Micro-Lens Array Displacement Sensing for Multi-Axis Resolution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional displacement measurement systems face challenges in achieving high resolution without increasing size, cost, or complexity, especially when measuring objects that can move with multiple degrees of freedom, as adding redundant sensors leads to significant size, complexity, and cost increases.
Innovation Solution
A sensor configuration using a micro-lens array and imaging device that forms an array of focused sub-images of a light intensity pattern object, allowing high resolution displacement measurements by registering the sensed image to a reference image, without the need for redundant sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If redundant sensors are added to measure multiple degrees of freedom, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging device is divided into multiple imaging elements (pixels) that simultaneously capture displacement information across multiple degrees of freedom. Each pixel acts as an independent measurement point, eliminating the need for redundant sensor assemblies while maintaining high measurement precision in multiple directions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from measuring displacement in one dimension using multiple redundant sensors to capturing multi-dimensional displacement information simultaneously using a two-dimensional array of imaging elements. This dimensional transformation allows a single imaging device to replace multiple linear sensors, reducing system complexity while improving measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are used to cover multiple measurement directions, then measurement precision is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple sensing functions for different measurement directions are merged into a single imaging device. The array of imaging elements integrates the capabilities of multiple linear sensors into one compact component, reducing the overall device area while maintaining high measurement precision across multiple degrees of freedom.
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging device serves multiple measurement functions simultaneously, capturing displacement information in various directions with a single component. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate sensors for each measurement direction, thereby reducing device size while improving measurement precision.
3Device complexity
If traditional single optical axis imaging is used, then device complexity is kept simple, but measurement precision decreases for multi-degree-of-freedom objects
Solution Approach 1:
The single optical path is segmented into multiple independent imaging paths within the same optical system. Each imaging element receives light along slightly different optical paths, enabling simultaneous measurement of multiple degrees of freedom while maintaining a relatively simple overall optical structure that does not require complex multi-axis mechanisms.
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 cost, maintaining image quality and reducing distortions through the use of multiple optical axes and image registration techniques.
Implementation Method 1
each micro-lens of the micro-lens array focuses a corresponding, respective sub-image of the light intensity pattern object onto the light intensity measuring surface such that the micro-lens array forms upon the light intensity measuring surface an array of focused sub-images
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.