its compact structure, convenient adjustment, high precision and good stability, the invention is suitable for adjusting small optics in 3 dimensions, by which the real optical axel can agree with the idea optical axel well to fast adjust the whole optical system.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to precision optical mounts that carry and reliably position an optical element, so that optical system can be arranged in a compact and optically efficient system, wherein space consumption is minimized without introducing distortion. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0002]    In optical systems, angular adjustments are widely used. A Conventional apparatus is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2  known as “three-point suspension”, which is good for 2D adjusting. Such conventional apparatuses include a base plate  67  and a stage plate  68 , where the two plates are restrained by a plurality of springs  66  (one of them is illustrated). Three adjusting screws  64 ,  65 ,  71  are threadably received through the base plate  67  and engage the rear surface of the stage plate  68 . In this way, the desired “three-point suspension” mechanism is provided. To avoid the attrition between the adjusting screw  71  and the stage plate  68 , a flat pad made by hard material is usually used to contact with the adjusting screw  71 . For simplicity reason, the surface to receive adjusting screw  65  is always a conical surface, two pins are cooperated with one another to create a V-shaped groove to receive adjusting screw  64 . An aperture  70  and  69  are provided in base plate  67  and stage plate  68  respectively so that an unobstructed optical path is formed through the mount. 
         [0003]    Commonly, 2D adjustable optical mounts can maintain most of the optical adjustment. However, in some optical systems, taking polaroids as an example, need to be adjusted along the axis. Hence, 3D adjustable optical mount is required. To realize such a function, a rotational angular adjustable mount combined with a “three-point suspension” 2D angular adjustable optical mount is traditionally utilized. As a result, the combination decreases the stability and complicates the structure. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    This plant utilizes the space between the two plates of the “three-point suspension” 2D angular adjustable mount, a rotational angular adjustment is installed among the space to reduce the size of the whole adjusting system and simplify the structure. According to the embodiment of the invention, a precision optical mount is disclosed having a rectangular back plate that is coupled in spaced, facing alignment to a rectangular front plate by means of a pair of plate restraining springs. A set of interchangeable modular actuators extend through the back plate to engage the front plate so that the front plate can be moved relative to the back plate to import a tilting or translational movement steadily. A room is milled in the rear surface of the back plate to place a so-called flange, an interchangeable modular actuator extends through the side of the back plate to the flange with a rotational retaining spring to generate rotational adjustment. An inner-barrel with an optical element fixed axially in the inner side of the inner-barrel with clamping screw is axially installed into the mid-barrel for rough adjustment. A mid-barrel is connected to the flange by screws from the front plate by axially extending through a threaded hole in it for fine adjustment. 
         [0005]    By virtue of the compact structure, optical element in the smaller sleeve can be adjusted in 3 dimensions simply, the mechanical axis and optical axis can be agreed very well, the stability is also improved. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a prior art optical mounting apparatus having a conventional three-point suspension mechanism. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  illustrates a cross section of an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  illustrates a cross section of A-A′ in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  illustrates a left view of the back plate of an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0011]      FIG. 7  illustrates a right view of the front plate of an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0012]      FIG. 8  illustrates a cross section of the inner-barrel of an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0013]      FIG. 9  illustrates a semi-section view of the mid-barrel of an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0014]      FIG. 10  illustrates a cross section of the flange of an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0015]      FIG. 11  illustrates a cross section of the clamping ring of an exemplary embodiment; 
           [0016]      FIG. 12  illustrates a cross section of the retainer ring of an exemplary embodiment; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 13  illustrates a schematic for adjusting an exemplary embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]      FIG. 5  is the exploded view of the invention. The optical mount has a stationary rectangular back plate  1  and a moveable rectangular front plate  2  that are coupled in spaced facing alignment with one another. Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 4 , said back plate  1  has an aperture  47  that is larger than optical beam diameter. There is a space  57  in the head face of rectangular back plate  1  facing said rectangular front plate  2  around aperture  47  for installing the flange  18 , clamping ring  24  and the third spring  19 . A first actuator retaining hole  6  and a second actuator retaining hole  7  are formed in two of the opposite corners of the rectangular back plate  1 , a first conical bore  16  is located in one of the other corners of the rectangular back plate  1 . Near space  57 , a third pin hole  13  is formed in the head face of rectangular back plate  1 , a third through spring receiving pocket  56  is formed in the side face of the rectangular back plate  1 . A third actuator retaining hole  8  is formed in the side face of the rectangular back plate  1  opposite the first conical bore  16 . A first through spring receiving pocket  52  is formed between the first actuator retaining hole  6  and the first conical bore  16 . A second through spring receiving pocket  53  is formed between the second actuator retaining hole  7  and the first conical bore  16 . A vertical first pin hole  9  is located in the nether side of the rectangular back plate  1 . A horizontal second pin hole  11  and a set of threaded mounting holes  15  are formed in the right side of the rectangular back plate  1 . There are also a third pin hole  13  and a third through spring receiving pocket  56  near the second actuator retaining hole  7 . 
