Bennett Optical Research, Inc.

USA as Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Joseph Jasperson Shaffer

Harold Earl Bennett

Robert Carl Romeo

Jack D Westfall

John D Butler

Melville C Creusere

Robert A Taylor

Harald Earl Bennett

Earl La Fayette McFadden

A transfer optic mirror thin enough to permit small influence functions for surface changes is made from cynate ester composites. The thin mirror resulting is then shaped by a plurality of piezolectric actuators connectors to push/pull rods spread evenly over the back surface of the thin mirror a distance determined by the mirror's influence function. The mirror is held by a support with the same coefficient of expansion as the mirror so external heating and cooling does not distort the mirror. The actuators are connected to a computer so each is separately controlled to contour the mirror as desired.

Transfer optics

An adaptive optic mirror has a cyanate faceplate supported by a backplate which permits a plurality of actuators to be connected directly to the faceplate. Each actuator is connected via a low impedance circuit to a master control which sets each actuator independently of the others to produce a contoured mirror surface.

Adaptive optic mirror

A method and tool to smooth surface contours uses a fixed back plate mounted at a known distance to an actuator holding plate. Each of the actuators is mounted in said actuation holding plate by a support collar threaded into said actuator holding plate. Threaded with said support collar is an actuator holder with rigidly holds an actuator. A differential threaded adjustment device is then inserted through said fixed back plate and connected to say support collar and actuator holder so that each can be moved independently of the other. The actuator is made of two piezoelectric plates connected in parallel and separated by a silicon rubber o-ring.

Active/adaptive actuator design of an adaptive optic mirror

A machine with separate motion on two axes for toroidal polishing and gring of mirrors. The axes are at 90.degree. to each other and the amplitude of motion in each direction is independently adjustable. A portion of this machine can be modified to serve as an adapter unit that fits on standard polishing machines and can be removed leaving the standard machines able to function in the normal way. A gimbal assembly and stablizer bar are used to prevent twisting between a lens and a polishing surface.

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Ridgecrest, CA, United States of America

Joseph Jasperson Shaffer