| CPC G02B 7/181 (2013.01) | 14 Claims |

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1. A temperature compensated spacer for mounting a first element relative to a second element where a width of a gap between the first and second elements varies as a function of temperature, the spacer comprising:
(a) a first anchoring configuration for anchoring the spacer relative to the first element;
(b) a second anchoring configuration for anchoring the spacer relative to the second element;
(c) a frame providing a mechanical connection between said first and second anchoring configurations, said frame having a polygonal opening with a first diagonal extending across the width of the gap and a second diagonal extending transversely to said first diagonal; and
(d) a crossbar associated with said polygonal opening so as to span said second diagonal,
wherein said frame is formed from a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and said crossbar is formed from a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, said crossbar being associated with said second diagonal such that a length of said second diagonal is determined by a dimension of said crossbar, said first and second coefficients of thermal expansion differing such that variation in temperature causes deformation of said frame, thereby varying a length of said first diagonal according to an effective coefficient of thermal expansion greater than both said first and said second coefficients of thermal expansion.
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