Rotating Deflection Mirror Assembly for Compact Ranging Modules
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ranging apparatuses face challenges in easily assembling deflection mirrors and mirror support members, and there is a need to reduce the overall size of the mirror module.
Innovation Solution
A mirror module design featuring a pair of deflection mirrors with a narrow width portion, a disc-shaped mirror support member, and clips that grip the mirrors at the narrow width portion, along with guides to regulate movement, facilitating assembly and reducing the module's size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a conventional mirror module design is used, then the structure is simple, but the assembly of deflection mirrors and support members is difficult and the module size is large
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection mirror is segmented into a narrow width portion and a wide width portion, with the narrow width portion fitting into a groove on the support member. This segmentation enables easy assembly by allowing the mirror to be inserted into position, while the groove structure provides precise positioning and secure attachment without complex fastening mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The narrow width portion of the deflection mirror is nested within the groove structure of the support member. This nesting arrangement allows the mirror to be securely held in place while maintaining a compact overall structure, reducing the module size without compromising assembly ease.
2Volume of moving object
If the mirror module size is reduced, then the overall apparatus becomes more compact, but assembly precision and alignment become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The groove structure is pre-formed on the support member with precise dimensions and positioning. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the deflection mirror is assembled, the narrow width portion automatically aligns with the groove, achieving high assembly precision without requiring complex alignment procedures during assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The support member features a localized groove structure at the specific position where the narrow width portion of the mirror should be positioned. This local structural feature provides precise positioning and alignment only where needed, maintaining manufacturing precision while keeping the rest of the module compact.
3Ease of manufacture
If the deflection mirror has a narrow width portion, then assembly is facilitated and module size is reduced, but the reflection surface area is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The deflection mirror is divided into a narrow width portion for assembly purposes and a wide width portion for maintaining sufficient reflection surface area. The narrow portion fits into the groove for easy assembly, while the wide portion provides the necessary optical surface area for effective light reflection and ranging operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The narrow width portion is localized to the assembly interface area where it fits into the groove, while the majority of the mirror maintains a wider width to preserve adequate reflection surface area. This local differentiation allows the mirror to be easily assembled while still providing sufficient optical functionality.
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 design allows for easy assembly of deflection mirrors and support members, reduces the overall module size, and maintains ranging accuracy while minimizing ghost reflections and light detection issues.
Implementation Method 1
a rotatably driven deflection mirror is used for deflecting the transmission waves in the scanning, in which the outputted transmission waves are reflected at the deflection mirror
Data Source
AI summary
A ranging apparatus is provided with a mirror module that rotates when being driven by a motor. The mirror module includes a pair of deflection mirrors, a mirror support member and a clip. The deflection mirrors include a narrow width portion in which a width of a reflection surface along a direction orthogonal to a rotational axis is narrower than that of other portion on the reflection surface. The mirror support member is formed in a disc shape having a shape on both surfaces thereof corresponding to a shape of the reflection surface, the deflection mirrors being disposed on the both surfaces thereof. The clip grips the deflection mirrors and the mirror support member at at least one end portion with respect to a direction orthogonal to the rotational axis between both end portions of a portion in the mirror support portion corresponding to the narrow width portion.