Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical housing includes forming a pattern comprising a predetermined surface feature on an interior surface of the optical housing. The predetermined surface feature is configured to control reflections of stray light along an optical path between an aperture at a proximal end of the optical housing and a detector at a distal end of the optical housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling stray light reflections are provided. An optical system includes an aperture having an optical axis passing therethrough, one or more optical elements disposed along an optical path, and a detector disposed along the optical path. The system further includes an optical housing disposed between the aperture and the detector. The interior surface of the optical housing includes a predetermined surface feature adapted to control reflections of stray light along the optical path between the aperture and the detector. A method of fabricating an optical housing includes forming a pattern comprising a predetermined surface feature on an interior surface of the optical housing. The predetermined surface feature is configured to control reflections of stray light along an optical path between an aperture at a proximal end of the optical housing and a detector at a distal end of the optical housing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling stray light reflections are provided. An optical system includes an aperture having an optical axis passing therethrough, one or more optical elements disposed along an optical path, and a detector disposed along the optical path. The system further includes an optical housing disposed between the aperture and the detector. The interior surface of the optical housing includes a predetermined surface feature adapted to control reflections of stray light along the optical path between the aperture and the detector. A method of fabricating an optical housing includes forming a pattern comprising a predetermined surface feature on an interior surface of the optical housing. The predetermined surface feature is configured to control reflections of stray light along an optical path between an aperture at a proximal end of the optical housing and a detector at a distal end of the optical housing.

Abstract: An opto-mechanical platform for supporting truncated optical elements having at least one substantially flat side surface is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the opto-mechanical platform may be realized as an apparatus for supporting truncated optical elements having at least one substantially flat side surface. Such an apparatus may comprise a platform having a substantially flat surface area for supporting the substantially flat side surface of the truncated optical elements. Such an apparatus may also comprise at least one substantially vertical wall formed on at least a portion of the platform for providing mechanical rigidity to the platform.

Abstract: A technique for attaching an optical element to a structural element is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as an apparatus for attaching an optical element to a structural element. Such an apparatus may comprise an optical element formed of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion value, a structural element formed of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion value, and an intermediate element formed of a material having a third coefficient of thermal expansion value that is between the first coefficient of thermal expansion value and the second coefficient of thermal expansion value. The intermediate element is disposed between the optical element and the structural element such that thermal stress between the optical element and the structural element are transferred to the intermediate element.

Abstract: A technique for attaching an optical element to a structural element is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the technique may be realized as an apparatus for attaching an optical element to a structural element. Such an apparatus may comprise an optical element formed of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion value, a structural element formed of a material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion value, and an intermediate element formed of a material having a third coefficient of thermal expansion value that is between the first coefficient of thermal expansion value and the second coefficient of thermal expansion value. The intermediate element is disposed between the optical element and the structural element such that thermal stress between the optical element and the structural element are transferred to the intermediate element.

Abstract: An opto-mechanical platform for supporting truncated optical elements having at least one substantially flat side surface is disclosed. In one particular exemplary embodiment, the opto-mechanical platform may be realized as an apparatus for supporting truncated optical elements having at least one substantially flat side surface. Such an apparatus may comprise a platform having a substantially flat surface area for supporting the substantially flat side surface of the truncated optical elements. Such an apparatus may also comprise at least one substantially vertical wall formed on at least a portion of the platform for providing mechanical rigidity to the platform.

Abstract: In order to correct optical couplers, which couple light among optical fibers arranged at an input (light source) port and output ports which are spaced off the optical axis of the coupler for optical aberration, including astigmatic aberration, anamorphic lenses are used in the coupler instead of lenses with rotationally symmetric surfaces. The anamorphic lenses may be collimating and decollimating lenses arranged along an optical axis on opposite sides of a wave length beam splitting filter which reflects and transmits different portions of the source spectrum. These lenses are anamorphic lenses with toroidal surfaces instead of rotationally symmetric surfaces, as in such couplers of conventional design. The wave front error and the insertion loss of the coupler is substantially reduced providing a substantial improvement in coupling efficiency and in coupling system performance.

Abstract: A lens shapes a diverging laser diode beam, and particularly circularizes and collimates, or diverges, or converges the beam. The lens may be part of an optical system, or part of a laser diode assembly. The lens is constituted of a body, the opposite ends of which are spaced from each other. The surfaces of the ends may be toric with the toric centers being coincident with the optical axis. The surfaces also have curvature profiles which circularize and collimates, or diverges, or converges collimates the beam. The curvature profile of one of the first and second surfaces has a correction profile which is a function of Zernike polynomials, thereby reducing wavefront error of the beam exiting the lens. The correction profile is also a function of the offset of the laser diode from the optical axis (misalignment), thereby increasing the misalignment tolerances for beam to lens centering. The curvature profiles of the surfaces may have correction for astigmatism in the beam shape produced by the laser diode.

Abstract: An improved optical system having diffractive optic elements is provided for scanning a beam. This optical system includes a laser source for emitting a laser beam along a first path. A deflector, such as a rotating polygonal mirror, intersects the first path and translates the beam into a scanning beam which moves along a second path in a scan plane. A lens system (F-.theta. lens) in the second path has first and second elements for focusing the scanning beam onto an image plane transverse to the scan plane. The first and second elements each have a cylindrical, non-toric lens. One or both of the first and second elements also provide a diffractive element, which provides not only astigmatic correction, but may further provide chromatic aberration correction of the scanning beam. This astigmatic correction is achieved without the presence of any lens having a toroidal (toric) surface. The system may further have a third element in the first path of the beam prior to the deflector.

Abstract: Laser radiation can be directed through an aperture to a target surface without causing the expected diffraction groove effect by moving the target relative to the stage to which the aperture is attached in such a fashion as to interrupt the diffraction pattern and minimize the production of diffraction grooves.

Abstract: An adjustable mount for the upper end of a motor vehicle suspension strut located in a bush (12) wherein a flange (22) is located between a clamping plate (13) and a face plate (14) with studs (17) passing from the clamping plate through enlarged apertures (15) in the flange (22), holes (16) in the face plate (14) and aligned holes (18) in the top of the vehicle chassis suspension tower (11), and being secured by nuts (19). Before the nuts (19) are tightened, the flange (22) may be moved in a sliding fashion between the clamping plate (13) and face plate (14) to locate the bush (12) and upper end of the strut into the desired location for correct castor and camber settings. Reference is also made to the provision of screwdriver slots (25) to permit the flange (22) to be levered into the desired location using a screwdriver when the suspension is under load.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for ablating a target surface and cleaning an ablated target surface resulting in the reduction of ablation debris accumulation.

Abstract: A method for shaping the surface of an optical target, said method comprising the steps of: addressing a ring of laser radiation to the surface of the optical target domain, said laser radiation being of sufficient fluency and energy to photoablate the material forming the body of said optical target domain, sweeping the optically functional portion of said target domain with said laser ring by effectively changing the radius of said ring in a prescribed fashion within the range of the radius of the optical target domain and zero.