Abstract: An improved roof mirror assembly is provided. The roof mirror assembly of the invention is comprised of first and second mirror panels having first and second reflective surfaces and first and second back portions, respectively, the first and second mirror panels being joined together so that the first and second reflective surfaces are substantially perpendicular to each other, and at least one mounting block to complete the joining together of the first and second mirror panels into the roof mirror assembly and for mounting the assembly onto another structure, the at least one mounting block attached to both the first and second back portions of the mirror panels, wherein the back portions extend along the respective mirror panels in orientations that do not meet or intersect with the reflective surfaces.

Abstract: A precision optical devices having pin mounted reflector(s) are provided. The precision optical device, comprising first and second side panels, the first side panel having a hole formed therein, a first reflector comprising a first reflecting surface and a mounting pin extending from a first edge of the first reflector, the mounting pin received within the hole formed in the first side panel for mounting the first reflector between the panels at a first end of the panels, and a second reflector comprising at least a second reflecting surface, mounted between the side panels at a second end thereof in an orientation so that an incident light ray reflecting off of any of the reflecting surfaces is reflected to and off the other(s) of the reflecting surfaces in a direction substantially parallel to the incident light ray.

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 having first and second reflective surfaces and first and second back portions, respectively, the first and second mirror panels being joined together so that the first and second reflective surfaces are substantially perpendicular to each other, and at least one mounting block to complete the joining together of the first and second mirror panels into the roof mirror assembly and for mounting the assembly onto another structure, the at least one mounting block attached to both the first and second back portions of the mirror panels, wherein the back portions extend along the respective mirror panels in orientations that do not meet or intersect with the reflective surfaces.

Abstract: A precision optical devices having pin mounted reflector(s) are provided. The precision optical device, comprising first and second side panels, the first side panel having a hole formed therein, a first reflector comprising a first reflecting surface and a mounting pin extending from a first edge of the first reflector, the mounting pin received within the hole formed in the first side panel for mounting the first reflector between the panels at a first end of the panels, and a second reflector comprising at least a second reflecting surface, mounted between the side panels at a second end thereof in an orientation so that an incident light ray reflecting off of any of the reflecting surfaces is reflected to and off the other(s) of the reflecting surfaces in a direction substantially parallel to the incident light ray.

Abstract: A flexible mounting assembly is provided for a retroreflector assembly. The mounting assembly has a base member comprising three radial arms situated at substantially 120° from each other. In a preferred embodiment, a connector is mounted to the end of each arm, with the connector connecting the arm of the base to a resilient support member. Each support member has a pair of co-planar receiving surfaces, for receipt thereon of a mounting block, which mounting block is adhered to the underside of the retroreflector. The co-planar receiving surfaces of each of the support members are separated by a notch in the structure of the support member. In other embodiments, the radial arms of the mounting member and the connectors can be uniformly formed members. Another embodiment could have the mounting blocks an integrally formed part of the support members; i.e., integrally extending out from the co-planar surfaces.

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: 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: A hollow surveying retroreflector assembly is provided which is comprised of a hollow retroreflector received within and adhered to a receptacle. The retroreflector has three plates having optically flat reflecting faces disposed at right angles to each other. The receptacle has a conically configured interior for receiving the retroreflector and for maintaining the perpendicular alignment of the reflecting faces of the plates of the retroreflector. The receptacle having the retroreflector inside is then received within an outer casing to allow for mounting of the hollow surveying retroreflector assembly.