Holographic Sight Collar Compensation for Thermal Optical Drift

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Solution Overview

Problem

Holographic sights face degradation in hologram quality due to optical components shifting from their intended positions caused by temperature changes, as they are affixed to structures that expand and contract with temperature variations.

Innovation Solution

A temperature-stabilized holographic sight design featuring a unitary optical component carrier with a collar that expands and contracts to maintain the optical path length constant, compensating for the unitary optical component carrier's expansion and contraction, using materials with different thermal expansion coefficients.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If optical components are affixed to a rigid structure, then manufacturing precision is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to thermal expansion causing position shifts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical component positioning precisionVSAvoidoptical component position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The collar is divided into a first portion that is affixed to the receptacle and a second portion that is free to expand and contract. This segmentation allows the collar to accommodate thermal expansion while maintaining optical component positioning precision, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing precision and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The collar is designed with different thermal expansion properties than the optical component carrier. By changing the physical parameter of thermal expansion coefficient, the collar compensates for temperature-induced position shifts, maintaining reliability while preserving manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If the optical component carrier is made rigid, then manufacturing precision is improved, but object-affected harmful factors worsen due to temperature-induced expansion and contraction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical component alignment precisionVSAvoidthermal expansion effects

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The collar acts as an intermediary element between the optical component carrier and the laser diode. It mediates the thermal expansion effects by expanding and contracting independently, protecting the optical alignment from temperature variations while maintaining manufacturing precision.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention deliberately utilizes thermal expansion by designing the collar with a different coefficient of thermal expansion than the optical component carrier. This allows the collar to compensate for temperature-induced dimensional changes, reducing harmful thermal effects on optical alignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #37Thermal expansion

3Manufacturing precision

If optical components are fixed relative to each other, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates due to inability to compensate for temperature changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoptical path configuration precisionVSAvoidtemperature compensation capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The collar transitions from a static fixed structure to a dynamic component that can expand and contract in response to temperature changes. This dynamics allows the system to adapt to varying thermal conditions while maintaining the precision optical path configuration established during manufacturing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Maintains the relative positions of optical components unchanged across varying temperatures, ensuring consistent hologram quality and performance.

Implementation Method 1

The collar may expand and contract in response to changes in temperature to compensate for the unitary optical component carrier expanding and contracting in response to changes in temperature

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP4718134A2Temperature stabilized holographic sight

Publication Date: 2026.04.01 EOTECH LLC

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AI summary

A holographic sight comprises a unitary optical component carrier having a plurality of receptacles for receiving optical components. A collimating optic abuts a surface of a first receptacle. A mirror abuts a surface of a second receptacle. A collar is positioned in a third receptacle and a laser diode is positioned within the collar. A first portion of the collar is affixed relative to a first portion of the third receptacle and a second portion of the collar is free to expand and contract relative to the third receptacle. The laser diode is affixed to the collar proximate the second portion and is free to move relative to the third receptacle with expansion and contraction of the second portion. The laser diode, the mirror, and the collimating optic are positioned relative to each other to create an optical path. The collar expands and contracts in response to changes in temperature to compensate for the unitary optical component carrier expanding and contracting in response to changes in temperature.