Contact Displacement Meter Using Non-Parallel Light
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contact displacement meters face challenges in reducing size in directions orthogonal to the moving direction due to the need for optical elements like collimator lenses, which complicates miniaturization and increases costs.
Innovation Solution
A contact displacement meter design that uses non-parallel light and a scale with identifiably arrayed slits, eliminating the need for collimating optics by calculating slit positions based on peak positions and correction information, allowing for reduced size and improved assembly accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a collimator lens is provided between the light-emitting element and the moving scale, then light can be collimated for accurate measurement, but the size of the contact displacement meter increases in the direction orthogonal to the moving direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the collimator lens from the optical path, extracting the problematic optical element that caused size increase. By using a light-emitting element that inherently emits non-parallel light and a light-receiving element that can detect this non-parallel light, the system achieves measurement functionality without requiring the collimator lens, thus reducing device size while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the light emission parameter from parallel light to non-parallel light. By using a light-emitting element that emits non-parallel light and adjusting the light-receiving element to detect this non-parallel light, the system maintains measurement accuracy without requiring collimating optics, thereby resolving the size contradiction.
2Measurement precision
If optical elements like collimator lenses are included, then measurement accuracy is maintained, but manufacturing costs and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the collimator lens and other complex optical elements from the system. By using simple light-emitting and light-receiving elements that can handle non-parallel light, the device complexity is reduced while maintaining measurement functionality and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/optical collimation system with a direct non-parallel light emission and detection system. Instead of using optical elements to collimate light, the system uses light-emitting and light-receiving elements that naturally handle non-parallel light, substituting complex optical mechanics with simpler electronic detection.
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 the miniaturization of contact displacement meters in orthogonal directions without collimator lenses, reducing costs and improving accuracy while maintaining precise displacement measurements.
Implementation Method 1
a light-projecting unit which irradiates the scale with non-parallel light; a light-receiving unit which receives the non-parallel light having passed through the plurality of light transmitting slits on the scale
Data Source
AI summary
A light-projecting unit irradiates a scale with non-parallel light. The non-parallel light having passed through a plurality of slits on the scale is received by a light-receiving unit, and a light reception signal indicating a light-receiving amount distribution is outputted. Based on the light reception signal, a plurality of positions where a light-receiving amount is at maximum or minimum in the light-receiving amount distribution on the light-receiving unit are detected as a plurality of peak positions. Based on correction information and the detected plurality of peak positions, a distance between a reference position and a position of at least one slit corresponding to at least one detected peak position is calculated. The correction information shows a relation of a distance between a plurality of peak positions and a distance between a plurality of slits on the scale which respectively correspond to the plurality of peak positions.