Spherically mounted retroreflector

Abstract

The invention relates to a spherically mounted retroreflector. The spherically mounted retroreflector comprises 1) an optical inlay comprising a retroreflector having an apex and an axis of symmetry, and 2) a carrier having an at least partially spherical outer surface and a cavity, wherein the optical inlay is arranged in the cavity and wherein the at least partially spherical outer surface has a sphere center which coincides with the apex, wherein the optical inlay is connected to the carrier. The optical inlay comprises a coupling portion and the spherically mounted retroreflector comprises a coupling element arranged between the optical inlay and the carrier, wherein the coupling portion and the coupling element are embodied such that they correspond to each other and interact in such a way that, in the case of a pure mechanical connection of the coupling portion and the coupling element to each other, the optical inlay can at most be moved translationally away from the coupling element along a movement axis, in particular the axis of symmetry.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a spherically mounted retroreflector. Background Technology

[0002] Retroreflectors known in the prior art are typically set as solid glass retroreflectors or hollow prisms.

[0003] For solid glass prisms, measuring the 3D position of three points depends on the measurement angles caused by refraction within the glass. Therefore, it is difficult to perform high-precision absolute position measurements in industrial measurement tasks using solid glass prisms. Consequently, solid glass prisms are typically used only for monitoring applications where measuring relative position changes is sufficient.

[0004] Hollow prisms used as retroreflectors typically consist of three reflective surfaces, in which incident light is reflected back by the hollow prism in the opposite direction (opposite to the incident direction). Reflection is usually provided by direct reflection at the three reflective surfaces of the hollow prism. Compared to solid glass prism retroreflectors, hollow prism retroreflectors have the advantage that the back reflection of incident light is unaffected by refraction. However, the three reflective surfaces need to be precisely oriented relative to each other to avoid dihedral errors. Furthermore, it is important that the three reflective surfaces have a high degree of planarity. Hollow prism retroreflectors are also called cube-corner retroreflectors.

[0005] For interferometric distance measurements (e.g., helium-neon laser interferometry in laser trackers), dihedral angle errors and the non-planarity of the reflecting surface can lead to a shortening of the possible measurement distance: the returned light no longer engages constructively with the internal reference light, resulting in a loss of contrast in the interferometric measurement signal.

[0006] Hollow prism retroreflectors are typically constructed using molding processes or by gluing three reflective surfaces together, which need to be precisely oriented relative to each other. Both molding and gluing processes are complex and therefore costly.

[0007] For stability and protection purposes, retroreflectors are typically arranged (separately mounted) on a carrier, which is usually at least partially shaped as a sphere and has a cavity for positioning the retroreflector. Retroreflectors mounted in this way can be called spherically mounted retroreflectors. Summary of the Invention

[0008] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a spherically mounted retroreflector that can be produced in a cost-effective manner.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a spherically mounted retroreflector having a small dihedral angle error caused by temperature variations near the nominal operating temperature.

[0010] This invention relates to a spherically mounted retroreflector. The spherically mounted retroreflector comprises: 1) an optical inlay including a retroreflector having a vertex and an axis of symmetry, and 2) a carrier having at least a partially spherical outer surface and a cavity, wherein the optical inlay is disposed within the cavity, and wherein the at least partially spherical outer surface has a center coinciding with the vertex, wherein the optical inlay is connected to the carrier. The optical inlay includes a coupling portion, and the spherically mounted retroreflector includes a coupling element disposed between the optical inlay and the carrier, wherein the coupling portion and the coupling element are specifically implemented such that they correspond to and interact with each other in such a way that, when connected to each other in a purely mechanical manner, the translational mobility of the optical inlay relative to the coupling element is limited to mobility along a single axis of movement (particularly the axis of symmetry).

[0011] In particular, when connected to each other in a purely mechanical manner, the connecting parts and connecting elements can be (exclusively) moved away from each other along the axis of movement. Therefore, decoupling of the components (provided in a purely mechanical connection state) can only be provided by at least initially providing relative movement of the components in opposite directions along the axis of movement.

