High-reliability ultra-fast mechanical shutter

1. An electro-mechanical device comprising:

(a) a payload comprising a magnet that is affixed to a mirror; and

(b) a coil assembly comprising a body upon which electrically conducting wires are wound and a payload aperture through which the payload travels, wherein:

(i) when voltage is applied to the coil assembly, current through the coil assembly generates a magnetic field resulting in a net upward force on the magnet that accelerates the payload to travel upward through the payload aperture for the mirror to block an optical pulse; and

(ii) as the magnet travels through the payload aperture, due to a magnetization direction of the magnet and a magnetic field in an upper portion of the coil assembly, the magnet experiences a net deceleration force that arrests the payload.

2. The electro-mechanical device of claim 1 , wherein the net deceleration force is experienced as the magnet travels axially beyond a center point of the coil assembly.

3. The electro-mechanical device of claim 1 , further comprising:

(c) a copper damping assembly coupled to the coil assembly, wherein:

(i) the copper damping assembly comprises an extension of the payload aperture through which the payload travels; and

(ii) the copper damping assembly comprises a copper damping element that imposes eddy current damping to ensure arrest of the payload at a stopping position.

4. The electro-mechanical device of claim 3 , wherein the copper damping assembly reduces oscillations of the payload that could result in an unblocking of the optical pulse.

5. The electro-mechanical device of claim 1 , wherein:

the body comprises a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) body;

the electrically conducting wires comprise 32 AWG (American Wire Gauge) polyimide-insulated copper wire; and

the magnet comprises a rectangular NdFeB (Neodymium iron boron or “neo”) grade-52 magnet.

6. The electro-mechanical device of claim 1 , wherein:

the electro-mechanical device comprises an electro-mechanical shutter device.

7. The electro-mechanical device of claim 1 , further comprising:

a mounting foot to mount the electro-mechanical device to an object, wherein the mounting foot further comprises a coil form to which the coil assembly is affixed.

8. A method for blocking an optical pulse comprising:

(a) applying a voltage to a coil assembly, wherein:

(i) the coil assembly comprises a body upon which electrically conducting wires are wound and a payload aperture through which a payload travels; and

(ii) the payload comprises a magnet that is affixed to a mirror;

(b) the application of the voltage causing a current through the coil assembly generating a magnetic field resulting in a net upward force on the magnet;

(c) the net upward force on the magnet accelerating the payload to travel upward through the payload aperture for the mirror to block an optical pulse; and

(d) a magnetization direction of the magnet and a magnetic field in an upper portion of the coil assembly generating a net deceleration force onto the magnet resulting in an arrest of the payload as the magnet travels through the payload aperture.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the net deceleration force is experienced as the magnet travels axially beyond a center point of the coil assembly.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

ensuring an arrest of the payload at a stopping position using a copper damping assembly that is coupled to the coil assembly, wherein:

(i) the copper damping assembly comprises an extension of the payload aperture through which the payload travels; and

(ii) the copper damping assembly comprises a copper damping element that imposes eddy current damping to ensure the arrest of the payload at a stopping position.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the copper damping assembly reduces oscillations of the payload that could result in an unblocking of the optical pulse.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein:

the body comprises a polyether ether ketone (PEEK) body;

the electrically conducting wires comprise 32 AWG (American Wire Gauge) polyimide-insulated copper wire; and

the magnet comprises a rectangular NdFeB (Neodymium iron boron or “neo”) grade-52 magnet.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the method serves as a electro-mechanical shutter.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

affixing the coil assembly to a coil form of a mounting foot;

mounting the mounting foot to an object.