Raytheon Company

Andrew Lyle Bullard

Theodore J Conrad

Shane E Wilson

Ryan Yates

John Joseph Anagnost

Robert D Schaefer

Brian Schaefer

Hans P Naepflin

Christopher A Cox

Scott Balaban

Ricardo A Aguilera

Lacy G Cook

John F Silny

Ray E McVey

Kyle Heideman

Michael C Barr

Scott R Foes

Susan B Spencer

Maciej D Makowski

David M La Komski

Matthew E Jenkins

David Van Lue

Islam Shawki

Alexander Richa K Raco

A flexure device comprising an interior flexure member having first and second interior flexible blades each formed with an interior end portion and separate interior body portions. An exterior flexure member can have first and second exterior flexible blades each formed with separate exterior end portions and an exterior body portion. The first interior end portion and the first exterior end portion form a first flexure end portion, the second interior portion and the second exterior portion form a second flexure end portion. The interior and exterior body portions are coupled to form a flexure body portion, such that the first interior and exterior flexible blades form a first flexure that facilitates rotation between the first flexure end portion and the flexure body portion. The second interior and exterior flexible blades form a second flexure that facilitates rotation between the second flexure end portion and the flexure body portion.

Multi-axis flexure

A precision adjustment fastener mechanism comprises a base, a platform, and a locking push-pull fastener assembly. The base has a first aperture and the platform has a second aperture. The fastener assembly is disposed within the second aperture. The fastener assembly comprises a clamping fastener having a portion positioned in the first aperture, a sleeve having a third aperture extending along an axis of the sleeve. The clamping fastener is positioned within the third aperture. The sleeve comprises a first portion moveable relative to a second portion along the axis. The first portion and the second portion each comprise outer threads. An axial displacement portion separates the first and second portions and transmits a torque between the first and second portions. The axial displacement portion facilitates movement of the first and second portions to bind threads of the first and second portions with the threads of the platform.

Locking push-pull fastener assembly

A multi-axis flexure device can include a first support base, a second support base, and a central coupler. The multi-axis flexure device can also include a first flexure device rotatably coupling the first support base and the central coupler to one another to facilitate rotation about a first axis, and a second flexure device rotatably coupling the second support base and the central coupler to one another to facilitate rotation about a second axis. Each flexure device can include a first flexure, a second flexure, and a flexure coupler coupled to the first and second flexures. The first flexure and the second flexure of the first flexure device can, respectively, be coupled to the first support base and the central coupler. The first flexure and the second flexure of the second flexure device can, respectively, be coupled to the second support base and the central coupler.

Flexure device

A flexural pivot can include a plurality of flexure support members, each flexure support member having a plurality of flexure openings and a plurality of wells each in fluid communication with a respective flexure opening. The flexural pivot can also include at least one flexure to rotatably couple the plurality of flexure support members to one another. The at least one flexure can have first and second flexible blades arranged in a cross configuration. The first and second flexible blades can be disposed in the flexure openings of the flexure support members, and coupling material deposited in the flexure openings can couple the first and second flexible blades to the flexure support members.

Flexural pivot

A system includes a compound flexure having a frame, a flexure, and a post flexure. The frame has an axis, and the flexure is located within the frame. The flexure is movable relative to the frame, and the frame and the flexure form at least part of a monolithic structure. The post flexure extends along the axis and engages the flexure. The system also includes a device coupled to the flexure and configured to move with the flexure relative to the frame. The system further includes an actuator coupled to the flexure and configured to move the flexure and the device relative to the frame.

Apparatus and method for providing linear motion of a device

A linear spring member having an annular region with a first thickness connected in series by cylindrical regions having a second thickness, wherein the first thickness is less than the second thickness. Outer portions of adjacent annular regions are coupled together by a first cylindrical region and inner portions of adjacent annular regions are coupled together by a second cylindrical region such that the effective spring rate of the bi-directional spring device increases symmetrically as it is displaced in either compression or tension.

Bi-directional non-linear spring

A shutter assembly comprises a base coupled to a photosensor assembly, a flexure device supported by the base, and a shutter arm rotatably coupled to the base via the flexure device. An actuation mechanism is coupled to the shutter arm via the flexure device, and is operable, upon application of an electric field, to rotate the shutter arm from a first position to a second position (or to a third position) to manage light relative to a photosensitive device of the photosensor assembly. Upon rotation of the shutter arm to the second position, the flexure device stores energy such that, upon removal of the electric field, the flexure device releases the stored energy to return the shutter arm to the first position. A keeper magnet can be provided to maintain the shutter arm in the second (actuated) position, so that the electric field can be removed while the keeper magnet maintains a magnetic force to keep the shutter arm in the second position.

