Correction Unit for Optical Centration Error Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Compensated optical systems, such as microscopes, face challenges in correcting centration errors and angular errors caused by the movement of additional optical elements, which are difficult to align due to manufacturing tolerances and wear, leading to residual imaging aberrations like lateral chromatic aberration.
Innovation Solution
An optical arrangement with a correction unit in the infinity space between optical elements, featuring a reflective or transmissive surface that can be adjusted to correct centration errors by changing the propagation direction of radiation, utilizing a mirror, prism pair, or inclining optical elements to minimize or eliminate aberrations like lateral chromatic aberration, coma, and astigmatism.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional optical elements are moved or exchanged in the beam path, then the functionality and versatility of the optical system is improved, but centration errors and angular errors occur leading to residual imaging aberrations
Solution Approach 1:
A correction unit is pre-positioned in the infinity space of the beam path between optical elements. This correction unit is adjusted beforehand to compensate for centration errors that will occur when additional optical elements are moved or exchanged, thereby maintaining imaging quality without requiring real-time alignment adjustments
Solution Approach 2:
The correction unit acts as an intermediary element in the beam path that mediates between the objective and tube lens. It introduces compensating angular errors that counterbalance the centration errors caused by movable additional optical elements, thereby maintaining the compensated system's performance
2Manufacturing precision
If optical elements are precisely aligned to compensate imaging aberrations, then imaging quality is improved, but the complexity of alignment and adjustment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment complexity is extracted and isolated to the correction unit in the infinity space. The main compensated system (objective and tube lens) maintains its precise alignment without requiring continuous adjustment, while the correction unit handles the dynamic alignment compensation for movable elements separately
Solution Approach 2:
The optical system is segmented into a fixed compensated system (objective and tube lens) and a separate correction unit. This segmentation allows the main system to maintain stable precise alignment while the correction unit independently handles dynamic alignment adjustments, reducing overall system complexity
3Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable optical elements are used in the beam path, then the versatility of the system is improved, but residual lateral chromatic aberration and other imaging aberrations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The correction unit is pre-adjusted to compensate for the specific centration errors introduced by interchangeable optical elements. Before the interchangeable elements are fully integrated into the beam path, the correction unit is positioned to counterbalance their expected alignment errors, thereby preventing residual imaging aberrations
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 solution effectively reduces or eliminates centration errors and aberrations, improving imaging quality by allowing precise alignment and adjustment of optical elements, even with interchangeable components, thereby enhancing the overall transmission and accuracy of the optical system.
Implementation Method 1
Either the correction unit has a reflective surface or the correction unit is embodied to be transmissive for the radiation
Implementation Method 2
the correction unit is embodied to be transmissive for the radiation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an optical arrangement and a method for correcting centration errors and/or angle errors in a beam path. The beam path here comprises an optical compensated system in which at least two optical elements are present and aligned relative to one another such that imaging aberrations of the optical elements are compensated. According to the invention, a correction unit is arranged in an infinity space of the beam path and between the at least two optical elements, wherein the correction unit changes the propagation direction of radiation propagating along the beam path and the correction unit either has a reflective surface or is embodied to be transmissive for the radiation. The correction unit is movable such that the angle of a change in the propagation direction can be set.