Laser Beam Horizontality Checking Device with Planar Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser beam horizontality checking devices have limited accuracy, are expensive, and require significant effort to operate, with susceptibility to vibrations and inability to quantify deviations from horizontal alignment, necessitating recalibration and adjustment by manufacturers.
Innovation Solution
A laser beam horizontality checking device with a planar image sensor arranged in the image plane of the telescope, eliminating the need for an aperture and eyepiece, allowing direct imaging onto the sensor, and featuring an evaluation unit for quantifying laser beam inclination using translation rules and calibration parameters, enabling user-adjustment and automatic recalibration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If an eyepiece and aperture are used in the checking device, then the device can be manufactured with conventional optical components, but the measurement precision is limited and the device is susceptible to vibrations and positioning errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the eyepiece and aperture from the optical system, retaining only the objective lens and image sensor. This extraction of unnecessary components eliminates the sources of optical distortion and positioning errors while maintaining the essential function of imaging the laser beam for measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical eyepiece adjustment system with a fixed image sensor positioned at the image plane. This substitution eliminates mechanical positioning errors and vibration susceptibility associated with movable eyepieces while achieving the same goal of capturing the laser beam image
2Measurement precision
If the image sensor is positioned away from the image plane, then the device structure is simpler, but the measurement accuracy decreases and vibration susceptibility increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the image sensor exactly at the image plane of the objective lens, creating an optimal optical configuration where the sensor receives focused light without additional optical path variations. This precise positioning ensures that all light rays from the laser beam converge correctly on the sensor plane, maximizing measurement precision while maintaining operational stability
3Measurement precision
If a small aperture is used to improve measurement distinguishability, then the optical axis alignment can be better distinguished, but the device requires precise positioning effort and cannot handle offset laser beams
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the aperture completely from the system, allowing the full diameter of the objective lens to function as the effective aperture. This eliminates the need for precise laser positioning relative to a small opening while maintaining the ability to distinguish optical axis alignment through image analysis of the captured laser beam pattern
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal measurement system that can handle both perfectly aligned laser beams and offset laser beams. By removing the aperture constraint, the system can accommodate various laser positions and orientations while still providing accurate horizontality measurements through image processing algorithms that compensate for offset positions
4Adaptability or versatility
If quantitative measurement capability is added to the checking device, then user-adjustment and recalibration become possible, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates an evaluation unit that processes images from the sensor and provides quantitative feedback about laser beam horizontality. This feedback mechanism enables users to see actual measurement values, make informed adjustments, and verify recalibration results, transforming the device from a simple pass/fail checker to an adjustable measurement instrument
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical adjustment mechanisms with electronic/image processing-based measurement and adjustment systems. By using digital image analysis and software-based evaluation, the system achieves quantitative measurement capability without requiring complex mechanical components, maintaining relative simplicity while enabling user-adjustment and recalibration functions
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 device provides precise, quantitative measurements of laser beam horizontality, allowing users to diagnose and adjust deviations, reducing operational effort and eliminating the need for manufacturer recalibration, while maintaining high accuracy and stability.
Implementation Method 1
a lens (3) having an enlarging effect and a planar image sensor (5) arranged in an image plane (4) of the lens (3) for capturing an image of a laser beam (L) incident on the lens (3)
Implementation Method 2
components of the laser beam horizontality checking device (10) are also a self-tilt compensator (6)
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The invention relates to a laser beam horizontal trueness testing device (10) for a laser beam projection device (20) for construction and/or interior design work. The laser beam projection device (20) is equipped with a beam self-leveling functionality. The laser beam horizontal trueness testing device (10) has a telescope (1) with an attenuating filter (2), a magnifying objective (3), and a flat image sensor (5) for capturing an image of a laser beam (L) incident on the objective (3). Components of the laser beam horizontal trueness testing device (10) further include a natural inclination compensator (6) and an analyzing unit (7) which is designed to automatically ascertain an image position of the laser beam (L) captured in the image by processing the image. According to the invention, the flat image sensor (5) is arranged on an image plane (4) of the objective (3), and the analyzing unit (7) is additionally designed to quantify the laser beam horizontal trueness by converting the ascertained image position into a laser beam inclination value using a conversion rule relating to calibration parameters which depend on a position of the image sensor (5) in the telescope (1).