Laser Radar Tooling Ball Beam Curvature Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
In laser radar and optical measurement systems, achieving superior measurement times and accuracies is hindered by low reflected beam power, necessitating alternative approaches to optimize beam focusing.
Innovation Solution
The system directs an interrogation optical beam to a target feature, adjusting its radius of curvature to match the target feature, with focus adjustments based on the target's size and distance, and storing these adjustments for precise beam alignment within the Rayleigh range or beyond, ensuring optimal coupling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sophisticated focus systems are used to maintain beam pointing accuracy, then beam pointing accuracy is improved, but reflected beam power remains low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the focusing parameters by calculating optimal focus distances and beam waist sizes based on target range and tooling ball diameter. The system adjusts the beam waist size and focus distance to match the target geometry, transforming the beam parameters to maximize reflected power while maintaining pointing accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts focus settings based on real-time target range and tooling ball diameter measurements. The focus distance and beam waist size are continuously optimized as the target parameters change, allowing the system to adapt to varying measurement conditions and maximize reflected power at each range.
2Loss of energy
If low reflected beam power is accepted, then measurement time increases and measurement accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of the optimal focus distance and beam waist size before conducting the actual measurement. By pre-computing the focusing parameters based on target range and tooling ball diameter, the system ensures that the beam is optimally focused from the start, maximizing reflected power and enabling faster, more accurate measurements without trial-and-error adjustments.
3Measurement precision
If beam focus is optimized for maximum reflected power, then measurement accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the target's own geometric parameters (tooling ball diameter and range) to determine the optimal focus settings. By calculating focus distance and beam waist size based on the target's characteristics rather than requiring external calibration or complex iterative optimization, the system achieves high measurement accuracy while keeping the focus control mechanism relatively simple.
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 method enhances measurement accuracy and efficiency by aligning the beam's curvature with the target feature, optimizing beam focusing and coupling efficiency, thereby reducing measurement time and improving data quality.
Implementation Method 1
The focusing system adjusts the interrogation optical beam so as to have a beam radius of curvature based on a target feature
Implementation Method 2
the interrogation beam radius of curvature corresponds to an interrogation beam location within a Rayleigh range defined by an interrogation beam waist
Data Source
AI summary
Interrogation optical beams are focused or otherwise shaped for delivery to a target that includes one or more tooling balls so as to have a beam radius of curvature corresponding to a tooling ball radius. Focus values can be stored in a look-up table and can include two beam focus conditions that produce a selected beam focus. The two beam focus conditions are associated with a common beam curvature. The focus conditions are associated with beam curvatures within and without a Rayleigh range from a beam waist.