Optical system mounts

1. An optical system mount arrangement, comprising:

a stop;

a mount for an optical element having a first position and a second position, the mount abutting the stop in the first position, the mount spaced apart from the stop in the second position;

an electromagnet fixed relative to the stop configured and adapted to exert a holding force when the mount is in the first position;

a drive motor operatively connected to the mount for movement between the first and second positions; and

a controller operatively connected to the drive motor and the electromagnet, wherein the controller includes machine readable instructions configured to:

move the mount to the first position;

exert a holding force on the mount with the electromagnet in the first position;

de-energize the electromagnet; and

move the mount from the first position to the second position,

wherein the electromagnet is de-energized prior to moving the mount from the first position to the second position.

2. The optical system mount arrangement as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a voltage source disposed in electrical communication with the electromagnet.

3. The optical system mount arrangement as recited in claim 2 , where the voltage source is a variable voltage source for tuning holding force generated by the electromagnet.

4. The optical system mount arrangement as recited in claim 2 , further comprising a controller operatively connected to the electromagnet to engage and disengage a holding force.

5. The optical system mount arrangement as recited in claim 1 , wherein the mount is constructed from a ferromagnetic material.

6. The optical system mount arrangement as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a ferromagnetic insert fixed within the mount.

7. The optical system mount arrangement as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first position is an upright alignment position.

8. The optical system mount arrangement as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a post constructed from a non-magnetic material.

9. The optical system mount arrangement as recited in claim 8 , wherein the electromagnet is disposed within a pocket defined in the post.

10. A vehicle carrying an optical system mount arrangement as recited in claim 1 , wherein the stop is fixed relative to the vehicle, wherein the first position is an upright alignment position, and, and wherein the optical element is a mirror.

11. An optical system, comprising:

an optical system mount arrangement as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first position is an upright alignment position, and further comprising a mirror fixed to the mount;

a voltage source disposed in electrical communication with the electromagnet, wherein the voltage source is a variable voltage source for tuning holding force generated by the electromagnet;

a drive motor operably connected to the mount for movement between the first and second positions; and

a controller operatively connected to the electromagnet to engage and disengage a holding force, the controller operatively connected to the drive motor to move the mount between the first position and the second position.

12. A method a preventing movement of an optical element in an optical system, comprising magnetically attracting a movable mount on which the optical element is fixed toward a stop with magnetic force using a controller, wherein the controller is operatively connected to a drive motor and an electromagnet, wherein the controller includes machine readable instructions configured to:

move the mount to the first position and exert a holding force on the mount with the electromagnet in the first position.

13. A method of moving an optical element in an optical system, comprising:

at an optical system mount arrangement including a post with a stop, a mount for an optical element having a first position and a second position, the mount abutting the stop in the first position, the mount spaced apart from the post in the second position, an electromagnet fixed to the post, a drive motor operatively connected to the mount for movement between the first and second positions, and a controller operatively connected to the drive motor and the electromagnet, via the controller;

moving the mount to the first position;

exerting a holding force on the mount with the electromagnet;

de-energizing the electromagnet; and

moving the mount from the first position to the second position, wherein the electromagnet is de-energized prior to moving the mount from the first position to the second position.

14. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the holding force is exerted by the electromagnet after moving the mount to the first position.

15. The method as recited in claim 13 , wherein the holding force is generated by energizing the electromagnet.

16. The method as recited in claim 15 , wherein the electromagnet is energized after moving the mount to the first position.