An adjustable support assembly for an object to be accurately positioned relative to a base, in particular for a secondary mirror of an optical mirror telescope, has at least one support structure connected to the base and to the object. The support structure has at least two struts extending in a non-parallel manner relative to each other, where each strut has associated therewith a drivable actuator element in such a way that the actuator element applies a force onto the strut that deflects the strut transversely to the longitudinal extension thereof. The support structure may be supported in an articulated manner relative to the base.

An ultra lightweight mirror blank having a ribbed back side and a smooth front side. The mirror blank is comprised of a core made of fiber insulation strips, arranged to create a strong ribbed surface on the back of the blank. The core is sandwiched in between two or more plates of fused glass.

An ultra lightweight mirror blank having a ribbed back side and a smooth front side. The mirror blank is comprised of a core made of fiber insulation strips, arranged to create a strong ribbed surface on the back of the blank. The core is sandwiched in between two or more plates of fused glass.

A manufacturing method creates a type of telescope which is athermal, lightweight, optical quality for visible and IR applications. The method includes: a) optical mirrors being made by immersing a master, that is an optical component with a curvature opposite to the mirror required into an electrolytic bath where the applied current transfers metal ions and deposit them on the master, the cathode, as a layer, b) the layer being bonded by an adhesive, solder or any other attachment process to a mechanical reinforcing structure, c) after the hardening of the bond or glue, the thin layer being finally released from the master and having maintained the optical quality of the master.

The master or mandrel can be cleaned and reused for repeating this method and manufacturing large series of telescopes.

A process for manufacturing an optical element comprising a first step of spinning a circular sheet of a first metallic material for it to adhere to a rotating matrix and form a shell; a second step of assembling the shell on a temporary support; and at least a third step of diamond turning the shell by means of a diamond tool to obtain an optical surface.

An aerospace mirror having a reaction bonded (RB) silicon carbide (SiC) mirror substrate, and a SiC cladding on the RB SiC mirror substrate forming an optical surface on a front side of the aerospace mirror. A method for manufacturing an aerospace mirror comprising obtaining a green mirror preform comprising porous carbon, silicon carbide (SiC), or both, the green mirror preform defining a front side of the aerospace mirror and a back side of the aerospace mirror opposite the front side; removing material from the green mirror preform to form support ribs on the back side; infiltrating the green mirror preform with silicon to create a reaction bonded (RB) SiC mirror substrate from the green mirror preform; forming a mounting interface surface on the back side of the aerospace mirror from the RB SiC mirror substrate, and forming a reflector surface of the RB SiC mirror substrate on the front side of the aerospace mirror. Additionally, the method can comprise cladding the reflector surface of the RB SiC mirror substrate with SiC to form an optical surface of the aerospace mirror.

A mirror system including a primary mirror, and a secondary mirror with different coefficients of thermal expansion. A negative CTE strut can include a main body portion, a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion disposed opposite one another about the main body portion and defining a strut length. The first and second coupling portions can each interface with an external structure. The negative CTE strut can include an offsetting extension member having a first end coupled to the main body portion and a second end coupled to the first coupling portion by an intermediate extension member. The first and second ends can define an offset length parallel to the strut length. When the negative CTE strut increases in temperature, the offset length can be configured to increase due to thermal expansion of the offsetting extension member sufficient to cause the strut length to decrease.

A mirror system including a primary mirror, and a secondary mirror with different coefficients of thermal expansion. A negative CTE strut can include a main body portion, a first coupling portion and a second coupling portion disposed opposite one another about the main body portion and defining a strut length. The first and second coupling portions can each interface with an external structure. The negative CTE strut can include an offsetting extension member having a first end coupled to the main body portion and a second end coupled to the first coupling portion by an intermediate extension member. The first and second ends can define an offset length parallel to the strut length. When the negative CTE strut increases in temperature, the offset length can be configured to increase due to thermal expansion of the offsetting extension member sufficient to cause the strut length to decrease.

The present invention is directed to an adjustable optical element supporting structure comprising a first structure group, a second structure group, a third structure group and a fourth structure group. The second structure group is disposed on the first structure group, the third structure group is disposed on the second structure group, and the fourth structure group is disposed on the third structure group. Each of the first structure group, the second structure group and the third structure group includes a supporting beam and a node assemble, and the position of the node assemble can be adjusted along a radial or a tangential direction. The fourth structure group is a supporting member having three branches, and a supporting pad made by an elastic material is disposed on the supporting member for supporting an optical element. Accordingly, the present invention can evenly support the optical element having different sizes and structures.

The present invention is directed to an adjustable optical element supporting structure comprising a first structure group, a second structure group, a third structure group and a fourth structure group. The second structure group is disposed on the first structure group, the third structure group is disposed on the second structure group, and the fourth structure group is disposed on the third structure group. Each of the first structure group, the second structure group and the third structure group includes a supporting beam and a node assemble, and the position of the node assemble can be adjusted along a radial or a tangential direction. The fourth structure group is a supporting member having three branches, and a supporting pad made by an elastic material is disposed on the supporting member for supporting an optical element. Accordingly, the present invention can evenly support the optical element having different sizes and structures.