Holographic Optical System for Gunsight Aberration Compensation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing holographic gunsights face challenges with chromatic dispersion and aberrations, requiring expensive and bulky components to mitigate these issues, limiting their cost-effectiveness and power efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A holographic optical system using a simple spherical mirror as the collimating element and an additional holographic optical element for aberration correction, along with a broadband LED source, to provide a compact, cost-effective, and power-efficient solution with minimal parallax error and chromatic dispersion compensation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If multiple linear diffractive gratings are used to compensate chromatic dispersion, then chromatic blur is reduced, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechromatic dispersion compensationVSAvoidoptical system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple diffractive gratings into a single integrated holographic optical element that performs both collimation and chromatic dispersion compensation functions simultaneously, reducing the number of separate components while maintaining optical performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The holographic optical element is designed to perform multiple functions: collimating light from the LED source, compensating for chromatic dispersion, and forming the reticle image, thereby eliminating the need for separate dedicated components for each function

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Manufacturing precision

If a parabolic mirror is used for collimation, then aberrations are reduced, but manufacturing cost and device complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollimation qualityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical parabolic mirror with a holographic optical element that uses diffractive optics to achieve collimation and aberration correction, substituting a complex mechanical shaping process with a more manufacturable holographic recording process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The holographic optical element combines multiple optical functions within a single composite structure, integrating collimation and chromatic compensation capabilities that would traditionally require separate optical components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Manufacturing precision

If a laser is used as replay source, then chromatic dispersion is minimized, but power consumption and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewavelength stabilityVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the operating parameters of the LED to operate within a specific current range that minimizes wavelength drift and chromatic dispersion effects, allowing the use of lower-power broadband sources while maintaining optical performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the inherent broadband nature of LED light, which typically causes chromatic blur, into a benefit by using the diffractive holographic element to manage the spectrum in a way that reduces chromatic dispersion while maintaining the power efficiency advantages of LED sources

Inventive Principle:

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

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 solution enables a compact, cost-effective holographic gunsight with low parallax error and chromatic dispersion, allowing for a high-quality, unaberrated reticle image with extended battery life and reduced complexity.

Implementation Method 1

a collimator, arranged to receive from the light source and having an output surface configured to provide collimated light

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCollimation: Lens

Implementation Method 2

an aberration-compensating holographic optical element having a planar diffractive surface arranged to receive collimated light from the output surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDiffraction: Diffraction

Implementation Method 3

A first holographic optical element may be manufactured by recording a first hologram

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHolography: Interference

Implementation Method 4

A broadband source such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED) can be used

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Data Source

PatentUS20220244679A1Holographic optical system

Publication Date: 2022.08.04 TRULIFE OPTICS LTD

AI summary

A holographic optical system is provided, including: a light source; a collimator, arranged to receive from the light source and having an output surface configured to provide collimated light, optical properties of the collimator generating aberrations in the collimated light; and an aberration-compensating holographic optical element having a planar diffractive surface arranged to receive collimated light from the output surface, the planar diffractive surface having optical properties such that output light from the planar diffractive surface is compensated for the aberrations generated by the collimator.