Patent ID: 8851689

Claim:
An optical assembly for use with a precision instrument, comprising: a frame comprising a first plate and a second plate; an optical element extending between the first plate of the frame and the second plate of the frame and the optical element having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, at least a first landing point or area on or against the third surface of the optical element, at least a second landing point or area on or against the fourth surface of the optical element, and at least a third landing point or area on or against the fourth surface of the optical element, the third surface of the optical element extending between the first and second surfaces of the optical element and operating to be disposed against or adjacent to the first plate of the frame and the fourth surface of the optical element extending between the first and second surfaces of the optical element and operating to be disposed against or adjacent to the second plate of the frame; and an optical element securing apparatus comprising three pins each having a first end and a second end, the three pins operating to mount the optical element to the frame such that the optical element has limited or no exposure to at least one of bending, warping, tilting and distorting, wherein: (i) the at least first landing point or area of the optical element operates to receive at least a first pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus thereon or thereagainst and to align with a respective first hole of the first plate such that the at least first pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus operates to also be disposed in the first hole of the first plate, thereby forming an attachment between the optical element and the first plate; (ii) the at least second landing point or area of the optical element operates to receive at least a second pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus thereon or thereagainst and to align with a respective first hole of the second plate such that the at least second pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus operates to also be disposed in the first hole of the second plate, thereby forming an attachment between the optical element and the second plate; and (iii) the at least third landing point or area of the optical element operates to receive at least a third pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus thereon or thereagainst and to align with a respective second hole of the second plate such that the at least third pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus operates to also be disposed in the second hole of the second plate, thereby forming an attachment between the optical element and the second plate.