Exchangeable Optical Probes for Small-Bore Geometry Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing non-contact optical measurement devices struggle to effectively inspect and measure small-diameter bores and internal features, such as those found in aerospace engine blades and medical nail plates, due to limitations in miniaturization and adaptability of optical probes.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact optical measurement device with exchangeable optical probes that utilize configurable light-propagation paths, rotational motion stages, and spectral sensors to capture detailed geometric features, including small-diameter bores, by employing collimated light and rotational motion to direct light along various paths for precise measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If optical probes are miniaturized to inspect small-diameter bores, then the ability to measure internal features improves, but the complexity of the optical system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical probe is divided into separate functional modules: a light source module, a spectral sensor module, and an optical path module with exchangeable probe optics. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently for small-diameter bore inspection while maintaining overall system manageability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a universal platform with exchangeable probe optics that can be configured for different measurement tasks. The same basic platform can accommodate various probe optic configurations to handle different bore sizes and inspection requirements, reducing the need for multiple specialized devices.
2Adaptability or versatility
If exchangeable optical probes with different probe optic configurations are used, then adaptability to diverse inspection tasks improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A universal mounting interface and control architecture is implemented that supports multiple probe optic configurations. The system can switch between different probe optics (e.g., different focal lengths, field of view angles) through a standardized interface, allowing one device to perform multiple inspection functions without requiring separate specialized equipment for each task.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic reconfiguration capability where probe optics can be exchanged or adjusted during operation. The control system dynamically adapts parameters such as integration time, scan speed, and optical path selection based on the currently mounted probe configuration, enabling flexible adaptation to different inspection requirements.
3Measurement precision
If collimated light and rotational motion are employed to direct light along various paths, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Rotational stages with precision encoders are implemented to dynamically adjust the orientation of optical components and the probe itself. This dynamic positioning capability enables precise control of light propagation paths and measurement angles, achieving high measurement precision for geometric features while the encoder feedback provides real-time positional data for accurate coordinate mapping.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces complex mechanical optical path routing with a combination of collimated light propagation and controlled rotational motion. Instead of using multiple fixed mirrors and complex mechanical linkages to direct light, the invention uses collimated beams that maintain their propagation characteristics over distance, combined with rotational stages to change measurement angles, simplifying the overall optical-mechanical system.
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 accurate measurement of small-diameter bores and internal features, providing high precision and adaptability for diverse inspection tasks, including cooling holes in aerospace engines and medical applications, with capabilities for holes smaller than six mm.
Implementation Method 1
a collimator configured to collimate the light emitted from the light source so as to establish collimated light directed along an optical axis
Implementation Method 2
reflected by a workpiece surface for incidence upon spectral sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a non-contact optical measurement device for detecting or measuring different geometric workpiece features based on configurable light-propagation paths of light emitted from a light source and reflected by a workpiece surface for incidence upon a spectral sensor. The light-propagation paths are configurable based on which optical probe is attached to a rotation stage that rotates the probe about an optical axis and in a collimated region.