Laminar Optical Sensor for Laser Tag Beam Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current optical sensors in laser tag simulations struggle to detect punctiform electromagnetic beams effectively, leading to false positives and negatives due to beam size and intensity issues, and are limited by the number of sensors required, which increases costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
An optical sensor with a laminar body comprising channelling and refractive layers that fragment and redirect electromagnetic beams to extend the sensitive area, coupled with a reflective layer to minimize reflections and losses, allowing for detection of low-intensity beams with a reduced number of sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the laser beam is tightened and focused to simulate a bullet punctiformly, then the realism of the simulation is improved, but the detection capability of the sensor deteriorates due to the excessive punctiform size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an optical intermediary system consisting of a lens and a reflective layer positioned between the laser beam and the sensor. The lens focuses the beam while the reflective layer redirects it onto the sensor's active area, enabling detection of punctiform beams without requiring the sensor itself to be extremely small or complex.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the reflective layer to change the spatial dimension of beam delivery by redirecting the focused beam onto the sensor's surface at an optimal angle, effectively mapping the punctiform beam onto a larger sensor area in a different spatial dimension.
2Area of stationary object
If the number of sensors is increased to cover all target areas, then the detection coverage is improved, but the cost and practical complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple sensors into a single sensor by using the optical system (lens and reflective layer) to concentrate beam energy onto one sensor element, thereby achieving the detection coverage of multiple sensors with only one sensor while reducing cost and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical intermediary system acts as a beam routing mechanism that directs focused laser beams onto a single sensor, eliminating the need for multiple sensors distributed across the target area and simplifying the overall system.
3Reliability
If the beam size is increased to ensure detection of hits, then the detection capability is improved, but false positives increase due to beam reflection onto surrounding targets
Solution Approach 1:
The lens and reflective layer form an optical intermediary that precisely controls beam geometry and direction. The lens focuses the beam to a precise point while the reflective layer directs this focused beam onto the sensor, preventing beam spreading that would cause false positives on surrounding targets.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system creates a localized focused beam at the sensor location, concentrating energy precisely where needed for detection while preventing diffusion to surrounding areas, thus eliminating false positives while maintaining detection capability.
4Manufacturing precision
If the beam is made excessively punctiform to avoid false positives, then the precision is improved, but low intensity beams are not detected
Solution Approach 1:
The lens and reflective layer act as optical intermediaries that concentrate and redirect the punctiform beam onto the sensor, maintaining the high intensity necessary for detection while preserving the precise focused geometry that prevents false positives.
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 sensor effectively simulates a bullet by ensuring detection of punctiform beams across a larger area without increasing costs or user impedance, minimizing false positives and negatives, and maximizing receptivity for low-intensity beams.
Implementation Method 1
a channelling layer configured to convey and retain within electromagnetic beam portions having an incidence angle of less than 90° with respect to the same channelling layer
Implementation Method 2
a layer of refractive material to fragment the electromagnetic beams hitting it and divert such fragments towards the channelling layers with an incidence angle of less than 90°
Implementation Method 3
at least one reflective layer positioned behind to the laminar body to reflect electromagnetic beam portions that should cross the channel layers and the refractive material layers
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
Optical sensor for detecting electromagnetic beams (F) simulating bullets in a military tactical simulation, the optical sensor (1) having a substantially laminar body (2) comprising: channelling layers (4) configured to convey and maintain within electromagnetic beam (F) portions having an incidence angle of less than 90°; a refractive material layer (5) for fragmenting the electromagnetic beams (F) that hit it and diverting said fragments to the channel layers (4) with an incidence angle of less than 90°; a reflective layer (6) positioned at the rear of the laminar body (2) to reflect electromagnetic beam (F) portions that should cross the channelling layer (4) and the refractive layer (5); electromagnetic beam sensors (8) coupled to the channelling layers (4) to receive their channelled electromagnetic beams.