One-Piece Athermal Optical Head for LIDAR Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LIDAR technologies face challenges in achieving precise angular positioning of measurement directions and maintaining mechanical stability, especially in harsh environments, leading to errors in wind speed reconstruction and increased costs due to the use of motors and complex sealing systems.
Innovation Solution
A one-piece optical head with a rigid and athermal composite structure, featuring adjustable metal inserts for precise alignment of refractive optical systems and optical fibers, which allows for precise positioning and direction control without the need for motors, reducing costs and improving reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If motors are used for scanning means to achieve measurement in multiple directions, then the LIDAR can measure wind speed characteristics, but the angular positioning precision deteriorates due to motor limitations and drift over time
Solution Approach 1:
The LIDAR system is divided into multiple independent optical heads, each with its own fixed measurement direction. Each optical head contains a laser source, telescope, and receiver assembly that is rigidly mounted to point in a specific predetermined direction. This segmentation eliminates the need for motors while maintaining multi-directional measurement capability through spatial distribution of fixed sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using a single movable optical head that scans through different directions (dynamic approach), the invention uses multiple fixed optical heads simultaneously pointing in different directions (static approach). This inverts the problem-solving strategy from achieving directional diversity through motion to achieving it through spatial distribution of fixed elements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If motors are used for scanning means, then the LIDAR can perform atmospheric measurements, but the device complexity increases due to control systems and sealing requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and removes the motorized scanning subsystem from the LIDAR system. By eliminating the need for movable parts and scanning mechanisms, the complex control systems, sealing requirements, and maintenance infrastructure associated with motors are completely removed from the design.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixed optical heads are designed to be inherently stable and maintenance-free, requiring no active control or adjustment mechanisms. The rigid mounting structures provide automatic alignment stability without needing external control systems, and the sealed housings protect internal components from environmental factors without requiring complex active sealing mechanisms.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple housings are used for different measurement directions, then the LIDAR can measure wind profile, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase for positioning telescopes and laser sources
Solution Approach 1:
The laser source, telescope, and receiver are merged into a single integrated optical head assembly where all components are rigidly mounted together. This merging ensures that the relative positions and alignments of critical optical components are maintained by the structural integrity of the housing itself, rather than requiring separate precision adjustments for each component.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the design parameter from adjustable/movable optical components to fixed/rigidly mounted components. By making the spatial parameters fixed during manufacturing and relying on precise housing geometry rather than adjustable mechanisms, the system trades manufacturing complexity for long-term stability and reduced maintenance.
4Ease of repair
If motors are used for scanning, then the LIDAR can be serviced and adjusted, but the reliability deteriorates due to wear parts and drift over time
Solution Approach 1:
The optical heads are designed as simple, modular units with no moving parts that can be easily replaced as a complete assembly. Rather than attempting to service and maintain complex motorized scanning systems with wear-prone components, the invention uses simple fixed assemblies that can be swapped out if needed, eliminating reliability issues associated with motor wear and drift.
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
The solution enables precise and reliable atmospheric measurements with improved mechanical stability and reduced costs, minimizing errors in wind speed reconstruction and maintaining performance across varying temperatures and mechanical vibrations.
Implementation Method 1
The optical head 1 comprises, for each line of sight, a refractive optical system 23, a transmitting and receiving optical fiber 69
Implementation Method 2
LIDARs, which are used to measure wind speed characteristics by exploiting the movement of particles in the atmosphere
Implementation Method 3
The movement of airborne particles, carried by the wind, induces a Doppler shift in the frequency of a measuring laser beam, proportional to the wind speed
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2~12c
Figure 7~10
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical head (1) for performing an atmospheric measurement, which is capable of receiving at least one pair consisting of a refractive optical system (23) and an optical fibre for transmission and reception. The optical head is made in a single piece and so as to be rigid, and includes at least one recess (2") for receiving at least one element from among a refractive optical system (23) and an optical fibre for transmission and reception, said recess (2") being formed by an outer shell (3) that comprises a first composition consisting of a rigid, athermal composite material, and inside which is attached at least one metal adjustment insert (4) that forms a support for one element from among the refractive optical system (23) and the optical fibre for transmission and reception, and comprises a second composition that can be more easily machined than the first composition and is machined so as to ensure that the optical axis (50) of the refractive optical system (23) and the axis of the output beam of the optical fibre for transmission and reception coincide along a single axis, and so as to ensure the positioning of said single axis relative to a reference axis. The invention also relates to a related system and manufacturing method.