An optical mirror support system is disclosed having a mirror supported by a plurality of supporting elements arranged along discrete contact regions so as to deform the mirror reflective surface in a manner producing a deformation pattern which qualitatively causes a diffraction pattern by the optical aperture having an idealized or optimized image quality. A preferred or optimized ratio of the distances between adjacent families of support elements and the distance between adjacent support elements of the same family, has been found.
A deformable mirror, especially for the compensation of the influences of atmospheric interferences on the propagation or spreading of high energy laser beams, which incorporates a plurality of electrically actuatable actuators or adjusting elements engaging behind the mirror surface of the mirror. The actuators or adjusting elements is pressed against the rear side of a mirror plate, and is connected therewith along jacket or sheathing surfaces. Thereby, it is possible to achieve an almost point-like introduction of force for the regional deformation of the mirror; inasmuch as the pressure forces can act with a practically randomly small cross-section directly against the rear side of the mirror, while the tensile forces are taken up by the jacket or sheathing surfaces.
The device comprises a plurality of thin elastic strips distributed at equal angular intervals on a circle centered on the axis of the component. The large surface of the strips is positioned in the plane tangential to the circle parallel to the axis of the component, each of said strips having a tightly securing connection to the support (or the component) and a universal connection to the component (or the support). The device is particularly useful for fixing a component of an optical system in a satellite.
A lightweight deformable mirror suitable for space applications is disclosed in which a plurality of electrically-operated electrodistortive actuators may be used to selectively deform the mirror's reflecting surface. The actuators are sandwiched between a pair of thin sheets of glass with the surface of one sheet finished to form the mirror's reflecting surface. By selectively energizing one or more of the actuators, the mirror surface can be deformed to correct aberrations in optical wavefronts impinging on the mirror or to encode signals into wavefronts projected onto the mirror surface. Electrical connections to the actuators may be made through printed circuit connections which are contained on the bottom sheet of the deformable mirror. Since the bottom sheet is permitted to flex along with the top sheet containing the reflecting surface in response to forces imparted thereto when the actuators are energized, a lightweight, thin sheet of glass can be used for the bottom sheet, thereby reducing the mirror's overall weight. In one embodiment, three pairs of kinematic mounts support the deformable mirror and may be used to change the orientation of the mirror's reflecting surface. In an alternate preferred embodiment, gross changes in the shape of the mirror's reflecting surface may be made by operating control actuators which are fastened between the deformable mirror and the surface on which the mirror is mounted.
An actuator (1) for mechanically supporting a structure such as an optical or radio telescope reflector (3). The actuator (1) is free to precess about a pivot point (C) which is fixed with respect to the supporting cell structure (9). This can be accomplished by gimballing the actuator (1) using vertical (13) and horizontal (17) trunnions. This gimballing arrangement permits radial and axial excursions of each actuator ball (29) to compensate for gravity vector variations as the reflector (3) is moved to point towards its target, and to compensate for thermal expansion variations between the reflector (3) and cell (9). Fine axial position adjustments are accomplished by a rotating nut (43) or a rotating screw (63) configuration in conjunction with a stepper motor (47 or 67). Motor (47 or 67) can receive its commands from a real-time closed loop system sensitive to axial position or axial load. A counterweight (57) appended to each actuator (1) balances the radial gravity loads among each of many actuators (1) and hard points (5) used to support the reflector (3). This system produces almost total decoupling of axial loads from radial loads, enabling the reflector (3) to "float" radially, permitting a thinner lighter reflector (3) which adjusts to the deflections of a lighter support cell (9) rather than being supported rigidly in a very stiff heavy cell (9).
An active segmented mirror comprises a plurality of mirror elements connected through a common substrate. Each of said elements comprises a cooled hexagonal mirror substrate, a compliant joint connecting the mirror substrate with the supporting structure, a strut connecting the substrate and actuator and capable of carrying a coolant, and a piezo ceramic actuator assembly.
