US5131969A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of making a thin film optical quality aspheric surface generation using x-rays
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1990-08-27
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Granted: 1992-07-21
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Expires: 2010-08-27
Abstract
Abstract A method is disclosed for providing an optical quality aspheric surface f a thin film metalized elastic membrane by treating the membrane with x-rays to cause the elasticity of the membrane to be increased in predetermined area so that when the membrane is subjected to a differential pressure across faces thereof the membrane will assume the desired aspheric surface.
Inventors
- 👤 William L. Gamble
- 👤 Jere S. Singleton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:05
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29C; B29C51/00; B29C51/14; B29C51/26; B29C51/42; B29C51/421; B29C51/422; B29C71/00; B29C71/04; B29C35/00; B29C35/02; B29C35/08; B29C35/0805; B29C2035/0844; B29K; B29K2995/00; B29K2995/0018; B29K2995/0037; B29K2995/0046; B29K2995/0094; B29L; B29L2011/00; B29L2011/0058; B29L2031/00; B29L2031/755; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1002; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49805
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of making an optical quality aspheric surface, comprising the following steps: (a) bonding a metalized elastic membrane to a rigid flat ring; (b) heating said membrane until it is taut within said ring; (c) subjecting a predetermined peripheral zonal area of said membrane to an x-ray dosage to increase its modulus of elasticity in said predetermined zonal area to a predetermined degree; and (d) subjecting opposite faces of said taut membrane to different fluid pressures to shape said membrane into a predetermined aspheric surface of an optical quality.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
90 words
A method of making an optical quality aspheric surface, comprising the following steps: (a) bonding a metalized elastic membrane to a rigid flat ring; (b) heating said membrane until it is taut within said ring; (c) subjecting a predetermined peripheral zonal area of said membrane to an x-ray dosage to increase its modulus of elasticity in said predetermined zonal area to a predetermined degree; and (d) subjecting opposite faces of said taut membrane to different fluid pressures to shape said membrane into a predetermined aspheric surface of an optical quality.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said membrane is subjected to said x-ray dosage by causing a source of x-rays and said rigid ring to move relative to each other to subject said zonal area to a predetermined dosage of said x-rays.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 2, including the step of maintaining said rigid ring stationary while moving said x-ray source about said peripheral zonal area of said membrane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in claim 2, wherein said x-ray source is maintained in a stationary position and said rigid ring is moved past said x-ray source to selectively x-ray said predetermined peripheral zonal area of said membrane.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of making an optical quality aspheric surface, comprising the following steps: (a) bonding a metalized elastic membrane to a rigid flat ring; (b) heating said membrane until it is taut within said rigid ring; (c) subjecting a predetermined peripheral zonal area of said membrane to an x-ray dosage adapted to increase the modulus of elasticity of said membrane in said predetermined peripheral zonal area to modify its curvature when said membrane is stretched; and (d) subjecting opposite faces of said taut membrane to different fluid pressures to stretch and shape said membrane into a predetermined aspheric surface of an optical quality wherein the curvature of said membrane is determined by the predetermined modulus of elasticity of said membrane in said peripheral zonal area.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
125 words
A method of making an optical quality aspheric surface, comprising the following steps: (a) bonding a metalized elastic membrane to a rigid flat ring; (b) heating said membrane until it is taut within said rigid ring; (c) subjecting a predetermined peripheral zonal area of said membrane to an x-ray dosage adapted to increase the modulus of elasticity of said membrane in said predetermined peripheral zonal area to modify its curvature when said membrane is stretched; and (d) subjecting opposite faces of said taut membrane to different fluid pressures to stretch and shape said membrane into a predetermined aspheric surface of an optical quality wherein the curvature of said membrane is determined by the predetermined modulus of elasticity of said membrane in said peripheral zonal area.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said membrane is subjected to said x-ray dosage by causing a source of x-rays and said rigid ring to move relative to each other to subject said zonal area to a predetermined dosage of said x-rays.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as set forth in claim 6, including the step of maintaining said rigid ring stationary while moving said x-ray source about said peripheral zonal area of said membrane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as set forth in claim 6, wherein said x-ray source is maintained in a stationary position and said rigid ring is moved past said x-ray source to selectively x-ray said predetermined peripheral zonal area of said membrane.
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) | 1995-07-21 | 1996-01-20 | 1996-07-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-07-21 | 2000-01-20 | 2000-07-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-07-21 | 2004-01-20 | 2004-07-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |