Micro-Lens Displacement Sensor for High-Resolution Multi-Axis Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional displacement measurement systems struggle to provide high resolution measurements without increasing size, cost, or complexity, especially when displacement occurs in multiple degrees of freedom, as adding redundant sensors leads to significant size, complexity, and cost increases.
Innovation Solution
A compact displacement sensor configuration using a micro-lens array and imaging device that focuses a light intensity pattern object onto a light intensity measuring surface, allowing high resolution measurements by registering images with an image registration processor, without the need for redundant sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional displacement measurement systems are used, then measurement functionality is provided, but measurement precision is insufficient and device complexity increases when measuring multiple degrees of freedom
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device is divided into multiple independently controllable image sensors, each capturing displacement information from different optical axes. This segmentation allows the system to measure multiple degrees of freedom simultaneously using a single integrated device rather than multiple separate sensors, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining high measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from measuring displacement in a single dimension to capturing three-dimensional displacement information by incorporating multiple optical axes with different viewing angles. This dimensional expansion enables simultaneous measurement of multiple degrees of freedom without requiring redundant sensor arrays, thereby improving measurement precision while avoiding complexity increases
2Adaptability or versatility
If redundant sensors are added to measure multiple degrees of freedom, then measurement coverage is improved, but device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
A single imaging device is designed to perform multiple measurement functions simultaneously by capturing images through multiple optical axes. This multi-functional approach allows the device to measure various degrees of freedom including lateral displacements and rotations without requiring separate specialized sensors for each measurement type, thereby improving adaptability while reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple image sensors that would traditionally operate as separate displacement measurement devices are merged into a single integrated imaging device. This combination allows simultaneous capture of displacement information from multiple optical axes, achieving multi-degree of freedom measurement capability while significantly reducing the complexity and size associated with redundant sensor arrays
3Measurement precision
If multiple optical axes are used to maintain image quality, then measurement accuracy is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The optical system is segmented into multiple discrete optical axes, each with its own imaging characteristics. By dividing the measurement function across these segmented optical paths and capturing them with an integrated device, the system maintains high image quality and reduces distortions through diverse viewing angles while avoiding the complexity of a single complex optical system
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 sensor achieves high resolution displacement measurements across multiple degrees of freedom without increasing size or complexity, maintaining image quality and reducing distortions through multiple optical axes, enabling accurate displacement detection.
Implementation Method 1
a micro-lens array configured to form spatially distinct sub-images of portions of the light intensity pattern object as viewed along respective different ones of the multiple optical axes and focus the spatially distinct sub-images onto a light intensity measuring surface of an imaging device
Data Source
AI summary
A compact displacement sensor comprises a light intensity pattern object, a micro-lens array and an imaging device including a light-intensity measuring surface. The micro-lens array is disposed between the light intensity pattern object and the imaging device such that each micro-lens focuses a corresponding sub-image making up a portion of the light-intensity pattern on the light-intensity measuring surface to create thereupon an image of the object comprising an array of focused sub-images. The displacement sensor can provide high resolution measurements of displacement of the light intensity pattern object from a reference position by registering subsequent images captured after a change in relative position between light intensity pattern object and the imaging device to a reference image based on pattern portions in the focused sub-images.