Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Other

Hewlett-packard Company

Kenneth J Wayne

Marcel H M Beems

Englebertus A F Van De Pasch

Jan W Broenink

Miao Zhu

John J Bockman

Vijaya N V Raghavan

Ludmila M Golyanskaya

A method of aligning an optomechanical assembly and an optomechanical assembly are described.

Method of aligning optical elements

An interferometer system includes a plane mirror interferometer, a turning mirror, a retardation plate assembly having a retardation plate that can be adjusted and then fixed, and a retroreflector. A light beam travels in a path comprising the plane mirror interferometer, the turning mirror, the retardation plate assembly, and the retroreflector. The retardation plate assembly may include a plurality of bearings, a ring riding on the bearings, the retardation plate mounted to the ring, and a plunger pushing the ring against the bearings. The retardation plate may be fixed by adhesive after determining an orientation that produces little polarization leakage in the system.

Differential interferometer with improved cyclic nonlinearity

An optomechanical mounting includes an upper spring assembly and a lower spring assembly that support and secure a sphere containing an optical element. The materials in the mounting have the same or nearly the same CTEs and spring assemblies provide opposing radial forces so that thermal expansions are compensated, giving the mounting superior thermal stability. Frictional forces on the sphere from the upper and lower spring assemblies maintain the orientation of the sphere (and the optical element) during operation, but smooth surfaces of the sphere and springs still permit sensitive, precision rotation of sphere for alignment without post-alignment clamping of the sphere. The spring assemblies can be ring-shaped to permit an opening through the spring assembly to the sphere for light paths or for tools that adjust the alignment of the sphere.

Optomechanical mount for precisely steering/positioning a light beam

An optical device mounting apparatus and method for altering and fixing the angular position of an optical device without substantial linear displacement. The apparatus comprises a kinematic mount which permits precision adjustment and clamping. The apparatus includes a sphere, which either contains an optical device mounted therein or is, at least partially, an optical device itself. A support is placed in physical contact with the outer surface of the sphere such that angular displacement of the sphere is possible with substantially no linear displacement thereof. A clamp in physical contact with the outer surface of the sphere provides force through the sphere to the support with substantially no transmitted torque. In this manner, precise positioning of the optical device is possible, for example, with an external and removable tool. In various alternative embodiments, a central axis of the optical device may be positioned along a central axis of the sphere and/or all clamping forces may be directed through the center of rotation of the sphere.

Apparatus and method for precision adjustment of the angular position of an optical device

A multi-use lock housing and cylinder includes a cylinder of a size and shape such as that typically used in key-in-knob locks. A two-part housing includes an outer housing portion and an inner housing portion, each having a bore and a slot into which the lock cylinder can be fitted. The housing and its associated lock cylinder can be used as a direct replacement for existing rim lock cylinders or mortise lock cylinders. The upper, front portion of the outer housing portion can be enlarged for added strength. The enlarged portion can be provided with a receptacle into which a piece of hardened metal is fitted. An extension having a pair of right-angled slots projects from the rear face of the cylinder and the inner housing. The slots receive driving members in the form of cams or tailpieces such as those commonly used with rim cylinders and mortise cylinders. Additional inner housings of different lengths can be provided for those applications that require mortise cylinders of different lengths. The invention enables virtually any existing rim cylinder or mortise cylinder to be replaced without any factory components, thereby greatly reducing a locksmith's inventory requirements.

Multi-use lock housing and cylinder

An optical system for an interferometer compensates for changes in temperature by incorporating optics in which the reference and measurement beams follow different but optically equivalent paths through optical elements that are in thermal equilibrium. The optical elements of the interferometer are so arranged that the reference beam and the measurement beam follow equivalent optical path lengths through the interferometer, whose elements are in thermal equilibrium. That is, the path lengths through the high refractive index media of the optics are the same length and refractive index, but do not follow the same path. Because the beams are not constrained to follow the same path, fewer optical elements are needed and shorter OPLs can be used resulting in less complexity, better optical efficiency, easier alignment and lower cost.

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Saratoga, CA, United States of America

Kenneth J Wayne