Objective Lens Mount Alignment via Segmented Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing objective lens mounts and connection devices fail to provide a precise and repeatable alignment of the objective lens relative to the camera or measuring device, such as an interferometer, due to axial play and rotational misalignment.
Innovation Solution
An objective lens mount with an abutment part, positioning bodies, and a locking device that includes abutment surfaces, positioning surfaces, and a rotation stop, allowing for precise axial and rotational alignment through orthogonal and radial positioning, and a locking mechanism to secure the connection device, ensuring repeatable alignment and secure attachment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If threaded connections or bayonet joints are used for connecting objective lenses with cameras, then the connection can be established and released, but axial play and rotational misalignment occur leading to imprecise alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The connection device is divided into separate functional elements: an abutment part for axial positioning, positioning bodies for radial positioning, and a rotation stop for angular positioning. This segmentation allows each element to independently address specific alignment requirements, eliminating axial play and rotational misalignment while maintaining operational simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
A connection device acts as an intermediary between the objective lens and the camera/measuring device. This intermediary component provides standardized abutment surfaces and positioning features that ensure precise alignment without requiring complex direct connections between the lens and camera, thus resolving the contradiction between alignment precision and connection simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple positioning features are added to eliminate axial play and rotational misalignment, then alignment precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple positioning features (abutment surface, positioning bodies, rotation stop) are merged into a single integrated connection device that attaches to the objective lens. This consolidation provides comprehensive alignment control (axial, radial, and rotational) through one component rather than multiple separate mechanisms, improving alignment repeatability while limiting the increase in device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection device serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides axial positioning through the abutment part, radial positioning through the positioning bodies, and rotational positioning through the rotation stop. This multi-functionality allows a single device to address all alignment requirements without requiring separate mechanisms for each degree of freedom, thus improving precision without proportionally increasing complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An objective lens mount and a connection device are releasably connected. The connection device is part of an objective lens or an adapter. The objective lens mount has at least one abutment surface that cooperates with at least one counter abutment surface at the connection device. At least two V-shaped first positioning bodies with at least one positioning surface are arranged such that the positioning surfaces face the longitudinal axis. At least one counter positioning surface at the connection device abuts the positioning surfaces of the objective lens mount. The relative position in the circumferential direction is defined via a rotation stop of the objective lens mount that cooperates with a counter rotation stop of the connection device. A locking device retains the connection device at the objective lens mount and effects a force component in the axial direction and preferably a force component in circumferential direction.