[0012] In other words, the connecting parts and connecting elements are specifically implemented such that they correspond to and interact with each other in such a way that when the connecting parts and connecting elements are connected to each other in a purely mechanical manner, the optical inlay can at most translate away from the connecting element along the axis of movement (especially the axis of symmetry).

[0013] In the context of this invention, a purely mechanical connection should be understood as providing at least mechanical contact between the corresponding components (e.g., connecting parts and connecting elements) without any additional elements that would affect the stability of the components or the assembly. For example, when the connecting parts and connecting elements are brought into contact (i.e., when contact between the connecting parts and connecting elements is provided), a purely (exclusive) mechanical installation of the connecting parts and connecting elements is already provided. In particular, to provide the state of a purely mechanical connection between the connecting parts and connecting elements, no adhesive is used, for example, to fix the components to each other.

[0014] A connecting element is arranged between the optical inlay and the carrier. The optical inlay is configured to accommodate the connecting element. In the accommodated state (i.e., when the optical inlay has accommodated the connecting element and the optical inlay and the connecting element are mechanically connected to each other), the interaction between the optical inlay and the connecting element restricts the relative translational movement between the optical inlay and the connecting element: when the optical inlay is purely mechanically connected to the connecting element, the optical inlay can be detached from the connecting element, for example, only by translating the optical inlay away from the connecting element along the axis of symmetry. Therefore, the connecting part and the connecting element are configured (designed separately) such that once mechanically connected to each other, relative movement is already limited by purely mechanical considerations, i.e., there are no additional fixing devices, such as adhesives.

[0015] In an embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the optical inlay is fixedly attached to the connecting element using a first attachment mechanism, and / or the connecting element is fixedly attached to the carrier using a second attachment mechanism.

[0016] Aside from the limitation on movement between the optical inlay and the connecting element caused purely by the mechanical constraints imposed by the interaction between them, the first attachment mechanism can fix the optical inlay to the connecting element and / or the second attachment mechanism can fix the connecting element to the carrier. After being fixedly attached to each other, the optical inlay cannot rotate or translate about the connecting element, and the connecting element cannot rotate or translate relative to the carrier.

[0017] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the connecting element is specifically implemented as a slit sphere, and where the slit sphere is mechanically connected to the optical inlay, the optical inlay can rotate around the slit sphere.

[0018] Specifically, the connecting element can be implemented as a rounded gap sphere, and the optical inlay can be suitably configured to accommodate the gap sphere. For example, if no adhesive is used as the first attachment mechanism between the optical inlay and the gap sphere, the optical inlay can rotate around the gap sphere even after it has been accommodated.

[0019] Using a granulator ball, the optical inlay can be positioned in a defined relationship with the carrier. The direct contact between the optical inlay and the granulator ball, and between the granulator ball and the carrier, allows for high positioning accuracy between the optical inlay and the carrier, particularly unaffected by any adhesive layer between the component contact points.

[0020] Manufacturing tolerances can result in optical inlays of varying sizes. These tolerances can be compensated for by selecting a gap-filling sphere of appropriate size, allowing the vertex and center to overlap. For industrial measurement applications, the vertex and center should typically be within a maximum distance of 10 micrometers from each other; that is, a center tolerance of 10 micrometers.

[0021] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the retroreflector is specifically implemented as a cubic corner retroreflector.

[0022] Therefore, the retroreflector may include three reflective surfaces, for example, the three reflective surfaces may be oriented at 90 degrees to each other.

[0023] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the retroreflector is specifically implemented as a solid glass prism or includes optical plastics (such as cyclic olefin polymers (COP) optical polymers, for example, Zeonex).

[0024] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the first attachment mechanism and / or the second attachment mechanism are provided by an adhesive arranged such that the adhesive is located on at least a portion of a curved surface between the connecting element and the optical inlay and / or between the connecting element and the carrier, the curved surface specifically corresponding to a tight sphere surrounding the connecting element.

