Flag shutters are usually defined as a blade or some type of "flag" that
is mounted directly onto a rotary actuator, which is a small motor or
rotary solenoid. These devices are mainly open frame with the rotary
actuator being the thickest part of the design. These devices require a
large amount of space where they are attached. Because of this
additional space requirement, the user needs to determine if the
movement of the blade will strike a portion of the bulkhead where the
device is mounted.
Vincent Associates'(r) UNIBLITZ(r) flag shutter alternative technology
does away with that additional space requirement and positions the flag
internal to the devices. In this way, the user only needs to provide an
envelope to install the device. Some of the devices available are small
enough to allow the aperture to be positioned on center (the TS2S and
the TS6B). Alternate custom devices can be equipped with rectangular
apertures for direct interface to an imager and contain a uniform
low-profile overall thickness, which is usually less than 6mm in
thickness. Blade materials and/or blade coatings can be customized for
x-rays, IR applications (high emissivity) and other specialty coatings
used for laser and non-coherent light sources.