Component mounting assembly

Abstract

A component mounting assembly for mounting a component in a mount structure, the mounting assembly comprising a support body arranged to be connected to the component or to the mount structure; an even number N of beams, N being at least four, wherein said beams are arranged in a loop either outside the support body in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the component; or inside the support body in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the mount structure; wherein adjacent beams in the loop are connected by respective hinge joints that permit relative rotation of the adjacent beams connected thereby, the beams being integrally formed with each other and the hinge joints being integral connections having a compliance that permits said relative rotation of the adjacent beams connected thereby; wherein each beam is connected to the support body by a respective pivot joint that permit relative rotation of the respective beam and the support body, the beams and the support body being integrally formed, and the pivot joints being integral connections having a compliance that permits said relative rotation of the respective beam and support body; wherein a plurality of said beams comprise contact surfaces arranged to contact either an internal surface of the mount structure in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the component; or an external surface of the component the in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the mount structure, such that the contact surfaces provide a reaction force to the beams on which they are provided that induces relative rotation of adjacent beams in alternate rotational directions at successive pivot joints around the loop, to thereby align the component relative to the mount structure.

Description

[0001] COMPONENT MOUNTING ASSEMBLY

[0002] BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a component mounting assembly for mounting a component in a mount structure.

[0004] There are many applications where it is desired to mount a component to a structure in a precise and reliable manner. For example, in optical devices, components (such as mirrors, lenses or optical fibres) are required to be positioned very precisely relative to each other and / or a target object. The function of the optical device may be to illuminate the target object and / or collect light from it. This may be done by positioning the optical components relative to a common body, such as a hollow cylinder, and positioning that common body relative to the target object. For example, in a cylindrical recess, it may be desired to centre a mirror or lens in a recess so that the axis of the mirror / lens and the axis of the recess are aligned (and / or collinear), and position the recess so that the axis of the recess and the target object are aligned. Such an arrangement may form a quantum emitter assembly, an example of which is an atomic ion within a Fabry-Perot optical cavity, which includes two mirrors mounted in a recess, with the optical axes of the mirrors aligned with each other and with the axis of the recess, and with the emitter positioned on the axis of the recess. In such an arrangement, the target object is the trapped ion. It will also be understood that it may be desired to align one or more components inside a recess in applications other than optical cavities, such as a microscope objective aligned to a biological sample or the relative alignment of multiple elements of a lens group in a smartphone camera

[0005] In known arrangements, such components are typically manually aligned and glued in position. This may require highly-trained personnel, and be time-consuming and difficult, which may limit production capacity. Further, such glued components are often susceptible to environmental fluctuations, which may be vibrational noise or thermal drifts. Susceptibility to vibrational noise may be due to elasticity of the adhesive, or compromises made in the mechanical structure to give compatibility with glue. Susceptibility to thermal noise may occur due to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the adhesive (e.g. epoxy) not matching the coefficient of thermal expansion of the optical component material.

[0006] In some applications, such as those where vacuum systems are present (including devices used in quantum information processors and networked quantum technologies), such glued elements may be unsuitable due to the properties of the glue. In particular, in non- cryogenic vacuum systems, the use of glue (such as epoxy adhesives) may result in outgassing (thus reducing vacuum quality), and may limit the maximum temperature in the vacuum bake-out stage (where the vacuum hardware is expelled of contaminants under high temperatures). In cryogenic vacuum systems, the glue may become brittle due to the low temperatures involved.

[0007] It is the aim of the present invention to at least partially address the problems noted above.

[0008] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] According to the present invention, there is provided a component mounting assembly for mounting a component in a mount structure, the mounting assembly comprising a support body arranged to be connected to the component or to the mount structure; an even number N of beams, N being at least four, wherein said beams are arranged in a loop either outside the support body in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the component; or inside the support body in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the mount structure; wherein adjacent beams in the loop are connected by respective hinge joints that permit relative rotation of the adjacent beams connected thereby, the beams being integrally formed with each other and the hinge joints being integral connections having a compliance that permits said relative rotation of the adjacent beams connected thereby; wherein each beam is connected to the support body by a respective pivot joint that permit relative rotation of the respective beam and the support body, the beams and the support body being integrally formed, and the pivot joints being integral connections having a compliance that permits said relative rotation of the respective beam and support body; wherein a plurality of said beams comprise contact surfaces arranged to contact either an internal surface of the mount structure in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the component; or an external surface of the component in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the mount structure, such that the contact surfaces provide a reaction force to the beams on which they are provided that induces relative rotation of adjacent beams in alternate rotational directions at successive pivot joints around the loop, to thereby align the component relative to the mount structure.

