Folded Imaging Optics Using a Cylindrical Mirror for Lower-Cost Precision
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Solution Overview
Problem
The production of lenses with a toroidal and aspherical form for optical systems is technically complex and costly, leading to high production costs and complexity in achieving precise optical imaging.
Innovation Solution
An imaging optical system utilizing a planoconcave cylindrical mirror as a beam-forming optical element, which reflects light to form a folded beam path, allowing for precise optical imaging onto a light-sensitive sensor, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If lenses with toroidal and aspherical form are used, then image quality is improved, but production complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex toroidal and aspherical lenses with simpler, easier-to-manufacture optical components. The invention uses a combination of spherical lenses and reflectors that can be produced more economically while achieving comparable or sufficient image quality for the intended application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes refractive optical elements (lenses) with reflective optical elements (mirrors and reflectors). This substitution simplifies manufacturing because mirrors can be made from simpler substrates and require only surface coating rather than precise bulk shaping, thereby reducing production complexity while maintaining optical performance.
2Manufacturing precision
If lenses with toroidal and aspherical form are used, then image quality is improved, but production cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive, complex toroidal and aspherical lenses with simpler, easier-to-manufacture optical components. The invention uses a combination of spherical lenses and reflectors that can be produced more economically while achieving comparable or sufficient image quality for the intended application.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the optical design parameters from requiring toroidal and aspherical surfaces to using spherical surfaces combined with reflective elements. This parameter change in the optical design allows standard manufacturing processes to be used instead of specialized, costly fabrication methods.
3Device complexity
If a planoconcave cylindrical mirror is used as beam-forming optical element, then manufacturing complexity is reduced, but beam path length increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a planoconcave cylindrical mirror that operates in one dimension (focusing in the vertical direction while leaving the horizontal direction unchanged). This dimensional selectivity allows the system to achieve beam formation without requiring long beam paths, as the mirror provides focusing power only where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The planoconcave cylindrical mirror serves multiple functions: it acts as a beam-forming element, a field flattener, and a spatial filter simultaneously. This multi-functionality reduces the overall system complexity and allows compact beam path design without sacrificing optical performance.
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
The system enables precise detection of object position and movement in space with improved image quality and higher spatial resolution, while being easier to manufacture and less space-consuming.
Implementation Method 1
An imaging optical system utilizing a planoconcave cylindrical mirror as a beam-forming optical element, which reflects light to form a folded beam path
Implementation Method 2
The light-sensitive sensor can basically be provided in the form of a photoelectric sensor, which converts light incident on the light-sensitive sensor into an electrical signal
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging optical system for imaging at least one light source onto a light-sensitive sensor, includes an optical aperture, a beam-forming optical element, and the light-sensitive sensor. The beam-forming optical element is a planoconcave cylindrical mirror, more particularly a planoconcave circular-cylindrical mirror.