Off-Axis Parabolic Mirror for Normal-Incidence Spherical Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional imaging systems face challenges in uniformly illuminating and imaging spherical surfaces, especially in terahertz and far-infrared regions, due to the lack of powerful illumination sources and sensitive focal-plane arrays, and require complex mechatronics to move the source/detector pair along curved targets.
Innovation Solution
A single beam spherical imaging system using off-axis parabolic mirrors to geometrically transform spherical surfaces into flat rectilinear coordinates, allowing for non-contact, uniform imaging while keeping the source, detector, and target stationary, with a scanning optic modulating the illumination beam to maintain normal incidence across the field of view.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional imaging systems use focal plane arrays to image spherical surfaces, then imaging capability is provided, but uniform illumination across the spherical surface cannot be achieved without highly complex and expensive mechatronics
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical scanning systems with a stationary source-detector pair combined with a specially designed off-axis parabolic mirror. The mirror's geometry naturally directs illumination normal to the spherical surface across the entire field of view, eliminating the need for mechanical movement while achieving uniform illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs an off-axis parabolic mirror with specific curvature properties that match the spherical target surface. This curved optical element is designed to transform the illumination geometry, ensuring that beams remain normal to the spherical surface across the field of view without requiring mechanical adjustment.
2Illumination intensity
If complex mechatronics are used to move the source/detector pair along the curved target, then uniform illumination can be achieved, but the system becomes highly complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical scanning systems with a stationary source-detector pair combined with a specially designed off-axis parabolic mirror. The mirror's geometry naturally directs illumination normal to the spherical surface across the entire field of view, eliminating the need for mechanical movement while achieving uniform illumination.
Solution Approach 2:
The off-axis parabolic mirror serves as an intermediary optical element that transforms the illumination geometry. It receives beams from the stationary source and redirects them to illuminate the spherical surface normally, mediating between the fixed source-detector pair and the curved target.
3Device complexity
If a single beam scanning architecture is used for spherical surfaces, then system simplicity is maintained, but uniform normal-incidence imaging cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an off-axis parabolic mirror with specific curvature properties that match the spherical target surface. This curved optical element is designed to transform the illumination geometry, ensuring that beams remain normal to the spherical surface across the field of view without requiring mechanical adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the optical system by using an off-axis parabolic mirror with specific focal length and aperture dimensions. This parameter optimization enables the single beam to maintain normal incidence across the spherical field of view, achieving both simplicity and imaging uniformity.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the source, detector, and target are kept stationary, then system stability is improved, but traditional methods require movement to achieve proper illumination geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an off-axis parabolic mirror with specific curvature properties that match the spherical target surface. This curved optical element is designed to transform the illumination geometry, ensuring that beams remain normal to the spherical surface across the field of view without requiring mechanical adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The off-axis parabolic mirror serves as an intermediary optical element that transforms the illumination geometry. It receives beams from the stationary source and redirects them to illuminate the spherical surface normally, mediating between the fixed source-detector pair and the curved target.
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
Enables efficient, uniform imaging of spherical surfaces with arbitrary radius of curvature, achieving non-contact, deformation-free imaging and eliminating the need for complex mechanical systems, suitable for applications like corneal imaging where traditional methods fail.
Implementation Method 1
the first off-axis parabolic mirror geometrically transforms the spherical surface of the sample to a flat rectilinear imaging coordinate grid at the clear aperture of the first off-axis parabolic mirror
Implementation Method 2
a scanning optic disposed in the optical path at least between the illumination source and the first off-axis parabolic mirror for modulating the single beam of illumination energy impinging on the first off-axis parabolic mirror along the clear aperture thereof such that the single beam of illumination energy samples different portions of the target and such that the single beam of illumination energy remains parallel to the optical axis of the first off-axis parabolic mirror
Implementation Method 3
the first off-axis parabolic mirror having an optical axis, a focal point, a clear aperture, and an effective focal length... such that the center of curvature of the sample is disposed at the focal point of the first off-axis parabolic mirror
Implementation Method 4
the beam of illuminating energy incident on the first off-axis parabolic mirror and the illuminating energy reflected from the first off-axis parabolic mirror are coextensive, the optical path being arranged in a split beam path. In some such embodiment, the split beam path further includes a beam splitter disposed between the illumination source and the detector
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for single beam scanning capable of imaging the surface of a spherical body of arbitrary radius of curvature are provided. The spherical imaging methods and systems utilize one or more off-axis parabolic (OAP) mirror to perform a geometrical transformation of the spherical surface to a flat rectilinear imaging coordinate grid such that the single scanning beam maintains a normal incidence across the curved field of view of the spherical body. The imaging methods and systems project the spherical surface to a Cartesian plane and then the remapped surface is rapidly imaged by raster-scanning an illumination beam in the rectangular coordinate such that the OAP mirror produces a rectilinear image of the target. The imaging of the spherical surface is accomplished while maintaining the target, illumination source, and detector in a stationary position. The imaging systems and methods may utilize a single source and a single detector, and may incorporate a THz illumination source. The beam scanning imaging systems and methods may be applied to corneal tissue imaging.