Interferometer bearing assembly
US4828367A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 16, 1988 |
| Grant date | May 9, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 16, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01J3/4535
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An interferometer bearing assembly including a fixed glass rail, a movable carriage that carries both the movable interferometer mirror and the drive coil for the linear motor, and a mechanism for biasing the carriage onto the rail. The glass rail has two optically flat faces defining a normally horizontal line of intersection. The carriage is a rigid structure with plastic surface portions that provide a bearing interface for contacting the flat faces of the glass rail. To improve stability and reduce the possibility of any transverse movement, the carriage is downward biased, preferably by providing an overlying glass plate with a downwardly-facing flat surface, and mounting a spring-loaded plastic element to the top of the carriage. The plastic element contacts (and slides along) the flat glass surface and transmits a downward force to the carriage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.