Multi-DOF Optical Sensor Using Merged Light Sources and Imaging Device
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensors often lack the same level of resolution in each degree of freedom and increasing redundancy or multi-degree of freedom measurements significantly increases size, complexity, and cost, making them impractical for many applications.
Innovation Solution
A multi-degree of freedom sensor design that includes a light component with multiple light sources and an imaging device capable of relative movement in various translational and rotational degrees of freedom, using a light location module to determine beam locations and a position module to calculate relative positions, allowing for redundancy and measurement in multiple degrees without substantial size, complexity, or cost increases.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensors are designed to provide equivalent resolution in each degree of freedom with redundancy and multi-degree of freedom measurements, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity, size, and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light sources and imaging devices into a single integrated sensor unit. The light component includes multiple light sources that can be directed at the imaging device, allowing the system to measure position and orientation in multiple degrees of freedom using a unified structure rather than separate sensors, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining high resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is designed to perform multiple measurement functions simultaneously - it can determine translational position, rotational orientation, and derive velocity and acceleration measurements from the same hardware configuration. The imaging device processes light beams from multiple sources to extract information across multiple degrees of freedom, making the device universal and eliminating the need for separate specialized sensors
2Measurement precision
If sensors are designed to provide equivalent resolution in each degree of freedom with redundancy and multi-degree of freedom measurements, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but the size of the sensor increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested configuration where the imaging device is positioned within or in close proximity to the light component housing. The light sources are arranged within the light component structure, and the imaging device captures light beams through a compact optical path. This nesting allows multiple functional elements to occupy overlapping or adjacent spatial volumes, reducing the overall sensor size while maintaining the capability for multi-degree-of-freedom measurements with high resolution
3Measurement precision
If sensors are designed to provide equivalent resolution in each degree of freedom with redundancy and multi-degree of freedom measurements, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple light sources and imaging devices into a single integrated sensor unit. The light component includes multiple light sources that can be directed at the imaging device, allowing the system to measure position and orientation in multiple degrees of freedom using a unified structure rather than separate sensors, thereby reducing overall complexity while maintaining high resolution
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor is designed to perform multiple measurement functions simultaneously - it can determine translational position, rotational orientation, and derive velocity and acceleration measurements from the same hardware configuration. The imaging device processes light beams from multiple sources to extract information across multiple degrees of freedom, making the device universal and eliminating the need for separate specialized sensors
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 equivalent resolution in each degree of freedom while maintaining practical size, complexity, and cost, enabling effective measurement of quantities like displacement, rotation, and velocity without the need for extensive recalibration.
Implementation Method 1
an imaging device positioned proximate the light component and operable to directly receive the first beam of light and the second beam of light and convert these into electric signals
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor is disclosed that provides measurements in multiple degrees of freedom without significantly increasing size, complexity, or cost. The sensor can include a light component in support of a first light source operable to direct a first beam of light, and a second light source operable to direct a second beam of light. The sensor can also include an imaging device that can directly receive the first beam of light and the second beam of light and convert these into electric signals. The imaging device and the light component can be movable relative to one another. The sensor can further include a light location module and/or a position module configured to receive the electric signals and determine locations of the first beam of light, the second beam of light on the imaging device and a relative position of the imaging device and the light component.