Conical Volume Packaging for Centrally Obscured Optical Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrally obscured optical systems face challenges in size, weight, and power constraints, requiring innovative packaging solutions to accommodate essential components without obstructing the optical path.
Innovation Solution
A seeker head design featuring a conical volume within the optical path that houses components like printed circuit boards and a coolant vessel, allowing for unobstructed optical paths and efficient packaging, with a convex catching mirror and concave primary mirror forming the optical path and a detector providing navigation signals to a control system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If components are packaged in traditional locations, then optical path is unobstructed, but size and volume constraints are violated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements nesting by placing the coolant vessel and printed circuit boards inside the conical volume formed by the optical mirrors. The coolant vessel is positioned within the conical space, and multiple circular printed circuit boards are arranged to fit within the same conical volume, creating a nested packaging configuration that reduces overall system volume without obstructing the optical path.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the conical volume created by the arrangement of mirrors in three-dimensional space to package components. By defining a conical region bounded by the optical path geometry, the system exploits the vertical and radial dimensions within this cone to accommodate the coolant vessel and electronics, transforming the packaging problem into a three-dimensional spatial optimization.
2Volume of moving object
If components are packaged within conical volume, then volume is reduced, but optical path may be obstructed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating a conical volume with specific geometric properties that are optimized for both packaging and optical performance. The conical shape is specifically designed to accommodate components while maintaining an unobstructed optical path through its carefully defined boundaries, allowing different regions of the conical volume to serve different functions (component housing vs. optical transmission).
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the packaging space into distinct functional zones within the conical volume. The coolant vessel occupies a portion of the conical space, while the printed circuit boards are arranged in specific locations within the same cone. This segmentation allows multiple components to coexist in the reduced volume without interfering with each other or the optical path.
3Volume of moving object
If multi-bounce optical system is used, then size constraints are satisfied, but packaging complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conical volume serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the structural framework for the multi-bounce optical system, provides packaging space for the coolant vessel, and accommodates the printed circuit boards. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate packaging structures and simplifies the overall system architecture while maintaining compact size.
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
This design enables compact packaging of components, freeing up volume for additional electronics or longer rocket motors, while maintaining unobstructed optical paths and effective navigation capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
a convex catching mirror located within respect to a concave primary mirror to form an optical path for a field of view
Implementation Method 2
a coolant enclosure around the detector, the coolant enclosure operable to receive a cryogenic coolant to cool the detector
Data Source
AI summary
An optics system includes a convex catching mirror located within respect to the concave primary mirror to form an optical path for a field of view. A conical volume is formed with respect to the concave primary mirror and the convex catching mirror, the optical path not obstructed by the conical volume. A component within the conical volume.