Abstract: A frame for optics used in interferometers that may include different materials having substantially similar, identical, or as close as practicable coefficients of thermal expansion from the material(s) used to make the beamsplitter and/or compensator without warping, bending, tilting or distorting the optics. The beamsplitter and/or compensator are mounted onto the frame of the interferometer using a three-point method of mounting, preferably using three pins for each component. Preferably, the pins are made of the same material as the beamsplitter and compensator, and all three components are made of Potassium Bromide (“KBr”) or Calcium Fluoride (“CaF2”) such that the optic instrument can operate to scan into the mid or far infrared. Stability in optical alignment is therefore achieved without requiring the optic instrument include only one material. The invention provides stability in situations where it is not possible to utilize a single material for every component of the interferometer.

Abstract: An improved mount for, and method of mounting, an optical structure having a grooved/relieved protruding member with a damping ring therein or on is provided. The grooved/relieved protruding member may extend from the optical structure, and an upper element having a first opening extending therethrough may receive at least a portion of the grooved/relieved member in the first opening. The upper element may include second and third openings therein that operate along with the first opening and a tightening mechanism. Tightening of the tightening mechanism into at least one of the third opening and the second opening causes the ends of the head portions to draw toward each other so that the first opening of the upper element tightens around the at least a portion of the grooved/relieved protruding member.

Abstract: An improved mount for, and method of mounting, an optical structure having a grooved/relieved protruding member with a damping ring therein or on is provided. The grooved/relieved protruding member may extend from the optical structure, and an upper element having a first opening extending therethrough may receive at least a portion of the grooved/relieved member in the first opening. The upper element may include second and third openings therein that operate along with the first opening and a tightening mechanism. Tightening of the tightening mechanism into at least one of the third opening and the second opening causes the ends of the head portions to draw toward each other so that the first opening of the upper element tightens around the at least a portion of the grooved/relieved protruding member.

Abstract: An improved mount for, and method of mounting, an optical structure having a grooved/relieved protruding member with a damping ring therein or on is provided. The grooved/relieved protruding member may extend from the optical structure, and an upper element having a first opening extending therethrough may receive at least a portion of the grooved/relieved member in the first opening. The upper element may include second and third openings therein that operate along with the first opening and a tightening mechanism. Tightening of the tightening mechanism into at least one of the third opening and the second opening causes the ends of the head portions to draw toward each other so that the first opening of the upper element tightens around the at least a portion of the grooved/relieved protruding member.

Abstract: An improved mount for, and method of mounting, an optical structure having a grooved/relieved protruding member with a damping ring therein or on is provided. The grooved/relieved protruding member may extend from the optical structure, and an upper element having a first opening extending therethrough may receive at least a portion of the grooved/relieved member in the first opening. The upper element may include second and third openings therein that operate along with the first opening and a tightening mechanism. Tightening of the tightening mechanism into at least one of the third opening and the second opening causes the ends of the head portions to draw toward each other so that the first opening of the upper element tightens around the at least a portion of the grooved/relieved protruding member.

Abstract: A frame for optics used in interferometers that may include different materials having substantially similar, identical, or as close as practicable coefficients of thermal expansion from the material(s) used to make the beamsplitter and/or compensator without warping, bending, tilting or distorting the optics. The beamsplitter and/or compensator are mounted onto the frame of the interferometer using a three-point method of mounting, preferably using three pins for each component. Preferably, the pins are made of the same material as the beamsplitter and compensator, and all three components are made of Potassium Bromide (“KBr”) or Calcium Fluoride (“CaF2”) such that the optic instrument can operate to scan into the mid or far infrared. Stability in optical alignment is therefore achieved without requiring the optic instrument include only one material. The invention provides stability in situations where it is not possible to utilize a single material for every component of the interferometer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for mounting accessories to firearms are described. A base includes a first alignment feature and a clamp that rigidly secures the base to the firearm. An actuator includes an accessory mount and a second alignment feature that engages with the first alignment feature to enable a substantially linear movement of the actuator relative to the base. A fastener secures the actuator to the base at a predetermined position relative to the base.

Abstract: A frame for optics used in interferometers that may include different materials having substantially similar, identical, or as close as practicable coefficients of thermal expansion from the material(s) used to make the beamsplitter and/or compensator without warping, bending, tilting or distorting the optics. The beamsplitter and/or compensator are mounted onto the frame of the interferometer using a three-point method of mounting, preferably using three pins for each component. Preferably, the pins are made of the same material as the beamsplitter and compensator, and all three components are made of Potassium Bromide (“KBr”) or Calcium Fluoride (“CaF2”) such that the optic instrument can operate to scan into the mid or far infrared. Stability in optical alignment is therefore achieved without requiring the optic instrument include only one material. The invention provides stability in situations where it is not possible to utilize a single material for every component of the interferometer.

Abstract: A frame for optics used in interferometers that may include different materials having substantially similar, identical, or as close as practicable coefficients of thermal expansion from the material(s) used to make the beamsplitter and/or compensator without warping, bending, tilting or distorting the optics. The beamsplitter and/or compensator are mounted onto the frame of the interferometer using a three-point method of mounting, preferably using three pins for each component. Preferably, the pins are made of the same material as the beamsplitter and compensator, and all three components are made of Potassium Bromide (“KBr”) or Calcium Fluoride (“CaF2”) such that the optic instrument can operate to scan into the mid or far infrared. Stability in optical alignment is therefore achieved without requiring the optic instrument include only one material. The invention provides stability in situations where it is not possible to utilize a single material for every component of the interferometer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for mounting accessories to firearms are described. A base includes a first alignment feature and a clamp that rigidly secures the base to the firearm. An actuator includes an accessory mount and a second alignment feature that engages with the first alignment feature to enable a substantially linear movement of the actuator relative to the base. A fastener secures the actuator to the base at a predetermined position relative to the base.

