Optical mount

Abstract: An optical mount for an optical element which has an optical surface. The mount includes a first plate and a second plate which holds the optical element. The second plate may have a spherical bearing surface that cooperates with the first plate so that the optical element pivots about a point on the optical surface. The mount has a single first adjustment device to pivot the optical element about one axis and a single second adjustment device to pivot the element about a second perpendicular axis.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an apparatus for aligning optical elements and a method used to test aspheric components using a conventional interferometer. The apparatus comprises an optical mount having a base and a mount plate used for adjustably mounting an optical element. The mount plate is adjustable relative to the base and includes an assembly surface and several side surfaces. The base is attachable to a bench, table, rail, or the like. An optical element, such as a pre-aligned alignment CGH, is positioned within a first frame, which in turn is releasably coupled to the mount plate. The interferometer generates a spherical test beam which is diffracted by the reflective alignment CGH to create an interferogram. The mount plate is adjusted relative to the base to diffract the test beam onto itself, thus producing null interference fringes. The alignment CGH is removed from the mount plate and a second optical element, such as a CGH null compensator fixed to a second frame, is releasably coupled to the mount plate in place of the alignment CGH, without adjusting the position of the mount plate, such that the spherical test beam from the interferometer is diffracted as it passes through the CGH null compensator to form a prescribed aspheric wavefront for testing aspheric components.

Abstract: Precision optical mounts that carry and reliably position an optical element so that a plurality of such optical mounts can be arranged in a compact and optically efficient system, wherein opposing optical elements are held in relatively close proximity to one another without introducing distortion. A stationary back plate is arranged in spaced facing alignment with a face plate for importing a tilting or translational movement to the face plate and to an optical element that is to be carried thereby. The optical mount may be disposed in vertical, upstanding alignment with respect to a support surface to position the optical element (e.g. a mirror) to receive a beam of optical energy. In the alternative, the optical mount may function as a mounting platform to be disposed in horizontal alignment with respect to the support surface so that an optical element (e.g. a prism) can be supported thereupon.

Abstract: An optical mount has a locking fastener (56), a first plate (12) and a second plate (14). The first plate (12) captures an optical device (16) such as a lens or a mirror. The optical mount (10) includes a first threaded drive screw (32) with a tip (42) that engages pins (44) that are pressed into a bore (46) and this screw extends through a threaded bore of a collet (36), held in place by a set screw (66), and a second threaded drive screw (62) with a tip (67), extending into a counterbore (68) and this screw extends through the threaded bore of another collet (64). The mount also has a spring (28) attached to pins (30). The collet (36) has a slit (50) that separates a collet flange from a collet base. The locking fastener (56) can be actuated to push the collet flange away from the collet base and to lock the first fastener (32) to the collet (36). A close-up (5) shows the locking fastener (56) with the slit (50).