Patent · US Expired

Flexture plate motion-transfer mechanism, beam-splitter assembly, and interferometer incorporating the same

US5486917A · kind A · utility

31Cited by
13References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 25, 1994
Grant dateJan 23, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 25, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01J3/4535
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A multiplicity of one-piece flexure plates are assembled in pairs to provide a support system on which a retroreflector may be mounted for reciprocal motion. Combined with balance bodies, the flexure plates provide a support system having portions that are dynamically and statically balanced with one another, irrespective of orientation, so as to thereby immunize the unit against extraneous forces. The motion transfer assembly is especially adapted for use to support a moving retroreflector in a two-arm interferometer that may further include a beamsplitter assembly constructed from a one-piece, integrally formed body, the body having convergent, optically flat planar surfaces of specular reflectance, and means for adjustably mounting a beamsplitter therein. The spectrometer is of modular construction, and employs an integrated clocking sub-assembly as well as a light-weight voice-coil motor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.