Eyepiece Reticle Mount Gravity Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing eyepiece devices require time-consuming manual adjustments to align reticles, leading to incorrect test results and mismatched reference lines, especially when adjusting to user head positions or eye-to-eye distances in optical systems like exoscopes and video microscopes.

Innovation Solution

An eyepiece device with a rotatable reticle mount having a common center of gravity outside the axis of rotation, allowing automatic alignment and secure material-locking connections, along with a self-lubricating slide ring to reduce friction and ensure precise alignment without user intervention.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the eyepiece is adjusted to the user's head position or eye-to-eye distance by pivoting movements, then the 3-D effect is maintained, but the reticle orientation changes and becomes misaligned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to user head positionVSAvoidreticle alignment precision

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The device separates the adjustment mechanism into two independent parts: the eyepiece mount that pivots for user adaptation, and the reticle mount that remains fixed in orientation. This segmentation allows the eyepiece to adapt to different user positions while the reticle maintains its precise alignment independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The reticle is extracted from the pivoting eyepiece structure and placed in a separate fixed mount. This extraction prevents the reticle from being affected by the pivoting movements, allowing the eyepiece to be adjusted without compromising reticle alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Manufacturing precision

If the reticle orientation is manually adjusted to match the eyepiece, then alignment precision is improved, but the testing procedure time increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereticle alignment precisionVSAvoidtesting procedure time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The reticle is pre-aligned in a fixed mount during manufacturing before the eyepiece assembly is completed. This preliminary alignment eliminates the need for time-consuming manual adjustments during testing, as the reticle is already precisely oriented relative to the optical axis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The fixed reticle mount is designed to maintain its alignment automatically through the pivoting mechanism, eliminating the need for user intervention or manual adjustment. The system serves itself by maintaining precise alignment without requiring user action.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If the reticle is fixed in the eyepiece, then alignment precision is maintained, but the device cannot be adjusted to different user positions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereticle alignment precisionVSAvoidadaptability to user head position

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The device is segmented into a fixed reticle mount and a pivoting eyepiece mount. The reticle remains fixed in its own mount to maintain alignment precision, while the eyepiece mount can pivot independently to adapt to different user head positions and eye-to-eye distances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution adds a rotational degree of freedom to the eyepiece mount, allowing it to pivot in another dimension while the reticle remains fixed in its original orientation. This dimensional change enables user adaptation without compromising reticle alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

Facilitates easy handling and simplified alignment of eyepiece devices, ensuring consistent reticle orientation and eliminating the need for manual adjustments, thereby improving the efficiency and accuracy of optical system testing.

Implementation Method 1

a common center of gravity of the reticle mount and the reticle is outside the axis of rotation

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

a self-lubricating slide ring to reduce friction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentUS20250013064A1Eyepiece device and testing device with an eyepiece device

Publication Date: 2025.01.09 KARL STORZ SE & CO KG

AI summary

An eyepiece device (10), in particular for a testing device (100), includes a mount (20), a reticle (30), and a reticle mount (40) in which the reticle (30) is enclosed. The reticle mount (40) is mounted in the mount (20) so as to be rotatable about an axis of rotation (50). A common center of gravity (55) of the reticle mount (40) and the reticle (30) is outside the axis of rotation (50).