Automated Evolute Tester for Non-Conic Optical Surfaces
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for testing and characterizing optical surfaces, such as concave, flat, and non-conic surfaces, require the production of a master surface, which is economically infeasible for single surfaces and limits the accuracy and applicability to only concave surfaces.
Innovation Solution
An automated method using a Laser Head assembly with a narrow beam laser, beam splitter, detector, and computer-controlled X-Unit and Slope Unit to determine the evolute of the surface's figure along multiple diameters, allowing for precise characterization of convex, flat, and non-conic surfaces without a master surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a master surface is produced for interferometric testing, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential measurement function from the master surface comparison approach. Instead of requiring a master surface to be produced and stored, the system directly measures the evolute of the test surface using automated optical methods, eliminating the complex master surface production and storage requirements while maintaining measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a computational representation (digital copy) of the surface evolute through automated measurement rather than requiring a physical master surface. The system measures the evolute of the test surface and compares it against the theoretical evolute of the desired surface figure, eliminating the need for physical master surface production.
2Ease of operation
If traditional Foucault or Ronchi tests are used, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability is limited to only concave surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a universal testing method that can characterize multiple surface types (concave, convex, flat, and non-conic) by measuring their evolutes. The same automated optical system and computational algorithm work for all surface types, eliminating the need for different test methods for different surface geometries while maintaining ease of operation.
3Productivity
If automated measurement method is implemented, then productivity is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement methods with an automated optical measurement system. Instead of manual inspection and judgment, the system uses automated optical components (laser, detectors, positioning mechanisms) coupled with computational algorithms to measure and characterize surface evolutes, improving productivity while managing complexity through digitalization.
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 method provides high accuracy and repeatability, eliminating the need for human judgment and enabling the characterization of a wide range of optical surfaces with minimal intervention, achieving a tolerance of error within a minuscule range.
Implementation Method 1
The imaging properties of an optical device are primarily dependent on the character and characterization of its surfaces... by ascertaining the evolute of the surface's figure along multiple diameters of the surface
Implementation Method 2
An assembly, hereafter called the Laser Head, comprising: A laser whose most salient property is a narrow beam width
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for testing and characterization of optical surfaces which works equally well on concave, flat, convex, and non-conic optical surfaces, and which does not require that a master surface be first produced. The method is automatic and requires little human intervention. It provides an extremely high degree of accuracy, and provides repeatability of measurements within a minuscule tolerance of error. The method determines the evolute of the surface automatically, deterministically, and repeatably via orthogonal reflection by ascertaining the evolute of the surface's figure along multiple diameters of the surface.