Adjustable Magnification Optical Relay via Element Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional relay imagers and spectrometers have fixed spatial and spectral magnification, limiting their adaptability and efficiency in various optical applications.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates adjustable spatial and spectral magnification capabilities, achieved through the translation of refractive or reflective elements within the optical system, allowing for customizable magnification and spectral resolution while maintaining a compact size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional relay imagers use fixed optical elements, then the system structure is simple, but the spatial and spectral magnification cannot be adjusted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements adjustable spatial and spectral magnification by making the optical elements (lenses or mirrors) translatable along the optical axis. This dynamic adjustment allows the magnification to be changed without replacing entire optical components, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the position parameter of optical elements to achieve different magnification levels. By translating elements to specific positions along the optical axis, the system achieves variable spatial and spectral magnification while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Measurement precision
If the relay imager is made compact, then the device size is reduced, but achieving high spectral resolution becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses translatable optical elements that can be positioned dynamically to achieve high spectral resolution in a compact configuration. The ability to adjust element positions allows the system to optimize the balance between device size and spectral resolution capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent resolves the size-resolution contradiction by utilizing the optical axis dimension for element translation. This allows the system to achieve high spectral resolution through positional adjustment rather than increasing the overall device volume.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the optical elements are translated to adjust magnification, then the magnification becomes variable, but the alignment precision requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs optical elements that are self-aligning through their translational movement along the optical axis. The elements are designed to maintain proper alignment automatically during translation, reducing the need for high-precision manual alignment procedures while achieving variable magnification.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables flexible operation with improved trade-offs in magnification and spectral resolution, enhancing the performance and adaptability of relay imagers and spectrometers in optical applications.
Implementation Method 1
an optical relay imager 440, which comprises refractive elements 452, 453, 454, 455, 456, 462, 463, 464, 465, and 466
Implementation Method 2
The design incorporates adjustable spatial and spectral magnification capabilities, achieved through the translation of refractive or reflective elements within the optical system
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides an optical imaging system with adjustable magnification. In one aspect, the optical imager, which defines an optical axis, includes an object plane and an image plane, an optical sub-system located along the optical axis and optically disposed between the object plane and the image plane, the optical sub-system being configured to substantially image electromagnetic radiation emanating from the object plane onto the image plane, and at least one detecting element located substantially at the image plane. In one example, the object plane and the image plane are separated by a fixed distance. In one example, the optical sub-system is configured to mechanically translate along the optical axis.