Nicolet Instrument Corporation

Michael Daun

Robert R Badeau

Jack G Kisslinger

A mirror alignment and damping device (10) maintains orthogonality between the fixed mirror and the moving mirror in an interferometric spectrometer. The device (10) includes electromagnetic motion imparting units (32, 34, 36, and 38) which have electromagnetic coils (40) and threadedly adjustable pole pieces (44). The electromagnetic motion imparting units (32, 24, 26, and 38) are preferably arranged along perpendicular axes along a base (12) in order to enable independent orthogonal tilting of the mirror (26). Each voice coil consists of a wound wire coil (40) immersed in an annular magnetic field created by permanent magnets (42) which are mounted on a mirror support (44). A course tilt adjust is accomplished by adjusting the pole pieces (44) toward or away from the permament magnets (42) so as to increase or decrease the gap between the permanent magnets (42) and the pole pieces (44), thereby causing a corresponding increase or decrease in the magnetic forces acting between the magnets (42) and pole pieces ( 44). A fine adjust is then accomplished by inducing an appropriate current through the wire coils (40). Damping results from the use of a thermoplastic collar which is sandwiched between the base (12) and the mirror support (24).

Growing community of inventors

Madison, WI, United States of America

Michael Daun