ORIENTATION INDEPENDENT FOCUS MECHANISMS FOR LASER RADAR

摘要

Focus arrangements for laser radar and other applications provide compensation of orientation-dependent gravitational forces. A linear stage can be preloaded and provided with balanced linear encoders so that gravitational force induced pitch, yaw, and roll can be reduced, detected, or compensated. Alternatively, movable focus elements can be secured to actuator driven spring assemblies that are controlled to compensate orientation-dependent gravitational forces.

主权项

1. A focus stage, comprising:
a linear stage that includes a carriage and a guide; a motor configured to translate the carriage along an axis defined by the guide; and first and second linear encoders oppositely situated along the axis and configured to provide an indication of carriage position based on combination of encoder signals from the first and second linear encoders.