Abstract: A power system, power circuit, and methods for maintaining or providing a constant or substantially constant power source and for reducing and/or minimizing power decay of a predetermined component are provided. Such improvement of power delivery and minimization of power loss is important for precision instrumentation applications. One such application is the infrared (“IR”) source driver for a Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (“FTIR”). The power system and/or circuit may include two integrated circuits in a novel way to make an efficient constant power IR source driver. The method may include having a switching regulator comparing a sample of output voltage with a reference voltage, a second element computing, calculating and/or creating a voltage that is a product of another voltage and a current to obtain a signal proportional to delivered power, and operating a closed loop regulator to provide a constant delivered power to the source.

Abstract: A quasi-translator for economically producing pure, smooth translational motion with broad arcuate or error-free motion regardless of orientation, which is useful in numerous interferometer applications including spectroscopy, a Fourier modulator and a Fourier spectrometer are provided. The quasi-translator utilizes a support, an arm including a driving magnet on a first end and a driven element on a second end, an axis for rotation of the arm, a bearing system that controls the rotation of the arm about the axis, a drive coil and a drive amplifier to drive the arm in the arcuate motion. The quasi-translator may be employed in a Fourier modulator to change the optical path difference of the interferometer/quasi-translator at a substantially constant rate of change. The quasi-translator and/or Fourier modulator may be used in a Fourier spectrometer to create an optical spectrum from a light beam and/or electrical signal created from the light beam.

Abstract: A quasi-translator for economically producing pure, smooth translational motion with broad arcuate or error-free motion regardless of orientation, which is useful in numerous interferometer applications including spectroscopy, a Fourier modulator and a Fourier spectrometer are provided. The quasi-translator utilizes a support, an arm including a driving magnet on a first end and a driven element on a second end, an axis for rotation of the arm, a bearing system that controls the rotation of the arm about the axis, a drive coil and a drive amplifier to drive the arm in the arcuate motion. The quasi-translator may be employed in a Fourier modulator to change the optical path difference of the interferometer/quasi-translator at a substantially constant rate of change. The quasi-translator and/or Fourier modulator may be used in a Fourier spectrometer to create an optical spectrum from a light beam and/or electrical signal created from the light beam.

Abstract: A quasi-translator for economically producing pure, smooth translational motion with broad arcuate or error-free motion regardless of orientation, which is useful in numerous interferometer applications including spectroscopy, a Fourier modulator and a Fourier spectrometer are provided. The quasi-translator utilizes a support, an arm including a driving magnet on a first end and a driven element on a second end, an axis for rotation of the arm, a bearing system that controls the rotation of the arm about the axis, a drive coil and a drive amplifier to drive the arm in the arcuate motion. The quasi-translator may be employed in a Fourier modulator to change the optical path difference of the interferometer/quasi-translator at a substantially constant rate of change. The quasi-translator and/or Fourier modulator may be used in a Fourier spectrometer to create an optical spectrum from a light beam and/or electrical signal created from the light beam.

Abstract: A flexure mount for economically producing pure translational motion with no arcuate or error motion in the vertical direction utilizing alignment pins and parts reducing structures including monolithic springs. A low profile embodiment utilizes a compound monolithic spring. The flexure mount may be used to translate a mirror or retroreflector in a purely linear direction of precisely controlled and known distance, useful in myriad interferometer applications including spectroscopy.

Abstract: A flexure mount for economically producing pure translational motion with no arcuate or error motion in the vertical direction utilizing alignment pins and parts reducing structures including monolithic springs. A low profile embodiment utilizes a compound monolithic spring. The flexure mount may be used to translate a mirror or retroreflector in a purely linear direction of precisely controlled and known distance, useful in myriad interferometer applications including spectroscopy.

Abstract: A monolithic frame for optics used in interferometers where the material of the monolithic frame may have a substantially different coefficient of thermal expansion from the beamsplitter and compensator without warping, bending or distorting the optics. This is accomplished through providing a securing apparatus holding the optics in place while isolating the expansion thereof from the expansion of the frame. Stability in optical alignment is therefore achieved without requiring a single material or materials of essentially identical coefficients of thermal expansion. The present invention provides stability in situations where it is not possible to utilize a single material for every component of the interferometer.

Abstract: A flexure mount for economically producing pure translational motion with no arcuate or error motion in the vertical direction utilizing alignment pins and parts reducing structures including monolithic springs. A low profile embodiment utilizes a compound monolithic spring. The flexure mount may be used to translate a mirror or retroreflector in a purely linear direction of precisely controlled and known distance, useful in myriad interferometer applications including spectroscopy.

Abstract: A monolithic frame for optics used in interferometers where the material of the monolithic frame may have a substantially different coefficient of thermal expansion from the beamsplitter and compensator without warping, bending or distorting the optics. This is accomplished through providing a securing apparatus holding the optics in place while isolating the expansion thereof from the expansion of the frame. Stability in optical alignment is therefore achieved without requiring a single material or materials of essentially identical coefficients of thermal expansion. The present invention provides stability in situations where it is not possible to utilize a single material for every component of the interferometer.

Abstract: A monolithic frame for optics used in interferometers where the material of the monolithic frame may have a substantially different coefficient of thermal expansion from the beamsplitter and compensator without warping, bending or distorting the optics. This is accomplished through providing a securing apparatus holding the optics in place while isolating the expansion thereof from the expansion of the frame. Stability in optical alignment is therefore achieved without requiring a single material or materials of essentially identical coefficients of thermal expansion. The present invention provides stability in situations where it is not possible to utilize a single material for every component of the interferometer.

Abstract: A monolithic frame for optics used in interferometers where the material of the monolithic frame may have a substantially different coefficient of thermal expansion from the beamsplitter and compensator without warping, bending or distorting the optics. This is accomplished through providing a securing apparatus holding the optics in place while isolating the expansion thereof from the expansion of the frame. Stability in optical alignment is therefore achieved without requiring a single material or materials of essentially identical coefficients of thermal expansion. The present invention provides stability in situations where it is not possible to utilize a single material for every component of the interferometer.