Interferometer, and optical assembly each having a three-pin mount for mounting an optical element at at least three points or areas and method of mounting same

摘要

A frame for optics used in interferometers that may include different materials having substantially similar, identical, or as close as practicable coefficients of thermal expansion from the material(s) used to make the beamsplitter and/or compensator without warping, bending, tilting or distorting the optics. The beamsplitter and/or compensator are mounted onto the frame of the interferometer using a three-point method of mounting, preferably using three pins for each component. Preferably, the pins are made of the same material as the beamsplitter and compensator, and all three components are made of Potassium Bromide (“KBr”) or Calcium Fluoride (“CaF2”) such that the optic instrument can operate to scan into the mid or far infrared. Stability in optical alignment is therefore achieved without requiring the optic instrument include only one material. The invention provides stability in situations where it is not possible to utilize a single material for every component of the interferometer.

主权项

1. An optical assembly for use with a precision instrument, comprising:
a frame comprising a first plate and a second plate; an optical element extending between the first plate of the frame and the second plate of the frame and the optical element having a first surface, a second surface, a third surface, a fourth surface, at least a first landing point or area on or against the third surface of the optical element, at least a second landing point or area on or against the fourth surface of the optical element, and at least a third landing point or area on or against the fourth surface of the optical element, the third surface of the optical element extending between the first and second surfaces of the optical element and operating to be disposed against or adjacent to the first plate of the frame and the fourth surface of the optical element extending between the first and second surfaces of the optical element and operating to be disposed against or adjacent to the second plate of the frame; and an optical element securing apparatus comprising three pins each having a first end and a second end, the three pins operating to mount the optical element to the frame such that the optical element has limited or no exposure to at least one of bending, warping, tilting and distorting, wherein: (i) the at least first landing point or area of the optical element operates to receive at least a first pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus thereon or thereagainst and to align with a respective first hole of the first plate such that the at least first pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus operates to also be disposed in the first hole of the first plate, thereby forming an attachment between the optical element and the first plate; (ii) the at least second landing point or area of the optical element operates to receive at least a second pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus thereon or thereagainst and to align with a respective first hole of the second plate such that the at least second pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus operates to also be disposed in the first hole of the second plate, thereby forming an attachment between the optical element and the second plate; and (iii) the at least third landing point or area of the optical element operates to receive at least a third pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus thereon or thereagainst and to align with a respective second hole of the second plate such that the at least third pin of the three pins of the optical element securing apparatus operates to also be disposed in the second hole of the second plate, thereby forming an attachment between the optical element and the second plate.