Eyepiece Image Mask Alignment via Field Diaphragm Light Spot
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Solution Overview
Problem
Optical viewing systems, such as microscopes and telescopes, face challenges in aligning the visual eyepiece image and camera image due to mechanical tolerances and unknown field of view sizes, making precise adjustments complex and requiring experience.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a beam splitter with semi-reflective surfaces and an image processing device to align the eyepiece and camera images by illuminating the eyepiece and capturing its field diaphragm as a light spot, determining its center point, and electronically adjusting the image mask for accurate alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual adjustment methods are used to align eyepiece and camera images, then alignment accuracy can be achieved, but the adjustment process becomes complex and requires experienced personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-alignment by automatically capturing the field diaphragm image through the beam splitter, determining its center position, and adjusting the image mask without requiring manual intervention or experienced personnel. The camera system itself carries out the alignment task that previously required skilled operators.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical adjustment process is replaced by an automated optical-electronic system. Instead of physically adjusting components based on operator skill, the system uses automated image capture, center position calculation, and electronic image mask adjustment to achieve alignment.
2Ease of operation
If automated alignment methods are implemented, then adjustment time is reduced and operation becomes simpler, but measurement precision may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system captures an image of the field diaphragm through the beam splitter, determines the center position of the light spot, and uses this feedback information to automatically adjust the image mask. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that automated operation achieves precise alignment by continuously monitoring and adjusting based on actual measurements.
3Ease of manufacture
If the field of view size of the eyepiece is not precisely known, then system setup becomes simpler, but alignment accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary measurement by capturing the field diaphragm image and calculating its center position before final alignment is completed. This preliminary action of measuring the actual field of view geometry enables subsequent precise adjustment of the image mask without requiring pre-knowledge of the exact field of view dimensions.
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 allows for fast, accurate, and automatic alignment of eyepiece and camera images without specialized training, ensuring compatibility and improving image quality in optical viewing systems.
Implementation Method 1
the beam splitter features two semi-reflective surfaces; the first semi-reflective surface extends along a plane whose surface normal runs at a 45° angle to a main axis of the camera, and the second semi-reflective surface extends along a plane whose surface normal runs at a 90° angle to the main axis of the camera
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical viewing system and a method of aligning an eyepiece image and an image of a camera that is part of an optical viewing system, which enables both the observation of an optical image with one eye and the capturing of the optical image with the camera. The optical viewing system comprises an optical device, an eyepiece with field diaphragm, a beam splitter, and a camera with image capturing level.According to the method, an image mask is adjusted to the eyepiece image for the camera image of the camera as follows:The eyepiece is illuminated from its side facing away from the optical device, and light passes through the eyepiece to the beam splitter so that the light is partially reflected from the first semi-reflective surface to the second semi-reflective surface and from the second semi-reflective surface to the camera, resulting in the camera capturing an image of the field diaphragm of the eyepiece as a light spot on the image capturing level.The position of the center point of the light spot on the image capturing level is determined.The image mask is aligned based on the position of the center point of the light spot on the image capturing level.