Control system

Claim 2

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined area of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surfaces and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting suRfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to define a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, said further interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in a direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said additional interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in said direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, and still further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said still further interacting surfaces providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in said direction normal to said mounting plate.

Claim 3

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined area of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surfaces and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to define a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, said further interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in a direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said additional interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in said direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, and still further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, the first said interacting surfaces including a ball and a recessed surface engaged by said ball, said ball and said recessed surface being spaced laterally away from the center of said mounting plate, and said still further interacting surfaces including a ball and a recessed surface engaged by said ball, said ball and said recessed surface of said still further interacting surfaces being spaced laterally away from said center of said mounting plate.

Claim 4

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined area of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surfaces and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to define a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, said further interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in a direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said additional interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in said direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, and still further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, the first said interacting surfaces including a ball and a recessed surface engaged by said ball, said ball and said recessed surface being spaced laterally away from the center of said mounting plate, and said still further interacting surfaces including a ball and a recessed surface engaged by said ball, said ball and said recessed surface of said still further interacting surfaces being spaced laterally away from said center of said mounting plate.

Claim 5

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined are a of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surfaces and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to define a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, said further interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in a direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restrain to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said additional interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in said direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restrain to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, and still further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, the first said and said still further interacting surfaces being adjacent two of the corners of a quadrilateral, and the first said and said second precisely adjustable means being adjacent the other two corners of said quadrilateral.

Claim 6

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined are a of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surfaces and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to define a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, said further interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in a direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restrain to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said additional interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in said direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restrain to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, and still further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, the first said and said still further interacting surfaces being adjacent two of the corners of a quadrilateral, and the first said and said second precisely adjustable means being adjacent the other two corners of said quadrilateral.

Claim 7

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined area of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surface and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to define a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, said further interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in a direction normal to said mounting plate but providinG essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said additional interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in said direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, and still further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, the first said interacting surfaces including a ball on said base and a recessed surface on said mounting plate, the first said precisely adjustable means including a micrometer mounted on said base and a ball mounted on said mounting plate, said second precisely adjustable means including a micrometer mounted on said base and a ball mounted on said mounting plate, and said still further interacting surfaces including a ball on said base and a recessed surface on said mounting plate.

Claim 8

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined area of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surface and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to define a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, said further interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in a direction normal to said mounting plate but providinG essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said additional interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in said direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, and still further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, the first said interacting surfaces including a ball on said base and a recessed surface on said mounting plate, the first said precisely adjustable means including a micrometer mounted on said base and a ball mounted on said mounting plate, said second precisely adjustable means including a micrometer mounted on said base and a ball mounted on said mounting plate, and said still further interacting surfaces including a ball on said base and a recessed surface on said mounting plate.

Claim 9

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined area of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surfaces and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to define a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, said further interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in a direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said additional interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in said direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, and still further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, the first said interacting surfaces including a ball on said base and a recessed surface on said mounting plate, the first said precisely adjustable means including a micrometer mounted on said base and a ball mounted on said mounting plate, said second precisely adjustable means including a micrometer mounted on said base and a ball mounted on said mounting plate, said still further interacting surfaces including a ball on said base and a recessed surface on said mounting plate, and a resilient element which holds said balls of the first said and said second precisely adjustable means against the screws of the micrometers of said first said and second preciselY adjustable means and also holds said recessed surface of the first said interacting surfaces against the ball of said first said interacting surfaces.

Claim 10

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined area of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surfaces and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to define a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, said further interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in a direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said additional interacting surfaces providing restraint to movement of said mounting plate in said direction normal to said mounting plate but providing essentially no restraint to movement of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, and still further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, the first said interacting surfaces including a ball on said base and a recessed surface on said mounting plate, the first said precisely adjustable means including a micrometer mounted on said base and a ball mounted on said mounting plate, said second precisely adjustable means including a micrometer mounted on said base and a ball mounted on said mounting plate, said still further interacting surfaces including a ball on said base and a recessed surface on said mounting plate, and a resilient element which holds said balls of the first said and said second precisely adjustable means against the screws of the micrometers of said first said and second preciselY adjustable means and also holds said recessed surface of the first said interacting surfaces against the ball of said first said interacting surfaces.