[0010] Thus, the relative movement of the beams may result in the component and mount structure being aligned with each other, even when one or both of the support body and mount structure deviate from an ideal symmetric geometry, irrespective of small imbalances in the stiffness of each pivot or hinge, and irrespective of any imperfections in the contact surfaces. This may provide a passive self-centring mechanism, which can function effectively even when there are small dimensional errors in manufacture. Further, this may allow the use of manual positioning and glue to be avoided. Further still, the mechanical resonances of the assembly can be tuned to suit operational conditions, providing improved decoupling from environmental noise.

[0011] Optionally, the contact surfaces are arranged such that the reaction forces induce movement toward the support body of at least some of a subset of hinge joints that are alternate hinge joints around the loop.

[0012] Optionally, the contact surfaces are arranged such that the reaction forces induce movement toward the support body of each of the subset of hinge joints.

[0013] Optionally, N / 2 of said beams each comprise a respective contact surface.

[0014] Optionally, the contact surfaces are provided on alternate beams around said loop. This may provide a more even force distribution.

[0015] According to the invention, there is also provided the assembly as described above, further comprising the component and the mount structure, the support body being connected to the component or to the mount structure, the contact surfaces contacting either: the internal surface of the mount structure in the case that the support body is connected to the component, or the external surface of the component the in the case that the support body connected to the mount structure.

[0016] Optionally, N is at least six. This may provide passive self-centring in two dimensions.

[0017] Optionally, the assembly further comprises at least one stop surface arranged to constrain said relative rotation of adjacent beams by contact of the stop surfaces with the support body or the mount structure. This may limit the range of movement of the beams, and thus prevent overactuation and possible material failure.

[0018] Optionally, at least one stop surface is provided on at least one beam.

[0019] Optionally, at least one stop surface is provided on the support body.

[0020] Optionally, each hinge joint is located equidistant from the pivot joints of the two beams joined by the hinge joint.

[0021] Optionally, each pivot joint is located equidistant from the hinge joints at opposite ends of the respective beam connected to the support body by the pivot joint.

[0022] Optionally, the centres of rotation of the pivot joints are positioned at vertices of a regular polygon.

[0023] Optionally, the component has an axis, the beams being arranged in a loop around the axis of the component.

[0024] Optionally, the assembly comprises a plurality of said loops, each loop comprising said even number N of beams.

[0025] Optionally, the support body is arranged to be connected to the component, and the mount structure is annular. Optionally, the support body is arranged to be connected to the mount structure, and the support body is annular.

[0026] Optionally, the beams are formed of glass, and preferably fused silica. This may allow the assembly to be used in a wide range of operational range temperatures and pressures. For example, very low vacuum pressures may be used due to low outgassing of fused silica during normal operation. Further, the low coefficient of thermal expansion of fused silica may allow it to be used at high and low temperatures.

[0027] Optionally, the support body is formed of glass, and preferably fused silica. Again, this may allow the assembly to be used in a wide range of operational range temperatures and pressures. For example, very low vacuum pressures may be used due to low outgassing of fused silica during normal operation. Further, the low coefficient of thermal expansion of fused silica may allow it to be used at high and low temperatures.

[0028] Optionally, the component is a component of an ion trap assembly. Such an ion trap assembly may be simpler and cheaper to manufacture, due to the advantages set out above.

[0029] Optionally, the component is an optical component.

[0030] Optionally, the component is a lens, a mirror, an optical fibre, an optical fibre mount, an optically-heated atomic source, a detector, or a combination thereof.

[0031] According to the invention, there is also provided a quantum emitter assembly comprising the assembly as described above, the quantum emitter assembly being configured to house (and / or retain) a quantum emitter. Such a quantum emitter assembly may be simpler and cheaper to manufacture, due to the advantages set out above.

[0032] Optionally, the quantum emitter is one of a trapped ion, a trapped neutral atom, a nitrogenvacancy centre, and a quantum dot. Optionally, the quantum emitter assembly is an ion trap assembly comprising an ion trap body. The ion trap body may comprise the mount structure.

[0033] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] The present invention will now be described, by way of non-limitative example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] Figure 1 shows a component mounting assembly of the present invention;

[0036] Figure 2 shows the support body and beams of figure 1;

[0037] Figure 3 shows a schematic representation of the support body and beams of figure 1;

[0038] Figure 4 shows the relative motion and various points in the view of figure 2;

[0039] Figure 5 shows a further arrangement of support body and beams of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 6 shows a schematic representation of the support body and beams of figure 5;

[0041] Figure 7 shows the relative motion and various points in the view of figure 6 when mounted in a mount structure;

[0042] Figure 8 shows a further component mounting assembly of the present invention;

[0043] Figure 9 shows a schematic representation of figure 8;

[0044] Figure 10 shows a further arrangement of support body and beams of the present invention;

[0045] Figure 11 shows the arrangement of figure 10 with a component mounted thereto; Figure 12 shows a further arrangement of support body and beams of the present invention;

[0046] Figure 13 shows a schematic representation of figure 12;

[0047] Figure 14 shows a further arrangement of support body and beams of the present invention;

[0048] Figure 15 shows a schematic representation of a further arrangement of support body and beams of the present invention;

[0049] Figure 16 shows a schematic depiction of two arrangements of stop surface;

[0050] Figure 17 shows a component with multiple component mounting assemblies according to the present invention; and

[0051] Figure 18 shows an ion trap incorporating the component mounting assembly of the present invention.

[0052] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0053] The present invention relates to a component mounting assembly for mounting a component in a mount structure.

[0054] Figure 1 depicts an example arrangement of component mounting assembly 10, mount structure 11 (a cylindrical recess) and component 12 (an optical fibre). Figure 2 depicts the component mounting assembly 10 alone (i.e. without the mount structure and the component).

[0055] In the arrangement shown in figures 1 and 2, the mounting assembly 10 comprises a support body 13 arranged to be connected to the component, and six beams 14 arranged in a loop outside the support body. The beams and the support body are integrally formed. The beams 14 are arranged in a loop around the axis of the component (not shown in figure 2). Although the arrangement shown in figures 1 and 2 includes six beams, it will be understood that any even number of beams may be used, as long as the number of beams is at least four.

[0056] The support body 13 may be any suitable body on which a component can be mounted. In the case of the component being an optical component (including, but not limited to, the optical fibre 12 shown in figure 1), the support body 13 may be an optical substrate, or may be a generic carrier. In the case of the optical component being a lens, the optical substrate forming the support body may be a part into which a spherical dome is polished, thus forming the lens. The component may be attached to the support body in any suitable manner, and in some arrangements may be integrally formed with the support body.

[0057] As shown in figure 2, adjacent beams in the loop are connected by respective hinge joints 15 that permit relative rotation of the adjacent beams connected thereby. That is, beams which are joined at a hinge joint can move relative to each other by movement of the hinge joint 15. The beams are integrally formed with each other. Further, the hinge joints 15 are integral connections having a compliance that permits said relative rotation of the adjacent beams connected thereby. In other words, although the term “hinge” is used, the joints do not include separately formed parts moveable relative to each other (as in, for example, a door hinge), but are compliant regions which allow a hinging motion. For example, as illustrated in figure 2, the hinge joints 15 may be provided by thin sections of material which allow relative movement.

[0058] As also shown in figure 2, each beam is connected to the support body by a pivot joint 16 that permits relative rotation of the beam and the support body. The pivot joints 16 are integral connections having a compliance that permits relative rotation of the respective beam and support body. Thus, although the term “pivot joint” is used, the joints do not include separately formed parts moveable relative to each other, but are regions which allow a pivoting motion. As illustrated in figure 2, the pivot joints 16 may be provided by thin sections of material which allow relative movement.

[0059] In the arrangement shown in figure 2, three of the six beams (i.e. N / 2 of the beams 14) comprise contact surfaces 17 arranged to contact an internal surface of the mount structure. In particular, the contact surfaces 17 are provided on alternate beams around the loop. However, it will be understood that other arrangements are possible where fewer than N / 2 of the beams include a contact surface.

[0060] When the contact surfaces 17 are in contact with the mount structure (and in particular the internal surface thereof), the contact surfaces provide a reaction force (transmitted from the mount structure) to the beams on which they are provided. This reaction force induces relative rotation of adjacent beams in alternate rotational directions at successive pivot joints around the loop. In turn, this aligns the component relative to the mount structure. This will be explained in more detail below.

[0061] Figure 3 depicts the arrangement of figure 2 schematically, with the hinge joints 15 and pivot joints 16 depicted as pinned connections. The contact surfaces 17 of the beams 14 are depicted as linear protrusions, extending radially outward. Schematic depictions of this nature will be used later in order to illustrate the movement of the components relative to each other. However, it will be understood that in practical implementations of the assembly, the beams and support body are integrally formed. That is, the hinges and pivots may be provided by thin sections of material in a monolithic compliant structure.

[0062] In the arrangement shown in figure 3, each hinge joint is located equidistant from the pivot joints of the two beams joined by the hinge joint. Further, each pivot joint is located equidistant from the hinge joints at opposite ends of the respective beam connected to the support body by the pivot joint. This results in the centres of rotation of the pivot joints being positioned at vertices of a regular polygon. In the arrangements of figures 1-4, the regular polygon is a hexagon, and in the arrangements of figures 5, 6 and 7, the regular polygon is an octagon.

