Method for aligning and assembling two lens pieces, and a machine to accomplish this task

1. A method of lens doublet aligning, the method comprising:

holding an upper lens above a lower lens;

holding the lower lens in a horizontal position;

lowering the upper lens into a contact position with the lower lens; and

allowing the upper lens to self-align to a top surface of the lower lens, wherein the allowing the upper lens to self-align to a top surface of the lower lens comprises using an upper bell chuck to precisely guide the upper lens into proper position with respect to the top surface of the lower lens.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein holding the upper lens above the lower lens comprises holding the upper lens using the upper bell chuck.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the upper bell chuck includes a vacuum passage, and wherein holding the upper lens above the lower lens further comprises applying a suction to the upper lens using the vacuum passage.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein holding the lower lens in a horizontal position comprises:

holding the lower lens with a lower bell chuck; and

holding the lower lens at precise edge datums shared between the lower lens and the lower bell chuck.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein lower surfaces of the lower lens include an adjacent counterbore bottom and wall of a chamfer of the lower bell chuck, wherein the chamfer is a groove created in the lower bell chuck by precisely cutting the lower bell chuck such that the lower bell chuck meets the lower lens at the edge datums.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein allowing the upper lens to self-align to a top surface of the lower lens comprises:

allowing the lower bell chuck to translate radially in any direction; and

allowing the upper lens to seat fully in the lower lens.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein allowing the upper lens to seat fully in the lower lens comprises positioning supporting balls between the lower bell chuck and a base plate supporting the lower bell chuck.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the upper lens and the lower lens each comprise an optical surface, and wherein the upper lens self-aligns to the top surface of the lower lens via a natural mating of the optical surface of the upper lens and the optical surface of the lower lens.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using supporting balls to align the upper lens with the lower lens.

10. A method of lens doublet aligning comprising:

holding an upper lens above a lower lens with an upper bell chuck;

holding the lower lens in a horizontal position with a lower bell chuck;

lowering the upper lens to contact the lower lens; and

aligning the upper lens with respect to edge datums of the lower lens, wherein the aligning the upper lens with respect to the edge datums of the lower lens comprises:

aligning the lower bell chuck with respect to the upper bell chuck; and

fixing the lower bell chuck into alignment with the upper bell chuck.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the upper bell chuck includes a vacuum passage, and wherein holding the upper lens above the lower lens further comprises applying a suction to the upper lens using the vacuum passage.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein holding the lower lens in a horizontal position comprises:

holding the lower lens at precise edge datums shared between the lower lens and the lower bell chuck.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein lower surfaces of the lower lens are adjacent counterbore bottom and wall of a chamfer of the lower bell chuck, wherein the chamfer is a groove created in the lower bell chuck by precisely cutting the lower bell chuck such that the lower bell chuck meets the lower lens at the edge datums.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the aligning the upper lens with respect to the edge datums of the lower lens comprises aligning an upper bell shaft of the upper bell chuck using flexural bearings, wherein the flexural bearings hold the upper bell shaft in a flexural bearing housing and allow the upper bell chuck to translate linearly with respect to the lower bell chuck.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising aligning the upper lens with respect to the upper bell chuck and the lower bell chuck.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein aligning the upper lens with respect to the upper bell chuck and the lower bell chuck comprises:

raising the upper bell chuck;

placing the upper lens in the lower bell chuck;

lowering the upper bell chuck onto the upper lens; and

applying sufficient force to the upper lens such that the upper lens becomes aligned with the upper and lower bell chucks.

17. A method of lens doublet aligning comprising:

holding an upper lens above a lower lens, the holding the upper lens comprises using an upper bell chuck;

holding the lower lens in a horizontal position, the holding the lower lens comprises:

holding the lower lens with a lower bell chuck; and

holding the lower lens at precise edge datums shared between the lower lens and the lower bell chuck;

lowering the upper lens to contact the lower lens; and

aligning the upper lens with respect to edge datums of the lower lens, the aligning comprises aligning an upper bell shaft of the upper bell chuck using flexural bearings, wherein the flexural bearings hold the upper bell shaft in a flexural bearing housing and allow the upper bell chuck to translate linearly with respect to the lower bell chuck.

18. A method of lens doublet aligning, the method comprising:

holding an upper lens above a lower lens with an upper bell chuck;

holding the lower lens in a horizontal position with a lower bell chuck;

lowering the upper lens into a contact position with the lower lens; and

allowing the upper lens to self-align to a top surface of the lower lens, wherein the allowing the upper lens to self-align to a top surface of the lower lens comprises:

allowing the lower bell chuck to translate radially in any direction; and

allowing the upper lens to seat fully in the lower lens.