Tunable Optical Device With Bridge-Meander Force Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing tunable optical devices face challenges in controlling the actuation force direction to avoid parasitic influences on optical properties, requiring precise control to maintain desired optical performance.
Innovation Solution
A tunable optical device with a transmission element having specific mechanical properties, including a bridge portion and meander portion with defined stiffness ratios, minimizes parasitic influences by controlling the movement of optical components along the axial direction while allowing flexible electrical and thermal insulation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a transmission element with high stiffness in axial direction is used to transmit actuation force, then the precision of optical property control is improved, but the complexity of the device structure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission element is segmented into a bridge portion and a meander portion, each with distinct stiffness characteristics. The bridge portion provides high axial stiffness for precise force transmission, while the meander portion provides lateral compliance to eliminate parasitic influences. This segmentation allows the system to achieve high precision control without requiring a completely rigid complex structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the transmission element have different local mechanical properties. The bridge portion is designed with high stiffness in the axial direction for precise force transmission, while the meander portion is designed with high stiffness in lateral directions for compliance. This local differentiation of mechanical properties enables the system to achieve high precision control while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If the ring member is displaced along the axial direction to adjust optical properties, then the optical property adjustment precision is improved, but parasitic movements in oblique directions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission element acts as an intermediary between the actuator and the ring member. It transmits the actuation force along the axial direction while its meander portion absorbs or prevents parasitic movements in oblique directions. This intermediary structure allows precise axial displacement for optical property adjustment while filtering out harmful parasitic movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The stiffness parameters of the transmission element are specifically designed to change with direction. The bridge portion has high stiffness in the axial direction to enable precise force transmission, while the meander portion has high stiffness in lateral directions to prevent parasitic movements. This directional parameter differentiation resolves the contradiction between precision adjustment and parasitic movement elimination.
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 device achieves precise control of optical properties by reducing parasitic changes and thermal effects, ensuring high precision in optical adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
The actuator may be a voice coil actuator, a piezo-electric actuator, a shape-memory-alloy (SMA) actuator or a reluctance actuator
Implementation Method 2
The actuator may be a voice coil actuator, a piezo-electric actuator, a shape-memory-alloy (SMA) actuator or a reluctance actuator
Implementation Method 3
A stiffness of the meander portion in directions obliquely with respect to the axial direction is larger than the stiffness of the meander portion along the axial direction
Implementation Method 4
A stiffness of the bridge portion along the axial direction is larger than a stiffness of the meander portion along the axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
Tunable optical device comprising an actuator, a transmission element, a mount and an optical component, wherein the optical component comprises a window member and a ring member, wherein an optical property of the optical component is adjustable by altering the position of the ring member with respect to the window member. The actuator is arranged to generate an actuation force along an axial direction, the transmission element is arranged to transmit the actuation force from the actuator to the optical component, the transmitted actuation force alters the position of the ring member with respect to the window member. The transmission element comprises a bridge portion and a meander portion, wherein the bridge portion couples the ring member to the actuator and the window member is attached to the mount, or the bridge portion couples the window member to the actuator and the ring member is attached to the mount. The meander portion couples the bridge portion to the mount, and a stiffness of the bridge portion is larger than a stiffness of the meander portion along the axial direction, and a stiffness of the meander portion in directions obliquely with respect to the axial direction is larger than the stiffness of the meander portion along the axial direction.