[0025] The adhesive (e.g., epoxy resin) between the optical inlay and the connecting element can therefore be distributed on the curved surface. Since the optical inlay can only be connected to the carrier via the connecting element, external forces applied to the carrier do not result in forces on the optical inlay. Therefore, the optical inlay is attached to the carrier without strain. This strain-free attachment thus minimizes the potential deformation of the optical inlay.

[0026] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the optical insert and the connecting element and / or the connecting element and the carrier are fixedly connected to each other using a pressing or snap-fit ​​mechanism, and / or the connecting element and the carrier or the optical insert and the connecting element are fixedly connected to each other using an adhesive.

[0027] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the optical inlay is specifically implemented as injection-molded plastic or injection-molded metal or a metal / plastic combination to be subsequently sintered, or as a 3D-printed part with post-processing to improve surface quality. The cubic corner retroreflector may be provided by a coating on at least a portion of the surface of the injection-molded plastic, the coating being reflective of the wavelength of the measuring radiation irradiated onto the spherically mounted retroreflector, the coating being particularly specifically implemented as a gold coating, a silver coating, or an aluminum coating.

[0028] Optical inlays manufactured using injection molding can be post-processed at room temperature, allowing for precise manufacturing of optical inlays.

[0029] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the optical inlay comprises three main sides, wherein the three main sides are substantially orthogonal to each other, each side is substantially planar and has a corresponding 2D side coordinate system in the corresponding side plane of the respective main side, and the optical inlay is configured such that temperature changes (especially up to 10 degrees Celsius near the nominal operating point) substantially deform each main side in at most two coordinate directions of the corresponding 2D side coordinate system.

[0030] The behavior and shape of plastic as a material are typically highly dependent on temperature. Temperature changes usually cause plastic to deform. Therefore, optical inlays, which are essentially composed of plastic, may deform due to temperature variations.

[0031] The three principal sides can correspond to three reflective surfaces, which can be part of a cubic corner retroreflector. Each principal side can lie in a plane, that is, it is essentially planar. The plane can be mathematically represented by a two-dimensional coordinate system.

[0032] The optical inlay can be designed such that temperature variations up to 10 degrees Celsius near the nominal operating point (e.g., room temperature) essentially only deform each principal side in a manner that each deformed principal side remains substantially planar (i.e., within its respective side plane). The three principal sides (i.e., the three reflective surfaces) can therefore be designed to maintain the planarity of each reflective surface over a temperature range of 20 degrees Celsius. Deviations from planarity within this range are particularly possible in the sub-micron range. The deformation of each reflective surface, substantially within its respective side plane, does not affect the angular accuracy of the reflected signal.

[0033] Optical inlays can be designed through an iterative process that includes finite element analysis-based simulations of the inlay's temperature behavior. This iterative process can provide the mechanical design of the optical inlay, ensuring high flatness of the reflective surface across the temperature range.

[0034] The vertex can correspond to the intersection of the three main sides. Since the vertex coincides with the center of the sphere, the different thermal deformation behaviors of the optical inlay and the carrier (the coefficient of thermal expansion of an optical inlay made of plastic is typically much greater than that of a carrier made of, for example, stainless steel) do not cause significant relative movement between the vertex and the center of the sphere. The optical inlay is attached to the carrier without strain.

[0035] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the optical inlay is configured such that temperature changes (especially up to 10 degrees Celsius near the nominal operating point) cause the optical inlay to deform symmetrically around the connecting element.

[0036] Symmetrical deformation can minimize thermally induced strain in optical inlays made of plastic.

[0037] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the connecting portion is specifically implemented as a spherical end, in which an optical inlay accommodates a spherical end, wherein the spherical end of the optical inlay is symmetrical about an axis of symmetry, and wherein the spherical end has a protruding outer section and a recessed inner section spaced apart from each other by a recess, the recessed inner section having a curvature complementary to the curvature of the spherical end, and the protruding outer section having a contact area.

[0038] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, with the optical inlay already containing the sizing ball, the sizing ball directly contacts the recessed inner section, and there is a space between the contact area of ​​the protruding outer section and the sizing ball, wherein an adhesive is disposed in the space, the adhesive extends between the contact area and the sizing ball, and securely attaches the sizing ball to the optical inlay.

