Liquid Shutter Optical Path Switching for Distance Meters
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mechanical shutters in electro-optical distance meters cause delays and potential malfunctions due to mechanical wear and external impacts, leading to inefficiencies in measurement time and reliability.
Innovation Solution
An electro-optical distance meter utilizing a liquid shutter with an electrowetting device to instantaneously switch between external and internal optical paths, reducing measurement time loss and enhancing operational reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical shutter is used to switch between external and internal optical paths, then the optical path switching function is achieved, but measurement time is lost due to the time required for opening and closing operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical shutter system with a liquid shutter system that uses liquid crystal or liquid droplet technology. This substitution eliminates mechanical moving parts, thereby eliminating the time required for mechanical opening and closing operations while maintaining the optical path switching function. The liquid shutter can change its optical properties instantaneously through electrical control, resolving the contradiction between reliability and measurement time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a liquid-based shutter mechanism that uses hydraulic or electro-wetting principles to control light transmission. By utilizing liquid properties rather than mechanical components, the system achieves rapid switching between optical paths without the time penalties associated with mechanical actuation, while also improving reliability by eliminating wear and impact vulnerability.
2Ease of operation
If a mechanical shutter is used to switch between external and internal optical paths, then the optical path switching function is achieved, but the shutter may be mechanically worn out or damaged by external impacts leading to malfunction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical shutter system with a liquid shutter system that uses liquid crystal or liquid droplet technology. This substitution eliminates mechanical moving parts, thereby eliminating the time required for mechanical opening and closing operations while maintaining the optical path switching function. The liquid shutter can change its optical properties instantaneously through electrical control, resolving the contradiction between reliability and measurement time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a liquid-based shutter mechanism that uses hydraulic or electro-wetting principles to control light transmission. By utilizing liquid properties rather than mechanical components, the system achieves rapid switching between optical paths without the time penalties associated with mechanical actuation, while also improving reliability by eliminating wear and impact vulnerability.
3Device complexity
If a mechanical shutter is used for optical path switching, then the shutter can physically block light paths, but the mechanical structure causes wear and potential damage from external impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical shutter system with a liquid shutter system that uses liquid crystal or liquid droplet technology. This substitution eliminates mechanical moving parts, thereby eliminating the time required for mechanical opening and closing operations while maintaining the optical path switching function. The liquid shutter can change its optical properties instantaneously through electrical control, resolving the contradiction between reliability and measurement time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes changes in liquid properties (such as refractive index, transparency, or position) controlled by electrical parameters to achieve optical path switching. By changing the state or position of liquid rather than moving mechanical parts, the system achieves reliable operation without mechanical wear or impact damage, while simplifying the overall device structure.
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 liquid shutter significantly reduces measurement time loss and increases operational reliability by minimizing mechanical friction and vulnerability to external impacts, allowing for faster switching and more precise distance measurements.
Implementation Method 1
at least one liquid shutter configured to select, by switching a region of light-blocking liquid
Data Source
AI summary
An electro-optical distance meter includes a light source configured to emit light for distance measurement, a detector configured to receive the light and generate a distance measurement signal, a calculator configured to measure the distance from the distance measurement signal, an external optical path configured to guide the light from the light source to a target as measurement light, an internal optical path configured to guide the light from the light source directly to the detector as reference light, and a liquid shutter that can select one of the external and internal optical paths as the optical path through which the light from the light source travels by switching a region of light-blocking liquid.