Gradient membrane deformable mirror having replaceable actuators
US4940318A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 3, 1988 |
| Grant date | Jul 10, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 3, 2008 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B26/06
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A deformable mirror is disclosed having replaceable, electrically operable actuators for deforming the mirror's reflecting surface. A flexible retraction membrane is disposed between the actuators and the reflecting surface and the mirror's facesheet is bonded to the retraction membrane. The membrane provides constant contact between the facesheet and the mirror's actuators and provides a deflection load to mechanically drive the facesheet downward against the operation of the actuators, thus providing a mechanical force to deflect the mirror's reflecting surface when electrical signals are selectively removed from one or more of the mirror's actuators. The membrane contains a gradient stiffness in the vicinity of each actuator to tailor the deformation profile, to maintain circular symmetry and to minimize the curve fitting error in the vicinity of each actuator. In one embodiment, the actuators are threaded into threaded apertures in the base which permits the amount of force imparted to each actuator by the retraction membrane to be adjusted.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.