Patent ID: 6859337

Claim:
An optical-element mounting for holding an optical element relative to an optical column of an optical system that includes the optical element, the optical element having an axis, a periphery, and multiple discrete mounting protrusions extending from respective locations on the periphery, the mounting comprising: a respective holding device mounted to each mounting protrusion; each holding device comprising a first respective spring-loaded support member supporting the optical element relative to the optical column, the first spring-loaded support member being configured to provide rigid support of the respective mounting protrusion in a gravity direction while providing flexible support of the respective mounting protrusion in directions tangential to the periphery at the respective location, in a radial direction of the optical element at the respective location, and in a tilt direction, relative to the axis, of the optical element at the respective location; and each holding device also comprising at least a second respective spring-loaded support member supporting the respective mounting protrusion relative to the optical column, each second spring-loaded support member being configured to provide rigid support of the respective mounting protrusion in directions tangential to the periphery at the respective location while providing flexible support of the respective mounting protrusion in the gravity direction and in the radial direction at the respective location.