US3733131A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical beam switching devices utilizing a pair of plane mirrors
Assignee: PerkinElmer Ltd
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Filing: 1971-08-05
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Granted: 1973-05-15
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Expires: 1991-08-05
Abstract
Abstract Where it is desired to ''''switch'''' a beam of radiant energy from a first to a second receiving element, it is proposed to introduce into the beam a pair of parallel facing plane mirrors rigidly attached to each other, along a line parallel to the reflective surfaces. This eliminates undesired change in the direction of the reflected beam caused by unintentional rotation of the two-mirror assembly about the line of introduction. The device may be used in a two-grating scanning monochromator to cause gradual change-over of the beam from one grating to the other. The two-mirror assembly movement is preferably interconnected to the grating drive to cause movement of the assembly at the appropriate time, and preferably in such manner as to allow reversing of the monochromator.
Inventors
- 👤 H Mould
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:01
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J3/00; G01J3/12; G01J3/18; G01J1/00; G01J1/10; G01J1/20; G01J1/34; G01J1/36
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
174 words
In an optical apparatus comprising means for defining the path of a radiant energy beam, a first radiant energy receiving member in the path of said beam, a second radiant energy receiving member, and means selectively introducible into said radiant energy beam path for causing deflection of said radiant energy so as to direct it onto said second receiving member, the improvement comprising: said selective deflection means comprising a pair of plane specular reflectors rigidly mounted generally face to face in a non-skew fixed angular relationshIp, thereby forming a rigid twin-reflector assembly; means for constraining said twin-reflector assembly to movement along a linear direction mutually parallel to the surfaces of said plane reflectors; and means for moving said twin-reflector assembly along said linear direction into and out of an operative position in which said assembly deflects said radiant energy beam to said second receiving member, whereby any undesired angular rotations of said twin-reflector assembly about said linear direction does not change the direction the deflected radiant energy beam impinges upon said second receiving member.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
174 words
In an optical apparatus comprising means for defining the path of a radiant energy beam, a first radiant energy receiving member in the path of said beam, a second radiant energy receiving member, and means selectively introducible into said radiant energy beam path for causing deflection of said radiant energy so as to direct it onto said second receiving member, the improvement comprising: said selective deflection means comprising a pair of plane specular reflectors rigidly mounted generally face to face in a non-skew fixed angular relationshIp, thereby forming a rigid twin-reflector assembly; means for constraining said twin-reflector assembly to movement along a linear direction mutually parallel to the surfaces of said plane reflectors; and means for moving said twin-reflector assembly along said linear direction into and out of an operative position in which said assembly deflects said radiant energy beam to said second receiving member, whereby any undesired angular rotations of said twin-reflector assembly about said linear direction does not change the direction the deflected radiant energy beam impinges upon said second receiving member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 1, in which: said pair of plane specular reflectors are rigidly mounted in parallel relationship, whereby the radiant energy beam, after deflection by said twin-reflector assembly in its operative position, is parallel to the original radiant energy beam path.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
75 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 1,further comprising: said first and second radiant energy receiving members being movably mounted; means for causing movement of said first and second radiant energy receiving members; and means operatively interconnecting said movement causing means and said means for moving said twin-reflector assembly, whereby said twin-reflector assembly is moved into and out of said operative position at particular positions of movement of said first and second radiant energy receiving members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
74 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 3, in which: said movement causing means, said twin-reflector assembly moving means, and said operatively interconnecting means are of such construction and so operatively connected that all said means may be operated in either a forward or reverse direction while retaining the desired relationship between movement of said first and second radiant energy receiving members and movement of said twin-reflector assembly into and out of said operative position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
125 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 3, in which: said first and second radiant energy receiving members are diffraction gratings, each movably mounted for rotation about an axis parallel to an element of the grating; an exit slit is provided in the optical path of the beam after diffraction by said gratings; said movement causing means comprises rotary drive means for said gratings; and said rotary drive means and said operatively interconnecting means are of such construction and so operatively connected as to cause said twin-reflector assembly to be gradually moved in one direction by said moving means when said diffraction gratings are both capable of diffracting the same overlapping spectral interval to said exit slit, whereby a continuous scanning two grating monochromator is obtained.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
An optical apparatus according to claim 5, in which: said gratings rotary drive comprises at least a first cam means and a pair of cam follower means, each follower means operatively connected to rotate one of said gratings; and said twin-reflector assembly moving means and said operatively interconnecting means comprise a second cam means and follower means; both said first and second cam means and all said follower means being of such construction and operative connection as to allow bi-direction rotation of said gratings and concurrent movement of said twin-reflector assembly in either direction of rotation of both said cam means; whereby said scanning monochromator may be reversed to a desired starting point after forward scanning of any spectral range, so as to allow convenient repetitive forward scans of a small portion of the total spectral range.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-14 | 1976-11-13 | 1977-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-14 | 1980-11-13 | 1981-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-14 | 1984-11-13 | 1985-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |