US3690770A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method to measure mirror deflection
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-11-16
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1990-11-16
Abstract
Abstract A dynamic autocollimator telescope for measuring mirror deflections having a point source of light, a lens for converging the light, and beam splitter positioned between the light source and the lens for directing diverging light from the source to the lens. The lens converges the received light into parallel rays which are directly substantially normally onto the face of the mirror whose deflections are to be measured. The mirror reflects the incident parallel light back through the lens and the beam splitter which passes the reflected light to a photo detector located at the focal point of said lens. The detector generates electric signals proportional to the position of said light on the photo detector and the signals are used to adjust the position of the light source so that the reflected light always appears in the same location on the photo detector.
Inventors
- 👤 Siegfried Raith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 08:11
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/26; G01B11/27; G01B11/272
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for measuring mirror deflections comprising a point source of light; lens means for converging light, beam splitter means positioned between the light source and the lens means for directing diverging light from the source to the lens means; said lens means converging received light into parallel rays and directing said parallel rays substantially normally onto the face of the mirror whose deflections are to be measured; said mirror reflecting the incident parallel light back through the lens means and the beam splitter means; photodetector means for receiving a focused reflected image of the light passing back through the beam splitter means and for generating electric signals proportional to the position of said image on the photodetector means, and means responsive to said signals for adjusting the position of the light source so that the reflected light image always returns to the same position on the photodetector means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
Apparatus for measuring mirror deflections comprising a point source of light; lens means for converging light, beam splitter means positioned between the light source and the lens means for directing diverging light from the source to the lens means; said lens means converging received light into parallel rays and directing said parallel rays substantially normally onto the face of the mirror whose deflections are to be measured; said mirror reflecting the incident parallel light back through the lens means and the beam splitter means; photodetector means for receiving a focused reflected image of the light passing back through the beam splitter means and for generating electric signals proportional to the position of said image on the photodetector means, and means responsive to said signals for adjusting the position of the light source so that the reflected light image always returns to the same position on the photodetector means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for measuring mirror deflections comprising a point source of light; lens means for converging light; beam splitter means positioned between the light source and the lens means for directing diverging light from the source to the lens means; said lens means converging received light into parallel rays and directing said parallel rays substantially normally onto the face of the mirror whose deflections are to be measured; said mirror reflecting the incident parallel light back through the lens means and the beam splitter means; photodetector means for receiving a focused reflected image of the light passing back through the beam splitter means for generating electric signals proportional to the position of said image on the photodetector means, and means responsive to said signals for adjusting the position of the light source so that the reflected light image always returns to the same position on the photodetector means, said point source of light being a spot on the face of a cathode ray tube and the electric signals from the detector means being applied to the deflection means of the cathode ray tube for positioning the light spot on the face of the tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
193 words
Apparatus for measuring mirror deflections comprising a point source of light; lens means for converging light; beam splitter means positioned between the light source and the lens means for directing diverging light from the source to the lens means; said lens means converging received light into parallel rays and directing said parallel rays substantially normally onto the face of the mirror whose deflections are to be measured; said mirror reflecting the incident parallel light back through the lens means and the beam splitter means; photodetector means for receiving a focused reflected image of the light passing back through the beam splitter means for generating electric signals proportional to the position of said image on the photodetector means, and means responsive to said signals for adjusting the position of the light source so that the reflected light image always returns to the same position on the photodetector means, said point source of light being a spot on the face of a cathode ray tube and the electric signals from the detector means being applied to the deflection means of the cathode ray tube for positioning the light spot on the face of the tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein means are provided for modulating the intensity of the light source, and said detector means includes means for identifying and providing said signals in response to the modulated light only.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said modulating means includes means for modulating a beam in the cathode ray tube.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said modulating means includes means for applying an alternating current to a Wehnelt cylinder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said photo detector means is a four-quadrant receiver.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for measuring deflections of a mirror surface including the steps of supplying a point source of light, converging light received from said source into parallel rays and directing said parallel rays substantially normally onto the face of a mirror whose deflections are to be measured; said mirror reflecting the incident parallel light rays therefrom, focusing the reflected parallel light rays into a focused reflected image of the light source on a photodetector means; generating electrical signals proportional to the position of said image on the photodetector means, and adjusting the position of the light source in response to said signals so that the reflected light image always returns to the same position on the photodetector means.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
118 words
A method for measuring deflections of a mirror surface including the steps of supplying a point source of light, converging light received from said source into parallel rays and directing said parallel rays substantially normally onto the face of a mirror whose deflections are to be measured; said mirror reflecting the incident parallel light rays therefrom, focusing the reflected parallel light rays into a focused reflected image of the light source on a photodetector means; generating electrical signals proportional to the position of said image on the photodetector means, and adjusting the position of the light source in response to said signals so that the reflected light image always returns to the same position on the photodetector means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |