Micro-Display Projector Alignment via Unified Component Translation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for aligning optical components in micro-display projectors often result in misalignment, leading to degradation in illumination uniformity and incorrect stereo images, especially when using two optical systems for stereo vision applications.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the displacement and translational movement of a display source, illumination prism assembly, and illumination module in unison, along with mechanical coupling and alignment to adjust the gap between optical components, ensuring proper alignment and focusing through the use of a test pattern and image sensor adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical components are moved via displacement and translations for focusing and alignment, then focusing capability is improved, but alignment between display source and other components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the display source, illumination prism assembly, and illumination module into a single movable unit. This allows all components to be translated together in unison, maintaining their relative alignment while enabling focus adjustment through collective displacement along the optical axis.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mechanical coupling system that acts as an intermediary between the components and the translation mechanism. This coupling ensures that when the unit is moved, all components move together as a coordinated system, preventing misalignment during the focusing process.
2Measurement precision
If image sensor is rotated about principle axis for alignment, then image capture capability is improved, but display source alignment with other components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a feedback mechanism where the image sensor captures images to assess alignment, and this information is used to adjust the translation position of the entire movable unit. The feedback loop ensures that both image capture alignment and display source alignment are optimized simultaneously through coordinated adjustment.
3Measurement precision
If display source is independently moved for focusing, then focus adjustment is improved, but illumination uniformity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the display source, illumination prism assembly, and illumination module into a single movable unit, the patent ensures that when focus adjustment is made through translation, the illumination components move together with the display source. This maintains the spatial relationships necessary for uniform illumination while achieving the desired focus.
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 approach ensures precise alignment and focusing of optical components, maintaining illumination uniformity and correcting stereo image issues, thereby enhancing the performance of micro-display projectors in stereo vision systems.
Implementation Method 1
light waves emitted by the illumination module arrive at the display source via the illumination prism assembly
Implementation Method 2
The coupled-in light waves are guided through the LOE, by total internal reflection
Data Source
AI summary
In one method, a display source aligned with an illumination prism assembly is displaced along a displacement axis to adjust the distance between the display source and a collimating prism assembly. The display source, the illumination prism assembly, and an illumination module are translationally moved in unison in a plane normal to the displacement axis. In another method, a component of an optical device is coupled to a mechanical assembly at a known orientation. The mechanical assembly has a test pattern at a known orientation. An image sensor is aligned with the test pattern, and the image sensor captures an image of the test pattern. The captured image is analyzed to determine an estimated orientation of the test pattern. An orientation parameter of the image sensor is adjusted based on a comparison between the known orientation of the test pattern and the estimated orientation of the test pattern.