Claim 11

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined area of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surfaces and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to define a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, the first said interacting surfaces including a ball and a recessed surface engaged by said ball, the first said precisely adjustable means including a micrometer and a bearing area engaged by the screw of said micrometer, said second precisely adjustable means including a micrometer and a bearing area engaged by the screw of said micrometer, and a resilient means holding said bearing areas of the first said and said second precisely adjustable means against the screws of the micrometers of said first said and said second precisely adjustable means and also holding said recessed surface of the first said interacting surfaces against the ball of said first said interacting surfaces, and still further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said resilient means being located adjacent said still further interacting surfaces.

Claim 12

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined area of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surfaces and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to define a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, the first said interacting surfaces including a ball and a recessed surface engaged by said ball, the first said precisely adjustable means including a micrometer and a bearing area engaged by the screw of said micrometer, said second precisely adjustable means including a micrometer and a bearing area engaged by the screw of said micrometer, and a resilient means holding said bearing areas of the first said and said second precisely adjustable means against the screws of the micrometers of said first said and said second precisely adjustable means and also holding said recessed surface of the first said interacting surfaces against the ball of said first said interacting surfaces, and still further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, said resilient means being located adjacent said still further interacting surfaces.

Claim 13

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined area of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surfaces and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to dEfine a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable mans being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, resilient means applying forces to said base and to said mounting plate which bias said mounting plate for movement relative to said base, said resilient means being spaced from said first said interacting surfaces, from said further interacting surfaces, and from said additional interacting surfaces, said resilient means applying forces to said base and to said mounting plate, adjacent said first said interacting surfaces, which urge said base and said mounting plate for movement in a predetermined direction relative to each other, said resilient means applying forces to said base and to said mounting plate, adjacent said further interacting surfaces, which urge said base and said mounting plate for movement in the opposite direction relative to each other, said resilient means applying forces to said base and to said mounting plate, adjacent said additional interacting surfaces, which urge said base and said mounting plate for movement in said opposite direction relative to each other, and still further interacting surface carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, the first said precisely adjustable means including a micrometer and a bearing area engaged by the screw of said micrometer, said second precisely adjustable means including a micrometer and a bearing area engaged by the screw of said micrometer, said resilient means being located adjacent said still further interacting surfaces.

Claim 14

A mount for an optical element which comprises: a base that is stationary during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, a mounting plate that is movable relative to said base during adjustment of said mount for said optical element, interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate providing an essentially fixed spacing between a predetermined area of said base and a predetermined area of said mounting plate, further interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a second predetermined area of said base and a second predetermined area of said mounting plate, additional interacting surfaces carried by said base and by said mounting plate which include a second precisely adjustable means and which provide a precisely adjustable spacing between a third predetermined area of said base and a third predetermined area of said mounting plate, the first said interacting surfaces and said further interacting surfaces coacting to define an axis, and said second precisely adjustable means being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said axis, the first said interacting surfaces and said additional interacting surfaces coacting to dEfine a second axis which is angularly displaced from the first said axis, and the first said precisely adjustable mans being adjustable to rotate said mounting plate about said second axis, resilient means applying forces to said base and to said mounting plate which bias said mounting plate for movement relative to said base, said resilient means being spaced from said first said interacting surfaces, from said further interacting surfaces, and from said additional interacting surfaces, said resilient means applying forces to said base and to said mounting plate, adjacent said first said interacting surfaces, which urge said base and said mounting plate for movement in a predetermined direction relative to each other, said resilient means applying forces to said base and to said mounting plate, adjacent said further interacting surfaces, which urge said base and said mounting plate for movement in the opposite direction relative to each other, said resilient means applying forces to said base and to said mounting plate, adjacent said additional interacting surfaces, which urge said base and said mounting plate for movement in said opposite direction relative to each other, and still further interacting surface carried by said base and by said mounting plate which coact with the first said interacting surfaces to prevent rotation of said mounting plate in its own plane relative to said base, the first said precisely adjustable means including a micrometer and a bearing area engaged by the screw of said micrometer, said second precisely adjustable means including a micrometer and a bearing area engaged by the screw of said micrometer, said resilient means being located adjacent said still further interacting surfaces.