[0063] Figure 4 provides an illustration of the relative movement of the beams in the arrangement of figure 2, in response to forces being applied to the contact surfaces 17 when the support body is mounted to the mount structure. In particular, the reaction forces applied at the contact surfaces 17 induce inward movement toward the support body of alternate hinge joints 15a around the loop (shown by arrows Al). This in turn results in outward movement away from the support body of the other (i.e. the remainder of the) hinge joints 15b around the loop (shown by arrows A2). It will be understood that this movement of hinge joints in alternating directions results in the relative rotation of adjacent beams in alternate rotational directions, at successive pivot joints 16 around the loop, as described above.

[0064] The relative movement of the beams may allow for the support body (and any component mounted thereon) to be aligned relative to the mount structure, as well as being held securely in the mount structure by friction between the contact surfaces and the mount structure. In particular, the geometry of the beams and their movement may result a passive self-centring of the support body, when disposed in a recess. That is, the movement of the beams and joints can compensate for any irregularities in the shape of the recess by “absorbing” those irregularities.

[0065] Figure 5 depicts a further arrangement similar to that shown in figures 2 and 4, but with eight beams 64 and four contact surfaces 67. It will be understood that the features described above in relation to figures 1-4 apply equally to the arrangement of figure 5, unless stated otherwise.

[0066] Figure 6 is a schematic depiction of the arrangement of figure 5, depicted in a similar manner to figure 3. Figure 7 shows, schematically, the relative movement of the various parts of figure 6, when the mechanism is placed in a recess (i.e. the mount structure, which in this arrangement is annular). It will be seen that the contact surfaces 67 are in contact with the internal surface 68 of the mount structure 61, and that four of the hinge joints 65a (i.e. those which are adjacent a contact surface) move toward the support body (i.e. radially inward). This results in the beams around the loop (which are connected by the hinge joints) moving in alternate clockwise and anticlockwise directions (by pivoting about the pivot joints 66 in opposite rotational directions) and the other four hinge joints 65b moving away from the support body (i.e. radially outward). This may act to distribute force and provide centration of the support body in the recess. This arrangement may provide a significantly stronger mechanism with suppression of parasitic degrees of freedom than can be achieved with equivalent individual actuators. It will be understood that figure 7 is merely a schematic depiction, with the movement of the joints and beams greatly exaggerated. As explained above, the beams and joints are integrally formed in the present invention. In practice, the support surface and beams may act as a substantially rigid body, with some compliance at the hinges, rather than a mechanism with parts which are moveable to a large extent. The movement may be provided by compliance of the integral hinges, bending of the beams, or a combination thereof. The degree of relative movement may be small enough that the relative movement of the beams over small distances induces a quasi-pure rotation at the hinges. As explained below, the compliant mechanism may be etched into the radial periphery of the support body.

[0067] Although the above movement of joints is described in relation to figures 4 and 7 for ease of understanding, it will be understood that the joints of the other arrangements described herein may also move in the same way. In some arrangements, when defining a subset of hinge joints as alternate hinge joints around the loop (i.e. every other hinge joint around the loop), the reaction forces may induce movement toward the support body of some, but not all, of the subset of hinge joints. In other words, fewer than half of the hinge joints may move inward towards the support body. On the other hand, in the arrangement shown in figure 5, the reaction forces may induce movement toward the support body of all of the subset of hinge joints (i.e. N / 2 of the hinge joints). However, it will be understood that, in both of the arrangements above, no two successive hinge joints around the loop move inwardly. Arrangements are also possible in which one beam comprises more than one contact surface, as long as the arrangement of contact surfaces is such that the mechanism is not overconstrained.

[0068] In the above, it will be understood that the term “mechanism” may be used to refer to the combination of the support body and beams. The term “component mounting assembly” may also refer to the combination of the support body and beams, with or without the component itself and the mount structure itself. In the arrangements described above in relation to figures 1-7, the beams are connected to the outside of a support body, to which the component is attached and which can be inserted into a mount structure. However, arrangements are also possible in which the support body is connected to the mount structure, with the beams being arranged inside the support body.

[0069] Examples of such arrangements of component mounting assembly are shown in figures 8- 11. In these arrangements, the support body is a part inside which the component is mounted. In the arrangements shown in figures 8-11, the support body is a cylinder with a recess inside (i.e. an annulus). In such an arrangement, the contact surfaces may contact the external surface of the component, or the external surface of a substrate on which the component is mounted, in order to provide alignment and / or centration the component. Although shown as an isolated cylinder in figures 8-11, the support body may be integrally formed with a mount structure, or may be a separate part which is attached to the mount structure.

