Light Outputting Apparatus Using Multi-Lenslet Array for Alignment Tolerance
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light outputting apparatuses, such as those described in JP-A-2015-111385, face challenges in maintaining accurate optical intensity distribution on a projection surface due to misalignment between the light source and the Powell lens, leading to increased assembly time and difficulty in detecting the position of a pointing element.
Innovation Solution
A light outputting apparatus featuring a collimator lens and an optical element with multiple lenslets that widen light in a specific direction, allowing for relaxed alignment precision and reduced optical intensity variation, thereby enhancing the flexibility of light source selection and improving light distribution across a target flat surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single Powell lens is used to widen light, then the light can be widened in the first direction, but the optical intensity distribution becomes highly sensitive to misalignment between the light source and the lens, requiring high assembly precision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single Powell lens into multiple lenslets arranged in an array. Each lenslet independently widens light from the light source, and their combined effect provides uniform light distribution. This segmentation reduces sensitivity to alignment errors because individual lenslet performance variations are averaged out across the array, thereby easing assembly precision requirements while maintaining optical intensity uniformity.
2Manufacturing precision
If high alignment precision between light source and Powell lens is maintained, then accurate optical intensity distribution is achieved, but assembly time and labor cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
By using multiple lenslets instead of a single Powell lens, the system achieves robust optical intensity distribution that is less sensitive to alignment errors. This reduces the time required for precision alignment during assembly, as the multi-lenslet configuration naturally compensates for minor misalignments, thereby decreasing assembly time while maintaining accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-lenslet array provides self-aligning characteristics where the collective output of multiple lenslets compensates for individual alignment deviations. This self-correction mechanism reduces the need for extensive manual adjustment and alignment procedures, allowing faster assembly without sacrificing optical performance.
3Productivity
If the light source and Powell lens are misaligned, then assembly is faster and easier, but the optical intensity on the projection surface becomes offset and detection accuracy decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs multiple lenslets that collectively provide uniform light distribution across the projection surface. This segmentation ensures that even if individual lenslets or the light source have minor alignment deviations, the overall light distribution remains uniform, maintaining detection accuracy while allowing faster, less precise assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the optical system's parameter from using a single lens with high alignment sensitivity to multiple lenslets with reduced sensitivity. This parameter change in the optical configuration makes the system more tolerant to alignment variations, thereby maintaining detection accuracy despite faster, less precise assembly processes.
4Device complexity
If a single lens is used for widening light, then the optical path is simpler, but the system is highly sensitive to alignment errors and requires complex adjustment mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the single Powell lens with an array of multiple lenslets. While this increases the number of optical elements, it eliminates the need for complex alignment adjustment mechanisms by making the system inherently more tolerant to misalignment. The segmented approach distributes the optical function across multiple simpler elements that are easier to position and adjust.
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 apparatus efficiently outputs light with suppressed optical intensity variation over a wide area, reducing assembly time and enabling accurate detection of pointing elements, while allowing for flexible light source selection and improved light distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a collimator lens for parallelizing the light emitted from the light source
Implementation Method 2
an optical element including a plurality of lenslets that widen the light having passed through the collimator lens in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis of the light source
Data Source
AI summary
A light outputting apparatus includes a light outputting section that outputs light, and the light outputting section includes a light source that emits light, a collimator lens for parallelizing the light emitted from the light source, and an optical element including a plurality of lenslets that widen the light having passed through the collimator lens in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the light source and corresponding to a first direction that is one of first and second directions perpendicular to each other.