Abstract: A gimbal mechanism for a turret includes a support member and a pair of opposing yoke arms extending from the support member. The pair of opposing yoke arms define a first axis. A sphere is rotatably mounted between the opposing yoke arms for rotation about the first axis. A disk is rotatably mounted within the sphere for rotation about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The disk is sized for rotation within the sphere. The second axis may be offset from the first axis. An aperture is provided in the disk. The sphere includes a slot within which the aperture is moveable in response to rotation of the disk about the second axis. The aperture is movable to define a field of coverage in response to rotation of the sphere about the first axis and the disk about the second axis.

Abstract: A gimbal mechanism for a turret includes a support member and a pair of opposing yoke arms extending from the support member. The pair of opposing yoke arms define a first axis. A sphere is rotatably mounted between the opposing yoke arms for rotation about the first axis. A disk is rotatably mounted within the sphere for rotation about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The disk is sized for rotation within the sphere. The second axis may be offset from the first axis. An aperture is provided in the disk. The sphere includes a slot within which the aperture is moveable in response to rotation of the disk about the second axis. The aperture is movable to define a field of coverage in response to rotation of the sphere about the first axis and the disk about the second axis.

Abstract: There is provided in one embodiment a polymer pin assembly for an optical mount. The assembly comprises two cap members, each cap member having a through opening. The assembly further comprises two cup members, each cup member being coupled to each respective cap member. The assembly further comprises two ball bearing members, each ball bearing member being disposed within each respective cup member. The assembly further comprises a rod member inserted through each cap member and coupled to each ball bearing member. The assembly further comprises a polymer material applied to interior portions of the cap members and applied to interior portions of the cup members after the polymer pin assembly is mounted to the optical mount.

Abstract: A cross-blade flexure block is prepared by machining a first cross-blade flexure element and a second cross-blade flexure element. Machining is accomplished by a technique such as electrical discharge machining or water jet machining. Each cross-blade flexure element is a single integral piece, with no braze joints therein. The first cross-blade flexure element and the second cross-blade flexure element are assembled together to form a flexure block.

Abstract: A miniature grating drive device (216) for accurately and precisely positioning a grating (236) of a projection Moire topography measurement system where the Moire topography measurement system is included as part of a hand-held medical instrument for providing surface measurements of inaccessible living membranes. The drive device (216) includes two separate piezoelectric bimorph actuators (248, 256) for positioning the grating (236) at three precise locations. The first piezoelectric bimorph actuator (256) accurately positions the grating (236) at a first location, and the second piezoelectric bimorph (248) actuator accurately positions a base (232) on which the first piezoelectric actuator (256) is attached to move the grating (236) to a second location.