[0039] In the contact area, the protruding outer segment can also have a curvature that complements the curvature of the gap-filling sphere.

[0040] The complementary curvature of the recessed inner section allows for accurate positioning of the stencil ball relative to the optical inlay, while the space between the contact area and the stencil ball ensures that the adhesive that securely attaches the stencil ball to the optical inlay does not affect the positioning of the stencil ball relative to the optical inlay.

[0041] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the carrier has a spherical cradle receiving portion that is symmetrical about an axis of symmetry, wherein the spherical cradle receiving portion has a central recess and an adjacent inclined section, wherein the spherical cradle contacts the inclined section, and an adhesive between the spherical cradle and the carrier is disposed around the inclined section and / or in the central recess.

[0042] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the optical inlay is connected only to the connecting element and indirectly connected to the carrier via the connecting element.

[0043] Connecting the optical inlay to the carrier only via a connecting element allows for minimization of strain in the optical inlay caused by external forces acting on the spherically mounted retroreflector.

[0044] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, the carrier is implemented as a stainless steel carrier.

[0045] In another embodiment of the spherically mounted retroreflector according to the invention, a protective ring is mounted on a carrier, the protective ring laterally surrounding the portion of the optical inlay that protrudes from the carrier, and the protective ring is mechanically connected to the carrier only.

[0046] The protective ring can at least partially shield the reflective surface of the retroreflector. The optical inlay can be attached to the protective ring without mechanical connection. Attached Figure Description

[0047] The system of the present invention will now be described in more detail by way of example only, with reference to specific exemplary embodiments schematically illustrated in the accompanying drawings, while demonstrating other advantages of the invention. The same elements are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings. Specifically:

[0048] Figure 1 A schematic illustrative drawing of an embodiment of a spherically mounted retroreflector according to the present invention is shown;

[0049] Figure 2 A schematic illustrative drawing of an optical inlay according to the present invention is shown;

[0050] Figure 3 A schematic illustrative drawing of a spherically mounted retroreflector according to the present invention is shown;

[0051] Figure 4 It shows Figure 1 A closer view of a portion of the schematic illustrative drawing shown; and

[0052] Figure 5 Figures (a), (b), and (c) show three different schematic illustrative depictions of embodiments of a spherically mounted retroreflector, wherein Figure 5 The implementation method in (b) is an implementation method according to the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0053] Figure 1 A schematic illustrative drawing of an embodiment of a spherically mounted retroreflector 1 according to the present invention is shown. The spherically mounted retroreflector 1 includes an optical inlay 2 connected to a carrier 3 via a gap-filling sphere. The carrier 3 has an outer surface that is at least partially spherical and a cavity for receiving the optical inlay 2. The optical inlay 2 is at least three-fold symmetrical about an axis of symmetry 11, i.e., includes at least 120° of symmetry.

[0054] exist Figure 1 In this process, the first attachment mechanism 8a between the optical inlay 2 and the sprue sphere is provided by an adhesive. Figure 1 In the middle, the second attachment mechanism 8b between the slug ball and the carrier 3 is also provided by adhesive.

[0055] The optical inlay 2 includes three reflective surfaces 7, one of which is located in... Figure 1 As shown in the figure. The protective ring 6 is mounted on the carrier 3, wherein the protective ring 6 is mechanically connected to the carrier 3 only and not mechanically connected to the optical inlay 2.

[0056] Figure 1 The size of the gap-filling sphere is such that the vertex of the optical inlay 2 is centered on the center of the sphere of the carrier 3.

[0057] Figure 2 A schematic illustrative drawing of the optical inlay 2 according to the present invention is shown. Figure 2 The image shows two of the three reflective surfaces 7 of the optical inlay 2. The three reflective surfaces 7 are positioned such that incident light is reflected back toward its source. Figure 2 The image also shows an external view of the connecting part 5, in which the connecting part 5 of the optical inlay 2 is configured to accommodate the connecting element 4.

