Offset Optical Axis Layout for Compact Optical Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical detectors require additional optical components to align projection and receiving optical axes, leading to increased size and complexity.
Innovation Solution
The optical detector design includes a configuration where the projection and receiving optical axes are offset, allowing for an overlap region within the housing chamber, eliminating the need for additional alignment components and reducing the housing chamber size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional optical components are used to align projection and receiving optical axes, then alignment accuracy is improved, but device size and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes additional alignment optical components from the system by adopting an offset optical axis configuration. The projection optical axis and receiving optical axis are deliberately offset rather than aligned, eliminating the need for mirrors, beam splitters, or other alignment components that would otherwise be required.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of aligning the projection and receiving optical axes as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the approach by intentionally offsetting the optical axes. This inversion of the traditional alignment principle simplifies the optical system while maintaining detection functionality through the overlap region of the two beams.
2Measurement precision
If additional optical components are added to align optical axes, then detection accuracy is improved, but housing chamber size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes additional optical alignment components from the housing chamber, thereby reducing the required chamber volume. The offset optical axis design allows the system to achieve detection accuracy without the space-consuming mirrors and alignment components that would otherwise be necessary.
3Productivity
If optical axes are aligned, then beam utilization efficiency is improved, but device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the projection beam and return beam paths within the offset optical axis configuration, allowing both beams to coexist in the same housing chamber with reduced spatial requirements. The offset design enables beam utilization without requiring separate aligned optical paths that would increase device volume.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical detector is configured to project a projection beam toward a measurement area and detect a return beam from the measurement area. The optical detector includes: a projecting optical system that forms a projection optical axis to project the projection beam; a receiving optical system that forms a receiving optical axis to receive the return beam, and a housing having a housing chamber to house the projecting optical system and the receiving optical system, and an optical window for the projection beam and the return beam to travel between the housing chamber and the measurement area. The projection optical axis and the receiving optical axis are offset from each other to define an overlap region inside the housing chamber where footprints of the projection beam and the return beam overlap with each other.