         [0019]    In  FIG. 7 , a 2-level step-hole  48  is formed in the middle of the rectangular front plate  2 . Corresponding to the second actuator retaining hole  7 , the second through spring receiving pocket  53 , the first conical bore  16 , the first through spring receiving pocket  52  and the first actuator retaining hole  6  in rectangular back plate  1 , accordingly, a second blind hole  45 , a second blind spring receiving pocket  54 , a second conical bore  46 , a first blind spring receiving pocket  55  and a first blind hole  44  are formed in the rectangular front plate  2 . In both side of the first blind hole  44  there are a first pin holder  49  and a second pin holder  50 , respectively. There are also a fourth pin hole  25  and a fifth pin hole  27  in accordance with the first blind spring receiving pocket  55  and the second blind spring receiving pocket  54 . 
         [0020]      FIG. 8  shows an inner-barrel  39 , which is a barrel that consists of 3-level steps in both inner and outer sides. The first level inner step is threaded; the third level inner step is larger than optical beam in diameter; the third level outer step which is threaded; several first threaded holes  38  are equally distributed in radial direction in the third outer step; 
         [0021]      FIG. 9  shows a mid-barrel  36 , which is a barrel that consists of 2-level steps in inner side and 4-level steps in outer side. A second threaded hole  35  is radially formed in the third level outer step which is threaded; several third threaded holes  34  are equally distributed in radial direction in the fourth level outer step which is threaded; 
         [0022]    In  FIG. 10 , a flange  18 , equal numbers of first through holes  43  corresponding to the numbers of the first threaded holes  38  are equally distributed in radial direction of the flange  18 . A spring bulge  59  and a screw rod bulge  60  are formed among the first through holes  43 , in the spring bulge  59 , there is a fourth threaded hole  51  in radial direction; 
         [0023]    In  FIG. 11 , a clamping ring  24  has rectangular trough in its inner side; 
         [0024]    In  FIG. 12 , a retainer ring  17  has V-shaped trough in its inner side;
       the cylindrical pad  29  is made of magnetic material;   the first actuator  3 , the second actuator  4  and the third actuator  5  are standard screw-nut modules;   the first pin  10 , second pin  12 , third pin  14 , fourth pin  31 , fifth pin  32 , sixth pin  26 , seventh pin  28  are all cylindrical pins;   the clamping screw  42  is an outer side threaded ring, and its inner diameter is larger than the optical beam;   the inner diameter of the sleeve  41  is larger than the optical beam.   The relationships among each component are described as follows:   said space  57  is used for installing the flange  18 , clamping ring  24  and the third spring  19 ;   the first level and second level inner steps of mid-barrel  36  coordinate with the first level and second level outer steps of inner-barrel  39 ;   the diameter of flange  18  is the same with the fourth level outer step of mid-barrel  36 ;   the inner whorl of clamping ring  24  corresponds with that of the third level outer step of mid-barrel  36 ;   the inner whorl of retainer ring  17  corresponds with that of the third level outer step of inner-barrel  39 ;   during the installation, the mid-barrel  36  is plugged into the step-hole  48 , and then the clamping ring  24  is cooperated with the whorl of the third level outer step of mid-barrel  36 , the second keepers  33  cooperate with the second threaded holes  35  and contact with the rectangular trough of clamping ring  24  to restrain the axial displacement between mid-barrel  36  and rectangular front plate  2 ;   the flange  18  is fixed with the mid-barrel  36  by cooperating 4 third keeper  21  through first through holes  43  with the 4 third threaded holes  34 , respectively;   the inner-barrel  39  passes through mid-barrel  36 , the third level outer step of inner-barrel  39  cooperates with retainer ring  17  which is further clamped by the first keepers  37  contacting with V-shaped trough of retainer ring  17  after fixed by the first threaded holes  38  to restrain the axial displacement between mid-barrel  36  and inner-barrel  39 ;   the third actuator  5  is restrained by the third actuator retaining hole  8 , and connects with screw rod bulge  60 ;   the fourth pin  31  and fifth pin  32  are settled in first pin holder  49  and the second pin holder  50 , respectively, the cylindrical pad  29  is settled in the second blind hole  45 ;   one end of the first restraining spring  23  is captured by the sixth pin  26  held by the fourth pin hole  25  through the first blind spring receiving pocket  55 , while the other end of the first restraining spring  23  is captured by the first pin  10  held by the first pin hole  9  through the first through spring receiving pocket  52 . Similarly, one end of the second restraining spring  22  is captured by the seventh pin  28  held by the fifth pin hole  27  through the second blind spring receiving pocket  54 , whereas the other end of the second restraining spring  22  is captured by the second pin  12  held by the second pin hole  11  through the second through spring receiving pocket  53 . One end of the third restraining spring  19  is captured by the third pin  14  held by the third pin hole  13  through the third through spring receiving pocket  56 , whereas the other end of the third restraining spring  19  is retained by the fourth keeper  20  cooperates with the fourth threaded hole  51 ;   the first actuator  3  and the second actuator  4  are restrained by the first actuator retaining hole  6  and the second actuator retaining hole  7  in rectangular back plate  1 , respectively; one end of the first actuator  3  is received by a V-shaped groove formed by the fourth pin  31  and fifth pin  32  settled in the first pin holder  49  and second pin holder  50  respectively; one end of the second actuator  4  is received by cylindrical pad  29  settled in the second blind hole  45 ;   the optical element  40  is retained in the second level inner step of inner-barrel  39  which is clamped by the clamping screw  42  after being held by sleeve  41 .       
 
         [0044]    The differences between the base plate of conventional “three-point suspension” and the rectangular back plate  1  are: in the rectangular back plate  1 , there is a space  57  around aperture  47 . A first conical bore  16  is located in one corner. A third actuator retaining hole  8  is formed in the side face opposite the first conical bore  16  to restrain the third actuator  5 . A third pin hole  13  is formed in the head face. There is a third through spring receiving pocket  56  formed in the side face to restrain the third spring  19 . A set of threaded mounting holes  15  is located in the side face for fastening and install the plant. 
         [0045]    In  FIGS. 5 and 7 , the difference between the stage plate of conventional “three-point suspension” and the rectangular front plate  2  is that there is a 2-level step-hole  48  in the middle of the rectangular front plate  2  in accordance with aperture  47  in rectangular back plate  1 . 
         [0046]    In  FIGS. 5 and 8 , the inner-barrel  39  consists of 3-level steps in both inner and outer sides. The first level inner step is threaded, and the third level inner step is larger than the optical beam in diameter, three first threaded holes  38  are equally distributed in radial direction in the third level outer step which is threaded. 
         [0047]    In  FIGS. 5 and 9 , the mid-barrel  36  consists of 2-level steps in inner side and 4-level steps in outer side. The two steps in inner side are the same with the first and second level steps of inner-barrel  39  in diameter. A second threaded hole  35  is radially formed in the third level outer step which is threaded; four third threaded holes  34  are equally distributed in radial direction in the fourth level outer step which is threaded. 
         [0048]    In  FIGS. 5 and 10 , the inner diameter of the flange  18  is the same with that of the fourth level outer step of mid-barrel  36 . Four first through holes  43  are equally distributed in radial direction in the flange  18 . A spring bulge  59  and a screw rod bulge  60  are formed among the first through holes  43 . There is a fourth threaded hole  51  in radial direction. 
