Raytheon Company

Scott Balaban

Andrew Lyle Bullard

Christopher A Cox

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

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.

Flexural pivot

A magnetic actuator, comprising a first magnet having a first magnetic axis and having a first magnetic field, a second magnet having a second magnetic axis and having a second magnetic field, the first and second magnets defining, at least in part, a magnetic assembly; and a coil actuator assembly at least partially disposed about the magnetic assembly, wherein the first and second magnetic fields collectively approximate a curve. A tilt platform assembly, comprising a support base: a tilt platform pivotally coupled to the support base: at least one coil actuator assembly, mounted to one of the support base or the tilt platform; and at least one magnet assembly mounted to the other of the support base or tilt platform, and being disposable within the at least one coil actuator assembly, the at least one magnetic assembly comprising at least two magnets having respective magnetic fields angularly offset from one another and that collectively approximate a curve.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Scott Balaban