Cryogenic cooler thermal coupler

Claim 1

An infrared energy receiver for measuring infrared energy from a scene of interest, said receiver comprising: A. coldfinger cooling means having a first end; B. a coldwell having a inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of said coldfinger cooling means, the difference in diameters of said coldfinger cooling means and said coldwell sufficient to enable said coldfinger cooling means to fit within said coldwell, said coldwell having a second end in a spaced relationship with said first end of said coldfinger cooling means, said second end having an inner surface facing said coldfinger and an outer surface directed toward said scene of interest, said coldwell also having an interior cylindrical surface to which said inner surface is contiguous at said second end; C. infrared energy detector means coupled to said outer surface of said second end of said coldwell; D. thermal coupler subassembly means for transmitting heat from said infrared energy detector means to said coldfinger cooling means, said thermal coupler subassembly means having an overall diameter selected to maximize heat transfer from said detector means to said coldfinger cooling means while maintaining a spaced relationship to minimize physical contact with said interior cylindrical surface of said coldwell, said subassembly means comprising: (i) cylindrical means coupled to said first end of said coldfinger, said cylindrical means having a depression substantially in the shape of a well, said depression facing in the direction of said inner surface of said second end of said coldwell; (ii) a "U"-shaped cap having an outer diameter the same as the diameter of said coupler subassembly means, and an inner diameter substantially the same as the diameter of said cylindrical means such that said cap and said cylindrical means are in a spaced relationship providing thermal transfer and ease of relative motion while minimizing physical contact; and (iii) spring means placed in said depression of said cylindrical means, said spring means positioned between said cylindrical means and said cap in order to maintain thermal transfer between said cap and said inner wall of said coldwell, the tension of said spring means selected to minimize transmission of vibration from said coldfinger cooling means to said detector means while providing said thermal transfer.