Patent ID: 8567966

Claim:
A mount for a spherically mounted retro-reflector having a radius and an apex of the spherically mounted retro-reflector aligned with the absolute center of the spherically mounted retro-reflector and an aperture in surface of the spherically mounted retro-reflector, said mount configured to receive the spherically mounted retro-reflector, said mount comprising: a base, generally round having a bottom and an outer diameter; a body centered upon said base and generally opposite said bottom, said body having a top generally opposite said base and a circumference, said top having a diameter less than said base; a conical nest formed in said body opposite said base and within said top, said nest receiving the spherically mounted retro-reflector; wherein said body locates beneath the spherically mounted retro-reflector and has a configuration to permit the spherically mounted retro-reflector to orient upon said conical nest and said body to a maximum negative acceptance angle delimited by said conical nest and the spherically mounted retro-reflector; wherein said body has a further configuration of the spherically mounted retro-reflector attaining its maximum negative acceptance angle at any angle of rotation around the circumference of said body; wherein said mount has a further configuration that permits unimpeded light acceptance to the spherically mounted retro-reflector at any negative angle up to and including its maximum negative acceptance angle; and, said mount positioning the spherically mounted retro-reflector within 0.0005 inch of a centerline of said mount and within 0.0005 inch vertically.