US 11,867,558 B2
Self-homing optical device
Danial Clark Barkhurst, Laramie, WY (US); Sean Patrick Woodward, Laramie, WY (US); Keith Thompson Carron, Centennial, WY (US); and Shane Alan Buller, Laramie, WY (US)
Appl. No. 16/485,686
Filed by MKS TECHNOLOGY, INC., Centennial, WY (US)
PCT Filed Feb. 13, 2018, PCT No. PCT/US2018/018049
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Aug. 13, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/148747, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 16, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/458,553, filed on Feb. 13, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0056938 A1, Feb. 20, 2020
Int. Cl. G01J 3/02 (2006.01); G01J 3/44 (2006.01); G02B 7/182 (2021.01)
CPC G01J 3/0208 (2013.01) [G01J 3/0289 (2013.01); G01J 3/44 (2013.01); G02B 7/1822 (2013.01); G02B 7/1827 (2013.01); G01J 3/0218 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A self-homing or self-centering optical system comprising:
a base mount;
a mirror mount comprising a first surface and a second surface;
at least one spring element disposed between the base mount and the mirror mount, the at least one spring adapted to bias the mirror mount with respect to the base mount;
a rotation plate disposed between the base mount and the mirror mount, the rotation plate comprising a pressure element disposed adjacent the first surface of the mirror mount, the rotation plate coupled to a motor and adapted to rotate relative to the mirror mount and to move the pressure element across the first surface of the mirror mount;
wherein in a first, stationary mode, the at least one spring provides a bias force to maintain a reflective surface associated with the second surface of the minor mount at a generally consistent home angle, and in a second, dynamic scanning mode, the rotation plate is adapted to rotate with respect to the minor mount and to move the pressure element in contact with the minor mount to overcome the bias of the at least one spring and to dynamically move the reflective surface.