Rigid Adaptor Ring for CTE Mismatched Optical Components
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing techniques fail to effectively mitigate thermal stresses between optical device components with mismatched coefficients of thermal expansion, leading to potential fracture in brittle materials, and often result in increased weight, complexity, and cost due to complex metering structures or unacceptable movement in flexible attachments.
Innovation Solution
A rigid adaptor ring with mounting pads and a central web, made from a material with a CTE close to the components, is used to interface between mismatched optical device components, offsetting mounting pads to direct thermal stresses into a less brittle component and reduce thermal stress.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If a flexible material is used to attach CTE mismatched components, then thermal expansion/contraction is accommodated, but movement is unacceptable for maintaining accuracy and alignment
Solution Approach 1:
A rigid adaptor ring is introduced as an intermediary component between the silicon carbide optical component and the aluminum support structure. The adaptor ring has a CTE intermediate between the two materials, creating a gradient that progressively manages thermal expansion differences. This mediator allows the system to maintain rigid alignment while accommodating thermal effects through the intermediate material's controlled expansion/contraction.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution employs a composite structure consisting of multiple materials with different CTEs arranged in a gradient: silicon carbide optical component → rigid adaptor ring (intermediate CTE) → aluminum support structure. This composite arrangement allows each material to expand/contraction according to its properties while the interface structure manages the differential movement, preventing stress concentration and maintaining alignment.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If flexures are used to eliminate thermal stresses, then stress mitigation is achieved, but brittle materials cannot use flexures due to increased fracture risk
Solution Approach 1:
The rigid adaptor ring serves as a mediator that eliminates the need for flexures in brittle materials. By providing a rigid intermediate structure with intermediate CTE, the system manages thermal stresses through controlled differential expansion rather than flexible deformation, thereby preventing fracture in brittle optical components while still mitigating thermal stress effects.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution changes the physical parameter of CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) by introducing an intermediate material with a CTE value between the silicon carbide and aluminum components. This parameter change allows the system to manage thermal stresses through gradual expansion/contraction rather than rigid constraint or flexible deformation, eliminating fracture risk while maintaining stress mitigation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If complex metering structures are used to mitigate thermal effects, then thermal stress is reduced, but weight, complexity, and cost increase substantially
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using complex metering structures, the invention introduces a simple rigid adaptor ring as an intermediary component. This single component, made from material with intermediate CTE, manages thermal stresses through its controlled expansion/contraction, eliminating the need for complex compensating mechanisms while reducing weight and structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution addresses thermal stress by changing the material parameter (CTE) of the interface component rather than adding complex structural mechanisms. By selecting a material with intermediate CTE, the system naturally manages thermal expansion differences, eliminating the need for complex metering structures and reducing overall system complexity.
4Strength
If interface systems made from higher CTE metallic material are used, then structural capabilities are satisfied, but large stresses develop when subjected to temperature change
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a composite material interface system consisting of silicon carbide optical component → rigid adaptor ring (intermediate CTE material) → aluminum support structure. This composite structure allows the aluminum to provide structural capability while the intermediate adaptor ring manages thermal stress through its intermediate CTE, preventing stress concentration at the interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The solution changes the CTE parameter at the interface by introducing an intermediate material with CTE value between silicon carbide and aluminum. This parameter change creates a gradient that progressively manages thermal expansion differences, allowing the high-strength aluminum structure to be used while reducing thermal stress through controlled differential expansion.
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 thermal stress between mismatched optical device components, preventing fracture and maintaining structural integrity while minimizing weight and complexity.
Implementation Method 1
the rigid adaptor ring includes one or more mounting pads on either side of the rigid adaptor ring that are configured to interface between the CTE mismatched optical device components
Data Source
AI summary
A rigid adaptor ring for coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) mismatched optical device components is disclosed. In one embodiment, either side of the rigid adaptor ring includes one or more mounting pads that are configured to interface between the CTE mismatched optical device components.