US3676960A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical surface generating apparatus
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Guidance and Electronics Co Inc
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Filing: 1970-05-25
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Granted: 1972-07-18
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Expires: 1990-05-25
Abstract
Abstract A method wherein an optical blank work surface is figuratively divided into an array of adjoining surface areas and measured to determine the total relative number of uniformly sized blank material decrements that are required in each surface area to produce a desired surface contour. An optical lap moving across the work surface in an irregular continuous path produces one of the uniform decrements upon each traversal across an individual surface area. The lap is controlled such that its travel path exhibits a preference for movement from an occupied area to adjacent areas still requiring the greatest number of material decrements.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald Aspden
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 05:01
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B13/00; B24B13/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
Optical surface generating apparatus comprising: a. first support means for an optical blank having a work surface thereon; b. an optical lap having a lapping surface for operating upon the work surface of said optical blank; c. second support means for supporting the lapping surface of said optical lap adjacent the work surface of said opticaL blank; d. drive means for producing relative transverse movement between said lap and said blank in two independently controlled orthogonally related directions, said drive means including stepping motor means for moving said lap and said blank relative to each other in discrete steps in each of said two orthogonally related directions; and e. control means coupled to said drive means for independently controlling the relative movement between said lap and said blank in each of said two orthogonally related directions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
Optical surface generating apparatus comprising: a. first support means for an optical blank having a work surface thereon; b. an optical lap having a lapping surface for operating upon the work surface of said optical blank; c. second support means for supporting the lapping surface of said optical lap adjacent the work surface of said opticaL blank; d. drive means for producing relative transverse movement between said lap and said blank in two independently controlled orthogonally related directions, said drive means including stepping motor means for moving said lap and said blank relative to each other in discrete steps in each of said two orthogonally related directions; and e. control means coupled to said drive means for independently controlling the relative movement between said lap and said blank in each of said two orthogonally related directions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
Optical surface generating apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein the area of said lapping surface is less than the area of said work surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
Optical surface generating apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for moving said lap relative to said blank in a predetermined path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
Optical surface generating apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein said control means includes sensor means for sensing the transverse position of said lap relative to the work surface of said blank in each of said two orthogonally related directions.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
Optical surface generating apparatus as recited in claim 1 and further including means for rotating said lap relative to said blank for generating a desired contour on said work surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
Optical surface generating apparatus as recited in claim 1 wherein said drive means includes means for producing relative movement between said lap and said blank in each of said two orthogonally related directions simultaneously.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Optical surface generating apparatus as recited in claim 2 wherein the area of said lapping surface is less than one-half the area of said work surface.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
US1773388A
Cited
GB244100A
Cited
US1917504A
Cited
US2118912A
Cited
US3471976A
Cited
US3431688A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-18 | 1976-01-17 | 1976-07-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-18 | 1980-01-17 | 1980-07-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-18 | 1984-01-17 | 1984-07-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |