Patent · US Expired

Three-dimensional universal mounting component system for optical breadboards

US5825558A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
2References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 6, 1996
Grant dateOct 20, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 6, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B7/00
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A three-dimensional Universal Mounting Component (UMC) system of UMC blocks provides general mounting for use in optical research in constructing layouts for experiments and breadboard-type prototypes. In such optical layouts laser beams or other light beams are directed about complex paths, often on several planes or levels. Use of the invention overcomes the problem of creating three-dimensional optical layouts with less standardized, and much more expensive, mounting adapters and posts. An economical, standardized set of UMC blocks, each with a number of holes in grid configurations, enables users to construct custom three-dimensional optical layouts. Each UMC block is a right rectangular solid of substantial standardized thickness sufficient to support it on edge. Each UMC block has a set of smooth counterbored holes from front to back and has another set of such holes from back to front. These holes allow the UMC blocks to be bolted to each other and to optical breadboards with full recessing of mounting bolts for flush connections. Each UMC block also has a set of tapped holes extending through from front to back to accommodate the direct mounting of optical components. Each …

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