         [0049]    In  FIGS. 5 and 11 , the inner whorl of clamping ring  24  is the same as that of the third level outer step of mid-barrel  36 . The clamping ring  24  also has rectangular trough in its inner side; 
         [0050]    In  FIGS. 5 and 12 , the inner whorl of retainer ring  17  is the same as that of the third level outer step of inner-barrel  39 . The retainer ring  17  also has a V-shaped trough in its inner side. 
         [0051]    The cylindrical pad  29  is made of magnetic material; 
         [0052]    The steel ball  30  is a ball made of steel. 
         [0053]    The first pin  10 , second pin  12 , third pin  14 , fourth pin  31 , fifth pin  32 , sixth pin  26 , seventh pin  28  are all cylindrical pins. 
         [0054]    The clamping screw  42  is an outer side threaded ring with its inner diameter larger than optical beam; 
         [0055]    The sleeve  41  is a sleeve whose inner diameter is larger than the optical beam. 
         [0056]    The optical element is a polaroid  40 . 
         [0057]    In  FIGS. 3-5 , the installing procedure and the principle of the invention is described as follows: 
         [0058]    First, the first actuator  3 , second actuator  4  and third actuator  5  are restrained by the first actuator retaining hole  6 , the second actuator retaining hole  7  and the third actuator retaining hole  8 , respectively. Then the mid-barrel  36  is plugged into the 2-level step-hole  48  in rectangular front plate  2  and then restrained by fastening clamping ring  24 . The second keepers  33  cooperate with the second threaded holes  35  to lock the clamping ring  24 , so the axial displacement between mid-barrel  36  and rectangular front plate  2  is restrained. The flange  18  is fixed with mid-barrel  36  by cooperating the four third keepers  21  through first through holes  43  with the four third threaded holes  34 , respectively. After that, the inner-barrel  39  inserts through mid-barrel  36  and is locked by cooperating the retainer ring  17  with the third level out step of inner-barrel  39  for preventing the inner turnplate  39  depart from mid-turnplate  36 , the retainer ring  17  is then locked by the first keepers  37 . The fourth pin  31  and fifth pin  32  are settled in the first pin holder  49  and the second pin holder  50  to form a V-shaped groove to retain the first actuator  3 . The cylindrical pad  29  is settled in the second blind hole  45  to retain the second actuator  4 . Then, one end of the first restraining spring  23  is captured by the sixth pin  26  held by the fourth pin hole  25  through the first blind spring receiving pocket  55 , whereas the other end of the first restraining spring  23  is captured by the first pin  10  held by the first pin hole  9  through the first through spring receiving pocket  52 . Similarly, one end of the second restraining spring  22  is captured by the seventh pin  28  held by the fifth pin hole  27  through the second blind spring receiving pocket  54 , whereas the other end of the second restraining spring  22  is captured by the second pin  12  held by the second pin hole  11  through the second through spring receiving pocket  53 . One end of the third restraining spring  19  is captured by the third pin  14  held by the third pin hole  13  through the third through spring receiving pocket  56 , whereas the other end of the third restraining spring  19  is retained by the fourth keeper  20  cooperates with the fourth threaded hole  51 . The steel ball is then located between the first conical bore  16  and the second conical bore  46 . At last, polaroid  40  is located into inner-barrel  39  which is clamped by the clamping screw  42  after being held by sleeve  41 . The installing procedure is finished. 
         [0059]    In  FIG. 13 , the optical axis is the z axis-. Turn the first actuator  3  and the second actuator  4  to adjust angles of the front plate  2  in x axis and y axis respectively to realize the 2D angular adjustments. By rotating the inner-barrel  39 , the polarization angle is directly changed for rough adjustment. By turning the third actuator  5 , the flange  18  will rotate. As flange  18  is fixed with mid-barrel  36  and mid-barrel  36  is clamped with inner-barrel  39  to some extent, the inner-barrel  39  will also rotate, so that the fine adjustment in z axis is realized. 
         [0060]    Probation indicates that the invention is precise, compact and simple. It is good for 3D angular adjustments of small optics. 
         [0061]    Although a specific embodiment of the invention is described and illustrated above, the invention is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangements of parts so described and illustrated. The invention is limited by the claims that follow.