US4175835A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Floating head laser mirror assembly
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
•
Filing: 1978-07-20
•
Granted: 1979-11-27
•
Expires: 1998-07-20
Abstract
Abstract A high power floating head laser mirror assembly having a mirror head, a base structure and a plurality of flexure elements interposed between the mirror head and the base structure for "floatingly" supporting the mirror head with respect to the base structure. In order to preserve proper mirror head alignment and yet allow radial expansion of the mirror head a plurality of posts are located adjacent the flexure elements thereby exposing only a predetermined portion of the flexure element. As a result of the above assembly, the mirror surface is capable of reliable operation within a laser having a light intensity in excess of 5 Kw/cm 2 .
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph F. Kuhn, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 00:48
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/04; H01S3/0401; G; G02; G02B; G02B7/00; G02B7/18; G02B7/181; G02B7/1815
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
A floating head laser mirror assembly comprising a base structure, a mirror head, a plurality of flexure elements, each of said flexure elements being operably connected between said mirror head and said base structure for supporting said mirror head with respect to said base structure in a floating relationship and at least one of said flexure elements having at least one post in direct contact therewith and located between said mirror head and said base structure, for adding a predetermined amount of rigidity to said one flexure element, said post being positioned so as to expose a predetermined portion of said one flexure element whereby said mirror head is capable of expanding in the radial direction during a wide temperature variance between said mirror head and said base structure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
129 words
A floating head laser mirror assembly comprising a base structure, a mirror head, a plurality of flexure elements, each of said flexure elements being operably connected between said mirror head and said base structure for supporting said mirror head with respect to said base structure in a floating relationship and at least one of said flexure elements having at least one post in direct contact therewith and located between said mirror head and said base structure, for adding a predetermined amount of rigidity to said one flexure element, said post being positioned so as to expose a predetermined portion of said one flexure element whereby said mirror head is capable of expanding in the radial direction during a wide temperature variance between said mirror head and said base structure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A floating head laser mirror assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein there are three of said posts in direct contact with said one flexure element, the first of said posts being located adjacent said mirror head, the second of said posts being located adjacent said base structure and said third post being located intermediate said first and second posts.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A floating head laser mirror assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein said exposed portion of said one flexure element is located between said third post and said first and second posts, respectively.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A floating head laser mirror assembly as defined in claim 3 wherein two portions of said one flexure element are exposed, each of said exposed portions being approximately 0.050 inches in length.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A floating head laser mirror assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein the thickness of each of said flexure elements is approximately 0.020 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
A floating head laser mirror assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said mirror head comprises three layers of electrodeposited material, two of said layers containing cooling channels therein and the third of said layers being optically relfective.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A floating head laser mirror assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said base structure has at least one indentation therein and said second post is located within said indentation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
A floating head laser mirror assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein each of said posts is made of a pair of sections, each of said sections being located on opposite sides of said one flexure element.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A floating head laser mirror assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said mirror head and said base structure are of an annular configuration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1801285A
Cited
US3942880A
Cited
US3676274A
Cited
US3637296A
Cited
US3708223A
Cited
US3731992A
Cited
US3781094A
Cited
US3926510A
Cited
US4060315A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-11-26 | 1983-05-28 | 1983-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-11-26 | 1987-05-28 | 1987-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-11-26 | 1991-05-28 | 1991-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |