Laser Line-Generator Curved Surface Uniform Brightness

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laser line-generators produce straight lines with darker end portions compared to the central portion, leading to decreased workability during reference setting operations due to light dispersion and reduced light density at the ends.

Innovation Solution

A laser line-generator utilizing a columnar transparent medium with at least one curved surface featuring two or more inflection points for the entrance or exit surface, ensuring even light distribution and brightness across the line, integrated with a semiconductor laser to form a laser line-generator module.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If a conventional cylindrical lens is used to generate a laser line, then the central portion of the line is bright, but the both end portions become darker due to light dispersion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebrightness of laser lineVSAvoiduniformity of line brightness

Core Design Contradiction:

Illumination intensityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies a curved surface (circular arc) to the entrance boundary surface of the columnar transparent medium. This curvature modifies the refraction pattern of incoming laser light, ensuring that light rays at different positions (including end portions) are refracted at appropriate angles to maintain uniform brightness across the entire laser line, eliminating the dark ends problem of conventional cylindrical lenses

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the geometric parameters of the transparent medium by specifying that the curved surface has a particular radius of curvature (R) that satisfies a specific mathematical relationship with the length of the medium (L). This parameter optimization ensures uniform light distribution while controlling dispersion, directly addressing the brightness uniformity issue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If the distance from the optical axis increases in a conventional cylindrical lens, then the incidence angle increases, but the refraction angle increases too causing large dispersion and reduced light density

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkability of reference settingVSAvoidlight density at line ends

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The curved entrance surface with specific radius of curvature compensates for the increasing incidence angle at end portions by providing varying refraction angles that maintain consistent light density. The geometry is designed so that even though incidence angles increase at the ends, the refraction angles are appropriately adjusted to prevent excessive dispersion and maintain brightness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Productivity

If a semi-cylindrical rod lens is used, then the laser line can be generated, but the both end portions are difficult to see causing decreased workability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveworkability in reference setting operationVSAvoidvisibility of line ends

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

By replacing the conventional semi-cylindrical lens with a columnar transparent medium having a curved entrance surface with specific radius of curvature, the patent ensures that light at the end portions is refracted at angles that maintain visibility. The mathematical relationship between R and L is optimized to prevent light dispersion at ends, making the entire line including ends clearly visible for improved workability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 generates straight lines with both end portions as bright as the central portion, enhancing workability by reducing light dispersion and maintaining consistent brightness, thereby improving the performance of laser markers, especially for long reference lines.

Implementation Method 1

The incoming light L1 is incident at an incidence angle θ1 with respect to a normal line P to the exit surface, and becomes the outgoing light L2 as a result of being refracted at a refraction angle θ2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRefraction: Refraction

Data Source

PatentUS8284500B2Laser line-generator and laser line-generator module

Publication Date: 2012.10.09 AYASE

AI summary

An object of the invention is to provide a laser line-generator that generates a straight line with the both end portions as bright as the central portion, and a laser line-generator module that integrates the laser line-generator with a laser light source. A columnar transparent medium has an entrance boundary surface 10 for taking in laser light and an exit surface 20 for emitting the taken laser light linearly. At least one of the entrance boundary surface 10 and the exit surface 20 is composed of a curved surface, and a curve forming the curved surface includes two or more inflection points F.