[0070] In particular, figure 8 illustrates, as a non-limiting example, a mounting assembly according to the present invention, with a spherical lens as the component 82. Similarly to the arrangement of figure 1, the assembly comprises six beams 84, with three of the beams having contact surfaces 87. The beams 84 are arranged in a loop around the axis of the component 82. However, unlike the arrangement of figure 1, the contact surfaces 87 are in contact with an external surface of the component (i.e. the lens). Further, unlike the arrangements of figures 1-7, the beams 84 are arranged in a loop inside (rather than outside) the support body 83. The beams 84 and the support body 83 are integrally formed. In the arrangements of figures 8 and 9, the support body 83 takes the form of an annulus, inside which the component 82 is placed.

[0071] Aside from the above-described differences, the assembly (i.e. the beams and support body) may allow for alignment and centring of a component in a similar manner to the arrangements of figures 1-7 described above. As shown in figure 8, adjacent beams in the loop are connected by respective hinge joints 85 that permit relative rotation of the adjacent beams connected thereby. That is, beams which are joined at a hinge joint can move relative to each other by movement of the hinge joint. The beams are integrally formed with each other. Further, the hinge joints are integral connections having a compliance that permits said relative rotation of the adjacent beams connected thereby. In other words, although the term “hinge” is used, the joints do not include separately formed parts moveable relative to each other (as in, for example, a door hinge), but are regions which allow a hinging motion. As illustrated in figure 8, the hinges may be provided by thin sections of material which allow relative movement.

[0072] Each beam is connected to the support body by a pivot joint 86 that permits relative rotation of the beam 84 and the support body 83. The pivot joints 86 are integral connections having a compliance that permits said relative rotation of the respective beam and support body. Thus, although the term “pivot joint” is used, the joints do not include separately formed parts moveable relative to each other, but are regions which allow a pivoting motion. As illustrated in figure 8, the pivots may be provided by thin sections of material which allow relative movement.

[0073] In the arrangement shown in figure 8, three of the six beams (i.e. N / 2 of the beams) comprise contact surfaces 87 arranged to contact an internal surface of the mount structure. In particular, the contact surfaces 87 are provided on alternate beams around the loop. However, it will be understood that other arrangements are possible where fewer than N / 2 of the beams include a contact surface.

[0074] When the contact surfaces 87 are in contact with the component 82 (and in particular the external surface thereof), the contact surfaces provide a reaction force to the beams on which they are provided. This reaction force induces relative rotation of adjacent beams in alternate rotational directions at successive pivot joints around the loop. In turn, this aligns the component relative to the mount structure.

[0075] Figure 9 is a schematic depiction of an arrangement similar to that of figure 8, but with four (rather than three) contact surfaces 87. Figure 9 shows, schematically, the relative movement of the various parts when the component is mounted inside the support body. It will be seen that the contact surfaces 87 are in contact with the external surface of the component 82, and that four of the hinge joints 85 (i.e. those which are adjacent a contact surface) move toward the support body (i.e. radially outward). This results in the beams around the loop (which are connected by the hinge joints) moving in alternate clockwise and anticlockwise directions (by pivoting about pivot joints 86), and the other four hinge joints 85 moving away from the support body (i.e. radially inward). This may act to distribute force and provide centration of the component in the recess formed inside the support body.

[0076] Figure 10 depicts a further arrangement of support body 103 and beams 104 of the present invention, with figure 11 depicting the same arrangement with a cylindrical component 102 mounted thereto. Again, it will be noted that there are six beams 104 and three contact surfaces 107, with the contact surfaces being provided on alternate beams around the loop.

[0077] It will be understood that any of the variations described above in relation to figures 1 -7 may equally be applied to the arrangements of figures 8-11. For example, the number of beams may be varied to any even number greater than four, and the number and positioning of the contact surfaces may also be varied.

[0078] In the above, it will be understood that the term “mechanism” may be used to refer to the combination of the support body and beams. The term “component mounting assembly” may also refer to the combination of the support body and beams, with or without the component itself and the mount structure itself. Although the support body is depicted in figures 8-11 as a cylindrical tube, it will be understood that the support body may also be integrally formed with the mount structure (i.e. the object in which the component is mounted).

[0079] In the arrangements depicted in figures 1-11, and described above, the number of contact surfaces is three or four (and with the number N of beams being six or eight respectively). Arrangements with four or more contact points may be particularly advantageous, because these arrangements may provide passive self-centring within recesses which are elliptical (e.g. recesses or cavities which are intended to be cylindrical, but have some degree of ellipticity due to manufacturing defects or tolerances) and / or may provide passive self- centring within recesses which have random surface defects. In particular, a total of 4 contact points may provide optimal centration within an elliptical recess, whereas greater numbers of contact points may provide improved centration for random defects (by allowing greater ‘local’ variation in the degree of actuation of each beam). However, the geometric principles described above can be used to provide mechanisms with any arbitrary even number of beams. Indeed, arrangements with only two contact points (and four beams) are also possible. Such arrangements may provide passive alignment in a single dimension (rather than passive centring in a recess, i.e. in two dimensions).

