Laser Machining Head With Liquid Lens for Rapid Focus Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser machining heads with fixed focal length cameras struggle to maintain sharp focus across varying machining levels, especially on uneven surfaces, leading to blurred images and increased computational complexity, and mechanical focus adjustment is slow, complex, and costly.
Innovation Solution
A laser machining head with an image acquisition device featuring a liquid lens with an adjustable focal length, allowing for rapid and automatic focus adjustment based on measurement values, enabling sharp and high-contrast imaging across different machining levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a camera lens with fixed focal length is used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the image sharpness deteriorates at different machining levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a liquid lens with variable focal length instead of a fixed focal length lens, allowing the focal length to be dynamically adjusted based on the machining level. This enables the image acquisition device to maintain sharp focus across different depths without requiring mechanical movement of the camera, thus resolving the contradiction between device complexity and image sharpness.
2Manufacturing precision
If mechanical tracking of the camera lens is performed, then the image sharpness is improved, but the response speed deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical tracking system with an electrically controlled liquid lens. Instead of mechanically moving the camera or lens to maintain focus, the system uses electrical signals to adjust the focal length of the liquid lens, achieving rapid focus adjustment without mechanical components. This substitution resolves the contradiction between image sharpness and response speed.
3Manufacturing precision
If mechanical displacement of optical elements is used, then the focus position is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates mechanical displacement of optical elements by using a liquid lens whose focal length can be adjusted electrically. This removes the need for motors, actuators, and complex mechanical structures, thereby maintaining precise focus positioning while significantly reducing device complexity and cost.
4Speed
If a liquid lens with adjustable focal length is used, then the focus adjustment speed is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the lens from fixed focal length to variable focal length using liquid crystal technology. This allows rapid electrical adjustment of the focal length without adding mechanical complexity, as the liquid lens integrates the adjustment mechanism within the lens structure itself, resolving the contradiction between speed and complexity.
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 solution provides a compact, cost-effective, and efficient laser machining head capable of rapid focus adjustment, improving image processing efficiency and enabling precise position determination with reduced computational intensity.
Implementation Method 1
the image acquisition device comprises an objective with a lens having an adjustable focal length
Data Source
AI summary
A laser machining head for machining a workpiece by means of a laser beam, includes: a scanning device for directing the laser beam at a plurality of positions on a workpiece surface; an image acquisition device for acquiring an image of the workpiece surface, said image acquisition device including an objective with a lens having an adjustable focal length; and a control configured to adjust a focal length of the lens based on a measurement value.