Image Intensifier Tube Coplanar Mounting Surface Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Misalignment between imaging devices and their objective lenses within optical systems, such as cameras and night vision goggles, results in image distortion due to housing-related issues, necessitating improved alignment and assembly methods to meet line of sight and resolution requirements.
Innovation Solution
An optical system design featuring an optical bench with a mounting surface that aligns coplanarly with the image intensifier tube's housing and glass faceplate, ensuring the faceplate surface is positioned closest to the objective lens, reducing tilt and displacement errors through precise mounting and assembly techniques.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the image intensifier tube is mounted using conventional back-loading methods, then the housing structure can accommodate the tube, but misalignment between the faceplate and objective lens occurs causing image distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional mounting approach by transitioning from back-loading the image intensifier tube to front-loading it. The mounting surface is now provided on the housing at the front end, allowing the image intensifier tube to be mounted with its faceplate directly facing the objective lens. This inversion eliminates alignment errors caused by housing structure and achieves coplanar positioning between the mounting surface and faceplate surface.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimensional reference by establishing a mounting surface that resides on the same plane (coplanar) as the faceplate surface. This coplanar mounting surface provides a precise reference plane for positioning the image intensifier tube relative to the objective lens, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures and ensuring accurate optical alignment.
2Measurement precision
If the mounting surface is made coplanar with the faceplate surface, then alignment accuracy improves, but the housing design becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates the mounting surface directly into the housing structure during manufacturing, establishing it in advance on the same plane as the faceplate surface. This preliminary integration of the coplanar mounting surface eliminates the need for post-assembly alignment adjustments and ensures precise positioning of the image intensifier tube from the outset.
3Reliability
If conventional mounting methods are used, then the assembly process is simpler, but line of sight and resolution requirements are not met
Solution Approach 1:
The coplanar mounting surface acts as an intermediary reference element between the housing and the image intensifier tube. This mounting surface provides a precise reference plane that mediates the positioning relationship, ensuring that the faceplate is accurately aligned with the objective lens while maintaining a straightforward assembly process.
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
This design significantly reduces image distortion by tightly controlling the position of the image intensifier tube relative to the objective lens, ensuring accurate alignment and improved resolution, and eliminates the need for back-loading the image intensifier tube, thereby enhancing the optical system's performance.
Implementation Method 1
a photocathode bonded to a glass faceplate defining a faceplate surface
Data Source
AI summary
An optical system includes an optical bench defining a mounting surface, an objective lens mounted to the optical bench, and an image intensifier tube. The image intensifier tube includes: (i) a housing defining an interior region and a mounting surface, and (ii) a photocathode bonded to a glass faceplate defining a faceplate surface, wherein the photocathode is positioned within the interior region of the housing, and wherein the mounting surface of the housing resides on the same plane as the faceplate surface. The mounting surface of the optical bench is mounted onto the mounting surface of the image intensifier tube housing such that the mounting surface of the optical bench resides on the same plane as the faceplate surface and the faceplate surface of the faceplate is the surface of the faceplate that is positioned closest to the objective lens.