US 12,379,569 B2
Lens alignment system and method
James Alan Monroe, Syracuse, NY (US); David Scott Content, Spring, TX (US); Jeremy Sean McAllister, Saint Louis, MO (US); and Jay Russell Zgarba, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed by James Alan Monroe, Syracuse, NY (US); David Scott Content, Spring, TX (US); Jeremy Sean McAllister, Saint Louis, MO (US); and Jay Russell Zgarba, Sugar Land, TX (US)
Filed on May 7, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/144,214.
Application 18/144,214 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/135,872, filed on Apr. 18, 2023.
Application 18/144,214 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/467,738, filed on Sep. 7, 2021, granted, now 11,681,115.
Application 18/144,214 is a continuation in part of application No. 17/026,880, filed on Sep. 21, 2020, granted, now 11,643,698, issued on May 9, 2023.
Application 17/467,738 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/217,594, filed on Jul. 22, 2016, granted, now 10,822,670, issued on Nov. 3, 2020.
Application 15/217,594 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/897,904, granted, now 10,557,182, issued on Feb. 11, 2020, previously published as PCT/US2014/042105, filed on Jun. 12, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/490,877, filed on Apr. 27, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/195,575, filed on Jul. 22, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/835,289, filed on Jun. 14, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2023/0273394 A1, Aug. 31, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 7/02 (2021.01); C21D 8/10 (2006.01); C22C 14/00 (2006.01); C22F 1/10 (2006.01); C22F 1/18 (2006.01); G02B 7/00 (2021.01); G02B 23/24 (2006.01); G02B 27/00 (2006.01); C22C 19/03 (2006.01); C22C 19/07 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 7/028 (2013.01) [C21D 8/105 (2013.01); C22C 14/00 (2013.01); C22F 1/10 (2013.01); C22F 1/183 (2013.01); G02B 7/003 (2013.01); G02B 23/2407 (2013.01); G02B 27/0012 (2013.01); C22C 19/03 (2013.01); C22C 19/07 (2013.01)] 34 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A parallel tailored athermally stabilized optical system (PTASOS) comprising:
(a) optical lens source (OLS);
(b) optical detector target (ODT);
(c) parallel reference surface (PRS);
(d) first retaining tube (FRT); and
(e) second retaining tube (SRT);
wherein:
said OLS comprises a lens reference plane (LRP) perpendicular to an optical axis of said OLS;
said ODT comprises a focal reference plane (FRP) perpendicular to an optical axis of said ODT;
said PRS comprises a parallel reference plane (PRP) parallel to said LRP and FRP;
said FRT comprises a material having a positive first thermal expansion (FTE) coefficient;
said SRT comprises a material having a negative second thermal expansion (STE) coefficient;
said FRT and said SRT are aligned along a common optical axis (COA);
said FRT and said SRT are configured to align said OLS and ODT along said COA;
said FRT is configured to separate said OLS and said PRS along said COA and define a predetermined distance between said LRP and said PRP;
said SRT is configured to separate said PRS and said ODT along said COA and define a predetermined distance between said PRP and said FRP;
said FRT and said SRT and said PRS are configured to separate said OLS and ODT along said COA and define a predetermined focal distance (PFD) between said LRP and said FRP;
said FRT is constructed from a thermalized metallic material (TMM) selected to produce in combination with said SRT a thermally neutral or controlled optical (TNO) variation in said PFD;
said TMM is constructed by deforming a metallic material by applying tension in a first direction;
said TMM, subsequent to said deformation, exhibits a first thermal expansion characteristic having a coefficient of thermal expansion within a predetermined range;
said coefficient of thermal expansion is in at least said first direction;
said TMM, subsequent to said deformation, exhibits a second thermal expansion characteristic in a second direction; and
wherein said TMM comprises a material selected from a group consisting of:
(1) a material characterized by a general formula Ti100-AXA, wherein X is at least one of Ni, Nb, Mo, Ta, Pd, Pt, or combinations thereof, and A is in a range from 0 to 75 atomic percent composition;
(2) a material characterized by a general formula Ti100-A-BNiAXB, wherein X is at least one of Pd, Hf, Zr, Al, Pt, Au, Fe, Co, Cr, Mo, V, O or combinations thereof, and A is in a range from 0 to 55 atomic percent composition, and B is in a range from 0 to 75 atomic percent composition such that A plus B is less than 100;
(3) a material characterized by a general formula Ti100-A-BNbAXB, wherein X is at least one of Al, Sn, Ta, Hf, Zr, Au, Pt, Fe, Co, Cr, Mo, V, O, or combinations thereof, and A is in a range from 0 to 55 atomic percent composition, and B is in a range from 0 to 75 atomic percent composition such that A plus B is less than 100; and
(4) a material characterized by a general formula Ti100-A-BTaAXB, wherein X is at least one of Al, Sn, Nb, Zr, Mo, Au, Pt, Fe, Co, Cr, Hf, V, O, or combinations thereof, and A is in a range from 0 to 55 atomic percent composition, and B is in a range from 0 to 75 atomic percent composition such that A plus B is less than 100.