Optical Fiber Scanner Vibration Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing optical fiber scanners face challenges in stabilizing vibrations and achieving efficient spiral scanning due to radial vibrations escaping towards the base end, leading to unstable vibration patterns and reduced scanning accuracy.

Innovation Solution

The optical fiber scanner incorporates piezoelectric elements secured on the side surface of the optical fiber with alternating polarizations, generating vibrations when an alternating voltage is applied, and a vibration suppressing part to prevent radial vibrations from reaching the base end, ensuring stable bending vibrations and efficient spiral scanning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If piezoelectric elements are secured on the side surface of the optical fiber to generate bending vibrations, then spiral scanning capability is achieved, but radial vibrations escape toward the base end causing vibration instability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespiral scanning capabilityVSAvoidvibration stability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful radial vibrations escaping toward the base end are extracted and isolated from the main vibration system by introducing a vibration suppressing part. This separates the useful bending vibrations at the distal end from the harmful radial vibrations propagating toward the base end, resolving the contradiction between achieving spiral scanning and maintaining vibration stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A vibration suppressing part is introduced as an intermediary element between the piezoelectric elements and the base end of the optical fiber. This intermediary component selectively suppresses radial vibrations while allowing the bending vibrations necessary for spiral scanning to continue, thus resolving the contradiction between scanning capability and vibration stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the optical fiber is scanned in one direction or two directions using PZT actuator, then basic scanning is achieved, but scanning accuracy is reduced due to radial vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescanning operationVSAvoidscanning accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful radial vibrations that reduce scanning accuracy are converted into a beneficial situation by introducing the vibration suppressing part. This component transforms the problematic radial vibration propagation into a controlled condition where only the useful bending vibrations remain, thereby improving scanning accuracy while maintaining ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Power

If alternating voltage is applied to piezoelectric elements with radial polarizations, then bending vibrations are generated, but radial vibrations are simultaneously generated and propagate toward base end

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration generationVSAvoidradial vibrations

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful radial vibrations generated by the piezoelectric elements are extracted and isolated from the main vibration system by introducing a vibration suppressing part. This separates the useful bending vibrations from the harmful radial vibrations, allowing the latter to be suppressed without affecting the power of the useful vibrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

A vibration suppressing part is introduced as an intermediary element that selectively filters out radial vibrations while allowing bending vibrations to pass through. This intermediary component resolves the contradiction between generating powerful vibrations and eliminating harmful radial vibrations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 configuration allows for stable generation of bending vibrations, enabling precise spiral scanning of illumination light onto an object, improving scanning accuracy and preventing vibration instability, thus facilitating the acquisition of clear image information.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of piezoelectric elements that are secured on a side surface of the optical fiber, that have polarizations in radial directions of the optical fiber, and that vibrate the optical fiber when an alternating voltage is applied in the polarization directions

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPiezoelectric effect: Piezoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentUS10036887B2Optical fiber scanner, illumination system, and observation apparatus

Publication Date: 2018.07.31 OLYMPUS CORPORATION(JP)

AI summary

An optical fiber scanner is provided with an illumination optical fiber that guides light and emits the light from a distal end thereof; a plurality of piezoelectric elements that are secured on a side surface of the illumination optical fiber, that have polarizations in radial directions of the illumination optical fiber, and that vibrate the illumination optical fiber when an alternating voltage is applied in the polarization directions; and a vibration suppressing part that suppresses vibrations in the radial directions generated at a position of the illumination optical fiber away from the piezoelectric elements toward a base end.