Method and apparatus for positioning bodies relative to each other

Claim 2

In a method for positioning with respect to each other a reference point on a first body in a first focal plane and a positioning point on a second body in a second focal plane which is parallel to said first focal plane, the steps of projecting with a first set of light rays images of said reference point respectively onto said second body at said second focal plane and onto an observation point to be observed by the operator, simultaneously projecting with a second set of light rays an image of the image of said reference point on said body at said second focal plane onto said observation point, so that the operator may observe at said observation point both the image of said reference point and an image of the image of said reference point which is projected onto said body at said second focal plane, and moving at least one of said bodies in its focal plane until said positioning point has a location coinciding with the image of said reference point at said body in said second focal plane.

Claim 3

In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein said first set of light rays project the image of said reference point along a predetermined optical axis which is normal to said focal planes, said step of projecting images of said reference point onto said body at said second focal plane and to said observation point including the step of positioning at 45* to said optical axis a semi-transparent reflecting surface through which an image of said reference point is projected onto said body at said second focal plane and by which an image of said reference point is reflected perpendicularly with respect to said optical axis toward said observation point.

Claim 4

In a method as recited in claim 2 and wherein said reflecting surface initially locates an image of said reference point at a location which Is spaced from said reflecting surface along a line perpendicular to the optical axis by a distance equal to the distance between a point where said line intersects said surface and said second focal plane to which said image of said reference point is projected in a direction parallel to the optical axis.

Claim 5

In a method as recited in claim 3 and wherein said step of projecting an image of said reference point to said observation point includes the step of further projecting an image of said reference point at said location along said line perpendicular to the optical axis further away from the optical axis to said observation point.

Claim 6

In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein a pattern on said body at said first focal plane is to be reproduced on said body at said second focal plane, said body at said second focal plane being sensitive to said first set of light rays and insensitive to said second set of light rays, and screening said first set of light rays so that only a small fraction of the area of said body at said second focal plane is engaged by said first set of light rays during the positioning of said bodies one with respect to the other.

Claim 7

In a method as recited in claim 1 and wherein said first set of light rays project the images of said reference point along an optical axis which is perpendicular to said focal planes, said step of projecting an image of said reference point to said observation point including the step of positioning across said optical axis a first semi-transparent reflecting surface which makes an angle of 45* with respect to said optical axis, and the step of projecting an image of the image of said reference point at said second focal plane onto said observation point including the step of positioning across the optical axis a second semi-transparent reflecting surface which makes an angle of 45* with respect to the optical axis and which is perpendicular to the first semi-transparent reflecting surface.

Claim 8

In a method as recited in claim 6 and wherein said body at said second focal plane is sensitive to said first set of light rays and insensitive to said second set of light rays, said body at said second focal plane being adapted to have reproduced thereon a pattern on the body at said first focal plane, screening said first set of light rays except for a small portion thereof which engage said body at said second focal plane at a relatively small area during positioning of said bodies one with respect to the other, and after said bodies are positioned one with respect to the other by locating said positioning point in coincidence with said image of said reference point at said body in said second focal plane, exposing said body at said second focal plane to said first set of light rays afer eliminating the screening of the first set of light rays to an extent sufficient to expose said body at said second focal plane thereto and after retracting out of the path of said first set of light rays all components which might otherwise interfere with exposure of said body at said second focal plane to said first set of light rays.

Claim 9

In a method as recited in claim 1, said second set of light rays having a color different from said first set of light rays.

Claim 10

In an apparatus for positioning with respect to each other a reference point on a body in a first focal plane and a positioning point on a body in a second focal plane which is parallel to said first focal plane, first optical means for projecting along a predetermined optical axis perpendicular to said focal planes a first image of said reference point onto said body at said second focal plane, second optical means for projecting a second image of said reference point perpendicularly from said optical axis onto a predetermined observation point, and third optical means for projecting an image of said first image to said observation point into coincidence with said second image, so that by moving one of said bodies in its focal plane relative to the otHer of said bodies until said positioning point coincides with said first image, as observed by the coinciding images at said observation point, said bodies may be properly positioned relative to each other.

Claim 11

In an apparatus for positioning with respect to each other a reference point on a body in a first focal plane and a positioning point on a body in a second focal plane which is parallel to said first focal plane, first optical means for projecting along a predetermined optical axis perpendicular to said focal planes a first image of said reference point onto said body at said second focal plane, second optical means for projecting a second image of said reference point perpendicularly from said optical axis onto a predetermined observation point, and third optical means for projecting an image of said first image to said observation point into coincidence with said second image, so that by moving one of said bodies in its focal plane relative to the otHer of said bodies until said positioning point coincides with said first image, as observed by the coinciding images at said observation point, said bodies may be properly positioned relative to each other.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9 and wherein said second and third optical means respectively include semi-transparent reflecting surfaces which are perpendicular to each other and which extend at 45* across the optical axis.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10 and wherein said reflecting surfaces respectively form parts of a pair of said separate reflectors.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 10 and wherein said reflecting surfaces respectively are reflecting surfaces of a common prism.