Shutter assembly for managing light relative to a photosensitive device

An apparatus includes a first piston and an opposing second piston, where the first and second pistons are configured to move inward to narrow a space therebetween and to move outward to enlarge the space therebetween. The apparatus also includes a first voice coil actuator having (i) a first voice coil connected to the first piston and (ii) a first magnet connected to the second piston. The apparatus may further include a second voice coil actuator having (i) a second voice coil connected to the second piston and (ii) a second magnet connected to the first piston. Each voice coil actuator may be configured to apply equal and opposite forces on or against the first and second pistons.

Push-pull compressor having ultra-high efficiency for cryocoolers or other systems

A flexural pivot can include a plurality of flexure support members, each flexure support member having a plurality of flexure openings defined at least partially by a cantilevered extension portion. The flexural pivot can also include at least one flexure to rotatably couple the plurality of flexure support members to one another. The at least one flexure can have first and second flexible blades arranged in a cross configuration. The first and second flexible blades can be disposed in the flexure openings of the flexure support members, and the cantilevered extension portions, at least in part, can couple the first and second flexible blades to the flexure support members.

A flexural pivot is disclosed. The flexural pivot can include a plurality of flexure support members, each flexure support member having a plurality of flexure openings and a plurality of wells each in fluid communication with a respective flexure opening. The flexural pivot can also include at least one flexure to rotatably couple the plurality of flexure support members to one another. The at least one flexure can have first and second flexible blades arranged in a cross configuration. The first and second flexible blades can be disposed in the flexure openings of the flexure support members, and coupling material deposited in the flexure openings can couple the first and second flexible blades to the flexure support members.

According to certain examples a spectrometer module for use in an imaging spectrometer includes a monolithic spectrometer body component made of an immersion material and including three mirrored surfaces configured to form a reflective triplet having an optical path immersed within the immersion material, the reflective triplet configured to receive incident optical radiation from an entrance face of the monolithic spectrometer body component and reflect the incident optical radiation along the optical path, and a dispersive element configured to receive and disperse the incident optical radiation reflected from the reflective triplet to provide dispersed optical radiation. The reflective triplet is configured to receive the dispersed optical radiation from the dispersive element and to reflect the dispersed optical radiation along the optical path to an exit face of the monolithic spectrometer body component.

Immersed reflective triplet imaging spectrometer

A lockable lateral adjuster mechanism comprises a platform with a channel carried by a base. A cam has an eccentric head that is pivotally disposed in the channel. The cam has a stem extending through the channel and into a counter bore in the base. The platform is laterally displaceable with respect to the base as the cam pivots. A countersunk interface is disposed between the eccentric head and the channel. A fastener extends through the cam to the base, and secures the cam, and thus the platform, to the base, and applies an axial load on the countersunk interface along an axis of rotation of the cam.

Lockable lateral adjuster mechanism

An apparatus configured for precision adjustment includes a support fitting having a void oriented along a first axis. The apparatus also includes an adjustment screw disposed within the void. The apparatus further includes first and second set screws coupled to the support fitting, where each set screw has a substantially conical tip. The first and second set screws are oriented such that a plane bisecting the first and second set screws is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. An edge of the conical tip of the first set screw is substantially parallel to an edge of the conical tip of the second set screw.

Method and apparatus for multiple degree of freedom precision adjustable mount

A flexural pivot is disclosed. The flexural pivot can include a first flexure support member, a second flexure support member rotatably coupled to the first flexure support member for relative rotation about a first axis, and a third flexure support member rotatably coupled to the second flexure support member for relative rotation about a second axis. In addition the flexural pivot can include a plurality of cross blade flexures rotatably coupling the flexure support members to one another. Each cross blade flexure can have first and second flexible blade units that have flexible blades arranged in a cross configuration. The flexible blade units can have blade supports disposed at opposite ends of the flexible blades to facilitate coupling the flexible blade units to the flexure support members. The flexible blade and the blade supports of each flexible blade unit can form a monolithic structure.

A method includes generating a first varying electromagnetic field using a first voice coil of a first actuator. The method also includes repeatedly attracting and repelling a first magnet of the first actuator based on the first varying electromagnetic field. The first voice coil is connected to a first piston of a compressor, and the first magnet is connected to an opposing second piston of the compressor. Attracting the first magnet narrows a space between the pistons, and repelling the first magnet enlarges the space between the pistons. The method may further include generating a second varying electromagnetic field using a second voice coil of a second actuator and repeatedly attracting and repelling a second magnet of the second actuator based on the second varying electromagnetic field. The second voice coil may be connected to the second piston, and the second magnet may be connected to the first piston.

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Manhattan Beach, CA, United States of America

Andrew Lyle Bullard