3D Printer Illumination Module with Folded Optical Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional 3D printers face challenges in generating high-quality parallel light rays due to limitations in optical lens design, particularly in large-scaled printers where off-axis light correction is inadequate and in small-scaled printers where internal space constraints hinder effective lens placement and distance maintenance.
Innovation Solution
An illumination module comprising a light emitting unit, an optical lens with positive refractive power and a concave mirror, where the concave mirror acts as an optical path folding element, providing secondary correction to ensure off-axial light rays become parallel, thereby improving light quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an optical lens is used to correct the cone-shaped light beam into a parallel light beam, then the angle of incidence of light is corrected, but off-axis light rays cannot be corrected into parallel light rays and the quality of parallel light deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The optical correction function is segmented into two distinct components: an optical lens for correcting on-axis light rays and a concave mirror for correcting off-axis light rays. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in correcting specific types of light rays, thereby achieving high-quality parallel light overall by addressing both on-axis and off-axis regions separately
Solution Approach 2:
The concave mirror serves as an intermediary optical element that receives light rays after they pass through the optical lens and provides secondary correction. This intermediary component specifically addresses the off-axis light rays that the primary optical lens cannot correct, acting as a mediator to achieve complete parallelization of both on-axis and off-axis light rays
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple optical lenses are positioned to correct light rays, then light parallelism is improved, but the internal space requirement increases and device miniaturization is hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The optical lens and concave mirror are merged into a compact integrated illumination module where the concave mirror is positioned at the image side of the optical lens. This merging allows the two optical elements to work together in a compact arrangement, achieving effective light correction without requiring multiple separate lens assemblies, thereby reducing overall space requirements and enabling device miniaturization
Solution Approach 2:
The concave mirror introduces a reflective optical path that folds the light trajectory, effectively utilizing three-dimensional space more efficiently. By reflecting light rays back through or alongside the optical lens system, the design achieves comprehensive light correction in a compact footprint, transforming a linear space requirement into a folded optical path that occupies less volume
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 illumination module enhances the quality of parallel light distribution across the monochrome LCD photomask, improving the resolution and quality of 3D printed products while facilitating the miniaturization of 3D printers by effectively correcting off-axial light rays.
Implementation Method 1
an optical lens with positive refractive power... Light emitted by the light emitting unit passes through the optical lens
Implementation Method 2
the concave mirror acts as an optical path folding element... the concave mirror acts as an optical path folding element, providing secondary correction to ensure off-axial light rays become parallel
Data Source
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AI summary
An illumination module includes a light emitting unit, an optical lens with positive refractive power, and a concave mirror. At least one of an object-side surface and an image-side surface of the optical lens is a free-form surface, and the light emitting unit is provided at an object side of the optical lens. The concave mirror is provided at an image side of the optical lens, and the concave mirror acts as an optical path folding element. Light emitted by the light emitting unit passes through the optical lens and is reflected by the concave mirror to be a parallel light ray.