[0058] Figure 3 A schematic illustrative drawing of a spherically mounted retroreflector 1 according to the present invention is shown. The three reflective surfaces of the cubic corner retroreflector are visible, and a protective ring 6 mounted on a carrier 3 is also shown.

[0059] Figure 4 It shows Figure 1 A closer view of a portion of the schematic illustrative drawing shown. The optical inlay 2 includes a connecting portion 5, in which the optical inlay 2 receives a connecting element 4 (specifically implemented here as a spacer ball). The portion of the optical inlay 2 for connecting the optical inlay 2 to the spacer ball includes an inner section and a surrounding protruding outer section, wherein the inner and outer sections are spaced apart from each other by recesses. In the inner section region, the optical inlay 2 is bent in such a way that the spacer ball is tightly connected to the optical inlay 2 without any adhesive layer in between. The space between the protruding outer section and the spacer ball is filled with adhesive, which provides a first attachment mechanism between the optical inlay 2 and the spacer ball. The inner section and the protruding outer section are preferably configured to be rotatably symmetrical about an axis of symmetry 11.

[0060] The carrier 3 includes a sprue ball receiving portion configured to receive a sprue ball. The sprue ball receiving portion has a central recess and an adjacent inclined section, wherein the sprue ball directly contacts the carrier 3 at the inclined section without any intermediate adhesive layer. In the central recess, adhesive is used to securely attach the sprue ball to the carrier 3, thereby providing a second attachment mechanism.

[0061] exist Figure 4Two directions can be defined: the axial direction along the axis of symmetry 11 and the transverse direction orthogonal to the axis of symmetry 11. The interaction between the connecting part 5, the sizing ball, and the carrier 3 fixes the axial and transverse positions of the optical inlay 2 to the carrier 3. Once the connecting part 5 and the sizing ball mechanically interact, the transverse movement of the optical inlay 2 is restricted, while axial movement can only be away from the sizing ball. The adhesive between the optical inlay 2 and the sizing ball further restricts the movement of the optical inlay 2 away from the sizing ball.

[0062] Figure 5 Figures (a), (b), and (c) show three different schematic illustrative depictions of embodiments of a spherically mounted retroreflector, wherein... Figure 5 The intermediate embodiment in (b) is an embodiment according to the present invention. In all three illustrative figures, the vertex 9 of the optical inlay 2 is shown. The connection is also shown. Figure 5 The line 10 of the center of the ball of the carrier 3 in the three embodiments.

[0063] exist Figure 5 In (a), the gap-filling sphere connecting the optical inlay 2 to the carrier 3 is too small. Therefore, the vertex 9 of the optical inlay 2 is not centered on the center of the sphere in the carrier 3. Figure 5 In (c), the gap-filling sphere is too large, which again causes the center of the sphere and vertex 9 to not overlap. Figure 5 The size of the spherical filler in (b) is designed such that the vertex 9 coincides with the center of the sphere of the support 3.

[0064] While the invention has been illustrated in part with reference to some preferred embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications and combinations of different features of the embodiments are possible. All such modifications are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A spherically mounted retroreflector (1), the spherically mounted retroreflector (1) comprising: An optical inlay (2), the optical inlay (2) comprising a retroreflector having a vertex (9) and an axis of symmetry (11), and • A carrier (3) having at least a partially spherical outer surface and a cavity, wherein the optical inlay (2) is disposed in the cavity, and wherein the at least partially spherical outer surface has a center that coincides with the vertex (9), wherein the optical inlay (2) is connected to the carrier (3). Its features are, The optical inlay (2) includes a connecting portion (5), and the spherically mounted retroreflector (1) includes a connecting element (4) arranged between the optical inlay (2) and the carrier (3), wherein the connecting portion (5) and the connecting element (4) are specifically implemented such that they correspond to and interact with each other in such a way that when connected to each other in a purely mechanical manner, the translational movement of the optical inlay (2) relative to the connecting element (4) is limited to movement along a single axis of movement.

2. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The axis of movement is the axis of symmetry (11).

3. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to claim 1. Its features are, The optical inlay (2) is fixedly attached to the connecting element (4) using a first attachment mechanism (8a), and / or the connecting element (4) is fixedly attached to the carrier (3) using a second attachment mechanism (8b).

4. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Its features are, The connecting element (4) is specifically implemented as a gap ball, and the optical inlay (2) is able to rotate around the gap ball when the gap ball is connected to the optical inlay (2) in a purely mechanical manner.

5. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Its features are, The retroreflector is specifically implemented as a cubic corner retroreflector.

6. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3. Its features are, The retroreflector is specifically implemented as a solid prism or includes optical plastic.

7. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The retroreflector is specifically implemented as a solid glass prism.

8. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to claim 3. Its features are, The first attachment mechanism (8a) and / or the second attachment mechanism (8b) are provided by an adhesive, which is arranged such that the adhesive is located on at least a portion of the curved surface between the connecting element (4) and the optical inlay (2) and / or between the connecting element (4) and the carrier (3).

9. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The curved surface corresponds to a tight sphere surrounding the connecting element (4).

10. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 8 and 9. Its features are, The optical inlay (2) and the connecting element (4) and / or the connecting element (4) and the carrier (3) are fixedly connected to each other using a pressing or snapping mechanism, and / or the connecting element (4) and the carrier (3) or the optical inlay (2) and the connecting element (4) are fixedly connected to each other using an adhesive.

11. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 8 and 9. Its features are, The optical inlay (2) is specifically implemented as injection-molded plastic and / or metal, and the cubic corner retroreflector is provided by a coating on at least a portion of the surface of the injection-molded plastic, the coating being reflective of the wavelength of the measured radiation irradiated onto the spherically mounted retroreflector.

12. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that, The coating is specifically implemented as a gold coating, a silver coating, or an aluminum coating.

13. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 8 and 9. Its features are, The optical inlay (2) includes three main sides, wherein the three main sides are substantially orthogonal to each other, each side is substantially planar and has a corresponding 2D side coordinate system in the corresponding side plane of the corresponding main side, and the optical inlay (2) is configured such that temperature changes substantially deform each main side in at most two coordinate directions of the corresponding 2D side coordinate system.

14. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 8 and 9. Its features are, The optical inlay (2) is configured such that temperature changes cause the optical inlay (2) to deform symmetrically around the connecting element (4).

15. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to any one of claims 3, 8 and 9. Its features are, The connecting portion (5) is specifically implemented as a gap-filling ball end, in which the optical inlay (2) accommodates the gap-filling ball, wherein the gap-filling ball end of the optical inlay (2) is symmetrical about the axis of symmetry (11), and wherein the gap-filling ball end has a protruding outer section and a recessed inner section separated from each other by a recess, the recessed inner section having a curvature complementary to the curvature of the gap-filling ball, and the protruding outer section having a contact area.

16. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to claim 15. Its features are, With the optical inlay (2) in a receiving state in which the granulator ball is received, the granulator ball directly contacts the recessed inner section, and there is a space between the contact area of ​​the protruding outer section and the granulator ball, wherein an adhesive is disposed in the space, the adhesive extends between the contact area and the granulator ball and fixes the granulator ball to the optical inlay (2).

17. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to claim 8 or 9. Its features are, The carrier (3) has a sprue ball receiving portion that is symmetrical about the axis of symmetry (11), wherein the sprue ball receiving portion has a central recess and an adjacent inclined section, wherein the sprue ball contacts the inclined section, and the adhesive between the sprue ball and the carrier (3) is arranged around the inclined section and / or in the central recess.

18. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 8 and 9. Its features are, The optical inlay (2) is connected only to the connecting element (4) and indirectly connected to the carrier (3) via the connecting element (4).

19. The spherically mounted retroreflector (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, 8 and 9. Its features are, A protective ring (6) is mounted on the carrier (3), the protective ring (6) laterally surrounds the portion of the optical inlay (2) that protrudes from the carrier (3), and the protective ring (6) is mechanically connected to the carrier (3).

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