Optical Mount With Grooved Protruding Member and Damping Ring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical mounts fail to maintain the perpendicularity and optical flatness of reflective surfaces in optical structures due to external stresses such as thermal expansion and adhesive deflection, leading to dimensional instability and distortion.

Innovation Solution

A mount design featuring a grooved protruding member with a damping ring, which dissipates stresses and maintains dimensional stability, incorporating a protruding member with a groove to reduce pressure on the optical structure and a damping ring to absorb vibrations, ensuring secure and stable mounting while minimizing distortion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rigid mount is used to securely retain the optical structure, then the mounting security is improved, but the external stresses from thermal expansion and adhesive deflection cause distortion of the optical structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting securityVSAvoidoptical flatness

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mount incorporates a compliant element with a specific geometry (such as a curved or flexible section) that provides localized flexibility at the mounting interface while maintaining rigidity in other portions of the mount structure. This allows the mount to be both secure and gentle on the optical structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The compliant element changes its physical state or properties under load, such as deforming elastically to absorb stress or changing stiffness characteristics. This allows the mount to adapt to thermal expansion and adhesive deflection while maintaining secure retention of the optical structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If a flexible mount is used to reduce stresses on the optical structure, then the optical flatness is improved, but the dimensional stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical flatnessVSAvoiddimensional stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The mount features a compliant element with specific geometric characteristics (such as a curved section or flexible portion) that provides localized flexibility to reduce stresses on the optical structure, while the overall mount structure maintains sufficient rigidity for dimensional stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The mount may incorporate materials with different mechanical properties in different regions, such as a rigid base material combined with a compliant element made of a more flexible material, creating a composite structure that balances flexibility and stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Reliability

If adhesive is used to join the optical structure to the mount, then the mounting security is improved, but the adhesive deflection causes stress on the optical structure

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemounting securityVSAvoidadhesive deflection stress

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStress or pressure

Solution Approach 1:

The mount incorporates a compliant element at the adhesive bonding interface that locally absorbs the deflection stresses generated by adhesive curing, preventing these stresses from being transmitted to the optical structure while maintaining secure retention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The compliant element is pre-positioned in the mount structure to anticipate and cushion against the deflection stresses that will occur during adhesive curing, providing stress relief before the full adhesive bond is established.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

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

The solution effectively reduces external stresses and maintains high optical flatness and dimensional stability, significantly minimizing mirror distortion and maintaining accuracy across varying torque levels.

Implementation Method 1

a damping ring disposed in or on the groove and methods of mounting an optical structure using such mounts

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

the groove and/or the protruding member to dissipate and/or eliminate one or more stresses passing through the mount and affecting the optical structure

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStress dissipation: Stress Relaxation

Data Source

PatentUS10222580B2Mounts for an optical structure having a grooved protruding member with a damping ring disposed in or on the groove and methods of mounting an optical structure using such mounts

Publication Date: 2019.03.05 PLX INC

AI summary

An improved mount for, and method of mounting, an optical structure having a grooved/relieved protruding member with a damping ring therein or on is provided. The grooved/relieved protruding member may extend from the optical structure, and an upper element having a first opening extending therethrough may receive at least a portion of the grooved/relieved member in the first opening. The upper element may include second and third openings therein that operate along with the first opening and a tightening mechanism. Tightening of the tightening mechanism into at least one of the third opening and the second opening causes the ends of the head portions to draw toward each other so that the first opening of the upper element tightens around the at least a portion of the grooved/relieved protruding member.