Athermal Telescope Structure Using Complementary Expansion Tubes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing thermally stabilized telescope systems face challenges in accurately controlling and tailoring the coefficient of thermal expansion across axes, leading to undesirable image blurring due to temperature changes, as conventional metals expand and contract, causing misalignment and fatigue in optical components.
Innovation Solution
The use of tailored thermal expansion coefficient materials, such as metallic tubes with complementary expansion characteristics, to maintain a constant optical focal distance between optical mirror sources and focal targets across a wide temperature range, employing materials like Ti100-AXA, Ti100-A-BNiAXB, and Ti100-A-BTaAXB, which contract when heated and expand when cooled, to stabilize the optical system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional metals are used in telescope systems, then the structure provides mechanical strength and support, but the coefficient of thermal expansion causes misalignment and image blurring when temperature changes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal expansion parameter by using materials with negative coefficient of thermal expansion (NTE) instead of conventional positive CTE metals. The NTE materials contract when heated and expand when cooled, opposite to conventional materials, thereby compensating for thermal expansion in the optical system and maintaining alignment precision across temperature variations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material systems combining NTE materials with conventional structural materials. The NTE materials are strategically positioned in the optical path to counteract thermal expansion effects, while conventional materials provide mechanical support, creating a hybrid system that achieves both strength and thermal stability
2Adaptability or versatility
If materials with high coefficient of thermal expansion are used, then the structure adapts to temperature changes through expansion and contraction, but this causes misalignment of optical components and image blurring
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of thermal expansion into a beneficial compensation mechanism. By introducing NTE materials that expand when cooled and contract when heated, the system uses thermal expansion in the opposite direction to cancel out the expansion of conventional materials, thereby maintaining optical alignment precision despite temperature variations
3Strength
If conventional fasteners and structural components are used, then the assembly provides mechanical stability, but thermal expansion and contraction cause fatigue and loosening over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the thermal response parameter of structural components by incorporating NTE materials in fasteners and structural elements. These materials exhibit opposite thermal expansion behavior, contracting when heated and expanding when cooled, which compensates for differential thermal expansion between dissimilar materials and prevents fastener loosening and fatigue
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution effectively maintains a stable optical focal distance and prevents image blurring by compensating for the natural expansion and contraction of other materials, ensuring precise alignment and reducing fatigue in extreme temperature environments.
Implementation Method 1
employing materials like Ti100-AXA, Ti100-A-BNiAXB, and Ti100-A-BTaAXB, which contract when heated and expand when cooled, to stabilize the optical system
Data Source
AI summary
A series tailored athermally stabilized optical (STASO) telescope system (STASOS) and method (STASOM) is disclosed. The disclosed system/method separates an optical mirror source (OMS) and an optical focal target (OFT) via a series connection of a first metering tube (FMT) and a second metering tube (SMT) that have been selected to have complementary thermal expansion characteristics so as to keep the OMS and OFT at a predetermined optical focal distance (OFD) from one another. This OFD may constitute a static distance and/or may incorporate a positive and/or negative expansion with temperature that complements thermal characteristics of the OMS and/or OFT so as to stabilize the OFD between the OMS and OFT over a predetermined range of temperatures.