Common Guide Path for Optical Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical assemblies with displaceable optical elements perpendicular to the optical axis face challenges in guidance accuracy, complexity, and cost due to the need for coupled adjustment points and high precision movement, making them unsuitable for series production.
Innovation Solution
An optical assembly with a common guide path for multiple optical elements, eliminating the need for relative adjustment of movement paths and reducing mechanical components, which simplifies adjustment and increases stability, using plain or roller bearings for precise and low-friction movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If individual guide paths are used for each optical element, then guidance accuracy can be maintained, but adjustment complexity and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the guide paths of multiple optical elements into a single common guide structure. Instead of providing separate guide paths for each optical element, a common guide path is implemented that accommodates multiple optical elements simultaneously, thereby reducing the number of adjustment points and simplifying the overall adjustment process while maintaining guidance accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The common guide structure serves multiple functions: it guides multiple optical elements along their respective movement paths, provides reference for positioning, and eliminates the need for multiple independent adjustment mechanisms. This multi-functional design reduces device complexity while preserving the required guidance precision
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple adjustment points are used for coupled adjustment, then guidance accuracy can be achieved, but the number of mechanical components and space requirement increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple adjustment points are merged into a single adjustment location on the common guide structure. By adjusting the common guide at one location, the guidance paths of multiple optical elements are simultaneously adjusted, eliminating the need for multiple separate adjustment screws and mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the adjustment function from multiple distributed adjustment points and consolidates it into a single adjustment mechanism on the common guide. This extraction reduces the number of mechanical components while maintaining the capability to achieve precise guidance for multiple optical elements
3Manufacturing precision
If precise individual guidance is implemented for each optical element, then movement accuracy is maintained, but adjustment time and production cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment process for multiple optical elements is merged into a single operation on the common guide structure. This eliminates the need for sequential adjustment of each optical element individually, significantly reducing adjustment time and making the system suitable for series production while maintaining movement accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The common guide structure is pre-adjusted to provide the correct guidance paths for multiple optical elements before they are installed. This preliminary adjustment eliminates the need for time-consuming post-installation adjustments of each optical element, thereby increasing productivity in series production while maintaining precision
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 common guide path reduces adjustment complexity and series production costs, enhances long-term stability, and allows for precise machining of the guide geometry, enabling precise and efficient movement of multiple optical elements along a shared path.
Implementation Method 1
using plain or roller bearings for precise and low-friction movement
Data Source
AI summary
An optical assembly having at least a first optical element and a second optical element, both of which are arranged to be movable in a guided manner, is provided. A guide common to both optical elements is present, which provides a guide path that is common to both optical elements during the guided movement of the first optical element and during the guided movement of the second optical element.