[0080] Figure 12 depicts an arrangement similar to that of figure 4, but with twelve beams 124, and six contact surfaces 127 on alternate beams around the loop. Figure 13 is a schematic representation of the arrangement of figure 12, depicting the beams 124, hinge joints 125 and pivot joints 126.

[0081] Similarly, figure 14 depicts an arrangement with sixteen beams 144, and eight contact surfaces 147 on alternate beams around the loop.

[0082] Increasing the number of contact points may provide a further improvement in the ability of the mechanism to provide self-centration and alignment of the component relative to the mount structure. It will be noted that in these arrangements, the number of contact surfaces is N / 2 (i.e. half the number of beams). However, in some arrangements, one or more contact surfaces may be omitted without adversely affecting the function of the mechanism. This may be particularly preferably in arrangements with larger number of beams (e.g. 12 or more), in which case contact surfaces can be omitted whilst having minimal effect on the functioning of the mechanism, because the larger number of contact surfaces can better compensate for the “missing” contact surface(s).

[0083] In the arrangements set out above, the centres of rotation of the pivot joints are positioned at vertices of a regular polygon. However, arrangements are also possible in which the centres of rotation of the pivot joins are positioned at vertices of other shapes, such as an irregular polygon. Figure 15 provides a schematic illustration of such a shape (with the pivot joints 156 at vertices of an irregular hexagon, and three contact points 157). In arrangements (such as that shown in figure 15) where which the centres of rotation of the pivot joins are positioned at vertices an irregular polygon, each hinge joint 155 is located equidistant from the pivot joints 156 of the two beams 154 joined by the hinge joint 155, similarly to the regular polygon arrangements described above. However, unlike the regular polygon arrangements described above, and as will be apparent from figure 15, each pivot joint 156 is not located equidistant from the hinge joints 155 at opposite ends of the respective beam 154 connected to the support body 153 by the pivot joint.

[0084] Such irregular polygon arrangements may have the advantage that the peak stress for a given degree of radial displacement at the contact points may be lower than for a corresponding regular polygon arrangement, at the expense of decreasing the coupling between beams linked by their short edges.

[0085] In some arrangements, it may be preferable to limit the range of movement of the mechanism (i.e. of the joints, and thus of the beams), in order to, for example, prevent material failure due to tensile stress by over-actuation. In order to do this, the assembly may include a buffer or stop arrangement which limits the actuation of the mechanism. In other words, at a prescribed displacement, the mechanism is seized by the buffer or stop mechanism.

[0086] In particular, and as shown schematically in figure 16, the assembly may comprise least one stop surface 168 arranged to constrain the relative rotation of adjacent beams by contact of the stop surfaces with the support body or the mount structure. In some arrangements, at least one stop surface is provided on at least one beam. In some arrangements, at least one stop surface is provided on the support body.

[0087] Figure 16 depicts an arrangement in which a stop surface 168a is provided on one beam 164, and in which a stop surface 168b is also provided on the support body 163. However, it will be understood that stop surfaces may be provided only on one or more beams, or only at one or more positions on the support body. In particular, as shown in figure 16, a stop surface 168a provided on at least one beam 164 may be arranged so as to contact the mount structure (at point Pl as shown in figure 16), thus restricting the range of movement of the beam on which the stop surface is disposed. In turn, this may restrict the movement of the mechanism as a whole. In the arrangement shown in figure 16, the stop surface 168a is positioned at the end of the beam, and at the hinge joint 165, equidistant between the two pivot joints 166 either side. It will be understood that the position and form of the stop surface may be chosen in accordance with the desired limit on movement of the beam.

[0088] As also shown in figure 16, a stop surface 168b provided on the support body 163 may be arranged so as to contact a beam (at point P2) as shown in figure 16, restricting the range of movement of the beam which comes in to contact with the stop surface. In turn, this may restrict the movement of the mechanism as a whole. In the arrangement shown in figure 16, the stop surface 168b is positioned such that it contacts the end of the beam, and at the hinge joint 165, equidistant between the two pivot joints 166 either side. Again, it will be understood that the position and form of the stop surface may be chosen in accordance with the desired limit on movement of the beam.

[0089] Figure 17 depicts a “stacked” arrangement in which multiple components are mounted within a single mount structure 171. In the arrangement of figure 17, the components are optical components, and the mount structure is a cylindrical recess.