Abstract: An improved mount for, and method of mounting, an optical structure having a grooved/relieved protruding member is provided. The mount may have the grooved/relieved protruding member extending from a surface of the optical structure, a base element for mounting the mount to another structure and an upper element extending from the base element having a first opening extending therethrough for receipt therein of at least a portion of the grooved/relieved member. The first opening defines first and second arms, each of the arms comprising a head portion and each of the head portions ending at an end.

Abstract: An improved mount for, and method of mounting an, optical structure is provided, wherein the optical structure has at least one mounting surface. The mount has a mounting section with at least one surface extending therealong for receipt thereagainst of a portion of the at least one mounting surface of the optical structure. The at least one surface of the mounting section has at least one opening extending therethrough, or at least one cavity therein, for receipt of adhesive. The adhesive will at least partially fill the at least one opening/cavity and touch a portion of the at least one mounting surface of the optical structure in order to mount the optical structure.

Abstract: An improved mount for, and method of mounting an, optical structure is provided, wherein the optical structure has at least one mounting surface. The mount has a mounting section with at least one surface extending therealong for receipt thereagainst of a portion of the at least one mounting surface of the optical structure. The at least one surface of the mounting section has at least one opening extending therethrough, or at least one cavity therein, for receipt of adhesive. The adhesive will at least partially fill the at least one opening/cavity and touch a portion of the at least one mounting surface of the optical structure in order to mount the optical structure.

Abstract: An improved roof mirror assembly is provided. The roof mirror assembly of the invention is comprised of first and second mirror panels comprising first and second reflective surfaces and first and second mounting surfaces, respectively, the first and second mirror panels being joined together so that the first and second reflective surfaces are substantially perpendicular to each other. The assembly further comprising at least one mounting block comprising at least one opening extending through a portion thereof and at least one mounting pin received within the at least one opening of the at least one mounting block, wherein the at least one mounting pin is attached within the opening to the at least one mounting block and is attached to at least one of the first or second mounting surfaces of the first or second mirror panels.

Abstract: An improved roof mirror assembly is provided. The roof mirror assembly of the invention is comprised of first and second mirror panels comprising first and second reflective surfaces and first and second mounting surfaces, respectively, the first and second mirror panels being joined together so that the first and second reflective surfaces are substantially perpendicular to each other. The assembly further comprising at least one mounting block comprising at least one opening extending through a portion thereof and at least one mounting pin received within the at least one opening of the at least one mounting block, wherein the at least one mounting pin is attached within the opening to the at least one mounting block and is attached to at least one of the first or second mounting surfaces of the first or second mirror panels.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for profiling surfaces is provided. The subject apparatus avoids the earlier used constructions of such apparatus in the normally used Fizeau interferometer form, and instead uses a retroreflector (200) located at the end of the optical path (128) of the beam reflecting off of the surface under test (150) in order to achieve alignment-free surface profiling. In addition, in a second embodiment, a second retroreflector (140′) is used to assure a more accurate result. While in yet another improvement, the retroreflector (200) is selectively moveable in relation to the optical path of the beam, to compensate and correct for a shearing effect resulting from the use of variously sized (thicknesses) flats under test.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for profiling surfaces is provided. The subject apparatus avoids the earlier used constructions of such apparatus in the normally used Fizeau interferometer form, and instead uses a retroreflector (200) located at the end of the optical path (128) of the beam reflecting off of the surface under test (150) in order to achieve alignment-free surface profiling. In addition, in a second embodiment, a second retroreflector (140′) is used to assure a more accurate result. While in yet another improvement, the retroreflector (200) is selectively moveable in relation to the optical path of the beam, to compensate and correct for a shearing effect resulting from the use of variously sized (thicknesses) flats under test.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an improved optical assembly having a monolithic structure is provided. The monolithic optical assembly is useful in interferometers to achieve a fringe effect in a Fourier transform spectrometer, and comprises top and bottom members which are joined into a monolithic structure by first and second support members and a beamsplitter. The assembly also comprising a first reflecting assembly in reflecting relation with the beamsplitter. An alternate embodiment of the invention has an added reflecting assembly in reflecting relation with the first reflecting assembly and the beamsplitter assembly, which allows for the use of multiple wavelength light sources to achieve a fringe effect in a Fourier transform spectrometer.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, an improved optical assembly having a monolithic structure, and an improved optical assembly having a monolithic structure and a retroreflector/beamsplitter combination is provided. The monolithic optical assembly comprises top and bottom plates which are joined into a monolithic structure by first and second mounting members and a beamsplitter. The assembly also comprising a first reflecting assembly in reflecting relation with the beamsplitter. An alternate embodiment of the invention substitutes the monolithic structure having the above six components, with a monolithically constructed hollow corner-cube retroreflector, wherein one of the retroreflector panels is a reflecting surface, another panel (situated at a 45 degree angle to the reflecting surface of the first panel) is a beamsplitter, and the third panel is a support panel used to complete the construction of the hollow corner-cube retroreflector.