Image Displacement Module Flexible Shaft Elastic Torsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large size image projection systems often exhibit sawtooth pixel boundaries, leading to image quality degradation due to the rapid movement of reflective mirrors or transmissive lenses, making it difficult to identify pixel boundaries and resulting in low image quality.
Innovation Solution
An image displacement module comprising a base, carrier, optical element, freely rotating shaft, flexible shaft, and actuators, where the flexible shaft generates elastic torsion to enable smooth movement and repositioning of the carrier relative to the base, stabilizing the mechanism and enhancing image quality by blurring pixel boundaries.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a reflective mirror or transmissive lens is used to rapidly change the direction of the light beam, then the pixel area boundary can be blurred and image quality improved, but the mechanism complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the optical element by melting and solidifying it. The optical element is heated above its melting point to become liquid, allowing it to flow and change shape smoothly, then cooled to solidify. This phase change enables the optical element to continuously alter its optical path without mechanical moving parts, thereby improving image quality while reducing mechanism complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical system (reflective mirror or transmissive lens that swings rapidly) with a thermal field system. Instead of mechanically moving the optical element, the invention uses heating and cooling to change the optical element's shape and position through phase transition. This substitution eliminates complex mechanical drive mechanisms while achieving the same optical effect
2Manufacturing precision
If the optical element is rapidly moved back and forth to blur pixel boundaries, then image quality improves, but the reliability of the mechanism decreases due to high-frequency operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the mechanical moving parts that would need to operate at high frequencies by using thermal field control. The optical element's position and shape are controlled through heating and cooling cycles rather than mechanical actuation. This substitution of thermal control for mechanical movement significantly improves system reliability by removing the vulnerable high-frequency mechanical components
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the optical element dynamic by allowing it to change its physical state between solid and liquid phases. When heated to melting point, the optical element becomes liquid and can flow to new positions; when cooled, it solidifies in the new position. This dynamic phase transition enables flexible optical path control without mechanical actuators, improving both reliability and adaptability
3Productivity
If the carrier is driven to rotate at high frequency, then image projection quality improves, but stress on the flexible shaft increases and may cause deformation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates the need for high-frequency mechanical rotation of the carrier by using thermal control to change the optical element's position. The flexible shaft no longer needs to transmit high-frequency rotational forces, as the optical element is repositioned through melting and solidification controlled by heating elements. This substitution dramatically reduces stress on the flexible shaft and improves overall system durability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates stress relief features in the flexible shaft design, including elastic deformation zones that can absorb and dissipate mechanical stresses before they propagate through the entire shaft. This beforehand cushioning prevents stress accumulation and potential failure during operation, allowing the system to withstand occasional high-frequency operation without damaging the flexible shaft
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 image displacement module achieves stable mechanism reliability and improved image quality by using flexible and freely rotating shafts in conjunction with actuators, reducing stress and maintaining smooth image projection, even at high frequencies.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible shaft may generate an elastic torsion when the actuator drives the carrier to rotate in the axis relative to the base
Implementation Method 2
The actuator is a voice coil motor, wherein the voice coil motor includes a coil and a magnetic element
Data Source
AI summary
An image displacement module includes a base, a carrier, an optical element, a freely rotating shaft, a flexible shaft, and at least one actuator. The optical element is disposed on the carrier. The freely rotating shaft and the flexible shaft are in a same axis and located between the base and the carrier. The flexible shaft is capable of acting a force on the carrier along the axis, and the carrier is capable of moving along the freely rotating shaft relative to the base to release the force. The actuator is disposed between the base and the carrier. When the actuator drives the carrier to rotate in the axis relative to the base, the flexible shaft generates an elastic torsion. When the actuator does not drive the carrier to rotate in the axis relative to the base, the flexible shaft drives the carrier to reposition relative to the base.