[0090] In particular, two mirrors 172a, 172b, each of which has a curved surface on one side and a planar surface on the other side, are provided in a closed cylindrical tube. The mirrors may have a reflective coating on the curved surface, and the planar surface may be clear glass. The two mirrors are mounted individually, each using a component mounting assembly shown in figure 18 similar to that shown in figure 2 (i.e. with the component mounted on the support body 173a, 173b, and the beams attached thereto). It will be understood that the mirrors may be integrally formed with the support body, or may be separately formed and attached thereto. Further, an optical fibre 172c is provided in the tube, mounted to a further support body 173c. The support body of the optical fibre comprises two separate loops of beams 179a, 179b, with each loop being similar to the loop of beams shown in figure 2 (i.e. with the component mounted on the support body, and the beams attached thereto). Although the arrangement shown in figure 17 depicts two loops of beams, each with six beams, it will be understood that other arrangements are possible, with a support body comprising a plurality of loops, and each loop comprising any even number N of beams.

[0091] In the arrangement of figure 17, the two mirrors and the optical fibre are aligned with each other by virtue of their respective mounting in the mount structure by the mounting assembly. Although it will be noted that each mirror is provided on its own support body (which may allow for possible defects in the surface of the recess to be accommodated), other arrangements are possible in which a plurality of components (e.g. a mirror and an additional lens) are mounted on a single support body. In such an arrangement, the support body may have a single loop of beams (in a similar manner to the support bodies of the mirrors shown in figure 17), or may have more than one loop of beams (in a similar manner to the support body of the optical fibre shown in figure 17).

[0092] The arrangement of mirrors mounted in a recess depicted in figure 17 forms an optical cavity, which may be used for the spectroscopic analysis of light or for enhancing the interaction between light and matter. The curved surfaces having a reflective coating and planar the sides being clear glass may form an optical cavity between the curved surfaces, but allow light to pass in to and out of the cavity via the planar surfaces. However, it will be understood that this is merely an example arrangement, and that different arrangements of multiple components may be provided together in order to perform other functions.

[0093] The component mounting assembly of the present invention may be used for a wide variety of applications where it is desired to reliably and precisely mount a component in a mount structure, for example for the purpose of aligning the component relative to the mount structure itself, or to other components. The assembly of the present invention may be particularly suitable for mounting optical components, such as (but not limited to) lenses, optical fibres and mirrors.

[0094] Further, the assembly of the present invention may be particularly suitable for mounting components of a quantum emitter assembly. That is, an assembly configured to house (and / or contain) a quantum emitter and any of the component mounting assemblies described above may be provided. For example, the quantum emitter may be a trapped ion, a trapped neutral atom, a nitrogen vacancy centre, or a quantum dot. When used in a quantum emitter assembly, the component may be an optical component such as those described above, or other (optical or non-optical) components, such as detectors or optically-heated atomic sources.

[0095] An example of a quantum emitter assembly which uses a trapped ion as a quantum emitter is an ion trap assembly. It will be understood that the term “ion trap assembly” may be used to refer to an entire ion trap, or a subassembly thereof. An ion trap assembly 180 comprising the component mounting assembly of the present invention is shown in figure 18. In particular, the assembly is used to mount and align two opposed mirrors 182 in a recess in the body of the ion trap 181, thus forming an optical cavity. Each mirror is mounted on a support body 183, with each support body having a conical protrusion, on the tip of which the mirror is mounted. Each support body includes a beam arrangement as depicted in figure 2, mounted in a cylindrical recess 181. The support bodies, and thus the mirrors, are disposed in the cylindrical recess, with the contact surfaces of the beams in contact with the internal surface of the mount structure (i.e. the internal surface of the cylindrical recess in this arrangement). The support bodies, and thus the mirrors, are therefore aligned and centred within the recess, forming an optical cavity. In doing so, the mirrors are not only aligned with the recess in the body of the ion trap, but also with the trapped ion in the ion trap. It will be appreciated that this arrangement also positionally retains the components (i.e. the mirrors) relative to the body, by contact between the loop of beams (which form a compliant structure) and the internal surface of the recess.

[0096] Although the component mounting assembly shown in figure 18 is similar to that shown in figure 2 (i.e. with the component mounted on the support body, and the beams attached thereto), it will be understood that any of the above arrangements may be applied an ion trap such as that shown in figure 18, or to other quantum emitter arrangements.

[0097] In any of the arrangements described above, the beams and / or the support body may be formed of glass. In particular, fused silica may be used. For arrangements where the beams and support body are formed of glass, these elements may be produced by selective laser-assisted etching. This may provide precision and accuracy in forming the desired shape to the micron scale.

