An optical module includes a mirror unit, a magnet unit, and a package including a recess accommodating the magnet unit. The magnet unit includes a plurality of magnets arranged along a first direction. The recess includes a base wall portion which extends along the first direction and to which an upper surface of the magnet unit is fixed, and a side wall portion extending along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and facing a side surface of the magnet unit. The recess includes an opening portion that is delimited by the side wall portion and open to a lower side. The mirror unit is disposed on a second surface on an opposite side of the base wall portion from a first surface to which the magnet unit is fixed. The side wall portion protrudes to the lower side with respect to a bottom surface of the magnet unit.

An optical module includes a mirror unit, a magnet unit, and a package including a recess accommodating the magnet unit. The magnet unit includes a plurality of magnets arranged along a first direction. The recess includes a base wall portion which extends along the first direction and to which an upper surface of the magnet unit is fixed, and a side wall portion extending along a second direction intersecting the first direction, and facing a side surface of the magnet unit. The recess includes an opening portion that is delimited by the side wall portion and open to a lower side. The mirror unit is disposed on a second surface on an opposite side of the base wall portion from a first surface to which the magnet unit is fixed. The side wall portion protrudes to the lower side with respect to a bottom surface of the magnet unit.

A method includes rotating a mirror assembly in a first direction using an actuator. The mirror assembly is rotationally coupled to a base and includes a mirror. A first end of the mirror is rotationally coupled to the base, and a second end of the mirror is not supported by or attached to another structure. The method also includes rotating a reaction inertia assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction using the actuator. The reaction inertia assembly is rotationally coupled to the base. The method further include restricting movement of the mirror assembly and the reaction inertia assembly in multiple degrees of freedom using multiple flexures.

A method includes rotating a mirror assembly in a first direction using an actuator. The mirror assembly is rotationally coupled to a base and includes a mirror. A first end of the mirror is rotationally coupled to the base, and a second end of the mirror is not supported by or attached to another structure. The method also includes rotating a reaction inertia assembly in a second direction opposite the first direction using the actuator. The reaction inertia assembly is rotationally coupled to the base. The method further include restricting movement of the mirror assembly and the reaction inertia assembly in multiple degrees of freedom using multiple flexures.

The subject of this invention is a laterally unconstrained magnetic joint and application of said joint in tip-tilt and piston-tip-tilt optical mounts. The laterally unconstrained magnetic joint in its basic embodiment comprises two interfacing parts: one having a flat surface interfacing a convex surface of the other, wherein one or both parts are made from permanent magnets that are magnetized along the axis of the joint, and the other of the said parts is made from a ferromagnetic material thus creating magnetic force attraction between the two parts. The resulting lack of lateral mechanical constraint between the two parts of the joint is utilized in tip-tilt mounts by decoupling an adjustor and/or actuator from the payload resulting in a simple, uniform design, while magnetic force provides retention sufficient for a wide variety of applications.

The subject of this invention is a laterally unconstrained magnetic joint and application of said joint in tip-tilt and piston-tip-tilt optical mounts. The laterally unconstrained magnetic joint in its basic embodiment comprises two interfacing parts: one having a flat surface interfacing a convex surface of the other, wherein one or both parts are made from permanent magnets that are magnetized along the axis of the joint, and the other of the said parts is made from a ferromagnetic material thus creating magnetic force attraction between the two parts. The resulting lack of lateral mechanical constraint between the two parts of the joint is utilized in tip-tilt mounts by decoupling an adjustor and/or actuator from the payload resulting in a simple, uniform design, while magnetic force provides retention sufficient for a wide variety of applications.

A mirror replacement device includes a gripping mechanism to grip a segment mirror, a fine drive mechanism to change a position and a posture of the gripping mechanism, a lift mechanism for the segment mirror, a first detector to detect a relative position and a relative posture between a comparison object and a target object, a second detector to detect a bend of the fine drive mechanism, and a mirror replacement controller to replace the segment mirror based on detection signals output from the above-mentioned detectors. The controller determines whether the first detector can successfully perform a measurement. When it is determined that the measurement can be successfully performed, the control is performed based on the detection signal output from the first detector. When it is determined that the measurement cannot be successfully performed, the control is performed based on the detection signal output from the second detector.

A mirror replacement device includes a gripping mechanism to grip a segment mirror, a fine drive mechanism to change a position and a posture of the gripping mechanism, a lift mechanism for the segment mirror, a first detector to detect a relative position and a relative posture between a comparison object and a target object, a second detector to detect a bend of the fine drive mechanism, and a mirror replacement controller to replace the segment mirror based on detection signals output from the above-mentioned detectors. The controller determines whether the first detector can successfully perform a measurement. When it is determined that the measurement can be successfully performed, the control is performed based on the detection signal output from the first detector. When it is determined that the measurement cannot be successfully performed, the control is performed based on the detection signal output from the second detector.

A mirror support includes a first rod in which one end is connected to an arm at a position closer to a side of a first pad fixed to the mirror with respect to a second pad fixed to the mirror while the other end stretched and inclined onto the side of first pad from the position connected is connected to a support structure; a first-rod elastic body that is an elastic body constituting the first rod; a second rod in which one end is connected to arm at a position closer to a side of second pad with respect to first pad while the other end stretched and inclined onto the side of second pad from the position connected is connected to the support structure; and a second-rod elastic body that is an elastic body constituting the second rod.

A mirror support includes a first rod in which one end is connected to an arm at a position closer to a side of a first pad fixed to the mirror with respect to a second pad fixed to the mirror while the other end stretched and inclined onto the side of first pad from the position connected is connected to a support structure; a first-rod elastic body that is an elastic body constituting the first rod; a second rod in which one end is connected to arm at a position closer to a side of second pad with respect to first pad while the other end stretched and inclined onto the side of second pad from the position connected is connected to the support structure; and a second-rod elastic body that is an elastic body constituting the second rod.