IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,270,022
Granted Patent B2
US 7,270,022 · App. 11/207,924 · Granted Sep 18, 2007

Temperature-compensated structure with force multiplier for the temperature compensator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,270,022
App. No.
11/207,924
Granted
Sep 18, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A temperature-compensated structure includes a temperature compensator having a temperature-compensation bellows whose length is responsive to changes in temperature, and a temperature-compensation actuator that moves responsive to the length of the temperature-compensation bellows. There is a movable structure, and a mechanical force multiplier extending between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure so that a force applied to the movable structure is greater than the force produced by the temperature-compensation bellows.

Claims (110)

1. A temperature-compensated structure, comprising:

a temperature compensator having

a temperature-compensation bellows whose length is responsive to changes in temperature, and

a temperature-compensation actuator that moves responsive to the length of the temperature-compensation bellows;

a movable structure, wherein the movable structure comprises

a slider,

a temperature-compensated element mounted to the slider, wherein the temperature-compensated element includes a lens, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element; and

a mechanical force multiplier extending between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure, wherein a force applied to the movable structure is greater than the force produced by the temperature-compensation bellows, and wherein there is no rigid connection between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure.

2. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 1 , wherein the temperature-compensation bellows is filled with a liquid.

3. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 1 , wherein the force multiplier comprises

a first inclined ramp on the temperature-compensation actuator,

a second inclined ramp on the movable structure, and

a rolling element contacting the first inclined ramp and the second inclined ramp, so that a movement of the temperature-compensation actuator produces a movement of the movable structure.

4. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 1 , wherein the movable structure comprises

a slider,

a temperature-compensated element mounted to the slider, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element.

5. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 1 , further including at least one lens that is not acted upon by the temperature compensator.

6. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 1 , wherein the movable structure comprises

a slider,

a temperature-compensated element mounted to the slider, wherein the temperature-compensated element includes an infrared lens, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element.

7. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 1 , wherein the temperature-compensation actuator is affixed to a movable end of the temperature-compensation bellows.

8. A temperature-compensated structure, comprising:

a temperature compensator comprising a temperature-compensation bellows having a fixed end and a movable end including a temperature-compensation actuator which moves responsive to changes in temperature;

a movable structure comprising

a slider,

a temperature-compensated lens element mounted to the slider, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated lens element and positioned to resist movement of the temperature-compensated lens element; and

a force multiplier extending between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure, wherein a force applied to the movable structure is greater than the force produced by the temperature-compensation bellows, and wherein the force multiplier comprises

a first inclined ramp on the temperature-compensation actuator,

a second inclined ramp on the movable structure, and

a connecting element contacting the first inclined ramp and the second inclined ramp, so that a movement of the temperature-compensation actuator produces a movement of the movable structure.

9. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 8 , wherein the temperature-compensation bellows is filled with a liquid.

10. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 8 , further including

at least one lens that is not acted upon by the temperature compensator.

11. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 8 , wherein the temperature-compensated element includes an infrared lens, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element.

12. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 8 , wherein the connecting element is a roller or a ball.

13. A temperature-compensated structure, comprising:

a temperature compensator having

a liquid filled temperature-compensation bellows whose length is responsive to changes in temperature, and

a temperature-compensation actuator that moves responsive to the length of the temperature-compensation bellows;

a movable structure; and

a mechanical force multiplier extending between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure, wherein a force applied to the movable structure is greater than the force produced by the temperature-compensation bellows, and wherein there is no rigid connection between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure.

14. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 13 wherein the force multiplier comprises

a first inclined ramp on the temperature-compensation actuator,

a second inclined ramp on the movable structure, and

a rolling element contacting the first inclined ramp and the second inclined ramp, so that a movement of the temperature-compensation actuator produces a movement of the movable structure.

15. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 13 wherein the movable structure comprises

a slider,

a temperature-compensated element mounted to the slider, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element.

16. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 13 wherein the movable structure comprises

a slider,

a temperature-compensated element mounted to the slider, wherein the temperature-compensated element includes a lens, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element.

17. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 16 , further including at least one lens that is not acted upon by the temperature compensator.

18. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 13 wherein the movable structure comprises

a slider,

a temperature-compensated element mounted to the slider, wherein the temperature-compensated element includes an infrared lens, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element.

19. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 13 wherein the temperature-compensation actuator is affixed to a movable end of the temperature-compensation bellows.

20. A temperature-compensated structure, comprising:

a temperature compensator having

a temperature-compensation bellows whose length is responsive to changes in temperature, and

a temperature-compensation actuator that moves responsive to the length of the temperature-compensation bellows;

a movable structure; and

a mechanical force multiplier extending between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure, wherein a force applied to the movable structure is greater than the force produced by the temperature-compensation bellows, and wherein there is no rigid connection between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure, wherein the force multiplier further comprises:

a first inclined ramp on the temperature-compensation actuator,

a second inclined ramp on the movable structure, and

a rolling element contacting the first inclined ramp and the second inclined ramp, so that a movement of the temperature-compensation actuator produces a movement of the movable structure.

21. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 20 , wherein the movable structure comprises

a slider,

a temperature-compensated element mounted to the slider, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element.

22. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 20 wherein the movable structure comprises

a slider,

a temperature-compensated element mounted to the slider, wherein the temperature-compensated element includes a lens, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element.

23. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 22 further including at least one lens that is not acted upon by the temperature compensator.

24. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 20 , wherein the movable structure comprises

a slider,

a temperature-compensated element mounted to the slider, wherein the temperature-compensated element includes an infrared lens, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element.

25. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 24 wherein the temperature-compensation actuator is affixed to a movable end of the temperature-compensation bellows.

26. A temperature-compensated structure, comprising:

a temperature compensator having

a temperature-compensation bellows whose length is responsive to changes in temperature, and

a temperature-compensation actuator that moves responsive to the length of the temperature-compensation bellows;

a movable structure, wherein the movable structure comprises

a slider,

a temperature-compensated element mounted to the slider, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element; and

a mechanical force multiplier extending between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure, wherein a force applied to the movable structure is greater than the force produced by the temperature-compensation bellows, and wherein there is no rigid connection between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure.

27. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 26 wherein the temperature-compensated element includes a lens.

28. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 27 further including at least one lens that is not acted upon by the temperature compensator.

29. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 26 wherein the temperature-compensated element includes an infrared lens.

30. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 26 wherein the temperature-compensation actuator is affixed to a movable end of the temperature-compensation bellows.

31. A temperature-compensated structure, comprising:

a temperature compensator having

a temperature-compensation bellows whose length is responsive to changes in temperature, and

a temperature-compensation actuator that moves responsive to the length of the temperature-compensation bellows;

a movable structure, wherein the movable structure comprises

a slider,

a temperature-compensated element mounted to the slider, wherein the temperature-compensated element includes an infrared lens, and

a bias engaged to the temperature-compensated element; and

a mechanical force multiplier extending between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure, wherein a force applied to the movable structure is greater than the force produced by the temperature-compensation bellows, and wherein there is no rigid connection between the temperature-compensation actuator and the movable structure.

32. The temperature-compensated structure of claim 31 wherein the temperature-compensation actuator is affixed to a movable end of the temperature-compensation bellows.