[0098] The use of glass may result in an assembly which has a larger operational temperature range than the temperature range of known mounting assemblies (such as those made of metallic materials). The use of glass may also provide compatibility with high vacuum (i.e. low pressure) conditions, including extreme high vacuum (XHV) conditions, with little to no outgassing when in vacuum conditions. A large operational temperature range may also allow the parts made of glass to be ‘baked-out’, where the parts are left at high temperatures to expel contaminants from their surface and thereby improve future vacuum pressures.

[0099] The beams and / or the support body may also be produced by additive manufacturing. This may allow a wide variety of materials (including, but not limited to, glass, as described above) to be used in the manufacture of the mounting assembly. The use of additive manufacture may also reduce the cost of manufacturing.

[0100] It should be understood by those skilled in the art that while the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. Various modifications, combinations, sub-combinations and alterations may occur depending on design requirements and other factors insofar as they are within the scope of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof. Features from any example or embodiment of the present disclosure can be combined with features from any other example or embodiment of the present disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A component mounting assembly for mounting a component in a mount structure, the mounting assembly comprising: a support body arranged to be connected to the component or to the mount structure; an even number N of beams, N being at least four, wherein said beams are arranged in a loop either: outside the support body in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the component; or inside the support body in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the mount structure; wherein adjacent beams in the loop are connected by respective hinge joints that permit relative rotation of the adjacent beams connected thereby, the beams being integrally formed with each other and the hinge joints being integral connections having a compliance that permits said relative rotation of the adjacent beams connected thereby; wherein each beam is connected to the support body by a respective pivot joint that permit relative rotation of the respective beam and the support body, the beams and the support body being integrally formed, and the pivot joints being integral connections having a compliance that permits said relative rotation of the respective beam and support body; wherein a plurality of said beams comprise contact surfaces arranged to contact either: an internal surface of the mount structure in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the component; or an external surface of the component the in the case that the support body is arranged to be connected to the mount structure; such that the contact surfaces provide a reaction force to the beams on which they are provided that induces relative rotation of adjacent beams in alternate rotational directions at successive pivot joints around the loop, to thereby align the component relative to the mount structure.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the contact surfaces are arranged such that the reaction forces induce movement toward the support body of at least some of a subset of hinge joints that are alternate hinge joints around the loop.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the contact surfaces are arranged such that the reaction forces induce movement toward the support body of each of the subset of hinge joints.

4. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein N / 2 of said beams each comprise a respective contact surface.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the contact surfaces are provided on alternate beams around said loop.

6. The assembly of any preceding claim, further comprising the component and the mount structure, the support body being connected to the component or to the mount structure; the contact surfaces contacting either: the internal surface of the mount structure in the case that the support body is connected to the component; or the external surface of the component the in the case that the support body connected to the mount structure.

7. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein N is at least six.

8. The assembly of any preceding claim, further comprising at least one stop surface arranged to constrain said relative rotation of adjacent beams by contact of the stop surfaces with the support body or the mount structure.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein at least one stop surface is provided on at least one beam.

10. The assembly of claim 8 or 9 wherein at least one stop surface is provided on the support body.

11. The mounting device of any preceding claim, wherein each hinge joint is located equidistant from the pivot joints of the two beams joined by the hinge joint.

12. The mounting device of any preceding claim, wherein each pivot joint is located equidistant from the hinge joints at opposite ends of the respective beam connected to the support body by the pivot joint.

13. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the centres of rotation of the pivot joints are positioned at vertices of a regular polygon.

14. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the component has an axis, the beams being arranged in a loop around the axis of the component15. The assembly of any preceding claim, comprising a plurality of said loops, each loop comprising said even number N of beams.

16. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the support body is arranged to be connected to the component, and the mount structure is annular.

17. The assembly of any of claims 1-15, wherein the support body is arranged to be connected to the mount structure, and the support body is annular.

18. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the beams are formed of glass.

19. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the support body is formed of glass.

20. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the component is a component of an ion trap assembly.

21. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the component is an optical component.

22. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the component is a lens, a mirror, an optical fibre, an optical fibre mount, an optically-heated atomic source, a detector, or a combination thereof.

23. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the component is a mount for a further component.

24. A quantum emitter assembly comprising the component mounting assembly of any preceding claim, and configured to house a quantum emitter.

25. The quantum emitter assembly of claim 24, wherein the quantum emitter is one of a trapped ion, a trapped neutral atom, a nitrogen-vacancy centre, and a quantum dot.

26. The quantum emitter assembly of claim 25, wherein the quantum emitter assembly is an ion trap assembly comprising an ion trap body, wherein the ion trap body comprises the mount structure.

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