Abstract: A reflector for a precision optical device is provided. The reflector comprises a reflective surface, a back surface, a thickness between the reflective surface and the back surface defining an edge of the reflector, at least one mounting pad located along at least a portion of the edge of the reflector for adhesion to a portion of the precision optical device, and a mounting pin extending from another portion of the edge of the reflector for adhesion within a hole in the precision optical device.

Abstract: An improved lateral transfer retroreflector assembly is provided. The lateral transfer retroreflector assembly of the invention comprises a first segment comprising a mirror panel housing, a second segment comprising a roof mirror housing, and a third segment comprising an off-the-shelf connecting member between the two housings. The mirror panel housing will have mounted thereto a mirror panel. The roof mirror housing will have mounted thereto a roof mirror assembly, and the connecting member will be mounted between the mirror panel housing and the roof mirror housing. The off-the-shelf aspect of assembling the connecting allows the assembly to be built to customer specifications, thereby allowing for customized creation of lateral transfer retroreflectors, but at a time and cost savings to the customer.

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.

Abstract: An optical assembly with a folding mirror assembly is provided. The folding mirror assembly comprises first and second reflecting members having first through fourth reflecting surfaces and mounting means for mounting the reflecting members thereon. The first reflecting member has first and second reflecting surfaces in reflecting relation with each other, and the second reflecting member has third and fourth reflecting surfaces in reflecting relation with each other. The mounting means comprises a plate member having mounting pads, so that when first and second reflecting members are mounted to the mounting pads of the plate member, the third reflecting surface of the second reflecting member is in reflecting relation with the first reflecting surface of the first reflecting member.

Abstract: The boresight is comprised of a caliber rod having extending therefrom a reflecting member. The reflecting member has at least one reflecting surface; the reflecting surface being in either a fixed substantially perpendicular orientation to a longitudinal axis through the rod, or able to be adjusted to any desired angle with the axis of the rod. The rod is adapted to be removably slidable, and rotatable, within a muzzle of a bore of a weapon, while it is also constructed to fit snugly within the bore. The boresight may also comprise a beam splitter mirror for gathering light into the aiming device of the weapon. The muzzle of the weapon and the aiming device of the weapon are aligned when the aiming device or reticle (cross-hairs) of the aiming device and the reflection of the aiming device or reticle of the aiming device seen on the reflecting member coincide.

Abstract: An improved lateral transfer retroreflector assembly is provided, comprising a tubular member having a channel, a mirror member and a roof mirror mounted to a mounting member. The tubular member has first and second ends, the first end having mounted thereat the mirror member, and the second end forming a channel within which the roof mirror is mounted. The roof mirror is adhered to a mounting member along a junction formed in the roof mirror. The shape of the mounting member substantially conforms to the shape of the junction in the roof mirror thereby ensuring a secure, accurate mount. The channel has an upper and lower opening through which the roof mirror extends. The openings created and the manner in which the roof mirror is mounted within the channel ensure that the depth of the tubular member will be minimized.

Abstract: An improved hollow retroreflector assembly with a hard mount assembly is provided, comprising a hollow retroreflector assembly adhered onto a mounting member. The hollow retroreflector has three plates having optically flat reflective surfaces disposed at right angles to each other and non-reflective surfaces opposite to the reflective surfaces of the plates. Each of the plates has first and second sides disposed at right angles to each other, the first side of each plate abutting and being adhered to the reflective surface of the plate adjacent to it. The mounting member has first and second receiving surfaces disposed at right angles to each other. The first receiving surface has adhered to it a portion of the first side of one of the plates, and the second receiving surface has adhered thereto a portion of the second side of the same plate. The mounting member also has a base member having a threaded bore extending therein for receipt of a correspondingly threaded member extending from a support.

Abstract: A high accuracy periscope assembly is provided. The high accuracy periscope assembly of the invention is comprised of a hollow tubular member and two mirror panels. The tubular member has slanting surfaces at ends thereof and openings to allow light beams to enter, pass through and exit the tubular member. The mirror panels have reflective surfaces for reflecting the light beams and mounting pads for adhering the mirror panels to the tubular member. Alignment pads are also provided which have contact pads and a reinforcement member. The reflective surfaces of the mirror panels are aligned and then the alignment pads secure the mirror panels in their aligned positions without disrupting the kinematic mounting of the structure.

Abstract: A light-weighted optical assembly is provided. The light-weighted optical assembly of the invention is comprised of two members. Each member is constructed of a section and a plurality of ribs extending from the section and comprises one-half of the total thickness of the optical assembly. The members are fused at second ends of the plurality of ribs in a crossing, abutting manner. It is the crossing, abutting fusion of the two members which maintains the rigidity and stiffness of the optical assembly so as to insure against deflection of any reflective surface.